WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is asking for comment on a consensus plan to solve the harmful-interference problem in the 800 MHz band.
Comments on the proposal submitted by Nextel Communications Inc., private-wireless entities and public-safety advocates are due Sept. 23.
The consensus proposal would split the 800 MHz band into two parts-one for cellularized systems and one for non-cellularized systems.
The 700 MHz band is impacted by the consensus plan. If the plan is approved by the FCC, Nextel will give up its spectrum in the 700 MHz and 900 MHz band and will receive 10 megahertz of spectrum in the PCS unlicensed and MSS bands. Private-wireless entities could opt to move to the 900 MHz band and receive more spectrum.
The consensus proposal was submitted to the FCC on the same day as reply comments in the 800 MHz proceeding were due. The FCC had extended the reply comment period by 30 days after the consensus parties said they were close to an agreement.
A restructuring of the 800 MHz band appears to be necessary because public-safety operations which are interleaved among other users are experiencing dead spots due to interference caused by Nextel Communications Inc. and cellular A-block systems, said the FCC in March.
While the public-safety interference problem has been known for several years and there have been attempts to informally solve it in the past including by releasing a best practices guide, Nextel teed up the issue last November when it made a restructuring proposal to the commission.
