Concerns About HR 607, The Internet Broadband Emergency Frequency Act

Is Billy Long Hinting He Supports an Internet Kill Switch in Emergency Broadband Bill?

More information is coming out about a bill Congressman Billy Long is co-sponsoring that sets up an emergency broadband frequency. I have come up with two big questions that Long needs to answer as he pushes this bill, because to me, this bill sounds like it could be connected to the federal government's attempt to create an Internet kill switch.

I picked up the following story from QRZ.com concerning this emergency Internet broadband bill. The story explains how the frequencies that would be taken over in this bill are set aside for amateur radio operators.

On February 10, Representative Peter King (R-NY-3), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced HR 607, the Broadband for First Responders Act of 2011. The bill has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which handles telecommunications legislation. HR 607 addresses certain spectrum management issues, including the creation and maintenance of a nationwide Public Safety broadband network. As part of that network, the bill provides for the allocation of the so-called “D-Block” of spectrum in the 700 MHz range for Public Safety use.

The D-Block consists of two, 5-megahertz-wide segments of spectrum (758-763 and 788-793 MHz) that became available when the FCC ended analog television broadcasts in June 2009 and reallocated the 698-806 MHz band for Public Safety and commercial broadband. It was anticipated that the D-Block would be auctioned for commercial use. There are several bills in Congress providing for the allocation of the D-Block for Public Safety use, and HR 607 is one of those. But HR 607 uniquely provides for the reallocation of other spectrum for auction to commercial users, in order to offset the loss of revenue that would occur as the result of the allocation of the D-Block to Public Safety instead of commercial auction. HR 607 lists the paired bands of 420-440 MHz and 450-470 MHz among the bands to be reallocated for commercial auction within 10 years of its passage.

“Of serious concern to the ARRL is the inclusion of the 420-440 MHz amateur allocation in the list of frequencies to be cleared for auction,” said ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. “The ARRL and the Amateur Radio community certainly support the work of public safety agencies and understand their desire for an interoperable network; however, the inclusion of most of the amateur 70 cm spectrum as one of the replacement bands is illogical and unacceptable. The 420-440 MHz band is not Public Safety spectrum and should never have been included in any spectrum swap of Public Safety allocations.”

First of all, why do emergency responders need to be put on a separate pipeline for Internet? I mean there may be some legitimate arguments, but I fear one of the reasons is when the federal government uses the Obama desired Internet kill switch, will this ensure emergency responders are kept online? That is a very real possibility. One switch kills all Internet communication but those government entities on this frequency. Doesn't that make sense.

Secondly, it's obvious the free flow of information on the Internet is a concern to the federal government. It has inspired a new generation of Americans to fight for their liberty and freedoms through this Constitutional awakening and has led to average Americans challenging their elected officials. Now, there is a concern as this Internet kill switch is being discussed that if the Internet gets shut down by the federal government, Americans will lose this free flow of information. Solutions are being thrown out as to what to do to communicate if the federal government throws the kill switch. Two ideas jump up immediately--go back to the old dial up billboards to post information and use amateur radio. Of course, as you can see amateur radio is taking a hit in this bill as many of the frequencies will be off limits as the government takes them over if this new bill passes.

I feel these are legitimate concerns that we must consider and we need to be asking the following Congressmen for answers.

HR 607 is presently cosponsored by the Homeland Security Committee’s Ranking Member, Representative Bennie Thompson (D-MS-2) as well as Representatives Shelley Berkley (D-NV-1), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-11), Billy Long (R-MO-7), Candice S. Miller (R-MI-10), Laura Richardson (D-CA-37), Mike Rogers (R-AL-3), and Michael Grimm (R-NY-13).