After receiving a series of Petitions for Reconsideration, the FCC has decided to stay the new 4.9 GHz band leasing framework due to the possibility of irreparable harm to current and future public safety users of that band. The leasing framework would have allowed single statewide licensees to lease public safety spectrum rights to third parties, regardless of involvement in public safety operations.
The Commission agreed with petitioners that allowing the leasing framework to go forward would have created fragmented use in the 4.9 GHz band, and incentivized individual states to generate revenue in ways not serving public safety interests, thereby decreasing interoperable communications for public safety users.
