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FCC improves public safety access to the latest broadband
technology
Washington, DC - Today, the Federal Communications Commission took an
important step to enhance homeland security by improving the ability of
public safety personnel to use spectrum at 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz band).
The Commission revised technical specifications in the 4.9 GHz band to
allow manufacturers to adapt, for that band, technologies that are being
used in adjacent spectrum bands, such as the 5.4 GHz Unlicensed National
Information Infrastructure (U-NII) unlicensed band and the Intelligent
Transportation System (ITS) band.
Specifically, the Commission adopted two emission masks limiting interference
potential for the band, one for low-power and one for high-power operations.
These changes will allow public safety licensees to leverage commercial
off-the-shelf technologies available for the U-NII and ITS frequency bands.
The Commission envisioned that, by leveraging technology already developed
for adjacent bands, public safety licensees could use a single, low-cost
device to access the 4.9 GHz band, the U-NII band, and the ITS band, allowing
them to enjoy savings that are typically limited to the high-volume commercial
market.
The Commission's action is intended to provide emergency responders with
easier access to the latest broadband technology in support of public
safety and homeland security missions, such as wireless local area networks
for incident scene manage- ment, emergency dispatch operations, and emergency
vehicular operations.
Action by the Commission, November 9, 2004, by Memorandum
Opinion and Order (FCC 04-265). Chairman Powell, Commissioners Abernathy,
Copps, Martin, and Adelstein.
FCC Contact: Tim Maguire, (202) 418-2155, email: Tim.Maguire@fcc.gov.
WT Docket No. 00-32
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