https://urgentcomm.com/wp-content/themes/ucm_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Multimedia
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • Commentary
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • All Things IWCE
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • IWCE
    • Conference
    • Special Events
    • Exhibitor Listings
    • Premier Partners
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Register for IWCE
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
    • Cookie Policy
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • Mission Critical Technologies
    • TU-Auto
  • In the field
    • Back
    • In the field
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Internet of Things
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Call Center/Command
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Network Tech
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Operations
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Regulations
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • Organizations
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
Urgent Communications
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • News
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Video
    • Podcasts
    • Omdia Crit Comms Circle Podcast
    • Galleries
    • IWCE’s Video Showcase
    • Product Guides
  • Commentary
    • Back
    • All Things IWCE
    • Urgent Matters
    • View From The Top
    • Legal Matters
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • UC eZines
    • Sponsored content
  • IWCE
    • Back
    • Conference
    • Why Attend
    • Exhibitor Listing
    • Floor Plan
    • Exhibiting Information
    • Join the Event Mailing List
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Statement
  • Related Sites
    • Back
    • American City & County
    • IWCE
    • Light Reading
    • IOT World Today
    • TU-Auto
  • newsletter
  • In the field
    • Back
    • Internet of Things
    • Broadband Push-to-X
    • Project 25
    • Public-Safety Broadband/FirstNet
    • Virtual/Augmented Reality
    • Land Mobile Radio
    • Long Term Evolution (LTE)
    • Applications
    • Drones/Robots
    • IoT/Smart X
    • Software
    • Subscriber Devices
    • Video
  • Call Center/Command
    • Back
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • NG911
    • Alerting Systems
    • Analytics
    • Dispatch/Call-taking
    • Incident Command/Situational Awareness
    • Tracking, Monitoring & Control
  • Network Tech
    • Back
    • Cybersecurity
    • Interoperability
    • LMR 100
    • LMR 200
    • Backhaul
    • Deployables
    • Power
    • Tower & Site
    • Wireless Networks
    • Coverage/Interference
    • Security
    • System Design
    • System Installation
    • System Operation
    • Test & Measurement
  • Operations
    • Back
    • Critical Infrastructure
    • Enterprise
    • Federal Government/Military
    • Public Safety
    • State & Local Government
    • Training
  • Regulations
    • Back
    • Narrowbanding
    • T-Band
    • Rebanding
    • TV White Spaces
    • None
    • Funding
    • Policy
    • Regional Coordination
    • Standards
  • Organizations
    • Back
    • AASHTO
    • APCO
    • DHS
    • DMR Association
    • ETA
    • EWA
    • FCC
    • IWCE
    • NASEMSO
    • NATE
    • NXDN Forum
    • NENA
    • NIST/PSCR
    • NPSTC
    • NTIA/FirstNet
    • P25 TIG
    • TETRA + CCA
    • UTC
acc.com

content


First deadline looms for rebanding

First deadline looms for rebanding

It may have occurred during the holiday season, but few involved with reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band were celebrating their progress as the first
  • Written by Urgent Communications Administrator
  • 1st January 2006

It may have occurred during the holiday season, but few involved with reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band were celebrating their progress as the first major milestone passed in the three-year project.

Dec. 26 marked the end of the scheduled mandatory negotiation period for Wave 1 licensees operating in channels 1-120, which must first be cleared to enable reorganization of the spectral band. Transition Administrator (TA) officials were unable to identify how many of these licensees had failed to sign frequency reconfiguration agreements (FRA) as of press time, but Sprint Nextel had projected that 70 of these licensees would fall into this category.

These licensees automatically will enter mediation as part of the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process headed by Joe Markoski of Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, the TA’s legal firm, said TA Deputy Project Manager Brett Haan.

Haan said “common sense” would play a key role in the ADR process, noting that he does not expect a lengthy procedure in situations in which Sprint Nextel and the licensee are close to an agreement. And Haan emphasized that the TA’s original schedule remains in place, despite Sprint Nextel asking for an additional eight months in a November letter to the FCC.

“We’d like to get the message out that the timeline for reconfiguration remains unchanged … until they hear otherwise,” Haan said. “The clock is still ticking for this wave and future waves.”

But the schedule does not work for everyone. Although the TA expressed satisfaction with the development of progress-writing software designed to ensure that rebanding does not interfere with interoperability efforts, licensees have been told that the software will not be available until May, said David “Duff” Barney, branch chief of emergency communications for Fairfax County, Va.

That timetable does not work well for Fairfax County, which already has interoperable communications with several other public-safety entities in the Washington, D.C., area. “This isn’t something we hope to do — this is something we’re already using on a daily basis,” Barney said. Without the software, radios in Fairfax County and those used by its partners would have to be reprogrammed multiple times to maintain the interoperable functionality enjoyed today, Barney said.

For this reason, Barney said all the interoperable entities have asked that rebanding operations in the region be conducted at the same time — after the software is available — to let interoperability continue while only reprogramming radios once. Multiple reprogramming of radios is “not only logistically challenging and difficult, it’s expensive,” he said.

As of press time, the entities had not received a reply, Barney said.

Although Barney would like to see the rebanding process slow down, others are anxious for an accelerated pace. Ed Atkins, director of the department of emergency services for Chester County, Pa., said he requested planning funding on July 20 and has yet to receive word whether it will be granted. A conference call with Sprint Nextel and the TA in late December resulted in another conference call being scheduled for January.

