FCC requests comments on Guard Band rule changes

The Federal Communications Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making on service rules changes that the agency says may provide greater flexibility to 700 MHz guard-band licensees while maintaining sufficient interference protection for public safety. The agency seeks public comment on the possible changes, which include whether to extend FCC spectrum leasing rules, maintain existing band-manager rules, increase band-manager flexibility by eliminating affiliate leasing restrictions, prohibit cellular architectures within the guard bands, and change the current adjacent-channel power limits in the guard band.

The notice also seeks comments on the guard-band licenses returned from Nextel Communications, which covered 42 of the 52 B Block markets, according to an FCC statement.