Public Safety Groups Want Quick FCC Action on Interleaved 800 MHz Channels
Leading public safety groups last week urged the FCC to wrap up a decision on a deadline by which Sprint Nextel must clear so-called 800 MHz interleaved channels. That’s a key unresolved issue in the 800 MHz rebanding aimed at separating commercial and public safety operations in that band. APCO, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Association of Fire Chiefs signed the letter, which one official said shows that the groups continue to work together on many issues such as 800 MHz rebanding.
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“We urge the Commission to move forward now to resolve this issue without further delay,” the letter said. “Public safety agencies across the nation are anxious to apply for and deploy essential operations on the interleaved channels. Each month of delay further postpones the application process and implementation of these new public safety communications capabilities.”
“It’s been delayed now twice. We're just anxious to get a decision,” a safety official said Friday. In June, the three groups asked the FCC to set a firm July 1, 2009, deadline by which Sprint must clear, on 60 days’ notice, any interleaved channels below 815/860 MHz on which a safety agency is ready to operate as part of the ongoing 800 MHz rebanding. Sprint has balked at that deadline, but safety groups would have “preferred a more aggressive schedule” than the 2009 deadline, they have said.
“Sprint appreciates the FCC’s continuing consideration of our proposal for a staged transition of the interleaved spectrum and remains ready and committed to working with public safety licensees to complete rebanding as quickly as possible and with minimal disruption to all licensees,” the company said Friday in a written statement.
In June, the FCC granted Sprint a conditional waiver from a requirement that it clear 800 MHz channels 1 to 120 before receiving compensatory spectrum from public safety, but the agency twice has put off deciding on the interleaved channels (CD June 16 p1). The stakes are high for Sprint, which needs the channels as a core band for continued iDEN operations during the 800 MHz rebanding. Sprint officials warn that if Sprint must clear the channels before getting compensatory spectrum from public safety, it could wreck Sprint’s 800 MHz network.