[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 224 (Monday, November 22, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67823-67853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-24840]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 2, 22, 24, 74, 78 and 90

[WT Docket No. 02-55; ET Docket No. 00-258; ET Docket No. 95-18, RM-
9498; RM-10024; FCC 04-168]


Private Land Mobile Services; 800 MHz Public Safety Interference 
Proceeding

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document the Commission amends its rules to adopt 
objective technical standards defining ``unacceptable interference'' to 
non-cellular licensees operating in the 800 MHz band and procedures 
detailing 800 MHz licensees' responsibilities and expectations 
regarding abatement of such interference. The Commission also adopts 
rules reconfiguring the 800 MHz band and designating ten megahertz of 
spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band available for the provision of commercial 
mobile radio services (CMRS). The Commission took these steps to solve 
the problem of increasing interference to public safety communications 
in the 800 MHz band. These rules are intended to abate this 
interference as well as making additional spectrum available for the 
provision of new services.

DATES: Effective January 21, 2005, except for Sec. Sec.  22.972, 
22.973, 90.674, 90.675, 90.676 and 90.677 which contain information 
collection requirements that have not been approved by the Office of 
Management and Budget. The Commission will publish a document in the 
Federal Register announcing the effective date for these sections.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical information: Brian Marenco, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#70320219111e5e3d1102151e131f303633335e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7230001b131c5c3f1300171c111d323431315c151d04">[email protected]</span></a>, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure 
Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-0680, or TTY 
(202) 418-7233. Legal information: Roberto Mussenden, Esq. 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#792b161b1c0b0d1657340c0a0a1c171d1c17393f3a3a571e160f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a9fbc6cbccdbddc687e4dcdadaccc7cdccc7e9efeaea87cec6df">[email protected]</span></a>, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure 
Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (202) 418-0680, or TTY 
(202) 418-7233. For additional information concerning the Paperwork 
Reduction Act information collection requirements contained in this 
document, contact Judith B. Herman at (202) 418-0214, or via the 
Internet at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bcf6c9d8d5c8d491fe92f4d9ced1ddd2fcdadfdf92dbd3ca"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98d2edfcf1ecf0b5dab6d0fdeaf5f9f6d8fefbfbb6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document summarizes the Federal 
Communications Commission's Report and Order, Fifth R&O, Fourth MO&O, 
and Order, FCC 04-168, adopted on July 8, 2004, and released on August 
6, 2004. The full text of this document is available for inspection and 
copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 
12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing 
Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The 
full text may also be downloaded at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb. Alternative 
formats are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian 
Millin at (202) 418-7426 or TTY (202) 418-7365 or at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ee8c838782828780ae888d8dc0898198"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f4d4246434346416f494c4c01484059">[email protected]</span></a>.

Summary of Report and Order

    1. In the Report and Order, the Commission adopts changes to parts 
2, 22 and 90 of the Commission's rules that were either proposed in or 
suggested in response to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) and 
subsequent Public Notices in this proceeding. The NPRM, released on 
March 15, 2002, 67 FR 16351-02 (April 5, 2002), sought to explore all 
available options and alternatives for improving the spectrum 
environment for public safety operations in the 800 MHz Band and to 
ensure that public safety agencies have access to adequate spectrum 
resources in the 800 MHz band to support their critical missions. On

[[Page 67824]]

September 6, 2002, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) 
released a public notice inviting comment on a ``Consensus Proposal'' 
band plan submitted by seventeen parties (Consensus Parties) in a reply 
comment in the proceeding. On January 3, 2003, the Bureau sought 
comment on the supplement, setting forth additional information about 
the Consensus Proposal, as supplemented on December 24, 2002, by the 
Consensus Parties, 68 FR 6687-01 (February 10, 2003).
    2. The following is a summary of our major decisions. In the Report 
and Order, we: (i) Define ``unacceptable interference'' in the 800 MHz 
band as a function of the threshold received power levels of desired 
signals. Specifically, ``unacceptable interference'' occurs when the 
signals from a cellular architecture station or stations, cause the 
carrier-to-noise plus interference ratio of a radio meeting TIA-
equivalent Class A standards to degrade below 20 dB in an area in which 
the median measured received signal power of the desired signal is 
equal to or greater than -104 dBm for mobile units or -101 dBm for 
portable units. In the case of data radios, unacceptable interference 
occurs when the received signal power criteria, above, are met and the 
bit error rate of the radio exceeds the value specified by the radio's 
manufacturer for reliable operations; (ii) require Enhanced Specialized 
Mobile Radio (ESMR) and cellular telephone licensees, on request, to 
notify public safety and CII licensees prior to activating new or 
modified cells; (iii) define relative responsibilities of ESMR and 
cellular telephone licensees for abatement of unacceptable interference 
both pre- and post-band reconfiguration; (iv) reconfigure the 800 MHz 
band by:
    <bullet> Moving the public safety NPSPAC channels from 821-824 MHz/
866-869 MHz to 806-809 MHz/851-854 MHz.
    <bullet> Relocate all systems now operating in the current General 
Category band segment at 806-809.75 MHz/851-854.75 MHz elsewhere in the 
band.
    <bullet> Certain existing non-cellular B/ILT systems and non-
cellular SMR systems will continue to operate on interleaved channels 
between 809.75-816 MHz/854.75-861 MHz.
    <bullet> Public safety systems will continue to operate on 
interleaved channels between 809-815 MHz/854-860 MHz. No public safety 
licensee will be required to operate in the 815-816 MHz/860-861 MHz 
segment that we have designated the ``Expansion Band'' or in the 816-
817 MHz/861-862 MHz segment that we have designated the ``Guard Band.'' 
Every public safety system will be relocated from the Expansion Band 
unless a public safety licensee exercises its option to remain there.
    <bullet> Relocate Nextel and other ESMR licensees to the 817-824 
MHz/862-869 MHz band. Nextel will vacate all channels it now uses in 
the 806-817 MHz/851-862 MHz band segment.
    <bullet> Public safety and later, CII licensees will have exclusive 
access to all channels in the 809-809.75 MHz/854-854.75 MHz band 
segment as well as the channels vacated by Nextel in the interleaved 
portion of the band below 815 MHz/860 MHz for a limited period of time.
    <bullet> Unless the subject of mutual agreement among affected, 
parties, other CMRS ESMR Operations in the 800 MHz may stay where they 
are, subject to a stringent non-interference obligation, but will have 
the following relocation options: (1) relocate to non-cellular portion 
of the 800 MHz band at Nextel's expense, as close to ESMR band as 
possible in 814 MHz-816 MHz Expansion band; or (2) relocate at Nextel's 
expense in ESMR spectrum which they would share with Nextel on a pro-
rata basis.
    <bullet> In some markets where both Southern LINC and Nextel offer 
ESMR service insufficient spectrum exists in the 816-824 MHz/861-869 
band segment to accommodate both the incumbent ESMR licensees already 
operating there and new ESMR entrants migrating from the lower 
channels. In order not to unduly restrict the operations of incumbent 
ESMR licensees we define the ESMR band in those markets as the band 
segment 813.5-824 MHz/858.5-869 MHz. The Expansion Band in this area 
shall extend from 812.5-813.5 MHz/857.5-858.5 MHz. All licensees 
operating in the band segment 806-813.5 MHz/851-858.5 MHz shall be 
afforded the same protection against unacceptable interference as 
specified in the Report and Order;
    (v) Adopt financial and licensing safeguards directed to ensure 
completion of band reconfiguration regardless of Nextel's financial 
condition and that Nextel does not reap a financial windfall from our 
actions; (vi) accept Nextel's relinquishment of its current spectrum 
rights in the 700 MHz Guard Band in forty markets and contemplate a 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to determine future use of this 
spectrum; (vii) in exchange for the spectrum Nextel is surrendering 
coupled with the uncertain costs it must incur to accomplish 800 MHz 
band reconfiguration, clear the 1.9 GHz band of Broadcast Auxiliary 
Service (BAS) incumbents and reimburse UTAM Inc., (UTAM) for a portion 
of the costs it has incurred in clearing the 1910-1920 MHz and the 
1920-1930 MHz band segments, the Commission will modify certain Nextel 
licenses to provide Nextel with a nationwide authority to operate in 
ten megahertz of spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band; (viii) establish a 
mechanism by which an independent Transition Administrator oversees the 
completion of band reconfiguration and records certain costs incurred 
by Nextel in connection therewith; (ix) consolidate the B/ILT Pools in 
the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands; (x) allow 900 MHz Private Land Mobile 
Radio (PLMR) licensees to initiate CMRS operations on their currently 
authorized spectrum or to assign their authorizations to others for 
CMRS use.
    3. In the Fifth Report and Order (Fifth R&O), Fourth Memorandum 
Opinion and Order (Fourth MO&O), and Order the Commission adopts 
changes to parts 15, 24, 74 and 78 of the Commission's rules that were 
either proposed in or suggested in response to the NPRM in WT Docket 
02-55 or proposed in or suggested in the Third Notice of Proposed Rule 
Making (Third NPRM) in ET Docket No. 00-258. The Third NPRM, released 
on February 10, 2003, 68 FR 12015-03 (March 13, 2003), sought comments 
on the reallocation of spectrum in the 1910-1920 MHz band that can be 
paired with spectrum in the 1990-2000 MHz band to support fixed and 
mobile services, including Advanced Wireless Services. In the Fifth 
R&O, the Fourth MO&O, and Order we: (i) Designate two paired five 
megahertz blocks in the 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands for 
licensed Fixed and Mobile services; (ii) make the five megahertz block 
at 1910-1915 MHz available by re-designating the band from Unlicensed 
Personal Communications Services (UPCS) use to licensed Fixed and 
Mobile services; adopting a reimbursement plan to compensate UTAM, 
Inc., for relocation expenses it has incurred in relocating incumbents 
from the band; and addressing several pending petitions for rulemakings 
and petitions for waivers relating to new use of the 1910-1915 MHz 
band; (iii) address how Nextel will participate in the existing 
relocation and reimbursement plan for incumbent BAS licensees in the 
1990-2025 MHz band--which has already been reallocated for Fixed and 
Mobile services--given our decision to provide Nextel access to the 
1990-1995 MHz band; (iv) address Nextel's obligations to relocate 
incumbent BAS licensees in the 1990-

[[Page 67825]]

2025 MHz band, as well as address several petitions for reconsideration 
and clarification regarding the existing BAS relocation plan, given our 
decision to provide Nextel access to the 1990-1995 MHz band (which has 
already been reallocated for Fixed and Mobile Services).

