MCDOWELL ENCOURAGES PUBLIC SAFETY TO USE COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS MORE

摘要

FCC Comr. Robert McDowell said he hopes public safety will make greater use of commercial technologies and networks. He kicked off a 3G Americas symposium Wed. that included several demonstrations of ways that applications provided by wireless carriers help police, firefighters and other first responders. Public safety agencies have relied mainly on equipment and systems designed specifically for their use. 揑'd like to encourage the public safety community and the wireless community to continue to talk about partnerships,?McDowell said. 揥hile commercial wireless technologies may not be appropriate for every type of public safety communications, public safety agencies find it useful to employ commercial systems or to partner with commercial entities.?nnPartnerships will be even more important after the upcoming 700 MHz auction, which will put 700 MHz licenses in carriers?hands, McDowell said. He said he would oppose any changes in FCC rules limiting companies?flexibility to use the 700 MHz spectrum as they roll out advanced services. 揑n developing these rules the Commission took a flexible, market-based approach,?he said: 揑 want to make sure that any changes that we make now do not water down the current plan.?/font>