Order Code RL32408
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Spectrum Policy:
Public Safety and Wireless
Communications Interference
Updated February 6, 2006
Linda K. Moore
Analyst in Telecommunications and Technology Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

---

Spectrum Policy: Public Safety and Wireless
Communications Interference
Summary
In mid-2005, wireless communications managers commenced the process of
moving selected public safety radio channels to new frequencies. This is the first
step in a three-year plan to move public safety users to new channels in order to
mitigate persistent problems with interference to their radio communications. The
interference usually takes the form of dropped calls or dead spaces with radio
transmissions — primarily to or from first responders — in certain frequencies. The
majority of documented incidents of interference have been attributed to the network
operated by Nextel Communications, Inc. Nextel in 2005 completed a merger with
Sprint Corporation, creating the U.S.’s third-largest mobile company. Its new
corporate name is Sprint Nextel. As part of an agreement originally made between
Nextel and the Federal Communications Commission, some public safety wireless
users will be moved to new frequencies, with the wireless company paying all or part
of the cost. This agreement is not affected by the merger. In return for these
expenditures, and reflecting the value of spectrum that Sprint Nextel will be
relinquishing, the FCC will assign new spectrum to the wireless company.
The rebanding plan is being implemented by the 800 MHz Transition
Administrator (TA), created by the FCC for this purpose. The TA is to set priorities,
establish schedules, and oversee reimbursement to parties for eligible expenses
associated with relocation. Disagreements about the implementation of the plan that
the TA cannot resolve on its own or through mediation will in most cases be referred
to the FCC. There are ongoing debates about the transition plan, such as maintaining
interoperability, scheduling, and reimbursement for costs incurred. If resolution of
problems created by the rebanding appears unacceptable, public safety and others that
use the affected frequencies could seek assistance from Congress.

---

Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Highlights of the FCC Rebanding Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Interference at 800 MHz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Benefits of Rebanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Costs of Rebanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Transition Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Recent Congressional Activity Regarding Relocation Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

---

Spectrum Policy: Public Safety and Wireless
Communications Interference
Introduction
Broadcasting — whether it be radio, television, wireless telecommunications or
other transmission technology — is subject to various types of signal interference,
even when operating within assigned frequencies. The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) regulates commercial radio, television, commercial wireless
services, and state and local public safety and other non-federal users of radio
frequency spectrum. Its primary tool in dealing with interference to wireless
transmissions is to prevent it by the judicious allocation of radio frequencies,
following band plans designed to preclude or minimize most types of interference.
In the case of frequencies at 800 MHz,1 interference is being caused primarily by
transmissions from commercial cell phone towers, many of which are part of Sprint
Nextel’s “push to talk” network.2 When the frequencies in the 800 MHz band were
first assigned, the FCC did not anticipate that channels in that band intended for short
messages over commercial mobile radio (used by taxi dispatchers, for example)
would — with time, technology, and soaring consumer demand for wireless service
— be converted to a heavily-trafficked national cell phone network operated by
Nextel Communications, Inc. The commercial allocations at 800 MHz were closely
interleaved with public safety allocations, with the expectation that the (presumably)
low-usage commercial assignments would act as buffers to prevent interference with
public safety channels.
The FCC announced on July 8, 2004 that it had agreed upon a rebanding plan
to consolidate public safety frequencies and those used by some other operators, such
as utilities, in the lower part of the 800 MHz band, while moving some of the 800
MHz channels acquired by Nextel, and some other commercial users, to the higher
end of the band. The subsequent merger between Sprint Corporation and Nextel,
creating Sprint Nextel, does not alter the agreement reached between the FCC and
1 Radio frequency spectrum is measured in hertz. Radio frequency is the portion of
electromagnetic spectrum that carries radio waves. The distance an energy wave takes to
complete one cycle is its wavelength. Frequency is the number of wavelengths measured
at a given point per unit of time, in cycles per second, or hertz (Hz). Typical designations
are: kHz — kilohertz or thousands of hertz; MHz — megahertz, or millions of hertz; and
GHz — gigahertz, or billions of hertz.
2 In a letter it filed with the FCC, dated May 16, 2003, Nextel wrote: “Ten percent of all
public safety agencies licensed at 800 MHz have reported experiencing interference from
the lawful operations of Nextel [and others].” This letter and other comments can be found
by going to the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) on the FCC website
[http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/]. In ECFS, click “Search for Filed Comments,” insert “02-
55” in the box marked “Proceeding,” and then search the file.

