Senate sacrifices commercial wireless for public-safety spectrum attempt

The U.S. Senate Wednesday sacrificed commercial-spectrum users in an attempt to require TV broadcasters to give back spectrum in the 700 MHz band if public-safety shows a bona fide need for it. ¶ "This compromise amendment modifies my proposal by eliminating the requirement that all broadcasters vacate the analog spectrum by a date certain. Significantly, the compromise still provides the certainty public safety was seeking that they will receive the spectrum they were promised in 1997, by Jan. 1, 2008," said Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, on the Senate floor. "I have never believed in treating broadcasters differently. However, this amendment does so by requiring broadcasters on channels 62-69 to vacate their spectrum if there is a bona-fide request by public safety." ... RCRNews.com link