Congress has passed legislation that in three years will restrict use of the upper 700MHz and lower 800MHz broadcast bands solely to public safety agencies. Television broadcasters currently transmitting on those frequencies (UHF channels 63, 64, 68 and 69) will be required to cease such broadcasts by Feb. 17, 2009, to accommodate the restriction.

The legislation essentially doubles the broadcast spectrum currently available for public safety use. In addition, the legislation contains funding provisions that may make available as much as a $1 billion to be used by public safety agencies to deploy networks using the new spectrum, $156 million for public warning systems, and $43.5 million to assist E911 programs.

The legislation now moves to the Oval Office, where the president is expected to sign it into law.