FCC Requests Comments on 700 MHz Broadband Operations

The FCC is asking for public comments on whether some of the 24 MHz in the 700 MHz spectrum allotted for public safety (764 to 776 MHz and 794 to 806 MHz) should be reallocated to allow high-speed broadband communications. Under consideration are proposals by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council, Motorola and Lucent Technologies. The eighth NPRM also invites other proposals.

The NPRM has yet to be released, but the FCC said all three plans propose combining the general use, interoperability and reserve wideband segments to obtain the bandwidth required for broadband communications. Guard bands would be used to protect narrowband voice operations. The FCC tentatively concluded it was best not to alter narrowband allocations in the 700 MHz band.