Deal with Canada on 800 MHz Near, But Problems with Mexico Remain
BALTIMORE -- The FCC is close to an agreement with Canada that will resolve 800 MHz rebanding issues for public safety licensees along the border, David Furth, associate chief of the FCC Public Safety Bureau, said Thursday at the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials meeting. He said an agreement with Mexico will be more difficult to reach. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin cited border questions as among the most difficult to resolve as the rebanding continues (CD Aug 8 p2). Those issues were characterized as some of the toughest to work through when the completed order was discussed at the APCO meeting in Montreal three years ago (CD Aug 10/04 p2).
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“I think that we're at a point where we do have more promising news to deliver, particularly on the Canadian front,” Furth said. Canada is easy largely because, under its bandplan, 806-809 MHz is already allocated for use by the U.S. for public safety communications. “It appears to us that we don’t need major adjustments in the agreement with Canada in order to proceed,” Furth said. Once an agreement is reached, the bureau will put out a public notice with the reconfigured bandplan and seek comment.
Mexico, however, has allocated the frequencies to Mexican use. “That limits our ability under the current agreements to use that spectrum for public safety,” Furth said. “It is a critical priority of the commission to change the configuration of the agreements.” Furth said he and other FCC officials have been to Mexico twice the past four months as negotiations continue. Once agreement is reached the bureau, will seek comment on that plan as well.
Furth said he’s pleased with progress that public safety licensees and Sprint Nextel have made in recent months on working out agreements, even with the border issues unresolved. He counseled agencies to move forward as much as possible on rebanding their systems while talks continue.
“Compared to the similar session I attended a year ago… we actually have made a good deal of progress,” Furth said. “This can be done. We can get through this… The commission is turning up the heat we do want to see everyone work harder. We are going to be applying pressure to everyone.”