The Federal Communications Commission would be wise to continue to explore possible technical solutions to the interference problem to public-safety systems caused in some areas by Nextel Communications Inc.
One proposed solution before the FCC, called the Consensus Plan, is controversial and rightly so. Perhaps one of the biggest problems with the plan is that it is an all-or-nothing solution.
As it stands now, any tinkering with the Consensus Plan hammered out by these diverse groups of public safety, private wireless and Nextel could unravel the entire agreement. Word is there is not all that much consensus behind the Consensus Plan. The groups behind the Consensus Plan want the commission to approve the entire meal, not pick and choose pieces of it. They say the only possible solution is to re-band the 800 MHz band to have one section for Nextel and other commercial users and a separate section for private wireless. In addition, Nextel would get some spectrum at 1.9 GHz.
CTIA and others fighting the consensus proposal are quick to point out its flaws. CTIA thinks getting free access to 2 GHz spectrum is just a little too sweet for Nextel. The lobbying group also is quick to point out that “Nextel will be granted for free 10 megahertz of spectrum in exchange for an initial $25 million contribution and a promise to pay the remainder of its insufficient commitment over time,” CTIA and UTC said in a recent FCC filing. At least one source has pegged the re-banding effort cost at nearly $3 billion, and the CTIA/UTC coalition is skeptical that Nextel will offer that much.
However, CTIA’s solution basically calls for more of the same-judging each interference issue as it happens. That doesn’t sound too promising for the affected parties.
But now that industry and government have been spurred to try to solve the issue, it might finally garner enough attention to warrant a closer look at “easier” solutions, such as antenna fixes. Indeed, it is the government asking Motorola Inc. and other companies for possible technical fixes to the interference.
Bringing the issue to the front burner, even with a controversial plan, is at least one small step closer to resolving it.
