Battle erupts over plans for the D-block and public safety

A battle has erupted over the future of the D-block of 700 MHz spectrum and what role that block may or may not play in supporting a nationwide broadband wireless public safety network.

On one side is the FCC, which wants to auction the D-block with certain conditions while advising Congress to raise funding to help build a public safety network in a different part of the 700 MHz band already in the hands of public safety and allocated for broadband use. On the other side is the public safety community, which says it needs the D-block in addition to its current holdings to support a dedicated network. Supporting the public safety community are several legislators who have introduced House of Representatives Bill 5081, which would grant the D-block outright to public safety.