Many government wireless users operate in both the Public Safety and the Business/Industrial spectrum.
GWTCA has expertise in both areas of spectrum to augment the advocacy of trade associations that focus on one particular spectrum segment i.e. Public Safety or Business/Industrial.
Many Frequency Coordinators don’t advocate for their constituencies as they did in the past. Some have eliminated their spectrum management committees.
Government “non-first responders” have no dedicated advocate “champion.”
GWTCA conducts extensive advocacy before the FCC with technical expertise on the wireless issues important to this group of users, balancing the needs of both the Public Safety and Business/Industrial spectrum.
Actions / Filings
GWTCA supports the continued use of the 5.9 GHz Band for Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC).
GWTCA is concerned with the potential for interference to mission critical microwave systems if the FCC permits unlicensed devices in the 6 GHz Band.
GWTCA Joins With Agencies In Support Of APCO’s 6 GHz Petition For Reconsideration
GWTCA advocates on the importance of 4.9 GHz spectrum for the public safety community, cautions on sharing with unlicensed services:
GWTCA is concerned that the FCC’s long lasting freeze in the 470-512 MHz “T-Band” is seriously hurting public safety and business/industrial incumbents:
GWTCA Comments in the FCC’s T-Band Relocation Proceeding.
GWTCA Filing In Support of LMCC Request To Ease T-Band Freeze
One of GWTCA’s greatest crusades is radio interference to public safety operations.
On November 6, 2017, GWTCA’s counsel participated in the FCC’s Public Forum on 800 MHz Spectrum Sharing. Here’s the video of the event.
GWTCA has taken the interference fight to other proceedings, too:
GWTCA Filing in FCC Docket No. 16-191 – TAC Noise Floor Technical Inquiry
GWTCA wants to make more spectrum available for government wireless workers, and to ensure that the FCC’s rules do not unfairly inhibit their operations:
GWTCA Filing in FCC Docket No. 16-240 – Amendments to Harmonize and Streamline Part 20
GWTCA Filing in FCC Docket No. 99-87 – Waiver of 6.25 kHz Equipment Requirement
GWTCA is pleased that the FCC elected not to create an incumbent preference for the 800 MHz frequencies returned by Sprint/Nextel, and will shortly begin licensing those frequencies again, after a long freeze. Here are some examples of GWTCA’s advocacy on the issue:
GWTCA On The Importance Of Broadcast Radio To Public Safety July 2019
GWTCA supports the deployment of small cells.
Small cells are important in the implementation of smart transit, and government transit agencies have a significant amount of right of way that can properly be used for small cells. However, GWTCA is concerned that the FCC is putting government in competition with its own businesses by mandating rates that prohibit government agencies from recovering ALL legitimate costs. GWTCA opposes municipalities subsidizing carrier operations. Here’s our Comments to the FCC:
GWTCA Filing in FCC Docket No. 16-421 – Small Cell Deployments
GWTCA On Small Cell Deployments
GWTCA, in conjunction with the City of New Orleans and multiple state Municipal Leagues, submits a Petition For Reconsideration of the FCC’s Small Cell Deployment Order
GWTCA Petition For Reconsideration in FCC Docket No. 17-79
GWTCA issues an Advisory on municipal charges for small cells. GWTCA Advisory On Small Cells – 7-1-2019
9th Circuit Court of Appeals Small Cell Decision – 8-12-2020
GWTCA On The Wireless Workforce
Education of the wireless workforce is a significant area of interest of GWTCA. We want to ensure that the next generation of workers is able to implement new technologies at the highest levels. Further, the implementation of technologies such as 5G will require many additional workers that must receive training before work can begin. Thus, in addition to the dozens of educational appearances which GWTCA engages in every year, GWTCA is working with Capitol Technology University to support the creation of a wireless education program, which will eventually include undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs.
Reference Documents
GWTCA Announces MOU With TIA On Smart Building Initiative
GWTCA Joins The Land Mobile Communications Council
GWTCA Announces Partnership With ARCIA
Tower Owners – Are You Missing Opportunities?
Push to Talk over LTE on LA‐RICS and Interoperability with LA County P25 Network
GWTCA 