High powered committee set up to gain spectrum for public safety agencies

Stuart Corner
Monday, 06 June 2011 17:06

IT Policy - Regulation

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has set up a high-powered steering committee of public safety agencies to ensure that public safety services gains access to spectrum for dedicated mobile broadband services.

He has released the terms of reference for "a multi-jurisdictional steering committee to develop a plan to equip Australia's public safety agencies with reliable and robust mobile broadband capability."

McClelland said the steering committee included senior officials from state and territory police forces/services, the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council, the Council of Ambulance Authorities, the National Counter Terrorism Committee and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).

"ACMA is currently reviewing radiofrequency spectrum in the 800MHz band which presents the opportunity to build a new dedicated mobile broadband capability for emergency response organisations," McClelland said. "Currently they access that capability through commercial carriers."

He added: "The natural disasters Australia experienced over the past summer have demonstrated how critical it is that our emergency responders are equipped with the best technology and communication networks. The Government is determined to make this technology available to our agencies.

"The benefits for the entire Australian community of a national public safety mobile broadband capability are clear, which is why the Government has been in discussions with emergency responders about how we can address their needs as part of the shift to digital technologies."

The Steering Committee is required to:
- Identify the operational and technical requirements of public safety agencies for a new mobile broadband capability to support their operations;
- Feed into the ACMA's current review of spectrum in the 800MHz band, to identify a suitable quantum of spectrum suitable for an effective and efficient nation-wide public safety mobile broadband communications capability;
- Develop a national implementation plan agreed to by all jurisdictions to use a possible allocation of spectrum from the 800MHz band for an interoperable national mobile broadband capability for public safety agencies, and
- Consult with industry stakeholders on the broadband.

The Committee is required to report to the Standing Council for Police and Emergency Management by 29 February 2012.

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