For months, all angles of the D Block debate have been argued by public safety organizations, commercial carriers and legislators, but one issue remains unexamined — network maintenance.

If the D Block is allocated to public safety, who will pay for its maintenance long-term? How will public safety ensure the network is upgraded when the current system becomes obsolete?

Maintenance of a nationwide, interoperable advanced wireless network will cost billions of dollars – billions public safety will have to obtain from the federal government. So it’s not just a government giveaway of $3 billion of spectrum we are talking about here – it’s the promise of continuous funding of billions of dollars for years to come.

This is yet another unfunded mandate on state and local governments at a time when these municipalities are coping with historic budget shortfalls and simply can’t afford to take on the costs of building their own dedicated broadband networks.

Instead, Connect Public Safety Now supports the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, which provides the priority access requirements necessary for our nation’s first responders to utilize commercial networks. This proposal allows public safety to capitalize on the significant investments commercial networks have made in advanced wireless technology, saving first responders and their state and local jurisdictions billions of dollars in developing and maintaining the network.

About CPSN – Connect Public Safety Now, of which RTG is a member, represents a broad-based group of stakeholders working to ensure the construction of a reliable and cost-effective interoperable network for our nation’s first responders and its citizens. Connect Public Safety Now is a call to the FCC, the White House and Congress to protect the public by building the broadband network that public safety needs – now. For more information about Connect Public Safety Now, please visit us at: www.connectpublicsafetynow.org

Contact – Katie Barr – (202) 683-3114 – kbarr@qorvis.com