Public safety remains committed to the idea of a hard 2007 give-back date for TV broadcasters to relinquish their analog spectrum. But if that is not realistic, the public-safety community would support an FCC Media Bureau staff proposal that would make spectrum available in 2009, according to a letter sent Thursday by the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials.
“APCO and many others continue to urge Congress to require TV stations that block public-safety allocations to relinquish their channels no later than Dec. 31, 2006. We also support the FCC’s Media Bureau’s recommendation that the Federal Communications Commission change its `must-carry’ rules to ensure that the 85-percent threshold is met as of Jan. 1, 2009, though we suggest an earlier date for channels 60-69. The Media Bureau’s proposal would be a major step forward, assuming it provides state and local governments with sufficient certainty to begin the planning, funding and construction process upon adoption of the rule change,” said APCO President Vincent Stile in a letter to the House telecommunications subcommittee.
The House telecom subcommittee is set to hold a hearing Wednesday on the digital TV transition.
