The Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) this week called on President-elect Barack Obama to set $15 billion aside for a national public safety wireless network.
The nonprofit PSST holds the FCC license for half of the 700MHz D Block, which failed to sell early this year at auction. But it can’t make any money until a commercial provider wins D Block spectrum. Getting billions in government funds presumably would give the firm some return on its investment. PSST's "adviser" is Cyren Call Communications, a for-profit business backed by Nextel co-founder Morgan O'Brien.
PSST is a key advocate for a nationwide wireless network that would allow first responders to communicate during times of disaster. The need for such a network came to light after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when police, fire and other emergency personnel couldn't coordinate with one another because of equipment and other technology that didn't interoperate.
The PSST said it doesn't expect to hear anything on its proposal until after a new FCC chairman is chosen, which likely won't be until after the first of the year.