I. Procedural Matters

A. Paperwork Reduction Act

    4. This Report and Order contains new information collection 
requirements. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to 
reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public to comment on the 
information collection requirements contained in this R&O as required 
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Public and 
agency comments are due January 21, 2005. In addition, the Commission 
notes that pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, 
Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), we previously sought 
specific comment on how the Commission might ``further reduce the 
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.''

B. Final Regulatory Flexibility Certification

    5. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as 
amended (RFA),\1\ an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) was 
incorporated in the NPRM.\2\ The Commission sought written public 
comment on the proposals in the NPRM, including comment on the IRFA.\3\ 
Three commenting parties specifically addressed the IRFA.\4\ We discuss 
those comments below. This present Final Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (FRFA) conforms to the RFA.\5\
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    \1\ See 5 U.S.C. 603. The RFA, see 5 U.S.C. 601-612, has been 
amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 (SBREFA), Public Law 104-121, Title II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996).
    \2\ See Improving Public Safety Commission in the 800 MHz Band; 
Consolidating the 900 MHz Industrial/Land Transportation and 
Business Pool Channels, WT Docket No. 02-55, Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, 17 FCC Rcd 4873, 4927 (2002) (NPRM).
    \3\ See id. at 4920 ]93.
    \4\ Business Autophones, Inc., Comments on IRFA (May 6, 2002) 
Skitronics, LLC, Comments on IRFA (May 6, 2002); Small Business in 
Telecommunications, Comments on IRFA (May 6, 2002).
    \5\ See 5 U.S.C. 04.
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Need for, and Objectives of the Order
    6. In the Report and Order, we have concluded that reconfiguration 
of the 800 MHz band is essential, over the long term, to assure that 
critical public safety communications may be accommodated without 
unacceptable interference, as that term is defined in the Report and 
Order. Because increasing instances of interference to 800 MHz public 
safety communications systems made it imperative that we act to stem 
such interference without delay, we adopted rules that hold the 
involved ESMR and cellular telephone licensees strictly responsible for 
abating interference by application of a variety of technical remedies 
which have been subsumed in this proceeding under the rubric of 
Enhanced Best Practices. Specifically, the Commission took the 
following actions: (i) Adopted a new 800 MHz band plan that, after a 
transition period, will separate high-density ESMR systems in the band, 
principally those operated by Nextel, from public safety and other non-
cellular 800 MHz operations; (ii) require Nextel to relinquish all of 
its 800 MHz spectrum holdings below 817 MHz/862 MHz resulting in an 
additional average of 4.5 megahertz of 800 MHz band spectrum becoming 
available to the public safety and critical infrastructure community; 
(iii) established a transition mechanism for band reconfiguration with 
minimal disruption to the operations of all affected 800 MHz incumbents 
during the transition period; (iv) required Nextel to pay all band 
reconfiguration costs of public safety and other 800 MHz incumbents 
that result from transition to the new band plan; (v) defined 
unacceptable interference as a function of threshold received power 
levels of desired signals; (vi) placed strict responsibility for 
abatement of unacceptable interference on the licensees whose systems 
are the source of such interference; (vii) required prior notification, 
upon request, of the activation or modification of ESMR and cellular 
telephone cells; (viii) established firm rules--including response 
times of twenty-four hours and abatement initiation time of forty-
eight--for procedures to be used to identify, report and remedy 
instances of unacceptable interference; (ix) modified certain Nextel 
licenses to accommodate a nationwide allocation in the 1910-1915 MHz/
1990-1995 MHz paired spectrum block, in exchange for Nextel's 
surrendering spectrum, and bearing the financial burden and risk of 
reconfiguring the 800 MHz band; (x) consolidated the Business and 
Industrial/Land Transportation Pools in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands, 
and; (xi) allowed 900 MHz Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) licensees to 
initiate CMRS operations on their currently authorized spectrum or to 
assign their authorizations to others for CMRS use.
    7. The Commission has taken these actions to immediately stem 
increasing instances of interference to 800 MHz public safety 
communications systems. The Commission has long recognized that the 
nation's public safety community requires effective radio 
communications systems free of unacceptable interference if public 
safety agencies are to adequately protect the safety of lives and 
property. The actions taken by the Commission in the Report and Order 
create a suitable spectrum environment for public safety and Critical 
Infrastructure Industries communications systems operating in the 800 
MHz band.
    8. In the Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order, we both grant and 
deny petitions for reconsideration and clarification of the Third 
Report and Order and Third Memorandum Opinion and Order. We grant 
petitions to the extent described herein and clarify several points 
relating to BAS operations by licensees operating on different channel 
plans during the transition to the new BAS channel plan at 2025-2110 
MHz. We otherwise deny the petitions relating to BAS relocation issues 
in the 1990-2025 MHz band. We also no longer require BAS licensees in 
TV markets 31-210 to cease operation on channels 1 and 2 (1990-2008 MHz 
and 2008-2025 MHz, respectively) until they have been relocated to 
their final channel plan in the 2025-2110 MHz band, but otherwise 
retain our previously adopted relocation rules for MSS licensees. The 
changes we adopt are necessary to allow Nextel, as a new entrant in the 
1990-2025 MHz band, to participate in the relocation process we had 
previously established for BAS incumbents.
Summary of Significant Issues Raised by Public Comments in Response to 
the IRFA
    9. Three parties submitted comments specifically in response to the 
IRFA: Business Autophones, Inc. (Business Autophones), Small Business 
in Telecommunications (SBT), and Skitronics, LLC (Skitronics).\6\ 
Business Autophones opines that the Nextel Plan, which contemplated 
relocating B/ILT licensees from the 800 MHz band to the 700 MHz and 900 
MHz at their own expense, would be financially devastating to small 
business B/ILT licensees and urges the Commission to

[[Page 67826]]

