WASHINGTON-Nextel Communications Inc. told the Federal Communications Commission Tuesday that interference requirements set out in the FCC’s 800 MHz rebanding plan are not achievable until after the reconfiguration process is complete.
“Commercial mobile radio service carriers cannot meet the new interference protection standards during the reconfiguration transition period during which 800 MHz CMRS, public-safety and private-wireless channels will remain interleaved. The power limits necessary to meet the post-reconfiguration standard in the still-interleaved transition period spectrum environment would typically create significant coverage gaps for Nextel, SouthernLinc and cellular A-band operators,” said Nextel. “CMRS users would experience degraded service, dropped calls and reduced 911-call reliability.”
Nextel proposes the FCC establish a Transition Period Interference Protection Standard to “provide an achievable, enforceable interference definition specifying the rights and responsibilities of all 800 MHz licensees.”
The proposal is one of a series of ongoing clarifications Nextel has sought to the FCC’s rules.
“Within the order there are ambiguities and inconsistencies that have to be clarified,” Geoff Stearn, Nextel vice president of spectrum resources, told RCR Wireless News Sept. 24. “Nextel’ past retuning experience has taught us that we have to address these issues upfront. This will prevent delays and misunderstandings during the process. It is critical that we don’t have any misunderstandings.”
The FCC in July adopted 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. The FCC released the text of the plan-256 pages-in early August.
Once Nextel makes its decision to accept the plan, as strongly hinted by Donahue, the plan is expected to be appealed by either Verizon Wireless or an economic area 800 MHz licensee adversely impacted by the plan.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell, hoping to blunt this avenue, recently asked the Senate Commerce Committee to codify the FCC’s actions but a comprehensive public-safety bill introduced last week by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, ignored Powell’s request.