---

CRS-2
Nextel. This rebanding is expected to eliminate interference caused by the close
proximity and interleaving of commercial and public safety channels. The decision
reached by the FCC in general supports a rebanding plan first proposed by Nextel in
2001. After months of negotiations, clarifications and technical corrections, a
modified plan was accepted on February 7, 2005.3 The conversion process is
scheduled to be completed by June 26, 2008, within three years of the official start
date set by the FCC. By December 26, 2006, Sprint Nextel is to have relocated
public safety and other selected channels in at least 20 regions.4 Sprint Nextel has
requested a delay of 60 days for the official start date of the rebanding program,
which would extend the deadlines.5
Highlights of the FCC Rebanding Plan
The news release announcing the FCC decision regarding the decision for
rebanding provides a summary of key points,6 some of which are highlighted below.
These provisions, negotiated with Nextel, apply to Sprint Nextel effective as of the
date of the merger.
! Separate “generally incompatible technologies” by eliminating
interleaving.
! Move channels designated for interoperability to the lower end of
the band, close to the planned public safety band at 700 MHz.
! Require public safety systems to relocate to channels at 809-815
MHz and 854-860 MHz.
! Require certain business and industrial users to relocate to channels
at 809-815 MHz and 854-860 MHz.
! Require Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio users, “ESMR,” to
relocate to 817-824 MHz and 862-869 MHz.
! Until the band relocation plan is complete, apply “Enhanced Best
Practices” to define and correct interference that will place “strict
responsibility on carriers to fix such interference.”
! Require Nextel to give up some of its licenses at 800 MHz and all of
its licenses at 700 MHz.
3 “Nextel Accepts FCC 800 MHz Interference Solution,” FCC News, February 7, 2005 at
[http://www.fcc.com].
4 FCC Public Notice, DA 05-3348, December 30, 2005, WT Docket No. 02-55. For the
purposes of the plan, the existing National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee
(NSPAC) regions will be used; see [http://wireless.fcc.gov/publicsafety/plans.html].
Viewed January 30, 2006.
5 Letter to the FCC, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, December 1, 2005, referenced
in filing, December 7, 2005 on behalf of Sprint Nextel Corporation, WT Docket No. 02-55.
6 “FCC Adopts Solution to Interference Problem Faced by 800 MHz Public Safety Radio
System,” FCC News, July 8, 2004 at [http://www.fcc.gov]. Also posted at
[http://wireless.fcc.gov/publicsafety/800MHz/bandreconfiguration/index2.html]. Viewed
January 30, 2006.