either abate interference on a case-by-case basis or adopt the plan 
proposed by NAM/MRFAC which reconfigured the band but did not relocate 
B/ILT licensees.\7\ For the reasons described infra we have adopted a 
band plan that does not relocate B/ILT licensees to the 700 MHz and 900 
MHz band and requires Nextel to finance any necessary relocation of B/
ILT licensees.
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    \6\ Business Autophones, Inc., Comments on IRFA (May 6, 2002) 
Skitronics, LLC, Comments on IRFA (May 6, 2002); Small Business in 
Telecommunications, Comments on IRFA (May 6, 2002).
    \7\ See Business Autophones Comments on IRFA at 2-3.
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    10. Skitronics posits on the impact of four separate alternatives 
set forth in the NPRM on small businesses: (i) Skitronics echoes 
Business Autophones concerns about the effect of the proposal to 
relocate B/ILT licensees from the 800 MHz band to the 700 MHz and 900 
MHz at their own expense.\8\ As we discuss at ] 30 infra, we did not 
choose this alternative. (ii) Skitronics argues that Nextel's 
alternative proposal, one that would allow incumbent 800 MHz operators 
to remain in the band on a secondary status, would deleteriously affect 
small business SMR operators by impacting these business' growth 
prospects as well as their ability to guarantee continuous service to 
their customers.\9\ We note that although Nextel offered this 
alternative in its original White Paper proposal, Nextel removed it as 
part of the plan it submitted as a member of the Consensus Parties. 
Therefore, we ceased to consider this alternative at that time and we 
have not chosen to enact that alternative as a rule. (iii) Skitronics 
argues that the Commission's consideration of moving 800 MHz incumbents 
to the 2.1 GHz imposes significant costs on small business SMR 
licensees since the propagation qualities of the 2.1 GHz spectrum make 
it unsuitable for SMR use and there is a lack of available equipment 
suitable for SMR operations in this band.\10\ As in the case of the 
alternative of allowing SMR licensees to remain in the 800 MHz band on 
a secondary basis, this alternative was superseded by the alternative 
set forth by the Consensus Parties in the Consensus Plan and we have 
not chosen to move 800 MHz incumbents to the 2.1 GHz band. (iv) 
Skitronics contends that the alternative mentioned in the NPRM that has 
the least impact on small business is enforcement of existing rules 
against those licensees responsible for causing interference to public 
safety on a case-by-case basis.\11\ For the reasons discussed at ] 32 
infra, we declined to adopt this alternative.
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    \8\ Skitronics Comments on IRFA at 6-10.
    \9\ Id. at 10-11.
    \10\ Id. at 11-13.
    \11\ Id. at 4, 16.
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    11. Unlike the two other comments received in response to the IRFA, 
SBT focuses its comments on the adequacy of the IRFA in terms of its 
compliance with the RFA. Specifically, SBT makes the following 
arguments: (i) The IRFA does not describe the significant or potential 
economic impact of the NPRM on small entities as required by the RFA; 
\12\ (ii) the IRFA omits any description of the problem to be rectified 
by the regulation to be promulgated or an objective for any proposed 
rule as required by the RFA; \13\ (iii) the Commission either relied on 
outdated statistical sources in calculating the number of affected 
small licensees or failed to cite to the source(s) entirely; \14\ (iv) 
SBT agrees with the IRFA's conclusion that the NPRM does not propose a 
rule that will entail additional reporting, record-keeping, and other 
compliance requirements because the NPRM does not, in fact, propose any 
rules.\15\ However, in Section D infra we add new reporting and other 
requirements; (v) SBT urges the Commission to amend the NPRM's IRFA in 
any subsequent IRFA or FRFA if a substantive rule emerges from this 
proceeding; \16\ (vi) SBT contends that the Commission should convert 
the NPRM to a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) and issue a second NPRM to 
propose specific rules; \17\ (vii) with regard to SBT's comments, as an 
initial matter we believe that we do not need to issue a NOI in this 
proceeding because the IRFA's description of the problem of 
interference to public safety systems in the 800 MHz band is a 
sufficient description of the problem to be rectified in this 
proceeding.\18\ Moreover, we believe our description of the two plans 
under consideration in the NPRM adequately described the rules under 
consideration.\19\ We also note that the Consensus Parties filed a plan 
superseding one of the plans discussed in the NPRM on September 23, 
2002 and the major revision of that new plan on December 24, 2002. Both 
of these plans, as well as the comments received in response to these 
plans, proposed substantive rules. Moreover, in the interest of 
ensuring a complete record, the Commission opened two additional notice 
and comment rounds to obtain public comment on these two plans. Our 
position, therefore, is that the Commission clearly stated its 
proposals either in the NPRM and IRFA or fully clarified them in the 
two subsequent notice and comment rounds that permitted full comment on 
subsequently proposed plans. Indeed, the Commission received the bulk 
of all comments in this proceeding subsequent to the comment period 
initiated in the NPRM. Finally, we note that in Section C, infra, we 
are using updated statistical sources to assess the impact of the rules 
we adopt today on small businesses.
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    \12\ SBT Comments at 3-4 (citing 5 U.S.C. 603(a)).
    \13\ Id. at 4. According to SBT, the Commission's tentative 
conclusion that spectrum reallocation serves the public interest 
because it would resolve harmful interference to 800 MHz public 
safety licensees ``falls far short'' of satisfying the requirements 
of 5 U.S.C. 603(b)(1). See id.
    \14\ Id. at 5-10.
    \15\ Id. at 10-11. For the same reason, SBT concurs with the 
IRFA's conclusion that the NPRM does not propose any rule that 
duplicates, overlaps, or conflicts with other federal rules. See id. 
at 12.
    \16\ Id. at 11, 12. In addition, SBT recommends that the 
Commission amend the IRFA to comply with 5 U.S.C. 603(c)(3) by 
discussing alternatives to rules proposed by the Commission. See id. 
at 11. Once again, SBT reiterates that the Commission has not 
proposed any rules and therefore could not have discussed 
alternatives to such rules. Id. To the extent that the IRFA 
discusses alternative proposals for rule changes that were submitted 
to the Commission, SBT contends that such ``alternatives'' do not 
qualify as alternatives proposed by the Commission Id.
    \17\ Id. at 12-13. SBT believes that the Commission should use a 
NOI ``whenever it lacks information about the industry to be 
regulated or the exact nature of the problem to be addressed.'' Id. 
at 13.
    \18\ See NPRM at 4927.
    \19\ Id.
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Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the 
Rules Will Apply
    12. The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of, and, 
where feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be 
affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. The RFA generally defines 
the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms 
``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental 
jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small business'' has the same 
meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the Small Business 
Act. A ``small business concern'' is one that is: (i) Is independently 
owned and operated; (ii) is not dominant in its field of operation; and 
(iii) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small 
Business Administration (SBA). Below, we further describe and estimate 
the number of small entity licensees and regulatees that may be 
affected by the rule changes adopted herein.
    13. A ``small organization'' is generally any not-for-profit 
enterprise which is independently owned and operated and is not 
dominant in its field.\20\ Nationwide, there are approximately 1.6 
million small

[[Page 67827]]

organizations.\21\ We note that, according to SBA data, there are 
approximately 22.4 million small businesses nationwide.\22\ We describe 
and estimate, below, the number of small entities'applicants, 
licensees, and radio equipment manufacturers'that may be affected by 
this Report and Order.
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    \20\ 5 U.S.C. 601(4).
    \21\ Independent Sector, The New Nonprofit Almanac & Desk 
Reference (2002).
    \22\ See SBA, Programs and Services, SBA Pamphlet No. CO-0028, 
at page 40 (July 2002).
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    14. Governmental Entities. The term ``small governmental 
jurisdiction'' is defined as ``governments of cities, towns, townships, 
villages, school districts, or special districts, with a population of 
less than fifty thousand.'' \23\ As of 1997, there were approximately 
87,453 governmental jurisdictions in the United States.\24\ This number 
includes 39,044 county governments, municipalities, and townships, of 
which 37,546 (approximately 96.2%) have populations of fewer than 
50,000, and of which 1,498 have populations of 50,000 or more. Thus, we 
estimate the number of small governmental jurisdictions overall to be 
84,098 or fewer.
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    \23\ 5 U.S.C. 601(5).
    \24\ U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United 
States: 2000, Section 9, pages 299-300, Tables 490 and 492.
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    15. Wireless Telecommunications. The SBA has developed a small 
business size standard for wireless firms within the broad economic 
census category ``Cellular and Other Wireless Telecommunications.'' 
\25\ Under this SBA category, a wireless business is small if it has 
1,500 or fewer employees. For the census category Cellular and Other 
Wireless Telecommunications firms, Census Bureau data for 1997 show 
that there were 977 firms in this category, total, that operated for 
the entire year.\26\ Of this total, 965 firms had employment of 999 or 
fewer employees, and an additional 12 firms had employment of 1,000 
employees or more.\27\ Thus, under this category and size standard, the 
majority of firms can be considered small.
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    \25\ 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS code 513322 (changed to 517212 in 
October 2002).
    \26\ U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: 
``Information,'' Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to 
Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000).
    \27\ U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: 
``Information,'' Table 5, Employment Size of Firms Subject to 
Federal Income Tax: 1997, NAICS code 513322 (issued October 2000). 
The census data do not provide a more precise estimate of the number 
of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer employees; the 
largest category provided is ``Firms with 1000 employees or more.''
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    16. Public Safety Radio Licensees. As a general matter, Public 
Safety Radio Pool licensees include police, fire, local government, 
forestry conservation, highway maintenance, and emergency medical 
services.\28\ The SBA rules contain a definition for cellular and other 
wireless telecommunications companies which encompasses business 
entities engaged in radiotelephone communications employing no more 
that 1,500 persons.\29\ There are a total of approximately 127,540 
licensees within these services.\30\ With respect to local governments, 
in particular, since many governmental entities as well as private 
businesses comprise the licensees for these services, we include under 
public safety services the number of government entities affected.
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    \28\ See subparts A and B of part 90 of the Commission's Rules, 
47 CFR 90.1-90.22. Police licensees include 26,608 licensees that 
serve state, county, and municipal enforcement through telephony 
(voice), telegraphy (code), and teletype and facsimile (printed 
material). Fire licensees include 22,677 licensees comprised of 
private volunteer or professional fire companies, as well as units 
under governmental control. Public Safety Radio Pool licensees also 
include 40,512 licensees that are state, county, or municipal 
entities that use radio for official purposes. There are also 7,325 
forestry service licensees comprised of licensees from state 
departments of conservation and private forest organizations that 
set up communications networks among fire lookout towers and ground 
crews. The 9,480 state and local governments are highway maintenance 
licensees that provide emergency and routine communications to aid 
other public safety services to keep main roads safe for vehicular 
traffic. Emergency medical licensees (1,460) use these channels for 
emergency medical service communications related to the delivery of 
emergency medical treatment. Another 19,478 licensees include 
medical services, rescue organizations, veterinarians, persons with 
disabilities, disaster relief organizations, school buses, beach 
patrols, establishments in isolated areas, communications standby 
facilities, and emergency repair of public communications 
facilities.
    \29\ See 13 CFR 121.201 (NAICS Code 517212).
    \30\ There is no information currently available about the 
number within the 127,540 that have less than 1500 employees.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    17. Business, Industrial and Land Transportation Licensees. At 
present, there are 3239 Business and Industrial/Land Transportation (I/
LT) licensees that may be affected by this Report and Order.\31\ The 
Commission does not require B/ILT licensees to disclose information 
about number of employees, so the Commission does not have information 
that could be used to determine how many B/ILT licensees constitute 
small entities under this definition. Moreover, we note that B/ILT 
licensees generally are not in the business of providing cellular or 
other wireless telecommunications services but instead use the licensed 
facilities in support of other business activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \31\ This number is based on the Commission's licensing 
database.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    18. Specialized Mobile Radio Licenses. The Commission awards 
``small entity'' and ``very small entity'' bidding credits in auctions 
for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) geographic area licenses in the 800 
MHz and 900 MHz bands to firms that had revenues of no more than $15 
million in each of the three previous calendar years, or that had 
revenues of no more than $3 million in each of the previous calendar 
years, respectively.\32\ In the context of both the 800 MHz and 900 MHz 
service, the SBA has approved the definitions of ``small entity'' and 
``very small entity.'' \33\ These bidding credits apply to SMR 
providers in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands that either hold geographic 
area licenses or have obtained extended implementation authorizations. 
The Commission does not know how many firms provide 800 MHz or 900 MHz 
geographic area SMR service pursuant to extended implementation 
authorizations, nor how many of these providers have annual revenues of 
no more than $15 million. One firm has over $15 million in revenues. 
The Commission assumes, for purposes here, that all of the remaining 
existing extended implementation authorizations are held by small 
entities, as that term is defined by the SBA. The Commission has held 
auctions for geographic area licenses in the 800 MHz SMR band. In the 
800 MHz auction, 38 of the 524 licenses won were won by small and very 
small entities.
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    \32\ 47 CFR 90.814(b)(1).
    \33\ See Letter, dated Aug. 10, 1999, from A. Alvarez, 
Administrator, Small Business Administration to Tom Sugrue, Chief, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications 
Commission.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    19. Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturers. The SBA has 
established a small business size standard for radio and television 
broadcasting and wireless communications equipment manufacturing. Under 
the standard, firms are considered small if they have 1000 or fewer 
employees.\34\ Census Bureau data for 1997 indicates that, for that 
year, there were a total of 1,215 establishments \35\ in this 
category.\36\ Of

