CTIA, Public Safety Groups Urge FCC Action on 'Harmful' Auxiliary Devices

On Monday, the CTIA - The Wireless Association sought to bar the sale or operation of low power wireless devices in the 700 Megahertz (MHz) band being vacated by analog television stations. CTIA was joined by the National Emergency Number Association, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council in asking the Federal Communications Commission to protect the 700 MHz band from interference by "auxiliary" devices - a category that includes many commercially available wireless microphones and other devices that do not require a license to operate. In their letter, the groups tell Copps that the devices are now "a growing public safety issue" that should be brought to his attention. Possible interference from auxiliary devices "threatens to prevent licensees from realizing the benefits to public safety that the 700 MHz band promises," the groups write. "It is of critical importance that low-power auxiliary devices do not cause harmful interference to critical communications - and the commercial communications that enable ordinary Americans to reach public safety in their moments of need," they said.