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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 14, 2002 |
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654 |
FCC EXPLORES OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR IMPROVING THE SPECTRUM ENVIRONMENT FOR PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS IN THE 800 MHZ BAND
Background:
The Commission has long recognized that the nation's public safety agencies require effective radio communications systems free of harmful interference if they are to adequately protect the safety of lives and property. One of the important bands that the Commission has made available for public safety communications is at 800 MHz, which was first designated for public safety use in 1980. In the ensuing years, public safety agencies have been implementing new systems in this band; but, recently, these systems have been subjected to increasing incidents of harmful interference from neighboring commercial providers. Recent industry and public safety reports have documented the interference problems in the 800 MHz band. The issue of interference in this spectrum has also been raised in a White Paper submitted to the Commission by Nextel Communications, Inc.
Specifics of the NPRM:
In the adopted NPRM the Commission solicits comment on how best to remedy interference to 800 MHz public safety systems consistent with minimum disruption to our existing licensing structure and assurance of sufficient spectrum for critical public safety communications. The FCC also seeks comment on a Petition for Rule Making filed by the Personal Communications Industry Association (PCIA) seeking amendment of Section 90.621 of the Commission's Rules. Finally, by incorporating the record in WT Docket No. 99-87, which deals with matters related to the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the Commission requests comment on the terms and conditions of licenses in the 900 MHz land mobile band if it is used to relocate displaced licensees.
The Commission noted its primary objective in this proceeding is to explore all available options and alternatives for improving the spectrum environment for public safety operations in the 800 MHz Band. Specifically, the adopted NPRM takes the following actions:
- Describes the current configuration of the 800 MHz band for public safety and non-public safety
systems.
- Discusses the causes of interference to public safety communications.
- Tentatively concludes that increasing levels of harmful interference to public safety communications
on the 800 MHz band must be remedied.
- Discusses various means of reconfiguring the 800 MHz band in a manner that will effectively
minimize interference to public safety radio systems from Commercial Mobile Radio Service
(CMRS) stations.
- Requests information on the amount of spectrum sufficient to meet the needs of public safety.
- Discusses means of handling licensing and frequency coordination if the 800 MHz band is
restructured and incumbent 800 MHz licensees are relocated to other suitable bands.
- With respect to any necessary incumbent relocation, discusses potential relocation bands and who
would be reimbursed for relocating and who would pay the associated cost.
- Considers complementary means of reducing interference to 800 MHz public safety communications
in addition to reconfiguration of the 800 MHz frequency band, including receiver standards, stricter
limits on out of band emissions and more robust public safety signals.
- Describes and discusses PCIA's petition for rule making seeking to consolidate the Business and
Industrial/Land Transportation pools.
- Requests comment on the terms and conditions of licenses in the 900 MHz land mobile band if it is
used to relocate displaced licensees.
FCC Contact: Michael Wilhelm at (202) 418-0870 or e-mail at mwilhelm@fcc.gov
WT Docket No. 02-55