Coalition of commercial wireless operators, manufacturers and pri...

that for Commission and Congress to give adequate consideration to plan, delay was needed in 700 MHz auction now set for June 19. Backers of alternative spectrum reconfiguration plan include AT&T Wireless, Cingular Wireless, Southern LINC, Alltel, Nokia. New proposal would relocate public safety from 800 MHz to 700 MHz and reallocate some 700 MHz spectrum now specified for commercial use to public safety. That would exclude guard bands at 700 MHz that already have been auctioned, coalition said. “The coalition acknowledges that any relocation of public safety to the 700 MHz band designated for commercial use will require legislative action,” it said. “While it is premature to assume that the necessary statutory changes will be enacted into law, it is equally premature to eliminate the coalition’s proposal from consideration by going forward with the auctions on the scheduled date.” Specifically, proposal would: (1) Give all of Ch. 60-69 to public safety, including spectrum already allocated for public safety operations, for total of 54 MHz. (2) Allow some spectrum to be used for homeland security, wireless priority access service, critical infrastructure. (3) Move existing 800 MHz public safety users to 700 MHz. (4) Auction vacated 800 MHz public safety spectrum and use proceeds to help relocate public safety to 700 MHz. (5) Require broadcasters to exit upper 700 MHz band by Dec. 31, 2006, “or sooner.” Filing said that compared to Nextel proposal, which would increase public safety spectrum to 44 MHZ from current 33.5 MHz, new plan would increase spectrum for those users to 54 MHz. Nextel plan would swap 4 MHz of guardband spectrum in 700 MHz band, 8 MHz of specialized mobile radio (SMR) spectrum in lower noncontiguous channels of 800 MHz and 4 MHz of SMR spectrum at 900 MHz. Nextel would receive another 16 MHz at 800 MHz and from reserve MSS spectrum, without auction’s being held. Nextel plan would reimburse public safety users for relocation costs, but private wireless operators that were dislocated wouldn’t be similarly covered. Coalition touted its proposal as not requiring such relocations for private wireless operators and giving them opportunity to acquire additional spectrum at auction. Legislation would be required under plan to: (1) Delay auction of 700 MHz from June 19 date. (2) Allocate upper 700 MHz band to public safety. (3) Reallocate 800 MHz band vacated by public safety. (4) Target revenue from auction so it could be used for public safety users who must relocate. (5) Set timeline for analog broadcasters to vacate upper band of 700 MHz. Late Fri., the FCC established pleading schedule for application for review filed by CTIA over Wireless Bureau decision to keep June 19 auction date intact for 700 MHz. Under expedited schedule, oppositions to petition are due May 3 and there will be no reply period.