Submitted by the Communications & Technology Committee
Co-Sponsored by the Computer Crime and Digital Evidence Committee and the Aviation Committee

WHEREAS the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) continues advocating for use of our Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN), using dedicated 700 MHz radio spectrum, passed by Congress, and President signing, Public Law 112-96 on February 22, 2012; and

WHEREAS the IACP continues to be a strong supporter and participant in implementation and progress of public safety with many agencies using the NPSBN now commonly referred to as FirstNet; and

WHEREAS the FirstNet NPSBN continues to leverage technologies to build public trust as an interoperability leader, providing value to members of IACP and the entire public safety community across America; and

WHEREAS cellular communications technology has evolved into 5th Generation (5G) technology advancing and expanding 4th Generation (4G) technologies, which offer greater possibilities for dealing with innovation like Next Generation 911 between caller, dispatch and first responder; and

WHEREAS it will be beneficial to public safety for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to allocate additional radio spectrum to current FirstNet spectrum to enable implementation of 5G technology in FirstNet’s NPSBN for prioritized public safety use; and

WHEREAS, 4.9 GHz radio spectrum, allocated by the FCC since 2002 as dedicated public safety spectrum and FCC continues deliberations for 4.9GHz future use, due to FCC’s expressed concerns of 4.9 GHz current underutilization by public safety; and

WHEREAS the IACP consistently supports these principles in those discussions:

1. The FCC must protect and preserve all 4.9 GHz spectrum for nationwide public safety use,
2. Incumbent public safety 4.9 GHz licensees must be protected,
3. The FCC should assign 4.9 GHz spectrum to a single nationwide licensee and band manager on behalf of public safety,
4. The FCC should leverage this very successful FirstNet experience and assign all nationwide 4.9 GHz license(s) to the FirstNet Authority to achieve a single nationwide license and band manager,
5. The band manager is held accountable by and is responsive to the needs of police through the development and maintenance of this network.

now therefore be it;

RESOLVED, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) supports these principles and will continue to participate in discussions to achieve a positive long-term public safety utilization for 4.9 GHz radio spectrum to better serve the public, and build public trust through disciplined increased public safety use and technologies.