Interoperability - An easier way
All local, state and federal agencies must have the ability to communicate via two-way radio during routine and disaster situations, but right now this is difficult to accomplish because local, state and federal agencies are using disparate radio systems in the different frequencies band from 30 MHz to 900 MHz. Some people have suggested that multi-band radios are the solution to this problem and several radio manufacturers are marketing multi-band radios now, but the problem is these are too expensive. To me the solution is to move all local, state and federal agencies into one of the existing frequency bands where the majority of government agencies already reside and move all other users out. Many people will think this is a crazy idea and that it could never be done, but the FCC has mandated other big projects affecting the radio spectrum like narrow banding of VHF and UHF bands along with rebanding of the 800 MHz spectrum so why couldn't something similar be done to move all local, state and federal agencies into the same band? Interoperability between agencies wouldn't be nearly as complicated if all were in the same frequency range, right? Agencies could continue to purchase radios with the technology they prefer, such as analog, P25, MotoTRBO, Nexedge, Tetra, etc. to operate their own systems and still have the ability to have analog conventional mutual aid channels to use during disasters. Right now, there are about 20 mutual aid channels designated for use nationwide (about four per band) among the VHF, UHF, 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands. I've heard public safety officials say there are not enough mutual aid channels available to handle a major disaster in the specific band they operate in, but if all public safety were in the same band and there were 20 channels designated for mutual aid nationwide then this should be more than adequate. There is a huge push to have the "D" block of 700 MHz opened up for public safety broadband, but it looks as if this is given to public safety then it will come a price of giving up something else. One proposal was to have public safety vacate the UHF spectrum while another proposes public safety give up the 700 MHz narrowband voice channels, but to me either one will be detrimental to public safety operations. What if there was one band that could provide the same amount of spectrum to public safety that it has between all of the bands being used now? Would the FCC, Congress, public safety agencies and organizations, local and state governments and others support it? If the FCC had the opportunity to revamp the use of all spectrum from 150 MHz up to 900 MHz should they do it? Yes, this would be extremely expensive to do when you consider the cost of moving private businesses and other users from one frequency band to another in order to move public safety and other government operations into one band. The FCC, Congress and others seemed to be focused on how much money they can make on selling spectrum and how public safety should agree to vacate one section of spectrum to get another, so how much spectrum could be freed up if public safety and other government operations were moved into one band and private businesses and other operations were moved into another? My guess is after all is said and done the FCC would have a large amount of spectrum to auction because there are many, many businesses, private organizations and other radio users out there who continue to hold FCC Licenses for radio frequencies even though they never use them. A true audit of radio frequency use and a revamping of spectrum could really open up some great possibilities in the country, not to mention allow the FCC to sell off large portions of spectrum that isn't being used. Hello, is anyone in Congress and or the FCC listening....