WASHINGTON-The National Volunteer Fire Council told the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday that it has serious concerns about the Consensus Plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band.
“It is the NVFC’s understanding that the FCC is considering Nextel’s plan and that the company is claiming to have the universal support of the first responder community. I wanted to make you are aware that this simply is not the case. The NVFC had absolutely no input into the crafting of Nextel’s plan,” said NVFC Chairman Philip Stittleburg.
The letter was released by Verizon Wireless, which has been battling Nextel Communications Inc. over whether Nextel should receive spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band as part of a plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band.
The FCC staff recommendation reportedly closely tracks with the Consensus Plan developed by some public-safety advocacy groups, private-wireless entities and Nextel. The staff recommendation would require Nextel to pay perhaps billions more than the $850 million it said it would pay as part of the rebanding agreement. Nextel would pay all of the relocation costs plus the difference between that amount and “fair-market value” of 10 megahertz of spectrum it seeks in the 1.9 GHz band. This recommendation was delivered to the commissioners March 9. The FCC had hoped to vote on the rules at its April 15 meeting, but it was pulled from the agenda at the last minute.
The Consensus Plan would shuffle the 800 MHz band to eliminate the current situation where public safety, private wireless, Nextel, other SMRs and cellular carriers are intermingled. In exchange for giving up spectrum in the 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands and for paying to retune public safety and private wireless, Nextel has asked for 10 megahertz in the 1.9 GHz band. The staff proposal reportedly does not require Nextel to relinquish its 700 MHz and 900 MHz spectrum.
On the other side is the Balanced Approach Plan supported by the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association and the United Telecom Council. The Balanced Approach Plan calls for timely resolution of interference at the expense of the interferer, coupled with technical rules, notification and coordination procedures to prevent new interference.
