WASHINGTON-The 800 MHz Transition Administrator said Tuesday it is soliciting comments by Jan. 12 as it prepares the transition plan, which is due to the Federal Communications Commission Jan. 31.
Some of the issues on which the administrator is interested in seeking comment include:
- Regions that should be reconfigured simultaneously with others, due to large 800 MHz systems that span regional boundaries or which have integrated spectrum plans with adjacent regions;
- Issues with regions along the Mexican and Canadian borders;
- Regions that should be reconfigured as soon as possible because of interference; and/or
- Regions that should be reconfigured later due to ongoing upgrades or system changes.
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 Transition Administrator team.
The administrator said it is not required to incorporate the comments in its plan but Robert Kelly, outside counsel for the Transition Administrator, said the administrator does not want to limit the comments to just these topics.
“We don’t want to limit people from telling us anything. The questions were meant to spur reaction,” Kelly told RCR Wireless News.
Kelly said the administrator is working on a tentative prioritization plan but he said he couldn’t comment on it.
The administrator also expects to ask the FCC Wednesday to rule that ESMRs must make their rebanding elections by Jan. 21. ESMRs were given three different options as part of the rebanding process.
Nextel Communications Inc. still has more than a month to decide whether it will accept or reject the FCC’s plan.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell said that he has been assured that the proposed merger between Nextel and Sprint Corp. will not impact the 800 MHz rebanding.
