The Development of Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal, State and Local Public Safety Agency Communication Requirements Through the Year 2010, Establishment of Rules and Requirements for Priority Access Service

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a First Report and Order (``First Report'') contemporaneously with a Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that is summarized elsewhere in this edition of the Federal Register. In the First Report, the Commission amends its rules relating to public safety communications in the 764-806 MHz band (``700 MHz band'') that the Commission previously reallocated for public safety services and in general. This action commences the process of assigning licenses for frequencies in the 700 MHz band and addresses an urgent need for additional public safety radio spectrum and the need for nationwide interoperability among local, state, and federal entities. By this action, the Commission also takes additional steps toward achieving its goals of developing a flexible regulatory framework to meet vital current and future public safety communications needs and ensuring that sufficient spectrum to accommodate efficient, effective telecommunications facilities and services will be available to satisfy public safety communications needs into the 21st century.