Outreach News - 8/22/2011

1. Attached is an Order issued by the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (“the Bureau”) in response to the Petition for Clarification filed by the Harris Corporation. In the Petition, Harris (corporation) asserted that the language of the Texas Waiver Order implies an endorsement of the procurement methods used by Harris County, Texas, a jurisdiction preparing for network deployment under the Texas waiver, in selecting a vendor to build out its network. In particular, Harris (corporation) argues that the Bureau’s statement that “we also expect that constituent jurisdictions will work with the state to minimize duplicative expenses and facilities where appropriate, in order to limit the need for multiple system identifiers or other impediments to interoperability” inadvertently “implies a statewide mandate to build a network with the same vendor-specific technologies included in a local core network.”

“The Bureau does not believe that the language Harris (corporation) cites implies an endorsement of a particular procurement strategy such as sole source procurement. Rather, the Bureau finds the statement to be a straightforward articulation of the expectation that states and constituent jurisdictions collaborate in a manner that promotes interoperability and cost efficiency. However, in the interest of eliminating any uncertainty, the Bureau clarifies that it does not require, endorse, or favor any specific form of local procurement and in particular does not endorse or require the State of Texas or any jurisdictions that deploy networks under its waiver to use a sole-source method for obtaining services or equipment for their networks”.

The Bureau’s Order concluded that, “One of the most basic tenets of interoperability is the ability of an entity to construct a network using equipment from a variety of vendors that works together seamlessly. In this respect, a network operator should be able to procure cores, radio access network equipment, and devices, all from multiple vendors, without sacrificing functionality”.

2. GENERAL FREEZE ON THE FILING AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR CHANNEL 51 EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY AND SIXTY (60) DAY AMENDMENT WINDOW FOR PENDING CHANNEL 51 LOW POWER TELEVISION, TV TRANSLATOR AND CLASS A APPLICATIONS. (DA No. 11-1428). Channel 51 is 692-698 MHz and adjacent to the new cellular 700 MHz commercial spectrum that may be used by public safety agencies until the nationwide public safety wireless broadband network is implemented.
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1428A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1428A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1428A1.txt

3. In the news:

State lawmakers call on FCC to find way to allow LightSquared to operate
http://www.fiercebroadbandwireless.com/story/state-lawmakers-call-fcc-find-way-allow-lightsquared-operate/2011-08-22?utm_medium=nl&utm_source=internal#ixzz1VmyPDsM7

Public safety readies for final push on Capitol Hill
http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/news/apco-riddle-interview-20110818/

FCC Denies NTA Request to Delay Shutdown of Channel 52-69 TV Translators
http://www.tvtechnology.com/article/123596