---

CRS-3
! Modify Nextel’s licenses to provide the right to operate at 1910-
1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz, “conditioned on Nextel fulfilling
certain obligations specified in the Commission’s decision.”
! Value the 1.9 GHz spectrum rights to be assigned to Nextel at
almost $4.9 billion, less the cost of relocating incumbent users in
those channels.
! Credit Nextel the value of the spectrum rights it is relinquishing at
700 MHz and 800 MHz plus the “actual costs” to Nextel in
relocating “all incumbents in the 800 MHz band.”
! Require Nextel to make an “anti-windfall payment” to the Treasury
at the conclusion of the relocation process that will equal the
difference between the $4.9 billion valuation and the cumulative
credits.
! Require Nextel to provide public safety users at 800 MHz and
incumbent users at 1.9 GHz with “comparable facilities.”
! Require Nextel to establish escrow accounts and a letter of credit in
the amount of $2.5 billion, to “ensure that the band reconfiguration
process will be completed.”
! Provide an independent “Transition Administrator” to authorize
disbursements, “subject to de novo Commission review.”
Among the clarifications provided in a subsequent supplemental order7 from the
FCC is confirmation that the Transition Administrator (TA) has the authority to
advance funds to pay for rebanding plans, based on a detailed estimate of costs and
of time needed to complete rebanding. APCO8 and other public safety groups have
since contacted the FCC to express concern that it is difficult to obtain funding from
Sprint Nextel for planning.9 According to the letter, Sprint Nextel has required that
cost estimates of rebanding plans be submitted for approval by Sprint Nextel before
being presented to the TA. The letter states that “properly managed reconfiguration
planning” is needed to assure continuity of operation during the rebanding process.
Furthermore, the letter reports that “only two” plans have been approved for
advanced funding while “a number” of plans are in mediation. Although plans may
be approved in the future, the letter expresses concern over the delays in the process
and its possible consequences in the future.
In response to the concerns expressed by the public safety groups, the TA
modified requirements for requesting reimbursement for reconfiguration planning.
7 FCC, Supplemental Order and Order of Reconsideration, December 22, 2004, WT Docket
No. 02-55.
8 Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials — International. APCO helps
coordinate frequency assignments for public safety and often assists the FCC in
implementing spectrum policy for public safety.
9 Letter to Catherine W. Seidel, Acting Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC
from APCO, International Association of Chiefs of Police, International Association of Fire
Chiefs, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs’ Association, National
Sheriffs’ Association, January 12, 2006, WT Docket No. 02-55.

---

CRS-4
Under new rules, the requests will now go first to the TA, which will review the
request and forward to Sprint Nextel for action.10
Interference at 800 MHz
Public safety currently uses 9.5 MHz of spectrum in the 800 MHz range at 806-
821MHz and 851-869 MHz. The allocation of this spectrum interleaves public safety
and private commercial communications using narrow slices of spectrum. This close
proximity of public and commercial utilization is widely believed to be the primary
cause of interference to communications by public safety and other entities using 800
MHz channels. The problem had become sufficiently troublesome that APCO
established a committee to identify cases of interference. APCO is now participating
in the rebanding effort.11
Although many wireless carriers have been identified in investigations of
reports of interference, a large number of the documented cases of interference have
been linked to operations of Nextel. To address the problem, Nextel prepared a
White Paper12 regarding use of the 800 MHz band and submitted it to the FCC in
November 2001. In the letter to the FCC that accompanied the White Paper,13
Nextel attributed interference problems to earlier actions by the FCC “authorizing
public safety communications providers and [commercial] licensees to operate
essentially incompatible systems on mixed, interleaved and adjacent 800 MHz
channels . . . Intermodulation is the dominant cause of interference, with wideband
noise and receiver overload playing a secondary role.” In the paper, Nextel presented
a plan for spectrum realignment that would place public safety and commercial
mobile radio services (CMRS) in separate blocks of contiguous spectrum. Nextel
argued that the root cause of interference is the manner in which the spectrum has
been allocated and that changing the allocation will eliminate the problem.
Benefits of Rebanding
Radio frequency spectrum provides an invisible roadway for wireless
transmissions; each band of measured spectrum is like a highway lane guiding
communications to their destination. Spectrum allocations are divided into channels.
10 Announced February 1, 2006; the announcement and revised process are on the TA web
site [http://www.800ta.org/content/PDF/reconfiguration_materials/RFPF_FS.PDF]. Viewed
February 6, 2006.
11 APCO has established an informational website, with contact information at
[http://www.apcointl.org/frequency/800hp.htm]. Viewed January 30, 2006.
12 “Promoting Public Safety Communications: Realigning the 800 MHz Land Mobile Radio
Band to Rectify Commercial Public Radio - Public Safety Interference and Allocate
Additional Spectrum to Meet Critical Public Safety Needs.” Available at
[http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/],” under Nextel, docket numbers 00-258, 95-18, 99-81 or 99-
87, dated November 21, 2001.
13 From Robert S. Foosaner, Senior Vice President and Chief Regulatory Officer, Nextel
Communications, Inc., to Mr. Thomas Sugrue, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, November 21, 2001.

