The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to transfer control of a chunk of the 4.9 GHz spectrum band to FirstNet, which operates a network for first responders that AT&T uses. The FCC voted 4-0 in favor of handing the spectrum to FirstNet. Commissioner Anna Gomez did not participate in the vote.
"FirstNet may be permitted to use unassigned spectrum in the 4.9 GHz band as part of its nationwide public safety broadband network (NPSBN) in a manner that protects incumbent operations," noted the FCC in its order.
CERCI chairman Chief Kenneth Corey said: "CERCI maintains that this decision is unlawful, unnecessary, and an affront to public safety communications professionals across the country. It sets the stage for the FirstNet Authority, which entered into an exclusive agreement with AT&T in 2017 to use FirstNet’s spectrum for commercial purposes, to establish a similar arrangement in the 4.9 GHz band. Just as AT&T profits from commercial use of Band 14 via FirstNet, it will do the same with the 4.9 GHz band. Regrettably, the FCC felt it was more important to gift AT&T with $14 billion in free spectrum for commercial use than to heed the concerns of those on the front lines of public safety communications.”
