Legislation has been approved by the US Government on the 17th of February to build a new nationwide interoperable public safety broadband network.

The reallocation of the 700MHz “D-block” section of airwaves will improve the country’s homeland security and provide first responders with new voice, video, and data communication technologies that are needed to meet public safety requirements.

U$7 billion budget was granted to kick-star the project. The spectrum and network provisions were tucked into the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (H.R. 3630) — which extends social security tax breaks for the middle class and unemployment benefits. President Barak Obama is expected to sign the bill in the coming days.

A number of lawmakers and government, public safety and wireless industry groups have praised the deal as a way to relieve the growing shortage of wireless spectrum and improve emergency communications throughout the US.

“This reallocation of the D Block is what first responders and I have long advocated for and would fulfill one of the final, still unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission,” said Rep. Peter T. King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, in a statement.

“Additionally, I am pleased that the legislation includes necessary funding for the construction and maintenance of the network and ensures the input of federal, state and local leaders,” he added.

More than ten years after 9/11, public safety advocates had been seeking federal approval for a high-speed wireless system that connects police and firefighters across multiple jurisdictions.

Funding for the system will come out of an expected $22 billion stemming from future FCC auctions to commercial wireless providers of unused airwaves and “white space” spectrum — the band of frequencies between TV channels that are currently blank and serve as a buffer between the broadcast signals of various stations. Wireless communications placed in white space aren’t expected to be powerful enough to interfere with TV transmissions.

The new legislation would also ease the nation’s growing spectrum shortage. The reallocation of D Block means that public safety will have 20 MHz of contiguous spectrum to launch the nationwide wireless broadband network. In addition, public safety also won’t be required to return its 700 MHz narrowband spectrum.

The project’s governance will be handled by The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are to be expected to fulfill the project with the four major nationwide wireless providers and smaller carriers such as U.S. Cellular and Metro PCS, said Harlin McEwen, chairman of the communications and technology committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)

“I think there will be partnerships with them and with other major companies who will bring resources to the table, such as infrastructure, technology and expertise in how to build-out a nationwide LTE (long term evolution) network,” McEwen added and continued “If all those people come together, that could result in significant cost savings in a way that would make that $7 billion go a lot longer.”

However, McEwen showed concern over how the public safety broadband network is implemented in different states with the project being dependent on federal legislation. He added that the states that have been investing in technology and are early builders need to have a major say.

A solid nationwide plan is probably most effective being implemented by each state, he commented. States need to gear up and be ready to contribute and coordinate on the project as it moves forward.

“What we’re concerned about is that some states will step up and do it and some may not. And if they don’t, there has to be a plan to fill in for those states where they don’t aggressively do their job,” McEwen said.