Private wireless attempts to work with Nextel

Aug 1, 2002 12:00 PM

The Private Wireless Coalition has been meeting with Nextel and public safety groups in an effort to create a compromise that would benefit “a wide cross-section” of those affected by interference at 800 MHz, while minimizing the need for a wholesale relocation in the band, according to Laura Smith, president of the Industrial Telecommunications Association.

The coalition includes several non-profit trade organizations such as the Association of American Railroads, Forest Industry Telecommunications, ITA, MRFAC, National Association of Manufacturers, Personal Communications Industry Association and Small Business in Telecommunications.

Smith gave a broad overview of the proposal as it currently stands:

There would be two blocks of contiguous spectrum with one block for non-cellularized systems (806-816 MHz/851-861 MHz) and one block for cellularized systems (816-824 MHz/861-869 MHz).
The non-cellularized block will consist of public safety, B/ILT and traditional SMR systems.
Nextel will relocate to the cellularized block.
Nextel's vacated B/ILT and SMR licenses will be used to relocate the NPSPAC licensees into the lower band. Some B/ILT and SMR licensees in the general category pool will need to retune to vacated Nextel spectrum in the interleaved channels to clear enough spectrum to move in the NSPAC licensees.
The LMCC and the public safety regional planning committees will work together to develop a comprehensive band plan for the newly created public safety/B/ILT/SMR pool.
Nextel pledges $500 million for funding the relocation costs of the public safety community.
Nextel returns its 700 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum to the FCC (and contributes about 2.5 MHz of the spectrum at 800 MHz to the newly created public safety/B/ILT pool) and receives in exchange 10 MHz of spectrum at 1,910-1,915 MHz/1,990-1,995 MHz. Nextel's 700 MHz spectrum would be designated for public safety use and the 900 MHz spectrum for B/ILT use.

If the compromise can be finalized, it will be submitted to the FCC by Aug. 7.