WASHINGTON-The Associated Public Safety Communications Officials-International Inc. weighed in favor of a possible Federal Communications Commission advanced-television proposal that would reallocate UHF channels 60-69 to the benefit of public-safety radio communications.
In a July 1 letter to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, Ronnie Rand, APCO’s executive director, pointed out that the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee would be ready soon with its analysis of needed spectrum to serve the industry through 2010. At least 79 megahertz could be required, and the UHF TV band-including channels 60-69-has been earmarked by PSWAC “as a potential target band to accommodate a portion of current and future public-safety requirements,” Rand wrote.
In addition, “Channels 60-69 occupy 60 megahertz of radio spectrum that is immediately adjacent to 800 MHz mobile radio bands already used by many public-safety agencies, and therefore could be easily adapted for public-safety operations,” Rand wrote.
