Law Enforcement Groups Clarify Stance on 4.9 GHz Band

Several law enforcement groups distanced themselves from Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) support for giving control of the 4.9 GHz band to the FirstNet Authority. “A labor group has endorsed a plan to transfer the 4.9 GHz spectrum band” to FirstNet, said a filing this week in docket 07-100. “In doing so, the organization has insinuated it speaks for the entire law enforcement community on this matter,” the filing said: “It does not.” The Major Cities Chiefs Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and three regional and state sheriffs groups made the latest filing. It doesn’t mention FOP, but a supporter of the filing indicated it was aimed at that organization's comments. “We want to be completely clear -- as members and supporters of the Coalition for Emergency Response and Critical Infrastructure (CERCI), we are completely opposed to the transfer of the 4.9 GHz band” to FirstNet, the filing said.