Group Offers Public-Sector Support on Wireless Issues

Getting communications on an even keel in the public sector has never been easy—especially if the need has nothing to do with safety or security. Now, a new trade group is aiming to help.

The Government Wireless Technology & Communications Association (GWTCA), which launched last week, will focus on communications technology used throughout the public sector and the companies that distribute that technology, but in contexts outside of public safety. (An example of this might be a city bus.)

In comments to the International Wireless Communication Expo’s Urgent Communications  (opens in a new tab), GWTCA President Chris Lougee said this field has never been properly covered by an industry group—especially on the public-sector side.

“There have been trade associations in the past that have tried to meet the needs of parts of this community,” Lougee told the website. “But, if you’re not carrying guns and hoses or are not in business and industry, you really have not had a focused champion.”

In comments reported by Mission Critical Communications  (opens in a new tab), Lougee noted that the organization would stay focused on ensuring that spectrum access remained available for public-sector wireless technology and said the group would keep an ear to the ground regarding regulatory issues.

“We monitor, advise and advocate policies important to our members and work within the wireless technology and communications communities to support and encourage adoption by regulatory bodies,” Lougee said.

GWTCA Corporate Counsel Alan Tilles said that while the new association would aim high, it would also speak up for niche cases as well.

“We’re talking about folks like transportation and utilities that are governmental entities, but we’re also talking about the dog catcher,” Tilles told Urgent Communications  (opens in a new tab). “For a long time, there have been arguments with the public-safety community over, ‘Gee, are these folks eligible for our spectrum?’ and there has been a dearth of representation before the FCC on their issues.”

(iStock/Thinkstock)