[[Page 67828]]

those, there were 1,150 that had employment under 500, and an 
additional 37 that had employment of 500 to 999. The Commission 
estimates that the majority of wireless communications equipment 
manufacturers are small businesses.\37\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \34\ 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS code 334220.
    \35\ The number of ``establishments'' is a less helpful 
indicator of small business prevalence in this context than would be 
the number of ``firms'' or ``companies,'' because the latter take 
into account the concept of common ownership or control. Any single 
physical location for an entity is an establishment, even though 
that location may be owned by a different establishment. Thus, the 
number given may reflect inflated numbers of businesses in this 
category, including the numbers of small businesses. In this 
category, the Census break-out data for firms or companies only 
gives the total number of such entities for 1997, which was 1,089.
    \36\ U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Industry Series: 
Manufacturing, ``Industry Statistics by Employment Size,'' Table 4, 
(issued August 1999) NAICS code 334220. We note, however that the 
predominant manufacturers of 800 MHz equipment, Motorola and M/A COM 
Private Radio Systems, Inc. are not considered small businesses.
    \37\ We note, however that the predominant manufacturers of 800 
MHz equipment, Motorola and M/A COM Private Radio Systems, Inc. are 
not considered small businesses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    20. Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS). BAS involves a variety of 
transmitters, generally used to relay broadcast programming to the 
public (through translator and booster stations) or within the program 
distribution chain (from a remote news gathering unit back to the 
stations). The Commission has not developed a definition of small 
entities specific to broadcast auxiliary licensees. The U.S. Small 
Business Administration (SBA) has developed small business size 
standards, as follows: (1) For TV BAS, we will use the size standard 
for Television Broadcasting, which consists of all such companies 
having annual receipts of no more than $12.0 million; \38\ (2) for 
Aural BAS, we will use the size standard for Radio Stations, which 
consists of all such companies having annual receipts of no more than 
$6 million; \39\ (3) for Remote Pickup BAS we will use the small 
business size standard for Television Broadcasting when used by a TV 
station and that for Radio Stations when used by such a station.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \38\ 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS code 515120.
    \39\ Id. NAICS code 515112.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    21. According to Commission staff review of BIA Publications, Inc. 
Master Access Television Analyzer Database as of May 16, 2003, about 
814 of the 1,220 commercial television stations in the United States 
had revenues of $12 million or less. We note, however, that, in 
assessing whether a business concern qualifies as small under the above 
definition, business (control) affiliations \40\ must be included.\41\ 
Our estimate, therefore, likely overstates the number of small entities 
that might be affected by our action, because the revenue figure on 
which it is based does not include or aggregate revenues from 
affiliated companies. There are also 2,127 low power television 
stations (LPTV).\42\ Given the nature of this service, we will presume 
that all LPTV licensees qualify as small entities under the SBA size 
standard. According to Commission staff review of BIA Publications, 
Inc., Master Access Radio Analyzer Database, as of May 16, 2003, about 
10,427 of the 10,945 commercial radio stations in the United States had 
revenue of $6 million or less. We note, however, that many radio 
stations are affiliated with much larger corporations with much higher 
revenue, and, that in assessing whether a business concern qualifies as 
small under the above definition, such business (control) affiliations 
\43\ are included.\44\ Our estimate, therefore, likely overstates the 
number of small businesses that might be affected by our action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \40\ ``Concerns are affiliates of each other when one concern 
controls or has the power to control the other or a third party or 
parties controls or has to power to control both.'' 13 CFR 
121.103(a)(1).
    \41\ ``SBA counts the receipts or employees of the concern whose 
size is at issue and those of all its domestic concern's size.'' 13 
CFR 121.103(a)(4).
    \42\ FCC News Release, ``Broadcast Station Totals as of 
September 30, 2002'' (Nov. 6, 2002).
    \43\ ``Concerns are affiliates of each other when one concern 
controls or has the power to control the other, or a third party or 
parties controls or has the power to control both.'' 13 CFR 
121.103(a)(1).
    \44\ ``SBA counts the receipts or employees of the concern whose 
size is at issue and those of all its domestic and foreign 
affiliates, regardless of whether the affiliates are organized for 
profit, in determining the concern's size.'' 13 CFR 121.103(a)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    22. Cable Antenna Relay Service (CARS). CARS includes transmitters 
generally used to relay cable programming within cable television 
system distribution systems. The SBA has developed a small business 
size standard for Cable and other Program Distribution, which consists 
of all such companies having annual receipts of no more than $12.5 
million. According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 1,311 
firms within the industry category Cable and Other Program 
Distribution, total, that operated for the entire year.\45\ Of this 
total, 1,180 firms had annual receipts of under $10 million, and an 
additional 52 firms had receipts of $10 million to $24,999,999.00.\46\ 
Thus, under this standard, the majority of firms can be considered 
small.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \45\ 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS code 517510 (changed from 513220 in 
October 2002).
    \46\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    23. Geostationary, Non-Geostationary Orbit, Fixed Satellite, or 
Mobile Satellite Service Operators (including 2 GHz MSS systems). The 
Commission has not developed a definition of small entities applicable 
to geostationary or non-geostationary orbit, fixed-satellite or mobile-
satellite service operators. The SBA has developed a small business 
size standard for Satellite Telecommunications Carriers, which consists 
of all such companies having $12.5 million or less in annual 
receipts.\47\ According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 324 
firms that operated for the entire year.\48\ Of this total, 273 firms 
had annual receipts under $10 million, and an additional twenty-four 
firms had annual receipts of $10 million to $24,999,990.\49\ Thus, 
under this size standard, the majority of firms can be considered 
small.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \47\ 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS code 517410 (changed from 513340 in 
October 2002).
    \48\ U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: 
Information, ``Receipt Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income Tax: 
1997,'' Table 4, NAICS code 513340 (issued October 2000).
    \49\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    24. Fixed Microwave Services. Microwave services include common 
carrier,\50\ private-operational fixed,\51\ and broadcast auxiliary 
radio services.\52\ At present, there are approximately 36,708 common 
carrier fixed licensees and 59,291 private operational-fixed licensees 
and broadcast auxiliary radio licensees in the microwave services. The 
Commission has not yet defined a small business with respect to 
microwave services. For purposes of the FRFA, we will use the SBA's 
definition applicable to wireless and other telecommunications 
companies--i.e., an entity with no more than 1,500 persons.\53\ 
According to Census Bureau data for 1997, there were 977 firms in this 
category, total, that operated for the entire year.\54\ Of this total, 
965 firms had employment of 999 or fewer employees, and an additional 
12 firms had employment of 1,000 employees or more.\55\ Thus, under 
this size standard, majority of firms can be considered small.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \50\ 47 CFR part 101 et seq. (formerly, part 21 of the 
Commission's Rules).
    \51\ Persons eligible under parts 80 and 90 of the Commission's 
rules can use Private-Operational Fixed Microwave services. See 47 
CFR parts 80 and 90. Stations in this service are called 
operational-fixed to distinguish them from common carrier and public 
fixed stations. Only the licensee may use the operational-fixed 
station, and only for communications related to the licensee's 
commercial, industrial, or safety operations.
    \52\ Auxiliary Microwave Service is governed by part 74 of Title 
47 of the Commission's Rules. See 47 CFR part 74 et seq. Available 
to licensees of broadcast stations and to broadcast and cable 
network entities, broadcast auxiliary microwave stations are used 
for relaying broadcast television signals from the studio to the 
transmitter, or between two points such as a main studio and an 
auxiliary studio. The service also includes mobile TV pickups, which 
relay signals from a remote location back to the studio.
    \53\ 13 CFR 121.201, NAICS code 517212 (formerly 213322).
    \54\ U.S. Census Bureau, 1997 Economic Census, Subject Series: 
Information, ``Employment Size of Firms Subject to Federal Income 
Tax: 1997,'' Table 5, NAICS code 217212 (issues Oct. 2000).
    \55\ Id. The census data do not provide a more precise estimate 
of the number of firms that have employment of 1,500 or fewer 
employees; the largest category provided is ``Firms with 1,000 
employees or more.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    25. We note that the number of firms does not necessarily track the 
number of

