FCC plan to support emergency communications relies on unproven technology

Greg Shaffer, assistant secretary of the Office of Cybersecurity and Communications at the Department of Homeland Security, told Congress that a Federal Communications Commission proposal to auction 10 megahertz of broadband spectrum to commercial organizations, rather than dedicating the spectrum exclusively for public safety communications, relies on unproven technology to provide first responders priority access.

"The technology being recommended by the FCC provides great opportunity, said Shaffer during testimony before the House Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response. "It's not absolutely clear what [this technology] is capable of." Homeland Security would support FCC's plan for the auction if the technical and legal frameworks were properly evaluated and the technology's capacity and capability understood to meet public safety requirements, Schaffer added.