<

Defense Department to Share Spectrum with First Responders
Tuesday, February 5, 2002

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 056-02
The Department of Defense today submitted its report to Congress regarding the feasibility of sharing the 138-144 MHz band with public safety users. A DoD Joint Spectrum Center engineering study identified ways sharing would be possible without interfering with DoD operations.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Spectrum and C3 Policy Steven Price said, "We believe it is possible to share portions of the 138-144 MHz band with public safety users on a limited, coordinated basis. DoD is willing to work with National Telecommunications and Information Administration, state and local governments and first responders on a case-by-case basis to explore sharing the band for the common good."

While the 138-144 MHz band continues to be critical to DoD operations, the department has found it helpful in emergencies to share communication systems with other first responders. A small number of channels may be shared on a regional basis when it is to the mutual benefit of DoD and public safety officials.

DoD operations that would be affected if this band were interrupted through heavy use of too many channels would include air-surface-air, air traffic control and ground support functions at military airfields, tactical communications for close air support, land mobile radios for sustaining installation infrastructure support and land mobile radios and specialized equipment for training and test range support. Other systems that would be affected include fire and security alarms, and hydrology and utility controls.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Dan