[[Page 67829]]

licensees. We estimate that all of the Fixed Microwave licensees 
(excluding broadcast auxiliary licensees) would qualify as small 
entities under the SBA definition. Of these licenses, approximately 14 
are issued for frequencies in the Emerging Technology bands affected by 
this proceeding. This, assuming that these entities also qualify as 
small businesses, as many as 14 small business licensees could be 
affected by the rules we adopt. We note that these entities have been 
subject to relocation by UTAM under rules originally adopted in the 
Commission's Emerging Technologies proceeding. UTAM is the Commission's 
frequency coordinator for UPCS devices in the 1910-1930 MHz band. The 
Fifth Report and Order anticipates that these general relocation rules 
will continue to apply to FS microwave licensees and does not propose 
to modify the class of licensees that are subject to these relocation 
provisions.
Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other Compliance 
Requirements
    26. We expect that, at most, the rules adopted herein will result 
in nominal new reporting, recordkeeping, or other compliance 
requirements imposed on entities affected in this proceeding. The rules 
we adopt herein require that any Cellular Radiotelephone and/or ESMR 
licensee that receives an interference complaint from a public safety/
CII licensee shall promptly respond to such complaint. Cellular 
Radiotelephone licensees, in conjunction ESMR licensees, shall 
establish an electronic means of receiving the initial complaint and 
shall respond on an ``as soon as possible'' basis and no later than 24 
hours after receipt of initial notification. The purpose of this 
notification rule is to provide public safety/CII licensees a means to 
communicate to Cellular Radio Telephone and/or ESMR licensees instances 
of interference and for Cellular Radiotelephone and/or ESMR licensees 
to immediately initiate corrective action.
    27. Additionally, the rules we adopt today provide that, upon 
request by a public safety/CII licensee, Cellular Radiotelephone and/or 
ESMR licensees must provide to the public safety/CII licensee the 
following information before any new cell sites are constructed or any 
existing cells are modified: (i) Location; (ii) effective radiated 
power; (iii) antenna height; and (iv) channels in use. The purpose of 
this rule is for informational purposes only and does not entitle the 
public safety/CII licensee to approve or disapprove the activation of a 
proposed cell site or to demand changes to the proposed technical 
parameters. The principal purpose of this rule is to facilitate a 
dialogue between Cellular Radiotelephone licensees and public safety/
CII licensees regarding potential interference, identification of 
interference, and voluntary corrective measures.
Steps Taken To Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small Entities, 
and Significant Alternatives Considered
    28. The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant 
alternatives that it has considered in reaching its proposed approach, 
which may include the following four alternatives (among others): (i) 
The establishment of differing compliance or reporting requirements or 
timetables that take into account the resources available to small 
entities; (ii) the clarification, consolidation, or simplification of 
compliance or reporting requirements under the rule for small entities; 
(iii) the use of performance, rather than design standards; and (iv) an 
exemption from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for small 
entities.\56\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \56\ See 5 U.S.C. 603(c)(1) through (c)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    29. Our decision to reconfigure the 800 MHz band is generally size-
neutral, but some aspects are beneficial to small entities for the 
following reasons: (i) Although there are significant short-term costs 
associated with band reconfiguration, it is the solution most likely to 
yield maximum interference protection benefits for the least cost over 
the long run. This cost savings are significant for small entities with 
limited resources; (ii) once implemented, a reconfigured band will 
reduce both the upfront amount of coordinated engineering work 
necessary to prevent interference and the burden of troubleshooting 
interference incidents on a case-by-case basis. This will allow small 
entities to utilize their scarce engineering resources more 
effectively.
    30. We also considered proposals to reallocate (1) Nextel's 700 MHz 
Guard Band Block B spectrum, and the Upper 700 MHz band to public 
safety use; and (2) provide private radio licensees 2:1 access to 900 
MHz spectrum. Our decision to decline to adopt these proposals was 
generally size-neutral but has the following impact on small entities: 
(i) Since the Upper 700 MHz band is designated for auction, our 
decision not to utilize this band will allow small entities to bid on 
it in the future. (ii) Because we contemplate a future rulemaking 
proceeding to determine the ultimate disposition of Nextel's 700 MHz 
Guard Band spectrum, we afford small businesses an opportunity to 
comment on the future use of this spectrum.
    31. We have considered the costs of realignment and the limited 
resources of small entities, including public safety, in effectuating 
band realignment. We believe that our decision will not have a 
significant economic impact on small entities in this regard because 
the cost of 800 MHz realignment will be borne by Nextel (i.e., Nextel 
will pay relocation costs). We reject the alternative of deferring 
final action on band reconfiguration, because deferral would increase 
the potential for increased interference to public safety systems 
because ESMR and Cellular telephone licensees would remain in close 
proximity to such systems while expanding their operations.
    32. Although we have not codified the Best Practices Guide, we 
endorse the interference abatement strategies therein. However, when we 
considered the sole use of Enhanced Best Practices as an alternative to 
reconfiguring the 800 MHz band in its entirety, we found this 
alternative less effective and more costly over the long term than band 
reconfiguration, and therefore more likely to be harmful to smaller 
entities. Our finding in that regard rests on the following facts: (i) 
Addressing interference on a case-by-case basis is both labor-intensive 
and expensive, which puts smaller entities at risk due to their more 
limited resources; (ii) the transactional cost of applying Enhanced 
Best Practices as an exclusive remedy would increase as new public 
safety and other non-cellular systems came on line and ESMR and 
cellular telephone licensees increased the capacity of their systems by 
adding more cells; (iii) the increased cost and labor burden 
disproportionately affects public safety agencies, many of which are 
small entities operating with very limited human, technical and 
financial resources.
    33. We have determined not to require public safety licensees to 
increase their signal strength. Such a requirement would impose a 
substantial burden on public safety licensees, including small 
entities, which would often continue to suffer from interference until 
the causes could be identified and until appropriate channels and sites 
for the construction of new base station facilities could be obtained.
    34. Regarding our decision to permit negotiated agreements to swap 
or exchange channels as a means to resolve interference to public 
safety systems, we do not foresee any adverse impact on small entities. 
The channel swapping proposals to date have specified that

[[Page 67830]]

Nextel will bear the costs thereof. To the extent that small entities 
bear channel swap expenses not assumed by Nextel, we believe, for the 
reasons discussed at ] 32 supra, the financial burden of these small-
scale band reconfigurations should be less than the cost of reliance on 
Enhanced Best Practices for the long term abatement of unacceptable 
interference.
    35. Regarding our decision to hold Cellular Radio Telephone and 
ESMR licensees strictly responsible for effectively abating actual or 
potential unacceptable interference to 800 MHz public safety systems in 
the shortest practicable time, we do not anticipate a significant 
burden on small entities. We recognize that our rule does not exempt 
small entities from its ambit. However, in eliminating the interference 
we afford licensees the flexibility to determine which system--ESMR, 
Cellular Telephone or CII/public safety--to modify and what particular 
technical parameters to change on these systems; and impose on the 
interfering licensee(s), the obligation to promptly implement such 
changes. Moreover, we note that small entities were generally not among 
the interfering parties in those instances of interference that were 
brought to our attention by parties in this proceeding. We considered 
the alternative of imposing system-wide, stringent technical 
limitations on ESMR and Cellular Telephone licensees; however, we found 
selection of that alternative unwarranted at this time. Such rules 
would have imposed a burden on all licensees, including small entities, 
which were not among those causing interference to 800 MHz public 
safety systems. In particular, we have heeded the filings of rural 
cellular telephone carriers who opposed imposition of out-of-band 
emission standards that would require them to add expensive equipment 
to their cell sites.
    36. Regarding our adoption of rules establishing general standards 
and procedures to govern the abatement of interference to public safety 
systems, we recognize that they will apply equally to all licensees, 
including small entities, which cause interference to 800 MHz public 
safety systems. However, we do not anticipate any significant adverse 
impact on small entities. We adopted rules that were intentionally 
general in nature to confer considerable discretion on the parties 
involved in abating instances of interference to public safety systems. 
Moreover, as noted above, small entities were generally not among the 
interfering parties in those instances of interference that were 
brought to our attention by parties in this proceeding. To the extent 
that they can demonstrate that they are not contributing to the 
interference to the public safety systems, they will not be responsible 
for abating the interference. Therefore, the burden should be minimal 
for those small entities not contributing to the public safety 
interference problem in the 800 MHz band. The minimal burden imposed by 
these rules is necessary to ensure that critical public safety 
communications may be accommodated without unacceptable interference.
    37. In this respect, we are mindful that a number of the public 
safety systems that are experiencing interference are small entities. 
We believe that the rules will impose a minimal burden on small public 
safety entities. First, because we will only require them to furnish 
certain necessary information to all licensees that may be responsible 
for causing the interference. Second, because this provision will 
assure them of timely responses to and analyses of their interference 
complaints. Ultimately, the burden of supplying this information will 
be significantly less than that associated with identifying each source 
of unacceptable interference and contacting such sources individually.
    38. Regarding our decision to require notification of the 
activation of new or modified ESMR or cellular radiotelephone cells, we 
do not perceive any adverse impact on small entities. Indeed, the prior 
notification requirement will enable small entities, such as public 
safety/CII licensees, to take proactive, anticipatory steps to address 
potential interference. Without this requirement, public safety/CII 
licensees would first have to experience interference before taking 
recourse. Similarly, the requirement that Cellular Radiotelephone and/
or ESMR licensees promptly initiate corrective actions after having 
been notified of interference by public safety/CII licensees minimizes 
the burden on small entities of having to endure prolonged periods of 
interference. Moreover, as noted above, small entities were generally 
not among the interfering parties in those instances of interference 
that were brought to our attention by parties in this proceeding.
    39. Regarding our decision to consolidate the 800 MHz and 900 MHz 
Business and Industrial/Land Transportation Pools, we perceive no 
adverse impact on small entities. This decision will allow any eligible 
Business or Industrial/Land Transportation entity to be licensed on the 
consolidated channels. This consolidation will improve spectrum 
efficiency, promote the use of advanced technologies by affording 
licensees more contiguous spectrum, and reduce regulatory burdens on 
all licensees, including small entities. The alternative of retaining 
separate pools for each service would subject licensees to the 
unnecessary burden of seeking waivers to permit intercategory sharing, 
which may have been comparatively more onerous for smaller entities to 
prepare and file.
    40. Regarding our decision to allow 900 MHz PLMR licensees to 
initiate CMRS operations on their currently authorized spectrum or to 
assign their authorizations to others for CMRS use, we perceive no 
adverse impact on small entities. This decision will improve spectrum 
efficiency, promote the use of advanced technologies by affording 
licensees access to addition spectrum.
    41. Regarding our decision to allocate the 1910-1915 MHz/1990-1995 
MHz paired spectrum blocks to Nextel, we perceive no adverse impact on 
small entities. Redesignating this spectrum for Nextel's use, for 
example, will facilitate 800 MHz realignment, by, among other things, 
introducing an additional entity that can participate in funding the 
relocation costs of public safety, critical infrastructure, and private 
wireless entities, including small entities. Alternatively, maintaining 
this spectrum without applying our relocation principles will expose 
such entities to continued interference without sufficient spectrum and 
funding to achieve realignment. Further, we are satisfied that our 
decision will not adversely impact BAS, UPCS, MSS, and microwave 
interests on account of expenditures in this spectrum. As noted in the 
Report and Order, Nextel has agreed to reimburse these interests or pay 
the upfront costs to relocate incumbents in the manner provided by our 
Rules, and we will hold Nextel to that agreement.
Report to Congress
    42. The Commission will send a copy of this Report and Order, Fifth 
R&O, Fourth MO&O, and Order in a report to be sent to Congress and the 
General Accounting Office pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 
5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A). In addition, the Report and Order, Fifth R&O, 
Fourth MO&O, and Order and this final certification will be sent to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
Report to Small Business Administration
    43. The Commission's Consumer Information Bureau, Reference 
Information Center, shall send a copy of this Report and Order, Fifth 
R&O, Fourth MO&O, and Order including the

