Congress this week will put more pressure on broadcasters to vaca...

Congress this week will put more pressure on broadcasters to vacate at least a portion of the 700 MHz spectrum band -- where they broadcast the analog signal -- to make room for public safety interests. Tues., Senate Govt. Affairs ranking Democrat Lieberman (Conn.), with Senate Commerce Committee Chmn. McCain (R-Ariz.), announced legislation based on the 9/11 Commission report (www.911commission.gov) that would include a deadline for broadcasters to relinquish several channels of spectrum allocated for public safety use. Lieberman’s bill borrowed the language from a measure pushed by Rep. Harman (D-Cal.) (HR-1425) that would direct the FCC to assign 764-776 MHz and 794-806 MHz spectrum for public safety services by January 1, 2007. Both bills target channels 63, 64, 68 and 69. Harman’s Homeland Emergency Response Operations (HERO) Act has 34 co-sponsors, including House Govt. Reform National Security Subcommittee Chmn. Shays (R-Conn.), who with Rep. Maloney (D-N.Y.) will introduce a House companion to the Senate legislation. Lieberman’s 281-page bill contains several sections on homeland security, focusing mainly on changes to intelligence gathering. Though it didn’t mention the Harman bill, the 9/11 Commission report said the DTV transition should be accelerated to open more spectrum for first responders. The report recommendation was very similar to the official description of Harman’s bill. The bill also includes a section requiring the Dept. of Homeland Security secy. to work with the FCC chairman and Defense secretary to develop interoperable communications in urban areas determined to have a consistent threat of terrorist attack. The bill said first responders should have interoperable communications with a variety of entities, including military authorities and hospitals. Also, McCain and other Commerce Committee members will have the opportunity to question FCC Chmn. Powell and broadcasters about the DTV transition and the public safety spectrum today (Wed.) in a 2:30 p.m. hearing in 253 Russell Bldg. The hearing will include Powell; Stephen Devine, Mo. Highway Patrol frequency coordinator; Gary Grube, Motorola chief technology officer-govt & industry solutions; MSTV Pres. David Donovan; Robert LeGrande, D.C. Govt. deputy chief technology officer; and Paxson Chmn. Lowell Paxson. A spokesman for McCain and a Senate source said some of the hearing focus would likely be on clearing broadcasters from the 700 MHz spectrum.