May 12, 2010 - The FCC has granted conditional approval of 21 petitions filed by cities, counties and states that sought waivers to move forward with the construction of regional or statewide interoperable wireless broadband networks in the 700 MHz public safety broadband spectrum.  The Commission required these broadband networks to be deployed under a common interoperability framework in coordination with the FCC's Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC).  This common framework will ensure that all networks being deployed are technically compatible and fully interoperable.

May 12, 2010 - FCC grants conditional approval of 21 petitions by cities, counties and states to build interoperable broadband networks for America's first responders.

This FCC Order summarizes the Waiver requirements of the Commission for currently authorized "early deployers" of 700 MHz broadband services. For any other entity considering the submission of a waiver, the document is intended to be helpful by providing a summary of requirements. The document is compiled on the basis of processes required to bring a broadband 700 MHz system on-the-air.

April 23, 2010 - Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today established its new Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) under the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB).  ERIC’s primary mission is to lead the development of a technical and operational framework that will support and foster nationwide operability and interoperability in wireless broadband communications for America’s first responders.

April 23, 2010 - The Federal Communications Commission released a comprehensive white paper study that builds on the National Broadband Plan recommendations to create an economically viable, technically sound, and robust interoperable public safety wireless broadband network across America.

Wireless consultant Andrew Seybold takes issue with many of the FCC's assumptions, calculations, and recommendations in a point-by-point white paper analyzing the FCC assumptions. He believes that the FCC white paper is based on flawed network assumptions and design and, therefore, the financial calculations are also flawed.

The 700 MHz Regional Public Safety Regional Planning Committee (RPC) Region 55 (New York-Buffalo) will open an application window regarding Section 9 from May 1 to May 31 to accept applications from public safety agencies who may have found the channel(s) they believe will meet the required protection criteria in the plan for General Use channels in the 769 to 775 MHz and 799 to 805 MHz frequency bands.

Prediction contour studies must be submitted in accordance with Section 9 "Interference-Protection Criteria and System-Design Specifications" of the plan.  The attached Guidelines identify areas in Section 9 that need further clarification.  The entire plan can be reviewed and downloaded at: http://www.nys-rpc.org/region_55/documents-55/RPC_55_700MHz_Plan_v2.pdf.

March 19, 2010 - NPSTC filed a Petition for Rule Making to allow aircraft voice operation on certain interoperability channels.  The petition requests the Commission to either amend Part 90.531(b)(7) to allow the use of certain interoperability channels separately from the channels listed in 90.531(b)(1)(iii) or clarify that the channels listed in Part 90.531(b)(7) can be operated separately as 12.5 kHz wide channels for secondary trunking or air to ground voice use in compliance with Part 90.548.  NPSTC recommends that transmissions in 700 MHz be limited to two (2) watts as found in Part 90.541(d).

March 17, 2010 - The Bureau seeks comment on both the recommendations of the PSST and the BBTF Report, and in particular those elements of the BBTF Report that address the technical aspects of the operation and interoperation of the regional networks the BBTF contemplates.  Reply comments due 04/06/2010.  PSHSB contact: Jeff Cohen at (202) 418-0799.

Sited from the press release, Chief Harlin McEwen, Chairman of the PSST, said, "Our highest calling is to act responsibly on behalf of Public Safety while providing sufficient information to potential D block auction bidders. The PSST realizes that this network must work for all parties or it won’t work for any."