Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) concluded its most successful spectrum auction in history, known as the “AWS-3” auction, making 65 MHz of spectrum available for wireless services. Importantly, and pursuant to the same legislation that will lead to the deployment of the FirstNet nationwide public safety broadband network, the auction proceeds will fund several very important public safety initiatives:

• $7 billion to fund the FirstNet nationwide public safety broadband network;
• $300 million to conduct research and assist with the development of standards, technologies, and applications to advance wireless public safety communications; and
• $115 million for 9-1-1, E9-1-1, and Next Generation 9-1-1 implementation.

These initiatives will be funded much sooner than anticipated thanks to the overwhelming success of this auction.

APCO President John Wright said, “APCO congratulates the FCC for its tremendous success in the AWS-3 auction. We are very excited that there no longer remains any uncertainty that the critical public safety components of the Spectrum Act will be fully funded.”

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APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole.