ITA supports FCC action to open up 800MHz/900MHz bands
Washington—The FCC granted UTC’s request for certification to provide frequency coordination services in the 800MHz and 900MHz business and industrial land transportation categories. The order concluded that all coordinators—including ITA—are qualified to coordinate the two bands.
The Industrial Telecommunications Association is pleased that the commission went beyond the UTC petition and opened up competition above 800MHz to all coordinators. This action allows ITA to coordinate the business pool channels above 800MHz.
Previously, the association could only coordinate the I/LT channels above 800MHz. ITA supports competition between coordinators; it drives down the cost of services to the consumers and increases the level of services available. The FCC also included rules for dissemination of information among 800MHz and 900MHz coordinators that mirror the existing rules between frequency coordinators for private wireless bands below 512MHz. For instance, frequency coordinators are required to notify other FACs of their certifications within 24 hours and handle disputed authorizations with amendments to the application or appropriate justification showing that the application will not affect incumbent systems.
This action is the FCC’s second major step to introduce competition into frequency coordination. In 1997, the commission consolidated the 20 private land mobile radio services below 512MHz into two pools: public safety and industrial/business. ITA supported that move as well, according to a statement from ITA.