Meanwhile, Chester County has been paying a consultant for six months and has two staff technicians working “damn near full time” on rebanding without receiving any money from Sprint Nextel, Atkins said. Given that the FCC’s 800 MHz order was designed to prevent public-safety entities from making such out-of-pocket expenses, it’s a situation Chester County cannot endure much longer, he said.

“We’re fronting [payment to the consultant and in-house staff] out of the county’s general fund right now,” Atkins said. “The point I was making to the TA is that, at some point, that’s going to stop. And, if it stops, then it’s hard to restart something like that.”

In addition, Atkins said he would not agree to any rebanding contract terms that compromise the performance of his EFJohnson system that handles all dispatch communications for 57 fire departments, 44 police departments and 23 ambulance companies in a county with a population of 463,000.

“We worked very long and very hard to get the system we have today, and it’s a superb system,” Atkins said. “I want to make sure that the day after rebanding is done, we still have a superb system.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Steps in the 800 MHz Alternative Dispute Resolution plan. Time references are from the date of reaching the ADR stage, which was Dec. 27, 2005, for Wave 1 licensees in Channels 1-120.

  1. Within five working days, the Transition Administrator (TA) mediator conducts a conference call with the licensee and Sprint Nextel. Sprint Nextel submits its proposal during this period.

  2. Licensee submits its proposal within 10 working days.

  3. Sprint Nextel may reply to the licensee’s proposal within 13 working days.

  4. Mediator has the discretion to let either party amend a proposal or conduct additional conference calls.

  5. If no agreement is reached, mediator prepares a Recommended Resolution within 30 working days.

  6. Sprint Nextel bears burden of proof that facilities are comparable; licensee bears burden of proof regarding the cost of rebanding.

  7. Sprint Nextel and licensee may agree to expedited, non-binding independent arbitration

Tags: content Policy Rebanding

Most Recent


  • NATE: Todd Schlekeway highlights organization's safety, legislative initiatives
    Todd Schlekeway, executive director of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association, discusses many of NATE’s planned activities for 2023, including a legislative visit to Capitol Hill in May, safety/training initiatives, and a broader release of the Vertical Freedom documentary that focuses on the lives of tower climbers in the communication arena.  
  • FAA approves beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights in North Dakota
    The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) avionics company uAvionix received Federal Aviation Administration approval to conduct advanced beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights of small UAVs in North Dakota.  The flights will be conducted at the Northern Plains Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Test Site (NPUASTS) in Grand Forks, one of seven FAA-run UAV test sites in the U.S., using […]
  • Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities
    The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 is a $1.9 trillion legislative package that includes funding for states, local governments and tribal nations to respond to the economic and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While initially restricted, subsequent guidance from the federal government has expanded what those funds can be used for. […]
  • AT&T wireless growth keyed by FirstNet—now provides 24,000 agencies with 4.4 million connections
    AT&T this week reported that FirstNet ended 2022 supporting more than 24,000 public-safety agencies with “about” 4.4 million connections, including 377,000 connections that were added during the last three months of 2022—a total that represents more than half of the carrier’s post-paid wireless growth for the quarter. AT&T officials released these figures in conjunction with […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

To leave a comment login with your Urgent Comms account:

Log in with your Urgent Comms account

Or alternatively provide your name, email address below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • First deadline looms for rebanding
    Newscan: Feds recover millions from pipeline ransom hackers, hint at U.S. Internet tactic
  • Cyber is the new Cold War, and AI is the arms race
  • Private wireless networks in the US start going public
  • Microsoft patches 6 zero-day vulnerabilities under active attack

Commentary


How 5G is making cities safer, smarter, and more efficient

26th January 2023

3GPP moves Release 18 freeze date to March 2024

18th January 2023

Do smart cities make safer cities?

  • 1
6th January 2023
view all

Events


UC Ezines


IWCE 2019 Wrap Up

13th May 2019
view all

Twitter


UrgentComm

Hytera parent cites financial health, but unable to make royalty payment to Motorola Solutions dlvr.it/ShlrlM

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

NATE: Todd Schlekeway highlights organization’s safety, legislative initiatives dlvr.it/ShljHj

1st February 2023
UrgentComm

Cybercrime ecosystem spawns lucrative underground Gig Economy dlvr.it/ShkKbf

31st January 2023
UrgentComm

FAA approves beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) flights in North Dakota dlvr.it/ShgxHW

30th January 2023
UrgentComm

AT&T boasts of core ‘white box’ success in 5G, fiber push dlvr.it/Shgb4w

30th January 2023
UrgentComm

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds: A primer for municipalities dlvr.it/ShgZ52

30th January 2023
UrgentComm

AT&T wireless growth keyed by FirstNet—now provides 24,000 agencies with 4.4 million connections dlvr.it/ShY5qH

27th January 2023
UrgentComm

Report: Remote work causing offices to empty, but walkable cities still in high demand dlvr.it/ShXM7Z

27th January 2023

Newsletter

Sign up for UrgentComm’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about Communications and Technology.

Expert Commentary

Learn from experts about the latest technology in automation, machine-learning, big data and cybersecurity.

Business Media

Find the latest videos and media from the market leaders.

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital and print audiences? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • American City & County
  • IWCE
  • Light Reading
  • IOT World Today
  • Mission Critical Technologies
  • TU-Auto

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Events
  • Careers

FOLLOW Urgent Comms ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.