United Telecom Council (UTC) said it still opposes mandatory re-b...
United Telecom Council (UTC) said it still opposes mandatory re-banding of 800 MHz band to resolve interference to public safety operators. Nextel, public safety operators and coalition of private wireless licensees last week submitted revised spectrum swap plan to…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
FCC designed to alleviate public safety interference at 800 MHz (CD Aug 8 p1). In part, plan would split 800 MHz band into 2 contiguous blocks, with public safety, business/industrial land transportation and traditional Specialized Mobile Radio licensees remaining in 20 MHz noncellular block and Nextel relocating to 16 MHz cellularized block. UTC said it couldn’t back mandatory re-banding plan because it: (1) Wouldn’t resolve interference. (2) Didn’t suggest funding mechanism. (3) Would “greatly” disrupt systems of existing users. UTC said it instead has proposed specific recommendations for stricter technical rules and responsibility for resolving interference. UTC said those causing interference should have to resolve it in “reasonable timeframe” and at their own cost. “However, all parties using the 800 MHz band should have the flexibility to exchange frequencies and voluntarily retune to achieve rebanding as needed,” group said. Specifically, UTC said Nextel compromise plan leaves several questions unanswered, including funding source for forced retuning, how Canadian and Mexican border frequencies would be handled and whether “proposed technology restrictions will stifle the implementation of more efficient systems.”