EWA Reaffirms Support for BART's 4.9 GHZ Waiver

April 7, 2026

The Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) filed reply comments yesterday with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reaffirming support for the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District's (BART) application and waiver request to continue deployment of its 4.9 GHz communications system.

Surprisingly, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, International (“APCO”), whose website states it advocates on behalf of public safety, also filed Reply Comments in the proceeding opposing BART’s waiver request. The Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (“PSSA”), whose website describes it as “an alliance amongst the nation’s leading public safety leaders and associations,” had filed Comments in the proceeding in which it also opposed grant of BART’s waiver request. In EWA’s view, the arguments made by both organizations are unpersuasive.

APCO and PSSA urged the FCC to defer the decision to a Band Manager who will eventually be selected by the FCC to manage the band while protecting incumbent systems. Such a delay of unknown duration, given the FCC has not begun the selection process, will increase costs and delay improved service to, and safety for, the more than 400,000 riders BART serves every day. Notably, BART itself is an incumbent that the Band Manager would be charged with protecting.

Moreover, no other incumbent licensees that APCO states are operating in the BART service area or prospective users have raised any objection to the BART request. Public safety entities, including BART, are fully aware of their need to cooperate and coordinate in use of this and other spectrum bands.

BART is precisely the type of public safety entity the FCC had in mind when it invited waiver filings in the current freeze and EWA urged the Commission to reject efforts to delay the project and proceed with consideration of BART’s waiver request.

About the Enterprise Wireless Alliance

EWA is an FCC-certified frequency advisory committee that provides license preparation, spectrum management and associated services to business enterprises, private carriers, public safety entities and wireless sales and service organizations. Membership within EWA is open to users of wireless communications systems, vendors, system operators and service organizations. Additional information about membership and services is available at www.enterprisewireless.org.

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