WASHINGTON, D.C., (May 23, 2024) – The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI), a broad-based coalition of public-safety, critical infrastructure industry (CII), and telecommunications entities, today submitted to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) a report from the Brattle Group titled “Valuing the 4.9 GHz Band.”

CERCI submitted this report in response to efforts to hand over control of 50 megahertz of highly desirable mid-band spectrum (4940-4990 MHz) to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) and its exclusive contractor, AT&T, to serve both public safety and commercial customers.   

Because the proposal by the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) would allow AT&T to serve commercial customers, The Brattle Group finds it “is appropriate to consider the commercial value of the 4.9 GHz band” in considering the opportunity costs associated with the proposal put forth by the PSSA.

The Brattle Group report provides two estimates about the commercial value of the 4.9 GHz band. If deployed as a high-power band for 5G, the report estimates the value of the 4.9 GHz band to be approximately $14.3 billion. At lower power levels, the report estimates a value of approximately $3.4 billion.

In its filing accompanying the Brattle Group report, CERCI reiterated its view that the PSSA proposal to grant the 4.9 GHz band to FirstNet and AT&T would undermine local control and the public safety nature of the band and disrupt the competitive landscape of the wireless market by providing AT&T free access to billions of dollars’ worth of spectrum. Accordingly, CERCI again urged the FCC to reject the PSSA’s proposals and maintain the 4.9 GHz band for public safety use.

To learn more about CERCI and read the full filing, please visit responsecoalition.com.

CONTACT: Jo Maney (jmaney@bgrpr.com)

ABOUT THE COALITION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) is committed to maintaining local control of vital 4.9 GHz public-safety spectrum and working with the FCC to promote innovative usage of the band including non-interfering critical infrastructure uses. The founding members of the CERCI are Competitive Carriers Association, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Sheriffs Association, T-Mobile, Verizon, and UScellular. Additional members include the California State Sheriffs’ Association, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, and the Industry Council for Emergency Response Technologies.