Members of the National Public Safety Communications Council (NPSTC) support introduction of the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2018 (S.3347).  NPSTC's members thank Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for introducing this legislation that will ensure public safety's continued access to the T-Band spectrum.  This legislation serves as a companion to the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act (H.R. 5085) previously introduced by Representative Eliot Engel, which now has bi-partisan support by 19 co-sponsors.

If enacted as drafted, this legislation would repeal section 6103 in Title VI of P.L. 112-96, which currently mandates that the Federal Communications Commission begin an auction of the public safety spectrum in the T-Band (470–512 MHz) by February 21, 2021, and clear public safety operations from that band within 2 years of auction close.

Section 6103 of Public Law 112-96 is of grave concern to the public safety community, which deploys the T-Band spectrum to support law enforcement, the fire services, and emergency medical services (EMS) in top metropolitan areas where the spectrum is available.  Public safety organizations use the T-Band spectrum to support both day-to-day operations and regional interoperability.  Because of the mission critical nature of the communications required, local public safety organizations have spent many years and millions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxpayer funds to plan and build out T-Band networks that are designed for the operational needs of each area.

Accordingly, NPSTC members believe repealing Section 6103 of P.L. 112-96 is essential and strongly support the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act of 2018 (S.3347) introduced by Senators Markey, Schumer, Gillibrand, Casey, and Warren, which serves as companion legislation to H.R. 5085.