---

CRS-5
When many channels are within a designated spectrum band, the allocation is
referred to as narrowband. Broadband has comparatively fewer channels and
therefore greater capacity for sending images and other data at high speeds.
Contiguous spectrum for broadband is important for advanced wireless applications.
The term wideband is sometimes used in the telecommunications industry to describe
limited broadband applications transmitted on narrowband channels. An example is
“mobile data” networking for public safety. This system provides voice and data
communications and supports interoperability for text messages. The possibility that
contiguous spectrum for public safety at 800 MHz could be leveraged for better
wideband applications14 is one potential benefit of the rebanding proposals.
In 1995, at the request of Congress, the FCC and NTIA established the Public
Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (PSWAC) to study public safety spectrum use
and to make recommendations for meeting its spectrum needs. The following year,
PSWAC submitted a report15 concluding that “unless immediate measures are taken
to alleviate spectrum shortfalls and promote interoperability, Public Safety agencies
will not be able to adequately discharge their obligation to protect life and property
in a safe, efficient, and cost effective manner.”16 Among PSWAC’s
recommendations to the FCC and NTIA was the request for 95 MHz of additional
spectrum for state and local public safety needs. In response to the report, Congress
directed the FCC to allocate 24 MHz of spectrum to non-federal public safety
agencies from the 746-806 MHz range as part of the reallocation of channels to be
cleared in the migration from analog to digital televison broadcasting.17 This
spectrum, generally, is not yet available to public safety users.18 Another benefit of
rebanding would be the relocation of “NPSPAC” channels19 — reserved for special
public safety uses — to the lower end of the spectrum band, effectively creating
contiguous spectrum from the 700 MHz channels designated for public safety
through the 809 - 815 MHz frequencies to be allocated to public safety under the
rebanding plan. The relocation plan also provides for an increase in the amount of
spectrum at 800 MHz potentially available to public safety. This also could be
considered a benefit.
14 Nextel, in its filings regarding its proposal, maintains that there will be enough contiguous
spectrum to support low-speed data, high-speed data, and video.
15 “Final Report of the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee to the Federal
Communications Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration,” September 11, 1996.
16 Op. cit., page 2.
17 “Balanced Budget Act of 1997,” P.L.105-33, Title III.
18 For additional information see CRS Report RL32622, Public Safety, Interoperability and
the Transition to Digital Television, by Linda K. Moore.
19 Frequencies designated by the National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee for
uses such as mutual aid and interoperability.

