FCC Lets States Lease Public Safety Airwaves to Private Sector

The Federal Communications Commission voted Wednesday to give states more flexibility over a swath of airwaves previously reserved for public safety.

The order, adopted in a 3-2 vote with both Democratic commissioners dissenting, enables states to lease their rights to 4.9 GHz band airwaves for commercial purposes and for critical infrastructure, such as utilities providing electricity.

The action is aimed at spurring use of the airwaves, which had been reserved for public safety entities like police and fire departments. Only about 2,100 of the public entities have licenses to use the airwaves among the 90,000 that are eligible.

“The status ...