McCain Pushes More Frequencies for First Responders

Sen. John McCain hopes the FCC will follow his legislation as it creates rules for frequencies that will be auctioned soon.

The Center for Public Integrity reported that McCain wrote to the FCC this week; this, it said, was "the latest effort by politicians and former regulators to influence the fate of the radio spectrum at 700 MHz," spectrum used by broadcast television that will be freed up in the DTV transition.

"Of the 108 MHz that will be made available by the switch to DTV, 60 MHz are slated for public auction," CPI reported. "Public safety officials will obtain about a quarter, or 24 MHz, for enhancing their communications capabilities. The remaining 24 MHz have previously been auctioned off. Some politicians, including McCain, want more than 24 MHz devoted to public safety."

(Radio World)