WASHINGTON-FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said Thursday the Federal Communications Commission is seriously considering the 2.1 GHz band as a way to minimize litigation risk to any plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band.
Adelstein said any carrier, presumably referring to Nextel Communications Inc., should be happy to get 10 megahertz of nationwide spectrum in either the 2.1 GHz or 1.9 GHz bands. Adelstein said he believes that any plan the FCC adopts will be taken to court, however, it is best to take a few extra weeks to explore alternatives to reduce litigation risk.
Nextel last week said giving it spectrum in the 2.1 GHz band instead of the 1.9 GHz band to solve the 800 MHz public-safety interference issue would take too long and would not survive a legal challenge.