---

CRS-6
Costs of Rebanding
In evaluating the possible costs associated with rebanding, opinions diverge on
what should be included as a reimbursable cost; whether the true costs — taking into
account rebuilding infrastructure (such as replacing antennas), and disruption and
downtime — will be fully covered; and what should be the replacement technologies
for equipment covered in the proposal. In early 2002, Motorola prepared cost
estimates for the Nextel plan.20 It estimated relocation costs for public safety at $1.1
to $1.5 billion; the estimated cost for B/ILT and others was put at $1.7 to $2.4 billion.
Total costs of relocation under Nextel’s proposal would, according to Motorola’s
calculations, range from $2.8 to $3.9 billion. To prepare these estimates, Motorola
assumed that all equipment operating on 800 MHz frequencies would have to be
retuned or replaced, and that 30 to 40% of radios would have to be replaced. The
spread in the estimates was attributed to uncertainties such as the number of times
a system might have to be moved in order to maintain full radio coverage during the
rebanding. The lower estimates are based on changing frequencies only once. An
Annapolis-based company that specializes in public safety communications,
Concepts to Operations, Inc. (CTO), prepared a report on the “probable costs” of
rebanding.21 Using many of the same assumptions as Motorola, but including
estimated costs for changes in infrastructure, CTO concluded that the cost of
rebanding would be $3.36 billion.
The FCC rebanding plan requires that Sprint Nextel pledge $2.5 billion in cash
and letters of credit to cover relocation costs for public safety. Sprint Nextel’s
obligation to cover the costs of rebanding is not limited to $2.5 billion, however.
Sprint Nextel is expected to pay all the agreed upon costs, even if this total exceeds
$2.5 billion. The difference between the values of the spectrum Sprint Nextel is
relinquishing and of the new spectrum it is receiving is an increase of approximately
$2.8 billion. This is the notational value, before specified relocations costs, that
Sprint Nextel might be obligated to pay the U.S. Treasury. If the rebanding plan
costs reach $2.5 billion, the “anti-windfall payment” due the U.S. Treasury would be
$300 million. If the costs exceed $2.8 billion, the Treasury receives nothing. If the
costs are no more than $850 million (a preliminary estimate provided by Nextel), the
payment to the Treasury could approach $2 billion.
Transition Administrator
The Transition Administrator (TA) was chosen by a committee appointed by the
FCC. The responsibilities of the TA are to facilitate a smooth transition and to
oversee the administration and financial management of the plan.22 A key
responsibility is establishing a relocation schedule on a region-by-region basis. In
general the TA has been instructed by the FCC to give priority to regions on the basis
20 Filed May 6, 2002, WT Docket No.02-55.
21 The cost analysis was prepared for Preferred Communications System, Inc. and filed with
the FCC by Preferred Communications System, March 1, 2004.
22 See the TA website at [http://www.800ta.org/] for additional information. Viewed
January 30, 2006.

---

CRS-7
of population but the TA can establish priorities based on other criteria, such as
severe interference problems. The TA is also to monitor progress in the rebanding
plans and to enforce the 18-month and 36-month deadlines set by the FCC. It is the
TA that will request estimates of rebanding costs from public safety and private
wireless networks covered by the plan, and decide whether or not to provide funds
in advance. Disagreements about the implementation of the plan that the TA cannot
resolve on its own or through mediation will in most cases be referred to the FCC.23
Recent Congressional Activity Regarding Relocation Costs

The FCC, in cooperation with the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA), the Department of Defense, and other federal
representatives, recently developed a band relocation and funding plan to move
federal wireless users from desirable spectrum at 1710 - 1755 MHz, and possibly
from other frequencies. The plan requires the establishment of a trust fund to hold
proceeds from auctions of specified radio frequencies in order to cover the costs of
relocation by current federal users of those frequencies. It was agreed among the
developers of the plan that an act of Congress was required in order to bypass the
appropriations process to fund the relocation.24 Legislation was introduced and
passed at the end of the 108th Congress (P.L. 108- 494, Title II). The act creates a
Spectrum Relocation Fund to hold the proceeds of specified auctions and to use these
funds to cover relocation costs by federal agencies.
Compared to the plan for reimbursing federal agencies for the cost of relocation,
Nextel has offered limited reimbursement to state, local and tribal public safety
agencies that will be obliged to move to new radio frequencies. Reimbursements to
public safety for relocation costs are limited primarily to equipment exchanges and
retuning existing radios. If a public safety agency wishes to install a new system at
the time of relocation to another frequency under the Sprint Nextel plan, it will be
responsible for the cost of the upgrade. Federal agencies, however, may acquire
new systems “to achieve comparable capability of systems, regardless of whether that
capability is achieved by relocating to a new frequency assignment or by utilizing an
alternative technology” as part of the relocation, with the cost covered by the fund.25
crsphpgw
23 At [http://wireless.fcc.gov/publicsafety/800MHz/bandreconfiguration/index2.html].
Viewed January 30, 2006.
24 Additional information is provided in CRS Report RS21508, Spectrum Management and
Special Funds, Linda K. Moore.
25 P.L. 108-494, Title II, Sec. 203, ‘(3).

---