WASHINGTON, D.C.-A dozen U.S. associations have asked the Federal Communications Commission to grant an exception to the 800 MHz filing freeze for companies asking only to make minor modifications in existing systems.
The Request for Limited Exception to Application Freeze was filed Thursday on behalf of the American Automobile Association, American Petroleum Institute, American Trucking Associations Inc., Association of American Railroads, Forest Industries Telecommunications, International Taxicab and Livery Association, Manufacturers Radio Frequency Advisory Committee, the Telecommunications Association (UTC), American Mobile Telecommunications Association, Industrial Telecommunications Association Inc., Personal Communications Industry Association and the Telecommunications Industry Association.
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau imposed a freeze on filing applications for the 150 General Category channels in the 800 MHz frequency band on Oct. 4, 1995. The action was taken to avoid compromising new licensing of specialized mobile radio channels at 800 MHz, according to the request.
“The freeze on the filing of applications … has stifled the development of systems established on these channels,” the request states. “The freeze has disadvantaged General Category licensees having a real need to modify their coverage areas or make other minor modifications in system parameters to accommodate changing market conditions or respond to operational business requirements.”
The group suggested the following constraints: only licensees with existing systems would be eligible for an exception, new or subsidiary transmitter sites would have to fall within 65 kilometers of the existing transmitter and modification applications would require certification by a recognized frequency coordinator.
Exceptions would allow licensees to “satisfy future operational requirements without jeopardizing the successful resolution” of additional 800 MHz licensing, the group said. The request also pointed out the FCC said it expected the freeze to be of “limited duration” when it was imposed a year ago.
