The FCC established licensing and service rules for the 50 megahertz of spectrum in the 4940-4990 MHz band (4.9 GHz band), saying the action promotes public safety communications and innovation in wireless broadband services. The new rules are intended to promote spectrum access for a variety of applications, such as high-speed digital technologies and WLANs for incident scene management, dispatch operations and vehicular operations. Some specifics include:
- eligibility for licensing in the 4.9 GHz band is limited to entities providing "public safety services"
permitted uses include broadband mobile operations, fixed hotspot use, and temporary fixed links on a primary basis in the band. Furthermore, the FCC allowed fixed point-to-point operations on a secondary basis.
licensees are encouraged to work with non-traditional public safety users, such as utilities, to develop public safety networks
a "jurisdictional" geographical licensing approach will be used for operations in the band, whereby licensees will be authorized to operate in those geographic areas over which they have jurisdiction.
