Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, welcomed today’s unanimous decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to uphold the Eighth Report and Order issued in October 2024 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the 4.9 GHz band.

“The court correctly recognized that the 4.9 GHz band, which is reserved for the exclusive use of public safety, has been chronically underutilized for far too long,” Yoes explained.  “Today’s court decision clears the way for the selection of a band manager to effectively coordinate Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network, modernize it for advanced technologies, and enable critical spectrum sharing for the benefit of our nation’s law enforcement and other first responders and the communities we serve.”

The court agreed with the FCC’s determination that the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) has the authority to use multiple bands to deliver interoperable, nationwide capabilities to public safety. The band manager framework in the FCC’s Eighth Report and Order will help reclaim unused spectrum, reduce harmful interference from overly broad geographic licenses, and ensure the 4.9 GHz band can finally fulfill its potential as a vital tool for law enforcement and other emergency responders.

“For years, the FOP has advocated for practical solutions that maximize spectrum resources for the men and women in the field whose very lives depend on the functionality of their equipment and the reliability of our public safety communication network,” Yoes continued.  “We look forward to working with the FCC to swiftly select a band manager who will listen to the needs of the rank-and-file officers and put this spectrum to work protecting officers and the public.”