FCC: Negotiations on 800 MHz border pacts progressing

U.S. officials have begun 800 MHz spectrum-coordination discussions with representatives from Canada and Mexico, border countries with which treaties must be reached before the U.S. can complete its rebanding effort in the 800 MHz band to alleviate interference with public-safety communications.

Rebanding is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2008, but most Wave 4 licensee relocations cannot begin until the U.S. has signed coordination agreements with Canada or Mexico. Officials for the Transition Administrator team overseeing the rebanding effort have indicated that such an agreement with Mexico likely will be more difficult to reach from a technical standpoint because of the manner in which Mexico allocates its airwaves in the 800 MHz band.