There is a role for utilities in the proposed 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN), White House Deputy Chief Technology Officer Tom Power told the audience at the UTC Critical Infrastructure Communications Policy Summit held on June 19, 2012 held in Washington, DC.
"The network is designed for emergency responders," Power said. "There is a clear case for utilities as emergency responders," he continued. Furthermore, he noted that the $7 billion allocated for the creation of the PSBN is not going to be enough, and there will be a need to “rely on existing infrastructure." He called on utilities to partner with FirstNet on the creation and maintenance of the network noting that they need to get engaged because nothing is decided or mandated around the level and extent of public-private partnerships for the network.
Echoing this sentiment, Senior Policy Advisor to the House Energy & Commerce Communications Subcommittee Ray Baum said, "The internet underpins everything in our economy. That internet is dependent on the electric grid…The utility industry needs to have access to this spectrum so they can get their assets up. They are right behind the first responders. In times of crisis, police can’t do anything until utilities get their power lines up." Calling this an opportunity of a lifetime for utilities, Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Administrator Jonathan Adelstein said that the "enormous capacity" of FirstNet will be a great opportunity for public utilities to get access to spectrum. He noted that "electric utility assets are clearly critical infrastructure and utilities are among the country's emergency response professionals." He also emphasized partnerships between utilities and FirstNet and believes electric utilities should have access to FirstNet.
Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Commissioner Mignon Clyburn stressed the need for network interoperability saying that there needs to be a common infrastructure and a unified standard "that will give this nation the tools needed to respond to natural and man-made disasters.” She also encouraged utilities to remain persistent in their lobbying for access to dedicated spectrum, saying that “if it should be, it will be."
