New FCC Push for Rebanding

[n4voxgill]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
September 11, 2007 Robert Kenny: (202) 418-2668 or
robert.kenny@fcc.gov

FCC ESTABLISHES NEW BENCHMARKS AND PROCEDURES TO EXPEDITE COMPLETION OF THE 800 MHz REBANDING PROCESS

Washington DC – The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) today adopted a Memorandum Opinion and Order and a companion Public Notice to expedite the 800 MHz rebanding process. Today’s actions reaffirm the Commission’s commitment to providing the public safety community with the communications tools they need to respond appropriately to emergencies and save lives.

In today’s Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission determined that Sprint did not meet the interim 18-month rebanding benchmark established by prior orders, and established additional benchmarks to ensure that the rebanding process proceeds expeditiously. The Order also requires Sprint to complete clearing of all Channel 1-120 incumbents in non-border areas, other than Sprint and SouthernLINC, by December 26, 2007. In addition, Sprint must clear its own Channel 1-120 facilities, and those of SouthernLINC, within 90 days of a request by a public safety licensee to use those channels. For any public safety request made on or after January 1, 2008, Sprint will be required to clear the necessary spectrum within 60 days of the request.

The Commission also affirmed that at the end of the 36-month transition period on June 26, 2008, Sprint must vacate its remaining spectrum in Channels 1-120, as well as other portions of the 800 MHz band that are to be made available to public safety in accordance with prior Commission orders. Under limited circumstances, Sprint may petition to remain on Channel 1-120 channels.

Finally, the Order granted requests by six National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) licensees in Georgia and Pennsylvania for additional time through March 2009 to complete rebanding because of their close proximity to incumbent analog broadcasters using TV Channel 69. The Commission allowed the petitioners to postpone their base station infrastructure retuning until after these broadcasters have vacated the spectrum as part of the nationwide digital television transition.

In the companion Public Notice adopted today, the Commission set forth new procedures and guidance to expedite the rebanding process for all parties involved, including public safety, Sprint, equipment vendors, and the 800 MHz Transition Administrator.

Action by the Commission, September 11, 2007, by Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 07-167) and Public Notice (FCC 07-168). Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate and McDowell. Separate statements issued by Chairman Martin, Commissioners Copps and Tate.

Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Contacts: David Furth, (202) 418-0632 or David.Furth@fcc.gov; Roberto Mussenden, (202) 418-1428 or Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov.

WT Docket No. 02-55

-FCC-

News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission
are available at www.fcc.gov.

 

[claybarnes]

Thanks for posting this. But, what does this mean To me, as an average scanner listener, and Ham radio operator? I'm also a Sprint subscriber. Iv'e never really understood all of these re-banding issues, of course I've never took a close look at them either. Thanks for your help!

 

[n4voxgill]

If you scan any 800 systems that use frequencies between 851 to 855 or 866 to 869 then they will be changing. Plenty of information in the posts on rebanding, you can search for them.

 

[loumaag]

In addition it is explained in detail but in layman terms in the Wiki article on Rebanding.

 

[claybarnes]

Very helpful

The Wiki was very helpful, and did indeed put it in terms anyone can understand. Excellent article!

 

[bezking]

Glad it helped!

The Wiki was very helpful, and did indeed put it in terms anyone can understand. Excellent article!

 

[PolarBear25]

Glad it helped!

So does this mean 12-26-07 is the date all radios will be rebanded by??

 

[n4voxgill]

no it means that by that date, the first 120 channels, 851 to mid 854 must be cleared so that there is room to start moving the 866 systems down as rebanding is completed.

 

[PolarBear25]

no it means that by that date, the first 120 channels, 851 to mid 854 must be cleared so that there is room to start moving the 866 systems down as rebanding is completed.

So when will rebanding start and when will it be complete??

 

[DaveNF2G]

It already started and nobody really knows when it will be complete. As has been pointed out before in this thread, there is plenty of information in the Wiki. There is also a sticky thread about Rebanding.

 

[MtnBiker2005]

Progress in Mexico means 800 MHz rebanding “close” to being done

[ September,2018 Rebanding Update: ]

Looks like it will be fully "completed' , "finished" , "done" in 2019. Only took about 12 years later!!!

There is a “light at the end of [the] tunnel”

Progress in Mexico means 800 MHz rebanding “close” to being done, FCC official tells NPSTC board.

There are 29 licensees in Texas that need to retune their 800 radio systems, as well as 14 California and two in New Mexico, Wilhelm said.

“Most of the U.S. licensees that remain to be retuned are blocked from doing so by stations in Mexico,” Wilhelm said. “We’ve received excellent cooperation from Mexican government and licensees. AT&T Mexico, which was the most significant blocker in Mexico, has finished retuning all of its Mexico stations, and so have some of the other major Mexico users of the 800 MHz band.”

http://urgentcomm.com/rebanding/pro...ose-being-done-fcc-official-tells-npstc-board

 

[mmckenna]

I rebanded my 800MHz trunked system in/around 2008.

Sprint is just now getting around to settling up on the whole thing with us. 10 years. Royal pain in the butt.