WASHINGTON-The 800 MHz Transition Administrator said that ESMRs have until Jan. 21 to decide how they want to be relocated as part of the Federal Communications Commission’s plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band.
“ESMRs employing cellular-type systems in the 800 MHz band must elect one of the following options: 1) to relocate all of their systems in a market into the new ESMR portion of the 800 MHz band; 2) to relocate their systems as close as possible to the new ESMR band but remain in the non-cellular portion of the band operating on a strict non-interference basis; or 3) to remain on their current channels on a strict non-interference basis,” said the administrator. “Non-ESMR economic area licensees and other non-ESMR licensees eligible to make various relocation elections as part of the 800 MHz reconfiguration process will be provided guidance related to their elections in the near future.”
The election deadline is Jan. 21 and elections must be made both electronically and by mail.
As part of its plan to solve public-safety interference in the 800 MHz band, the FCC selected a Transition Administrator to act as an independent third party. Consulting firm BearingPoint, law firm Squire-Sanders-Dempsey L.L.P. and Baseline Telecom Inc. comprise the team.
The Transition Administrator must submit its regional prioritization plan to the FCC by Jan. 31.
The FCC in July adopted a plan to solve the public-safety interference problem, swap some spectrum with Nextel Communications Inc. and have Nextel pay to move other companies off the spectrum Nextel would receive. The FCC released the text of the plan in early August and clarified it in late December.
Nextel has agreed to merge with Sprint Corp. but FCC Chairman Michael Powell said he has been assured that the proposed merger will not impact the 800 MHz rebanding plan. Nextel is scheduled to either accept or reject the plan as clarified by Feb. 7.
