WASHINGTON-If attendees at the Private Wireless Summit, sponsored by the Industrial Telecommunications Association, thought FCC Chairman Michael Powell would tip his hand as to how the Federal Communications Commission will solve the public-safety interference problem in the 800 MHz band, they were disappointed.
“Finding a workable solution is an absolute priority,” said Powell, noting it was a complicated problem.
It was clear both during his remarks and speaking with reporters after that Powell had no intention of giving any clues as to which way the FCC is leaning in trying to solve the problem.
“You know how complicated this is. We are trying multiple variables and scenarios to try and understand what would happen, to try and understand what the consequences would be. At the end of the day, we will have to do what we think is best for the public. Nextel (Communications Inc.) and other companies will have to do what is best for them as private companies, but it is fair to say that we do take into account what we think the actions of various parties will be as a result of some of the judgements we make,” said Powell.
Such guidance to the wireless industry as a whole would be helpful because signals coming from the chiefs of the Office of Engineering and Technology and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau seem to differ, with OET on the technical side and the wireless bureau on the rebanding side.
While there are a variety of different options that could be used, there are two plans on the table.
ITA is one of the sponsors of the consensus plan. It would split the 800 MHz band into two parts-one for cellularized systems and one for non-cellularized systems. It is also sponsored by Nextel, which would receive 10 megahertz of spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band and has offered to pay $850 million as part of the plan, and some public-safety advocates.
The balanced-approach proposal, sponsored by the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, and the United Telecom Council, calls for timely resolution of current interference at the expense of the interferer, coupled with technical rules, notification and coordination procedures to prevent new interference.
Following Powell’s appearance, a panel discussed the issue of interoperability where a theme emerged about the need for public-safety agencies to cooperate before they can interoperate.
“One of the biggest challenges is the change to interoperability,” said Lt. Eddie Reyes of the Alexandria, Va., Police Department. “Now we have to overcome the political obstacles and the stigmas. The police have never talked to the fire department, (and some have questioned) why they have to now.”
