Editor's note: Find Firehouse.com's complete coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic here.
The International Association of Fire Chiefs, along with multiple public safety groups, is urging Congress to repeal the national T-Band auction mandate as part of any federal coronavirus emergency spending bills.
In a letter to lawmakers, the IAFC asked that the Federal Communications Commission not be "forced to auction and clear public safety communications from critical spectrum known as the T-Band." The frequencies at issue are those between 470 MHz and 512 MHz.
The IAFC cited a June 2019 Government Accountability Office report and a statement from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai that both supported not auctioning the frequencies..
“In communities across the country, T-Band users are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the IAFC's letter stated. “They are transporting patients, responding to emergency calls, and saving lives. We ask Congress to include the Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act (S. 2748/H.R. 451) in any legislative response to this ongoing crisis in order to preserve access to this critical communications resource.”
Besides the IAFC, other groups signing the letter included:
- International Association of Fire Fighters
- National Association of Counties
- National League of Cities
- United States Conference of Mayors
- National Sheriffs’ Association
- Major Cities Chiefs Association
- Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International
- Congressional Fire Services Institute
- Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts
- Massachusetts METROFIRE
- Greater Boston Police Council
- National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
- Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System
- ICI System
- Enterprise Wireless Alliance
- Metro-Boston Urban Area Security Initiative
- City of Cambridge Public Safety
Go to the IAFC's website to read the full letter.
