Public Safety Spectrum Trust

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The Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation (PSST) was a non-profit organization which represents the radio spectrum needs of police, fire and ambulance agencies in the United States.

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The PSST was selected by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as the Public Safety Broadband Licensee (PSBL) for the 10 MHz of 700 MHz public safety nationwide broadband spectrum. [1] [2] [3]

In 2006, the FCC proposed in Docket 06-229 that they could be used for sharing public safety spectrum with commercial users in former UHF-TV spectrum after the transition to digital television. [4] In its August 2007 Docket 06-229 decision, the FCC voted to implement the 700 MHz Public/Private Partnership, an implementation of interoperable spectrum concepts in the 700 MHz band subject to a minimum bid of $1.4 billion in the band auction. [5] It later designated the Public Safety Spectrum Trust to represent public safety interests in this band and negotiate with the auction winner for a mutual agreement on band use and public and private access to it.

The block which was auctioned is commonly referred to as the D Block. Conditions of the auction would have required the winning bidder to fund the build-out of a nationwide broadband interoperable communications system for public safety use in the PSST’s 10 MHz of spectrum. The auction was not successful in attracting a bidder to meet the minimum bid threshold. In addition, the winning bidder would have been required to allow public safety use to preempt commercial use on the D Block during emergencies. [6]

PSST Member Organizations

The board of directors of the PSST is made up of representatives of the following organizations:

PSST Executives

PSST Board of Directors

FINAL MEMBERS

PAST MEMBERS

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References

  1. Kang, Cecilia (April 25, 2008). "Public Safety Spectrum on FCC Calendar". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  2. Lipowicz, Alice (December 23, 2008). "Spectrum group calls for $15B broadband investment". Washington Technology. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  3. "FCC awards spectrum to public safety group". InfoWorld. November 20, 2007. Retrieved April 23, 2010.
  4. Docket 06-229
  5. voted
  6. Karnick, Aleks (December 1, 2008). "FCC to Retry 'D Block' Spectrum Auction".