As part of its newly opened proceeding on software-defined radios, the FCC is seeking comment on an intriguing question: Should public-safety entities be allowed to lease their spectrum?

Doing so would allow wireless entrepreneurs access to spectrum needed to test new applications in rural areas, where technological breakthroughs may be appreciated most. In addition to fulfilling the FCC's goal of providing wider access to spectrum, leasing would enable small communities to generate revenues from a largely underutilized asset that the general public won't miss, especially in an SDR-driven environment of greater spectrum efficiency.

But there are plenty of potential problems. Of these, interference certainly is the biggest concern, especially because future usage is difficult to project. Remember that Nextel Communications co-existed with public safety in the 800 MHz band for years before becoming a notable source of interference. In fact, the idea that the FCC might reband 800 MHz to solve an interference issue and then allow other private users to lease spectrum in the band seems incongruous on the surface.

Perhaps more daunting are the political realities that would accompany the leasing of public-safety spectrum. Who makes the call on whether spectrum is available to be leased? Ideally, local entities should be empowered to make the choice, but there's a legitimate fear that budget-strapped city councils may begin to view spectrum as a revenue stream rather than a public-safety tool. City managers, fire chiefs and police chiefs may have more expertise, but their jobs are dependent on the council. What happens should they disagree?

Certainly there's no harm in seeking comment on the matter, as the technical knowledge gained from the debate likely will prove valuable. However, barring overwhelming evidence to support the notion, the FCC should discard the idea of allowing public-safety entities to lease spectrum for the time being. The economic benefits are not worth the potential safety risks.

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