Wireless trade organizations seek to transform 900 MHz LMR spectrum to LTE use

Transforming LMR airwaves in a manner that will support LTE usage was proposed last fall by Morgan O’Brien, the founder of Nextel Communications who also was the first to propose a nationwide broadband network for first responders. The joint request from API, EWA and UTC marks the first tangible step toward making O’Brien’s vision a reality, Crosby said.

“This is the light version, because this is the best way to start,” he said. “Sprint’s got the bulk of the spectrum, so it’s a good place to start.”

Indeed, Sprint is deploying LTE throughout the United States and is expected to welcome the opportunity to leverage its 900 MHz spectrum in that effort. However, Crosby acknowledged that there likely will be challenges that the working group will have resolve for the proposed new spectrum plan to be welcomed by all interested parties, including the FCC.

“We might have to look at a guard band and some other things,” he said. “It would real easy to sit down and come up with a list as long as your arm of things we’ve got to look at. Any time you do something, there are things you’ve got to look at, but there’s pretty much an answer for every one of them.

“No one’s ox is going to get gored on this, at least not that I know of.”