[[Page 67831]]

Regulatory Flexibility Certification and to the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration.
    44. Pursuant to the authority of Sections 1, 4(i), 303(f) and (r), 
309, 316, and 332 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 303(f) and (r), 309, 316, and 332, parts 2, 15, 22, 
24, 74, 78, and 90 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR parts 2, 22, 24, 
74, 78, and 90, is amended as set forth in Rule Changes, January 21, 
2005 except for Sec. Sec.  22.972, 22.973, 90.674, 90.675, 90.676, and 
90.677 which contain information collection requirements that have not 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget. The Commission 
will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the 
effective date for these sections.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 2

    Frequency Allocations, General Rules and Regulations, Radio.

47 CFR Parts 22 and 90

    Communications common carriers, Communications equipment, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

47 CFR Part 24

    Communications common carriers.

47 CFR Part 74

    Radio.

47 CFR Part 78

    Cable television, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble 47 CFR parts 2, 22, 24, 74, 
78, and 90 are amended as follows:

PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL 
RULES AND REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, and 336, unless otherwise 
noted.


0
2. Section 2.106, the Table of Frequency Allocations, is amended by 
revising pages 38 and 39.


Sec.  2.106  Table of Frequency Allocations.

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P

[[Page 67832]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22NO04.002


[[Page 67833]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR22NO04.003

BILLING CODE 6712-01-C

[[Page 67834]]

PART 22--PUBLIC MOBILE SERVICES

0
3. The authority citation for part 22 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 222, 303, 309 and 332.

0
4. Add Sec. Sec.  22.970 through 22.973 to subpart H to read as 
follows:


Sec.  22.970  Unacceptable interference to Part 90 non-cellular 800 MHz 
licensees from cellular radiotelephone or Part 90 ESMR systems.

    (a) Definition. Except as provided in 47 CFR 90.617(k), 
unacceptable interference to non-cellular part 90 of this chapter 
licensees in the 800 MHz band will be deemed to occur when the below 
conditions are met:
    (1) A transceiver at a site at which interference is encountered:
    (i) Is in good repair and operating condition, and is receiving:
    (A) A median desired signal of -104 dBm or higher, as measured at 
the R.F. input of the receiver of a mobile unit; or
    (B) A median desired signal of -101 dBm or higher, as measured at 
the R.F. input of the receiver of a portable i.e. hand-held unit; and, 
either
    (ii) Is a voice transceiver:
    (A) With manufacturer published performance specifications for the 
receiver section of the transceiver equal to, or exceeding, the minimum 
standards set out in paragraph (b) of this section, below; and;
    (B) Receiving an undesired signal or signals which cause the 
measured Carrier to Noise plus interference (C/(I+N)) ratio of the 
receiver section of said transceiver to be less than 20 dB, or,
    (iii) Is a non-voice transceiver receiving an undesired signal or 
signals which cause the measured bit error rate (BER) (or some 
comparable specification) of the receiver section of said transceiver 
to be more than the value reasonably designated by the manufacturer.
    (2) Provided, however, that if the receiver section of the mobile 
or portable voice transceiver does not conform to the standards set out 
in paragraph (b) of this section, then that transceiver shall be deemed 
subject to unacceptable interference only at sites where the median 
desired signal satisfies the applicable threshold measured signal power 
in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section after an upward adjustment to 
account for the difference in receiver section performance. The upward 
adjustment shall be equal to the increase in the desired signal 
required to restore the receiver section of the subject transceiver to 
the 20 dB C/(I+N) ratio of paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section. The 
adjusted threshold levels shall then define the minimum measured signal 
power(s) in lieu of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) of this section at which the 
licensee using such non-compliant transceiver is entitled to 
interference protection.
    (b) Minimum receiver requirements. Voice transceivers capable of 
operating in the 806-824 MHz portion of the 800 MHz band shall have the 
following minimum performance specifications in order for the system in 
which such transceivers are used to claim entitlement to full 
protection against unacceptable interference (See paragraph (a) (2) of 
this section).
    (1) Voice units intended for mobile use: 75 dB intermodulation 
rejection ratio; 75 dB adjacent channel rejection ratio; -116 dBm 
reference sensitivity.
    (2) Voice units intended for portable use: 70 dB intermodulation 
rejection ratio; 70 dB adjacent channel rejection ratio; -116 dBm 
reference sensitivity.


Sec.  22.971  Obligation to abate unacceptable interference.

    (a) Strict responsibility. Any licensee who, knowingly or 
unknowingly, directly or indirectly, causes or contributes to causing 
unacceptable interference to a non-cellular Part 90 licensee in the 800 
MHz band, as defined in Sec.  22.970 shall be strictly accountable to 
abate the interference, with full cooperation and utmost diligence, in 
the shortest time practicable. Interfering licensees shall consider all 
feasible interference abatement measures, including, but not limited 
to, the remedies specified in the interference resolution procedures 
set forth in Sec.  22.972. This strict responsibility obligation 
applies to all forms of interference, including out-of-band emissions 
and intermodulation.
    (b) Joint and several responsibility. If two or more licensees 
knowingly or unknowingly, directly or indirectly, cause or contribute 
to causing unacceptable interference to a non-cellular part 90 of this 
chapter licensee in the 800 MHz band, as defined in Sec.  22.970, such 
licensees shall be jointly and severally responsible for abating 
interference, with full cooperation and utmost diligence, in the 
shortest practicable time.
    (1) This joint and several responsibility rule requires interfering 
licensees to consider all feasible interference abatement measures, 
including, but not limited to, the remedies specified in the 
interference resolution procedures set forth in Sec.  22.972(c). This 
joint and several responsibility rule applies to all forms of 
interference, including out-of-band emissions and intermodulation.
    (2) Any licensee that can show that its signal does not directly or 
indirectly, cause or contribute to causing unacceptable interference to 
a non-cellular part 90 of this chapter licensee in the 800 MHz band, as 
defined in this chapter, shall not be held responsible for resolving 
unacceptable interference. Notwithstanding, any licensee that receives 
an interference complaint from a public safety/CII licensee shall 
respond to such complaint consistent with the interference resolution 
procedures set forth in this chapter.


Sec.  22.972  Interference resolution procedures.

    (a) Initial notification. (1) Cellular Radiotelephone licensees may 
receive initial notification of interference from non-cellular part 90 
of this chapter licensees in the 800 MHz band pursuant to Sec.  
90.674(a) of this chapter.
    (2) Cellular Radiotelephone licensees, in conjunction with part 90 
ESMR licensees, shall establish an electronic means of receiving the 
initial notification described in Sec.  90.674(a) of this chapter. The 
electronic system must be designed so that all appropriate Cellular 
Radiotelephone licensees and part 90 ESMR licensees can be contacted 
about the interference incident with a single notification. The 
electronic system for receipt of initial notification of interference 
complaints must be operating no later than February 22, 2005.
    (3) Cellular Radiotelephone licensees must respond to the initial 
notification described in Sec.  90.674(a) of this chapter, as soon as 
possible and no later than 24 hours after receipt of notification from 
a part 90 public safety/CII licensee. This response time may be 
extended to 48 hours after receipt from other part 90 non-cellular 
licensees provided affected communications on these systems are not 
safety related.
    (b) Interference analysis. Cellular Radiotelephone licensees--who 
receive an initial notification described in Sec.  90.674(a) of this 
chapter--shall perform a timely analysis of the interference to 
identify the possible source. Immediate on-site visits may be conducted 
when necessary to complete timely analysis. Interference analysis must 
be completed and corrective action initiated within 48 hours of the 
initial complaint from a part 90 of this chapter public safety/CII 
licensee. This response time may be extended to 96 hours after the 
initial complaint from other part 90 of this chapter non-cellular 
licensees provided affected communications on these systems are not 
safety related.

