• June 8, 2023

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A Federal Communications Commission bureau recently renewed the FirstNet Authority’s spectrum license into at least 2027, allowing the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN) to continue operating over the 700 MHz Band 14 airwaves as Congress continues to work to make FirstNet’s authorization permanent.

Approved by the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), the license renewal concludes a review process that was initiated when the FirstNet Authority submitted its license renewal application in August 2022, three months before its Band 14 (758-769/788-799 MHz) license was set to expire in November 2022.

Although the FirstNet Authority’s Band 14 license technically expired over six months ago, NPSBN users have been allowed to continue communicating over the frequencies during the interim review period.

The FCC noted that the Spectrum Act calls for the deployment of a NPSBN in the 700 MHz band, generally noting that FirstNet Authority has met the requirements established by Congress in that legislation.

“In sum, based on the totality of the record, we conclude that FirstNet [the FirstNet Authority] has sufficiently demonstrated compliance with the requirements of the Spectrum Act to warrant renewal of its license,” stated in the PSHSB order. “We therefore grant FirstNet’s renewal for the remaining period of its authorization, not to exceed ten years, commencing November 15, 2022, or for the remaining period of its authorization from Congress, whichever is sooner, subject to the reporting conditions discussed above.”

This news of the Band 14 license renewal was welcomed by the FirstNet Authority.

“The FirstNet Authority is pleased to have its Band 14 spectrum license renewed, which will allow public safety to have uninterrupted access to advanced broadband services, capabilities and features to better serve communities nationwide,” explained a FirstNet Authority representative.

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Sources:

fiercewireless.com/wireless/fcc-reauthorizes-firstnets-use-band-14

rcrwireless.com/20230530/public-safety/fcc-reauthorizes-firstnet-spectrum-use