There’s a lot of discussion surrounding the future of the 4.9 GHz spectrum band, and it’s crucial that we get the facts straight. This spectrum is an essential resource for our nation’s public-safety community, ensuring resilience and redundancy in communications networks critical to the safety and security of millions of Americans. From managing transportation systems in major cities to supporting operations at large-scale events and airports, the 4.9 GHz band plays an indispensable role. As the Chair of the Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI), I want to clarify our position and address some of the misconceptions being circulated.

Understanding the 4.9 GHz Band

The 4.9 GHz spectrum band is used across the country to enhance the safety and efficiency of public safety operations. This includes managing travel for millions from California to Maine, providing security communications for events in cities like San Francisco and New York, and supporting operations in major airports. It also serves as a vital link for public safety communications in remote areas, offering last-mile, ad hoc, and backhaul support where other coverage is lacking.

The PSSA Proposal: A Risk to Public Safety

Recently, a group known as the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA) proposed migrating the 4.9 GHz spectrum band onto AT&T’s FirstNet network. This proposal, if accepted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), would open the band to commercial use by AT&T, a move that could severely disrupt current and future public-safety operations. Many public-safety entities have invested significantly in the 4.9 GHz spectrum band. Transitioning to FirstNet, and by extension AT&T, would not only waste these resources but could also impose additional costs on agencies needing to relocate to a new band.

Furthermore, the PSSA’s recommendation to strip licenses from incumbents not currently using their 4.9 GHz licenses reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the band’s purpose. Public safety spectrum should not be governed by a one-size-fits-all approach. Local agencies use the spectrum as needed, especially during emergencies, and maintaining availability and non-interference is crucial. CERCI’s position is that this proposal is ill-advised and illegal. We and others have strongly urged the FCC to reject it.

CERCI’s Stance on the 4.9 GHz Band

CERCI’s mission is to protect the 4.9 GHz spectrum band for local public-safety uses and ensure that current licensees’ rights are upheld. Unlike the PSSA, we do not support repurposing this band for commercial use. Our coalition has consistently advocated for preserving the 4.9 GHz spectrum band for public safety and critical infrastructure applications, with strict conditions to prevent harmful interference and safeguard incumbent licensees’ operations.

We believe that incumbent licensees should have the authority to approve or reject any spectrum lease arrangements impacting their operations. This is contrary to the PSSA proposal, which seeks to limit the use of the spectrum to avoid complicating frequency coordination and band management.

The Implications of FirstNet’s Control

Granting AT&T control over the 4.9 GHz spectrum band via FirstNet would essentially create a monopoly in the band, forcing public-safety agencies to become AT&T subscribers to maintain access, similar to how AT&T operates in FirstNet’s existing 700 MHz spectrum. This approach overlooks the reality that no commercial provider offers comprehensive coverage across the nation.

CERCI is not opposed to FirstNet, or AT&T’s operations within FirstNet’s designated 700 MHz band. However, we strongly oppose transferring the 4.9 GHz spectrum band to FirstNet, as it would strip public-safety agencies of their ability to manage their systems independently, without reliance on any   commercial providers, let alone a single option. Our objective is to ensure that public-safety agencies retain local control over their communications networks, without being forced into a one-size-fits-all solution.

What’s Next

Preserving the 4.9 GHz spectrum band for public-safety use is critical. We must ensure that public-safety agencies continue to have the ability to manage their own systems and spectrum, free from commercial interference and in the way that best suits their communities’ needs. CERCI will continue to advocate for local control of the band and fight to protect current licenses. We remain committed to choice and fairness for public-safety users of the band and want to work with critical infrastructure to foster uses that complement its public-safety mission.