Airtime service provider would relocate Nextel

Aug 8, 2002 12:00 PM

After reviewing comments filed in the FCC WT Docket No. 02-55 proceeding to improve public safety communications and eliminate interference in the 800 MHz band, a Las Vegas, Nev., airtime service provider said that it changed its mind about resolving interference on a case-by-case basis.

“The cause of interference can be traced directly to the low-site, digital, cellular-type architecture employed by Nextel. In our comments, we suggested that interference could be solved on a case-by-case basis. That has worked for us to this point,” a reply comment filed by Commercial Radio & Television reads. The company operates conventional SRM systems and business radio systems in the Las Vegas area.

“After reviewing the comments, [we] believe that the best long-term solution is to remove Nextel from the 800 MHz band. … Commenters from all segments of the industry raised doubts as to whether rebanding would provide sufficient relief to justify the turmoil that it would cause. Based on our reading of the comments, most experts see little or no advantage to rebanding. We concur,” Commercial Radio wrote.

The radio system operator said that even if rebanding were viewed as a sufficient solution, its potential is obstructed by a the near-impossibility of implementation.

“Any attempt to retune the tens of thousands of radios in operation today to new channels would result in massive interference. Even if the frequency coordination issues could be handled, knowing a new frequency to move to does not mean that the former licensee has vacated the channel on the date you retune. Suddenly, existing and retuned licensees are sharing the same channels, with the result being that neither system operates properly,” Commercial Radio’s reply comment reads.

The company advised the FCC that moving Nextel to a new band would suffer none o f the retuning and transition issues. It would eliminate funding issues for public safety and other 800 MHz licensees.

“Nextel could move at the pace set by the FCC, presumably in its natural equipment replacement cycle. As Nextel transitions out of 800 MHz, the interference goes away, and new 800 MHz spectrum becomes available for public safety, private or conventional SMR operators. In addition, Nextel gets the clear and contiguous spectrum that it has desired for years,” Commercial Radio told the FCC.