[[Page 67835]]

Corrective action may be delayed if the affected licensee agrees in 
writing (which may be, but is not required to be, recorded via e-mail 
or other electronic means) to a longer period.
    (c) Mitigation steps. (1) All Cellular Radiotelephone and part 90 
of this chapter ESMR licensees who are responsible for causing 
unacceptable interference shall take all affirmative measures to 
resolve such interference. Cellular Radiotelephone licensees found to 
contribute to unacceptable interference, as defined in Sec.  22.970, 
shall resolve such interference in the shortest time practicable. 
Cellular Radiotelephone licensees and part 90 of this chapter ESMR 
licensees must provide all necessary test apparatus and technical 
personnel skilled in the operation of such equipment as may be 
necessary to determine the most appropriate means of timely eliminating 
the interference. However, the means whereby interference is abated or 
the cell parameters that may need to be adjusted is left to the 
discretion of the Cellular Radiotelephone and/or part 90 of this 
chapter ESMR licensees, whose affirmative measures may include, but not 
be limited to, the following techniques:
    (i) Increasing the desired power of the public safety/CII signal;
    (ii) Decreasing the power of the part 90 ESMR and/or Cellular 
Radiotelephone system signal;
    (iii) Modifying the part 90 ESMR and/or Cellular Radiotelephone 
system antenna height;
    (iv) Modifying the part 90 ESMR and/or Cellular Radiotelephone 
system antenna characteristics;
    (v) Incorporating filters into part 90 ESMR and/or Cellular 
Radiotelephone transmission equipment;
    (vi) Permanently changing part 90 ESMR and/or Cellular 
Radiotelephone frequencies; and
    (vii) Supplying interference-resistant receivers to the affected 
public safety/CII licensee(s). If this technique is used, in all 
circumstances, Cellular Radiotelephone and/or part 90 of this chapter 
ESMR licensees shall be responsible for all costs thereof.
    (2) Whenever short-term interference abatement measures prove 
inadequate, the affected part 90 of this chapter non-cellular licensee 
shall, consistent with but not compromising safety, make all necessary 
concessions to accepting interference until a longer-term remedy can be 
implemented.
    (3) Discontinuing operations when clear imminent danger exists. 
When a part 90 of this chapter public safety licensee determines that a 
continuing presence of interference constitutes a clear and imminent 
danger to life or property, the licensee causing the interference must 
discontinue the associated operation immediately, until a remedy can be 
identified and applied. The determination that a continuing presence 
exists that constitutes a clear and imminent danger to life or 
property, must be made by written statement that:
    (i) Is in the form of a declaration, notarized affidavit, or 
statement under penalty or perjury, from an officer or executive of the 
affected public safety licensee;
    (ii) Thoroughly describes the basis of the claim of clear and 
imminent danger;
    (iii) Was formulated on the basis of either personal knowledge or 
belief after due diligence;
    (iv) Is not proffered by a contractor or other third party; and
    (v) Has been approved by the Chief of the Wireless 
Telecommunication Bureau or other designated Commission official. Prior 
to the authorized official making a determination that a clear and 
imminent danger exists, the associated written statement must be served 
by hand-delivery or receipted fax on the applicable offending licensee, 
with a copy transmitted by the fastest available means to the 
Washington, DC office of the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications 
Bureau.


Sec.  22.973  Information exchange.

    (a) Prior notification. Public safety/CII licensees may notify a 
part 90 ESMR or cellular radiotelephone licensee that they wish to 
receive prior notification of the activation or modification of part 90 
ESMR or cellular radiotelephone cell sites in their area. Thereafter, 
the part 90 ESMR or cellular radiotelephone licensee must provide the 
following information to the public safety/CII licensee at least 10 
business days before a new cell site is activated or an existing cell 
site is modified:
    (1) Location;
    (2) Effective radiated power;
    (3) Antenna height;
    (4) Channels available for use.
    (b) Purpose of prior notification. The prior coordination of cell 
sites is for informational purposes only. Public safety/CII licensees 
are not afforded the right to accept or reject the activation of a 
proposed cell or to unilaterally require changes in its operating 
parameters. The principal purposes of notification are to:
    (1) Allow a public safety licensee to advise the part 90 of this 
chapter ESMR or Cellular Radiotelephone licensee whether it believes a 
proposed cell will generate unacceptable interference;
    (2) Permit Cellular Radiotelephone or part 90 of this chapter ESMR 
licensees to make voluntary changes in cell parameters when a public 
safety licensee alerts them to possible interference; and
    (3) Rapidly identify the source if interference is encountered when 
the cell is activated.

PART 24--PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

0
5. The authority citation for part 24 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 309 and 332.


0
6. Amend Sec.  24.203 by revising paragraph (b) and adding paragraph 
(d) to read as follows:


Sec.  24.203  Construction requirements.

* * * * *
    (b) Licensees of 10 MHz blocks except for the 1910-1915 MHz and 
1990-1995 MHz, including 10 MHz C block licenses reconfigured pursuant 
to Amendment of the Commission's Rules Regarding Installment Payment 
Financing for Personal Communications Services (PCS) Licensees, WT 
Docket No. 97-82, Sixth Report and Order, FCC 00-313, and 15 MHz blocks 
resulting from the disaggregation option as provided in the 
Commission's Rules Regarding Installment Payment Financing for Personal 
Communications Services (PCS) Licensees, Second Report and Order and 
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, WT Docket 97-82, 12 FCC Rcd 
16436 (1997), as modified by Order on Reconsideration of the Second 
Report and Order, WT Docket 97-82, 13 FCC Rcd 8345 (1998), must serve 
with a signal level sufficient to provide adequate service to at least 
one-quarter of the population in their licensed area within five years 
of being licensed, or make a showing of substantial service in their 
licensed area within five years of being licensed. Population is 
defined as the 1990 population census. Licensees may elect to use the 
2000 population census to determine the five-year construction 
requirement. Failure by any licensee to meet these requirements will 
result in forfeiture of the license and the licensee will be ineligible 
to regain it.
* * * * *
    (d) Licensees in the paired 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz bands 
must make a showing of ``substantial service'' in their license area 
within ten years of the date of initial license issuance or renewal. 
``Substantial service'' is defined as service which is sound, 
favorable, and substantially above a level of mediocre service which 
just might minimally warrant renewal. Failure by any licensee to meet 
this

[[Page 67836]]

requirement will result in forfeiture of the license and the licensee 
will be ineligible to regain it.

0
7. Amend Sec.  24.229 by adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  24.229  Frequencies.

* * * * *
    (c) The paired frequency blocks 1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz are 
available for assignment in the 175 Economic Areas defined in Sec.  
90.7 of this chapter. The 1910-1915 MHz block shall be used for mobile/
portable station transmissions while the 1990-1995 MHz block shall be 
used for base station transmissions.

0
8. Amend Sec.  24.247 by adding paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  24.247  Triggering a reimbursement obligation.

* * * * *
    (c) Any new entrants granted licenses for the 1910-1915 MHz band 
must reimburse UTAM a pro rata share of its total expenses incurred by 
UTAM as of the date that the new entrants gain access to the band. The 
percent required by new entrants to pay shall be calculated based upon 
the amount of spectrum granted to the new entrant as compared to the 
total amount of spectrum UTAM is responsible for clearing of incumbents 
(20 megahertz), and must be paid before a new entrant begins operations 
in the band. For example, if a new entrant obtains a license for 5 
megahertz of spectrum in this band, it is required to reimburse UTAM 
one-quarter of UTAM's total costs to date on a pro rata shared basis. 
New entrants will be responsible for the actual costs associated with 
future relocation activities in their licensed spectrum, but will be 
entitled to seek reimbursement from UTAM for the proportion of those 
band clearing costs that benefit users of the 1915-1930 MHz band.

PART 74--EXPERIMENTAL RADIO, AUXILIARY, SPECIAL BROADCASTING AND 
OTHER PROGRAM DISTRIBUTIONAL SERVICES

0
9. The authority citation for part 74 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, 307, 336(f), 336(h) and 554.


0
10. Amend Sec.  74.602 by revising paragraph (a)(3)(iii) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  74.602  Frequency assignment.

    (a) * * *
    (3) * * *
    (iii) Broadcast Auxiliary Service, Cable Television Remote Pickup 
Service, and Local Television Transmission Service licensees will be 
required to use the Band A channel plan in paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this 
section after completion of relocation by an Emerging Technologies 
licensee in accordance with Sec.  74.690 or Sec.  78.40. Licensees 
declining relocation may continue to use their existing channel plan 
but must discontinue use of the 1990-2025 MHz band when they indicate 
to an Emerging Technologies licensee, acting pursuant to Sec.  74.690 
or Sec.  78.40 of this chapter, that they decline to be relocated.
* * * * *

0
11. Amend Sec.  74.690 by revising paragraphs (b), (c)(2), (c)(3), (d) 
and the introductory text of paragraph (e), and to remove and reserve 
section (e)(1)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  74.690  Transition of the 1990-2025 MHz band from the Broadcast 
Auxiliary Service to emerging technologies.

    (a) * * *
    (b) An Existing Licensee in the 1990-2025 MHz band allocated for 
licensed emerging technology services will maintain primary status in 
the band until the Existing Licensee's operations are relocated by a 
New Entrant, are discontinued under the terms of paragraph (a) of this 
section, or become secondary under the terms of paragraph (e)(6) of 
this section or the Existing Licensee indicates to a New Entrant that 
it declines to be relocated.
    (c) * * *
    (2) The New Entrant completes all activities necessary for 
implementing the replacement facilities, including engineering and cost 
analysis of the relocation procedure and, if radio facilities are used, 
identifying and obtaining, on the incumbents' behalf, new microwave or 
Local Television Transmission Service frequencies and frequency 
coordination.
    (3) The New Entrant builds the replacement system and tests it for 
comparability with the existing system.
    (d) The Existing Licensee is not required to relocate until the 
alternative facilities are available to it for a reasonable time to 
make adjustments, determine comparability, and ensure a seamless 
handoff. If, within one year after the relocation to new facilities the 
Existing Licensee demonstrates that the new facilities are not 
comparable to the former facilities, the New Entrant must remedy the 
defects.
    (e) Subject to the terms of this paragraph (e), the relocation of 
Existing Licensees will be carried out by MSS licensees in the 
following manner:
    (1) * * *
    (ii) [Reserved]
* * * * *

PART 78--CABLE TELEVISION RELAY SERVICE

0
12. The authority citation for part 78 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 2, 3, 4, 301, 303, 307, 308, 309, 48 Stat., 
as amended, 1064, 1065, 1066, 1081, 1082, 1083, 1084, 1085; 47 
U.S.C. 152, 153, 154, 301, 303, 307, 308, 309.


