CloseSpectrum Spotlight
On February 7, 2005, Nextel accepted the FCC 800 MHz Rebanding Order.
On January 31, 2005, the 800 MHz Transition Administrator (TA) submitted a Regional Prioritization Plan (RPP) to the FCC that identifies proposed time lines for relocation of affected 800 MHz licensees. The FCC will review and formally address this plan in the coming months, as well as confirm a final prioritization plan.
The RPP recommended a four wave approach, as follows:
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Wave 1 |
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6 - Northern California |
27 - Nevada |
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7 - Colorado |
28 - Eastern PA (E. of Harrisburg, South NJ & DE) |
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8 - Metro, NYC Area (NY,NJ,CT) |
35 - Oregon |
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11 - Hawaii |
41 - Utah |
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13 - Illinois (Except S. Lake MI Counties) |
42 - Virginia |
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14 - Indiana (Except S. Lake MI Counties) |
45 - Wisconsin (Except S. Lake MI Counties) |
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19 - New England |
54 - S. Lake MI (Great Lakes inc. WI, IL, IN & MI), except that part of Region 54 in MI. |
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20 - District of Columbia, Maryland, N. VA |
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Wave 2 |
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4 - Arkansas |
34 - Oklahoma |
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12 - Idaho |
38 - South Dakota |
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15 - Iowa |
39 - Tennessee |
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16 - Kansas |
40 - Texas (Central & Northern) |
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17 - Kentucky |
44 - West Virginia |
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18 - Louisiana |
46 - Wyoming |
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22 - Minnesota |
47 - Puerto Rico |
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24 - Missouri |
48 - US Virgin Islands |
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25 - Montana |
49 - Texas - Central (Austin Area) |
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26 -Nebraska |
51 - Texas - East (Houston Area) |
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32- North Dakota |
52 - Texas - (Panhandle, High Plains & NW (Lubbock Area) |
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Wave 3 |
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1 - Alabama |
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9 - Florida |
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10 - Georgia |
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23 - Mississippi |
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31 - North Carolina |
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37 - South Carolina |
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Wave 4 |
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2 - Alaska |
33 - Ohio |
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3 - Arizona |
36 - Western Pennsylvania |
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5 - Southern California |
43 - Washington |
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21 - MI (Except S. Lake MI Counties), and that portion of Region 54 in MI. |
50 - Texas- West & Central (Midland Area) |
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29 - New Mexico |
53 - Texas- Southern (San Antonio) |
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30 - Eastern Upstate New York |
55 - Western Upstate New York |
Key elements of the Plan:
The RPP time line for each wave consists of voluntary negotiation periods, mandatory negotiation periods, and physical reconfiguration periods.
The RRP indicated that entities with systems operating in multiple regions that are listed in more than one wave should begin negotiations with the first wave where they are impacted.
The TA, however, encourages all multi-region/multi-wave systems to work with Nextel and the TA to start negotiations at the same time as Wave 1, regardless of whether they have operations in any of the regions within that wave.
Provided the FCC accepts the RPP as submitted, June 27, 2005 would be the Reconfiguration Start Date for Wave 1. Voluntary relocation negotiations would begin with Nextel and incumbent licensees in Wave 1 beginning on this date. Two succeeding waves are staged three months apart; i.e. October 3, 2005 for Wave 2 and January 3, 2006 for Wave 3.
Wave four is comprised of a number of significant border regions awaiting international treaty agreements with Mexico and Canada before reconfiguration of these border regions can begin. Wave 4 has a scheduled start date of April 3, 2006 with contingency on the outcome of the treaties with these countries. Some border regions have very low system densities within their border areas (i.e. New England and several mid-Western Regions) and are included in scheduled NPSPAC regions for reconfiguration in the first waves.
The FCC will release a Public Notice to announce when each relocation wave will begin.
The time line submitted by the TA is as follows:
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18 Months |
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Regional Prioritization Plan Timeline |
2005 Q3 |
Q4 |
2006 Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
2007 Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
2008 Q1 |
Q2 |
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Wave 1 1-120Negotiations |
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Wave 1 1-120 Reconfiguration |
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Wave 1 NPSPAC Negotiations |
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PN Windows |
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Wave 1 NPSPAC |
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Wave 2 1-120 Negotiations |
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Wave 2 1-120 Reconfiguration |
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Wave 2 NPSPAC Negotiations |
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PN Window |
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Wave 2 NPSPAC |
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Wave 3 1-120 Negotiations |
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Wave 3 1-120 Reconfiguration |
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Wave 3 NPSPAC Negotiations |
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PN Window |
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Wave 3 NPSPAC |
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Wave 4 1-120 Negotiations |
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Wave 4 1-120 Reconfiguration |
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Wave 4 NPSPAC Negotiations |
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PN Window |
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Wave 4 NPSPAC |
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The industry awaits action by the FCC related to the relocation plan. The Spectrum Firm will provide an update following such action by the FCC.
If you have questions or requirements for any level of support as you are impacted by this FCC ruling please contact Tina Jackson at the contact information below. A list of 800MHz relocation services provided by The Spectrum Firm can be viewed by visiting our website at www.thespectrumfirm.com .
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Tina Jackson |
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(858) 484-8502 |
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