Set presentation title in Verdana 36pt. Black

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800 MHz Reconfiguration
Region 39 Presentation
Nashville, TN September 15, 2005
2
History

• Interference first identified in late 1990s
• Nextel worked with public safety and FCC to
  develop Best Practices for resolving 800 MHz
  interference reactively
• In 2001, Nextel filed a White Paper with FCC to
  eliminate interference proactively
• Nextel joined with public safety and private
  wireless carriers in 2002 to create the
  Consensus Plan
• Intense opposition and lobbying occurred during
  2003 and 2004
• FCC issued a decision in August of 2004
• Revised decision was issued in December of 2004
• Nextel accepted responsibilities obligations on
  February 7, 2005
• Nextel commences 800 MHz reconfiguration on June
  27, 2005

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Understanding Interference
Commercial System Design
Public Safety Communications System Design
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2
Interference
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Timeline for Reconfiguration

• February 7 Nextel accepts FCCs decision
• March 11 FCC approves TAs Regional
  Prioritization Plan
• June 27 Reconfiguration commences / Wave 1
  (channels 1- 120)
• October 3 Wave 2 commences (channels 1- 120)
• January 3, 2006 Wave 3 commences (channels 1-
  120)
• April 3, 2006 Wave 4 commences (channels 1- 120)
• June 2008 Reconfiguration scheduled completion

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Current 800 MHz Band
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Reconfiguration Phase I
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Reconfiguration Phase II
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Post Reconfiguration(non-border)
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Requirements

• Reconfiguration Principles
• Sprint Nextel must have Phase I complete in 20
  markets within 18 months (mid-2006)
• Entire nation must be fully complete within 36
  months (except border regions)
• Licensees will have all reasonable costs of
  reconfiguration paid for by Sprint Nextel
• Sprint Nextel (and other cellular carriers) must
  adopt more stringent interference protection
  standards immediately
• Key Objectives
• Minimize disruption to public safety
  communications systems during reconfiguration

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800 MHz ReconfigurationTransition Administrator
Prioritization Map
Reconfiguration will take three years.
Reconfiguration began on June 27, 2005.
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Start Date for Tennessee
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How we all can get it done

• Reconfiguration Sequence
• Transition Administrator releases frequency plans
• Sprint Nextel initiates negotiations with
  licensees
• Sprint Nextel and licensee execute Frequency
  Reconfiguration Agreement
• Sprint Nextel pays all reasonable costs
  associated with reconfiguration
• Typical Reconfiguration Steps
• Sprint Nextels replacement channels added to
  Licensees call sign
• Licensee has both old and newchannels on
  their license
• Sprint Nextel discontinues use of replacement
  channels
• Licensee uses replacement channels for
  reconfiguration
• Retune mobiles, portables and repeaters to
  utilize new channels
• Licensee discontinues use of its original old
  channels
• Licensee cancels old channels from their FCC
  license

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Guard band elections (860s)

• The 800 MHz Order of the Federal Communications
  Commission (FCC) envisions that Public Safety
  entities currently operating in the Expansion
  Band (815-816 MHz/860-861 MHz) will be relocated
  unless they affirmatively elect to remain in the
  Expansion Band
• Costs of Public Safety licensees relocating out
  of the Expansion Band will be paid by Sprint
  Nextel
• Generally, if a licensee does not also have
  frequencies in the 806-809MHz/851-854 MHz range
  that must be reconfigured in the near term, they
  should negotiate and reconfigure in the same
  timeframe as licensees with NPSPAC frequencies
  (821-824 MHz/866-869 MHz)

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Negotiations with licensees

• Affected licensees must enter into an agreement
  with Sprint Nextel before reconfiguration can
  begin
• Sprint Nextel has already begun voluntary
  negotiations with licensees
• Per FCC requirements, Sprint Nextel will proceed
  in this order for each wave
• PHASE I
• Move non-Sprint Nextel, non-Southern LINC
  channels 1-120
• PHASE II
• Relocate NPSPAC licensees currently in 866-869
  MHz band and public safety who elect to move out
  of the 860-861 MHz expansion band.

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Preparing for negotiations

• Validate accuracy of your FCC licenses
• Assemble reconfiguration team
  identify/authorize a representative to consult
  with Sprint Nextel
• Contact your Sprint Nextel representative
• Inventory radio equipment Make and Model (not
  serial )
• Number of mobile units
• Number of combiners
• Number of repeaters
• Number of base stations
• Identify call signs and frequencies to be
  reconfigured
• Develop a detailed list of what needs to be
  changed
• Identify other agencies that interoperate with
  your system
• Prepare a preferred work schedule, including
  times of day to minimize disruption

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Sprint Nextels commitment

• Sprint Nextel, formed by the combination of
  Sprint Corporation and Nextel Communications,
  assumes and will honor all obligations that
  Nextel accepted to implement the FCCs 800 MHz
  reconfiguration plan
• Were committed to a timely and efficient
  reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band
• Well work closely with licensees from
  negotiating reconfiguration agreements through
  retuning the last public safety radio
• Well work to minimize disruption to public
  safety communications systems during
  reconfiguration
• The overriding goal eliminate CMRS interference
  to public safety radios at 800 MHz

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Typical questions

• Who pays for reconfiguration?
• Who handles the paperwork with FCC?
• Can we do the work ourselves?
• Is there anything written for us to review?
• Can Sprint Nextel pay the vendors directly?
• Are dollars available for system upgrades?
• How will I get my new frequencies?
• Others?

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Open for Questions