Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2024) – The Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI) today expressed disappointment in the FCC’s decision to grant AT&T commercial access to the 4.9 GHz spectrum band via a sharing arrangement with the FirstNet Authority (FNA). Contrary to the FCC’s reasoning, this decision will ultimately undermine the band’s public safety mission.

In response to the decision, CERCI Chairman Chief Kenneth Corey (NYPD, Ret.) issued the following statement:

“The FCC’s decision to allow the 4.9 GHz spectrum band to be accessed by the FirstNet Authority will negatively impact state and local users of the band. CERCI maintains that this decision is unlawful, unnecessary, and an affront to public safety communications professionals across the country. It sets the stage for the FirstNet Authority, which entered into an exclusive agreement with AT&T in 2017 to use FirstNet’s spectrum for commercial purposes, to establish a similar arrangement in the 4.9 GHz band. Just as AT&T profits from commercial use of Band 14 via FirstNet, it will do the same with the 4.9 GHz band. Regrettably, the FCC felt it was more important to gift AT&T with $14 billion in free spectrum for commercial use than to heed the concerns of those on the front lines of public safety communications.”

The FCC’s action comes despite strong opposition expressed by state and local users of the 4.9 GHz band from across the country. These entities explained to the FCC how they use the 4.9GHz spectrum band in their public safety networks and depend on it for resiliency and redundancy of those vital networks. The FCC’s decision reflects the changes requested by AT&T and its allies, rather than the current users of the band.

What’s even more concerning, the FCC took this action even as AT&T and FirstNet have experienced significant issues impacting public safety users including a massive services outage and a significant data breach, both of which impacted AT&T’s “FirstNet” customers. These issues have become so severe that the Department of Commerce Inspector General has released numerous reports outlining deficiencies in the FirstNet program including a lack of transparency and poor service, both of which are compromising public safety users’ ability to protect the public.

Chief Corey continued: “FirstNet needs more oversight, not more spectrum. Unfortunately, in approving this order the FCC chose corporate profits over public safety. This decision will be challenged and will be litigated. The FCC has made the wrong decision and, in the process, has undermined public safety efforts nationwide.”

To learn more about CERCI, 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.