In letter to FCC Chmn. Powell, group of private wireless users ca...

frequencies at 700, 800 and 900 MHz by more than doubling public safety operators’ current allocation of 9.5 MHz in 800 MHz band (CD Nov 23 p1). Nextel would swap total of 16 MHz in 700 MHz band, specialized mobile radio spectrum at 800 MHz and 4 MHz at 900 MHz. In return, Nextel would receive another 16 MHz in upper 800 MHz band and in 2.1 GHz band. To pave way for public safety users to implement relocation and equipment returning, Nextel would contribute up to $500 million, although private wireless users wouldn’t be similarly compensated under this plan. FCC adoption of existing Nextel plan “would be an unmitigated disaster from an operational and financial standpoint for America’s industrial, transportation and utility sectors,” letter to Powell said. Group estimated that relocated private wireless users from 800 MHz spectrum under Nextel plan would cost incumbents “several billion dollars.” Those users have “assumed additional safety- related responsibilities” since Sept. 11, it said. Letter was signed by Aeronautical Radio Inc. (ARINC), American Assn. of Railroads, American Petroleum Institute, Forest Industries Telecommunications, Industrial Telecommunications Assn., MRFAC Inc. and United Telecom Council. Gist of Nextel proposal was to rejigger users in those bands to mitigate interference between public safety operators and others in 800 MHz band. “This interference solution will disrupt the provision of mission-critical communications and impose billions of dollars on American businesses to relocate operational communications systems that are not causing any interference to public safety operations,” letter said. Group told Powell that “alternative solutions must exist” that wouldn’t impose same set of hardships on private wireless users. It suggested options such as filtering and more reliance on frequency coordination. Letter said utilities and others weren’t convinced that being “evicted” from 800 MHz band would resolve interference issues. Among private wireless licensees in band is FedEx, which has invested $100 million for national 800 MHz internal communications system to coordinate package delivery. Letter said FedEx estimated replacement system at 700 or 900 MHz would cost it “at least $100 million.” American Electric Power (AEP) has invested $100 million in “one of the largest private radio 800 MHz trunked systems” in N. America, group said AEP uses system for transmission crews to perform restoration work on its electrical transmission and distribution network. Letter said ARINC recently began digital service at 9 airports in that spectrum that supported ground operations such as baggage handling.