Frontline: Another player in the wrestling match for 700 MHz public-safety spectrum

A trio of wireless veterans unveiled a new plan for a national public-safety broadband network that would use auctioned 700 MHz spectrum to supplement first-responder frequencies in the same band.
Frontline Wireless L.L.C. will file its proposal with the Federal Communications Commission later today. The FCC favors setting aside half of public safety’s 24 megahertz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band for broadband communications.
Haynes Griffin, who founded Vanguard Cellular, is CEO of the startup. Janice Obuchowski, former head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, is chairman of Frontline, and former FCC chairman Reed Hundt serves as vice chairman of the company.
“Through a true public safety-commercial partnership, Frontline’s plan provides a solution to the still-unresolved hurdles to interoperable communications faced by first responders, including the continued need for more spectrum,” said Obuchowski.
Frontline, which has put together an investor group to bid on 700 MHz spectrum at an auction scheduled for later this year, wants the FCC to designate a portion of commercial 700 MHz spectrum-perhaps 13 megahertz-adjacent to public-safety frequencies in the band for a national first-responder broadband network.
Under Frontline’s plan, which would require FCC approval, public-safety agencies would have priority access to the commercial broadband spectrum during emergencies, and the network would be open to other entities such as regional wireless carriers on a wholesale basis. Police, firefighters, medics and other public-safety entities would have local control of communications over the network.
The network would be built by the private sector.
“Our proposal . allows the benefit of this successful business model to be shared with smaller and rural wireless operators, with a commitment to bring them nationwide roaming as part of ensuring wide coverage deployment for public safety,” said Griffin.
The 24 megahertz of spectrum going to public safety and 60 megahertz set for auction are predicated on Congress’ mandate that TV broadcasters return spectrum in the 700 MHz band as part of their transition to digital TV technology.
The Frontline initiative, unlike a plan backed by Cyren Call Communications Corp. and public safety groups, would not require legislation. Cyren Call and first responder organizations are lobbying Congress to set aside half of the auction-bound 60 megahertz of spectrum for a national public safety broadband communications network. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he will introduce legislation to make that possible, but mobile phone and high-tech companies are urging lawmakers to reject any legislation that reduces a pool of commercial spectrum in the 700 MHz band that could generate up to $15 billion at auction for the U.S Treasury.
One of the early investors in Frontline is Ram Shriram, managing partner of Sherpalo Ventures. “Frontline’s plan would facilitate the buildout of an advanced, 4G wireless broadband network for public safety and provide new freedom for wireless consumers by removing restrictions on the devices and applications that can be used on the network,” he said.