IAFC NEWS ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: IAFC Government Relations
703/273-0911
FCC adopts Consensus Plan on July 8th
Some organizations still oppose
Fairfax, Va., August 3, 2004…A recent dust-up shows that not all organizations are satisfied with the unanimous decision the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made on July 8, 2003 regarding the Consensus Plan to eliminate interference in the 800 MHz radio band.
The FCC adopted a plan to resolve the ongoing and growing problem of interference to public safety radio systems operating in the 800 MHz band. The new band plan for the 800 MHz band will address the root cause of the interference problem by separating generally incompatible technologies. The costs of relocating 800 MHz incumbents are to be paid by Nextel Communications, Inc.
To accomplish the reconfiguration, the Commission will require Nextel to give up rights to certain of its licenses in the 800 MHz band and all of its licenses in the 700 MHz band. In exchange, the Commission will modify Nextel’s licenses to provide the right to operate on two five-MHz blocks in a different part of the spectrum – specifically 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz – conditioned on Nextel fulfilling certain obligations specified in the Commission’s decision.
The Commission determined that the overall value of the 1.9 GHz spectrum rights is $4.8 billion, less the cost of relocating incumbent users. In addition, the Commission concluded that it would credit to Nextel the value of the spectrum rights that Nextel will relinquish and the actual costs Nextel incurs to relocate all incumbents in the 800 MHz band. To the extent that these combined credits total less than the determined value of the 1.9 GHz spectrum rights, Nextel will make an anti-windfall payment to the U.S. Dept. of Treasury at the conclusion of the relocation process equal to the difference.
The Consensus Plan was the solution recommended by public safety organizations like the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) and the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and supported by the majority of business and industrial users in the 800MHz band.
The FCC must now publish its report and order to spell out, in great detail, the terms and conditions of its July 8th unanimous decision. That is expected some time this month. Then, Nextel will have to carefully evaluate the order. Nextel must agree to the report and order for the FCC decision to be activated.
In the meantime, CTIA, an association which represents the cellular industry and is an opponent of the Consensus Plan, has written a letter to Chief Mitchell stating that since the FCC has spoken, it will now work with the IAFC and other public safety organizations to remedy the interference as quickly as possible. Chief Mitchell said: “I greet this news warmly and look forward to working with CTIA and others to resolve the dangerous situations caused by interference in public safety radios.” As for those organizations not yet on board with the Consensus Plan, Chief Mitchell reminds us that this is a free country. But the IAFC will continue work proactively and vigorously to support and implement the Consensus Plan.
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