WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission said late Thursday it will vote July 8 on its solution to the public-safety interference problem in the 800 MHz band, but that won’t be the end of the issue since the actual rules will be released at a later date and are expected to be appealed.
“The FCC will consider rules concerning reconfiguring the 800 MHz band to abate interference being encountered by public-safety communications systems and other 800 MHz systems that do not employ cellular architecture. Related rules implement changes in other bands made necessary to facilitate 800 MHz band reconfiguration,” reads the agenda.
FCC staff sent a proposal to the commissioners in March, and since then the wireless industry has been lobbying its various points of view. The FCC met in April, May and June without discussing the issue.
The notice on the sunshine agenda means that the furious lobbying is now halted until the rules are released but the parties kept it up until the last minute. After the rules are published in the Federal Register, there will be a period for reconsideration petitions and inevitable court cases.
