The state of Michigan and the FCC reached an agreement about the state’s Public Safety Communications System and its 800 MHz radio network. The deal affects nearly 250 tower sites.
Michigan sought a waiver to the agency’s rules so it could share its 800 MHz statewide radio network with DTE Energy, a non-profit infrastructure provider. Michigan’s Public Safety Communications System provides communications for its state agencies, police, and more than 1,490 county, city, township and tribal public safety agencies. Some 74,000 radio users are on the network.
The state uses both 800 MHz and 700 MHz narrowband voice frequencies although the great majority of the system is 800 MHz. DTE wanted access to emergency and proprietary talk groups on the trunking system and the 800 MHz analog mutual aid channels.
Part of DTE’s commitment to the MPSCS “is to fund the infrastructure (additional base stations) at approximately 100 MPSCS sites in areas where over 90 percent of their radio system traffic will impact system resource availability. DTE has also agreed to share infrastructure, such as tower space, on an as needed basis,” the state told the FCC. Michigan estimates that DTE would have a total of about 900 radios, with an anticipated 100 active at any given time.
The state cites benefits to the deal like enhancing the rapid restoration of critical services to citizens without costly duplication of communication infrastructure. Being on the same system would also enhance communication between utilities and public safety services.
DTE isn’t eligible to be a licensee on the 800 MHz public safety band and that’s why the state sought a waiver, which the FCC approved. The agency said in its decision the state showed it has enough spectrum to accommodate sharing its network. Michigan has also demonstrated that DTE will fund construction of additional infrastructure using B/ILT frequencies to mitigate its impact on the MPSCS network.
May 30, 2017
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