APCO Says No Additional Time Needed for 800 MHz Transition
The Assn. of Public-Safety Communications Officials said the group is “very disappointed” about Sprint Nextel’s suggestions (CD Sept 21 p4) that the movement of public safety licensees to other bands in phase 2 of the 800 MHZ rebanding process be suspended so all systems can be moved at one time. Sprint put out a clarification.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
“APCO is very disappointed by Sprint Nextel’s presumption that public safety communications entities are not ready to move forward with the rebanding process,” APCO said in a statement. “Further, APCO International finds no apparent rationale as to how a freeze will enhance the process.”
APCO acknowledged that the process “has not proceeded as expected” and said it “would consider minor adjustments if absolutely necessary to ensure safe and effective rebanding.” APCO added: “Until rebanding is complete, first responders and the public they serve are at risk due to the continued potential for interference.” APCO also said Sprint Nextel was partly to blame since one of the biggest holdups has been the difficulty agencies have faced getting funding to plan for the move. “If public safety has not proceeded with planning it is often because agreements could not be reached with Sprint Nextel regarding the cost of such planning.”
APCO Pres. Wanda McCarley was particularly critical of Sprint. “Public safety agencies have watched their colleagues spend their time and money going through these initial steps and are aware of the great difficulties they have experienced,” McCarley said. “It is certainly not the complexity of the rebanding that gives them pause, but the response from Sprint Nextel.”
Sprint Nextel said Fri. it “continues to accept responsibility” for the retuning. “From the very earliest stages of this project, Sprint Nextel has made it clear that its paramount priority begins and ends with public safety,” the carrier said. “Our commitment to eliminating interference to public safety at 800 MHz is unwavering, and we will fulfill our responsibilities in this project.”
The company said phase one of the retuning is going well -- ahead of schedule. But it said that the 2nd stage is more complicated. “Progress has been slower and more challenging with phase II,” the company said. “If public safety systems are not fully coordinated throughout retuning, the result could severely disrupt the very communications capabilities this proceeding is intended to protect. All of the parties are working very hard, but the process has been more arduous than originally contemplated by all.” The carrier added: “Sprint Nextel believes it would be prudent for the FCC to re-examine the current timeline. To continue without adequate time for public safety to plan for the reconfiguring of their mutual aid channels will result in an unacceptable risk of disruption to their reliable communications.”
The 800 Transition Administration issued a response to Sprint Nextel’s comments. “The schedule for reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band that exists to alleviate the problem of interference has not been changed,” the TA said. “As such, wave 1 stage 2 licensees who have not reached an agreement will enter mediation with Sprint Nextel on Oct. 31, as part of the TA’s alternative dispute resolution process.