FCC Seeks Comment on Request for Public Safety Spectrum

On October 1, 2009, the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) filed a Petition for Rulemaking recommending that the FCC make available for public safety use spectrum allocated for the 900 MHz Narrowband PCS service. NPSTC contends that, although the FCC initially envisioned deployment of commercial two-way messaging and paging onto the spectrum, those applications have migrated onto advanced cellular services spectrum. NPSTC recommends that the FCC conduct an audit of the 900 MHz Narrowband PCS spectrum, recover unused or lightly used channels, and make channels available for public safety use. The FCC now seeks comment on its Petition for Rulemaking. Comments on the request are due no later than January 8, 2010. Reply comments are due no later than January 25, 2010. All filings should reference the docket number of this proceeding, WT Docket No. 09-217.