Representatives from the public safety community noted that they are interested in partnering with utilities on the 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Network (PSBN). Speaking at last week's IWCE (International Wireless Communications Expo) in Las Vegas, Harlin McEwen, Chairman of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST), stated "[w]e want interoperability with [utilities]," and “[w]e also want their money to support it." He and other public safety leaders agreed that the $7 billion Congress reserved for construction of a nationwide public safety broadband network is not enough to fund the construction costs of the entire network. Due to the cost, the public safety representatives agreed that it is crucial for public safety to form partnerships with industry entities, including non-traditional first responders such as utilities, to construct, maintain and operate the network and help fund it. McEwen stated that the provisions in the bill regarding access to the network by these entities are "a little confusing," but that the bill would apparently allow agencies to lease access to the network to utilities and others on a secondary basis which could help fund construction and maintenance of the system.

Richard Mirgon, former president of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) added, “It’s time to make sure we that we start looking at what’s best for America, and the utilities are part of what’s best, because nobody operates without power, water, natural gas, you name it. The utilities have a need to be a part of this, and we have to do due diligence in this process as the FirstNet governing board creates these rules on how to do secondary use.”

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued a public notice seeking comments on the proposed budget of the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) and corresponding annual lease fee for administration of the leases granted to the 21 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Waiver Recipients. PSST submitted the budget on June 11, 2010 specifying the proposed administrative fees necessary to support lease administration, including how such fees would be structured, collected and expended.

The FCC is seeking comment on the budget and Lease Administrative Fees proposed by the PSST, particularly from the waiver recipients as to the reasonableness of the PSST's proposal. The deadline to file comments is July 9, 2010. All comments should reference PS Docket No. 06-229.