WASHINGTON-FCC Chairman Michael Powell called on Congress today to codify the agency’s recently adopted plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band. Such a move would mean that Nextel Communications Inc. would not have to approve the measure to swap spectrum so Nextel’s commercial system would not interfere with public-safety networks.
Powell suggested the language could say that notwithstanding any other provision of law, the FCC’s action is the law of the land. Powell made the comments while testifying before the Senate Commerce Committee on a hearing on public-safety interoperability.
The FCC in August presented a plan to solve the interference problem, swap some spectrum with Nextel and have Nextel pay to move other companies off the spectrum band Nextel would receive. Nextel has not yet said whether it will agree to the plan. Powell’s suggestion that Congress make the Consensus Plan law could be one way of getting around Nextel having to OK the plan.
