The Utilities Telecom Council has announced that in its legislation, Congress has included 700 MHz Broadband Spectrum (News - Alert) Provisions, allowing non-public safety entities to access this technology.

During hurricanes and other natural disasters when power, water and other essential services need to be restored, sharing public safety spectrum with utilities and CII promotes emergency response.  As the FCC’s (News - Alert) National Broadband Plan found, utilities and public safety have similar communications needs, including reliable communications during emergency response scenarios. 

As they have extensive infrastructure and other resources to contribute, utilities and CII can help accelerate the deployment of 700 MHz public safety broadband networks, the company stated in a press release.

Connie Durcsak, president and CEO of the Utilities Telecom Council (UTC), stated that, “UTC is pleased that Congress has included provisions that clear the way for public safety to share access to the 700 MHz broadband spectrum with utilities and other critical infrastructure industries (CII).  UTC looks forward to passage of the legislation and working with the public safety community to promote sharing with utilities and other CII, which will promote emergency response, accelerate the deployment of 700 MHz public safety broadband networks.”

Within the conference report on the payroll tax, unemployment benefits and Medicare reimbursement, Congress has reportedly agreed to include spectrum provisions which would allow public safety to share access to the 700 MHz public safety broadband network under covered lease agreements that permit non-public safety users access to network capacity on a secondary basis for non-public safety services.  To be signed by President Obama, the conference report is expected to be passed by Congress this week

Recently, the company released a study where it stated that the nation’s utilities could spend at least $3.2 billion on telecommunications equipment and services this year.

This level of communications spending represents a 21 percent increase over the estimated $2.64 billion utilities spent in 2009 and at least a 3 percent rise over the $3.1 billion spent in 2010. These findings are based on an extensive survey of UTC’s utility members and provide detailed data regarding utility spending.