FCC to establish advisory panels for its new ERIC

The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) has empowered the chief of its Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to establish advisory bodies – and select the appropriate members of those bodies – to help implement its new Emergency Response Interoperability Center, nicknamed ERIC.

ERIC is tasked with ensuring that the 700 MHz public safety broadband wireless network will be fully operable and interoperable on a nationwide basis, both day-to-day and during times of emergency.

ERIC will be expected to establish interoperability standards and develop technical and operational procedures for the 700 MHz public safety broadband wireless network.

“The Commission also anticipates that over time, ERIC may perform similar functions with respect to other public safety communications systems,” explains the FCC in a final rule it published in the Federal Register on May 20.

The rules and requirements ERIC will develop “may involve such issues as interoperability, roaming, priority access, gateway functions and interfaces, interconnectivity of public safety broadband networks, authentication and encryption, and requirements for common public safety broadband applications,” says the FCC’s notice.

Further information is available from Jennifer Manner at 202-418-3619 or Jennifer.manner@fcc.gov.