Letters
Nextel — ‘Allowed to break the law’
First of all, Robert Schwaninger did an excellent job summing up the situation (“Dealing with a Rude Neighbor,” MRT, February 2002). Secondly, after dealing firsthand with Nextel, one thing becomes apparent: It is allowed to break the law. When we have 25kHz spacing on our channels, we use 5kHz or less. Nextel uses the whole 25kHz. If my transmitters were running 25kHz of deviation, my adjacent licensees would scream bloody murder. Nextel uses all 25kHz because it stacks its channels, back to back. If it’s the next user, then it’s no problem; if you’re its neighbor, good luck. I knew I was in trouble when the Nextel field tech used the term “bandwidth” instead of “channel.” It seems its technicians have been brainwashed too.
As a government entity who is looking at having to relocate, most likely at our expense, I’m feeling the sensation of having my back against the wall. If it’s one thing local governments can do, it’s levy taxes. If Nextel won’t pay enough, maybe it’s time all these affected agencies levy an impact fee against commercial wireless sites inside their boundaries. I know our municipality would make out like a bandit. Perhaps the threat of fines would convince these “bandwidth pirates” that playing within the rules is a less expensive alternative. Maybe other wireless carriers would pressure Nextel in the face of taxation.
The beauty of this is, it’s a local solution. The FCC wouldn’t have too much to say about a property permit fee, almost like an alarm permit. If Nextel wants to weasel out of paying the impact fee, it has to come ask those who are suffering directly. Someone will have to pay for the Nextel scheme; $500 million won’t even put a dent in it. Hopefully, the FCC will come to its senses and make Nextel accountable to FCC regulations again.
— Jason Swift
Radio Shop Supervisor
Coral Gables Police Department
Technical Services Division
EDACS Mastr Technician
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