0
13. Amend Sec.  78.40 by revising paragraphs (b), (c)(2), (c)(3), (e) 
and the introductory text of paragraph (f), and by removing and 
reserving paragraph (f)(1)(ii) to read as follows:


Sec.  78.40  Transition of the 1990-2025 MHz band from the Cable 
Television Relay Service to emerging technologies.

    (a) * * *
    (b) Existing Licensees in the 1990-2025 MHz band allocated for 
licensed emerging technology services will maintain primary status in 
the band until a New Entrant completes relocation of the Existing 
Licensee's operations or the Existing Licensee indicates to a New 
Entrant that it declines to be relocated.
    (c) * * *
    (2) The New Entrant completes all activities necessary for 
implementing the replacement facilities, including engineering and cost 
analysis of the relocation procedure and, if radio facilities are used, 
identifying and obtaining, on the incumbents' behalf, new microwave or 
Cable Television Relay Service frequencies and frequency coordination.
    (3) The New Entrant builds the replacement system and tests it for 
comparability with the existing system.
* * * * *
    (e) If, within one year after the relocation to new facilities the 
Existing Licensee demonstrates that the new facilities are not 
comparable to the former facilities, the New Entrant must remedy the 
defect.
    (f) Subject to the terms of this paragraph (f), the relocation of 
Existing Licensees will be carried out by MSS licensees in the 
following manner:
* * * * *

PART 90--PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES

0
14. The authority citation for part 90 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 4(i), 11, 303(g), 303(r), and 332(c)(7) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 161, 
303(g), 303(r), 332(c)(7).


0
15. Amend Sec.  90.7 by adding the following definitions in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:

[[Page 67837]]

Sec.  90.7  Definitions.

    Cellular System (800 MHz). In the 806-817 MHz/851-862 MHz band, a 
cellular system is defined as a high-density system which:
    (1) Has more than five overlapping interactive sites featuring 
hand-off capability; and
    (2) Any one of such sites has an antenna height of less than 30.4 
meters (100 feet) above ground level with an antenna height above 
average terrain (HAAT) of less than 152.4 meters (500 feet) and twenty 
or more paired frequencies.
* * * * *
    Critical Infrastructure Industry (CII). Private internal radio 
services operated by State, local governments and non-government 
entities, including utilities, railroads, metropolitan transit systems, 
pipelines, private ambulances, volunteer fire departments, and not-for-
profit organizations that offer emergency road services, provided these 
private internal radio services are used to protect safety of life, 
health, or property; and are not made commercially available to the 
public.
* * * * *
    Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio System (ESMR). A specialized 
mobile radio (SMR) system operating in the 800 MHz band which employs 
an 800 MHz cellular system as defined in this section.
* * * * *
0
16. Section 90.16 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  90.16  Public Safety National Plan.

    The Commission has established a National Plan which specifies 
special policies and procedures governing the Public Safety Pool 
(formally Public Safety Radio Services and the Special Emergency Radio 
Service). The National Plan is contained in the Report and Order in 
General Docket No. 87-112. The principal spectrum resource for the 
National Plan is the 806-809 MHz and the 851-854 MHz bands at locations 
farther then 110 km (68.4 miles) from the U.S./Mexico border and 140 km 
(87 miles) from the U.S./Canadian border (``border regions''). In the 
border regions, the principal spectrum for the National Plan may be 
different. The National plan establishes planning regions covering all 
parts of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
No assignments will be made in the spectrum designated for the National 
Plan until a regional plan for the area has been accepted by the 
Commission.

0
17. Amend Sec.  90.20(c)(3) by removing frequency bands ``806 to 824'' 
and ``851 to 859'' and by adding in its place ``806 to 821'' and ``851 
to 862'' and by revising paragraph (d)(69) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.20  Public Safety Pool.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) * * *

                                       Public Safety Pool Frequency Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Frequency or band                 Class of station(s)       Limitations           Coordinator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
806 to 817..............................  ......do..................              69  ..........................
851 to 862..............................  Base or mobile............              69  ..........................
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) * * *
    (69) Subpart S of this part contains rules for assignment of 
frequencies in the 806-817 MHz and 851-862 MHz bands.
* * * * *

0
18. Amend Sec.  90.35(b)(3) by removing frequency bands ``806 to 821'' 
and ``851 to 869'' and by adding in its place ``809 to 824'' and ``854 
to 869'' and by revising paragraph (c)(71) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.35  Industrial/Business Pool.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (3) * * *

                                    Industrial/Business Pool Frequency Table
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Frequency or band                 Class of station(s)       Limitations           Coordinator
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
809 to 824..............................  Mobile....................              71  ..........................
854 to 869..............................  Base or mobile............              71  ..........................
 
                                                  * * * * * * *
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) * * *
    (71) Subpart S of this part contains rules for assignment of 
frequencies in the 809-824/854-869 and 896-901/935-940 MHz bands.
* * * * *

0
19. Amend Sec.  90.209(b)(5) by removing frequency bands ``806-821/851-
866'' and ``821-824/866-869'' and by adding in its place ``806-809/851-
854'' and ``809-824/854-869'' to read as follows:


Sec.  90.209  Bandwidth limitations.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (5) * * *

[[Page 67838]]



                   Standard Channel Spacing/Bandwidth
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Authorized
          Frequency band (MHz)                Channel        bandwidth
                                           spacing (kHz)       (kHz)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
806-809/851-854.........................            12.5              20
809-824/854-869.........................              25              20
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
20. In Sec.  90.210, revise the table by removing frequency bands 
``806-821/851-866'' \3\ and ``821-824/866-869'' and by adding in its 
place ``806-809/851-854'' and ``809-824/854-869'' \3\ to read as 
follows:


Sec.  90.210  Emission masks.

* * * * *

                        Applicable Emission Masks
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Mask for         Mask for
                                         equipment with     equipment
         Frequency band (MHz)            audio low pass   without audio
                                             filter      low pass filter
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
806-809/851-854.......................               B                H
809-824/854-869 \3\...................               B                G
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    \3\ ESMR systems shall comply with the emission mask provisions of 
Sec.  90.691.
* * * * *

0
21. Amend Sec.  90.213(a) by removing frequency bands ``806-821'', 
``821-824'', ``851-866'', ``866-869'' and by adding in its place ``806-
809'', ``809-824'', ``851-854'', ``854-869'' to read as follows:


Sec.  90.213  Frequency stability.

    (a) * * *

                       Minimum Frequency Stability
                        [Parts per million (ppm)]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Mobile stations
                                               -------------------------
                                    Fixed and      Over 2
      Frequency range (MHz)            base        watts      2 watts or
                                     stations      output    less output
                                                   power        power
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
806-809..........................     \14\ 1.0          1.5          1.5
809-824..........................     \14\ 1.5          2.5          2.5
851-854..........................          1.0          1.5          1.5
854-869..........................          1.5          2.5          2.5
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

0
22. Amend Sec.  90.607 by revising paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.607  Supplemental information to be furnished by applicants 
for facilities under this subpart.

* * * * *
    (e) All applicants for frequencies governed by this subpart are 
subject to the frequency coordination requirements of Sec.  90.175(b) 
except applicants requesting frequencies for EA-based SMR operations in 
the 806-824 MHz/851-869 MHz band or 896-901 MHz/935-940 MHz band.

0
23. Amend Sec.  90.609 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.609  Special limitations on amendment of applications for 
assignment or transfer of authorizations for radio systems above 800 
MHz.

* * * * *
    (c) Licensees of constructed systems in any category are permitted 
to make partial assignments of an authorized grant to an applicant 
proposing to create a new system or to an existing licensee that has 
loaded its system to 70 mobiles per channel and is expanding that 
system. An applicant authorized to expand an existing system or to 
create a new system with frequencies from any category obtained through 
partial assignment will receive the assignor's existing license 
expiration date and loading deadline for the frequencies that are 
assigned. A licensee that makes a

[[Page 67839]]

partial assignment of a station's frequencies will not be authorized to 
obtain additional frequencies for that station for a period of one year 
from the date of the partial assignment.
* * * * *

0
24. Section 90.613 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  90.613  Frequencies available.

    The following table indicates the channel designations of 
frequencies available for assignment to eligible applicants under this 
subpart. Frequencies shall be assigned in pairs, with mobile and 
control station transmitting frequencies taken from the 806-824 MHz 
band with corresponding base station frequencies being 45 MHz higher 
and taken from the 851-869 MHz band, or with mobile and control station 
frequencies taken from the 896-901 MHz band with corresponding base 
station frequencies being 39 MHz higher and taken from the 935-940 MHz 
band. Only the base station transmitting frequency of each pair is 
listed in the following tables.

            Table of 806-824/851-869 MHz Channel Designations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Base frequency
                      Channel No.                             (MHz)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................................................          851.0125
2.....................................................             .0375
3.....................................................             .0500
4.....................................................             .0625
5.....................................................             .0750
6.....................................................             .0875
7.....................................................             .1000
8.....................................................             .1125
9.....................................................             .1250
10....................................................             .1375
11....................................................             .1500
12....................................................             .1625
13....................................................             .1750
14....................................................             .1875
15....................................................             .2000
16....................................................             .2125
17....................................................             .2250
18....................................................             .2375
19....................................................             .2500
20....................................................             .2625
21....................................................             .2750
22....................................................             .2875
23....................................................             .3000
24....................................................             .3125
25....................................................             .3250
26....................................................             .3375
27....................................................             .3500
28....................................................             .3625
29....................................................             .3750
30....................................................             .3875
31....................................................             .4000
32....................................................             .4125
33....................................................             .4250
34....................................................             .4375
35....................................................             .4500
36....................................................             .4625
37....................................................             .4750
38....................................................             .4875
39....................................................             .5125
40....................................................             .5375
41....................................................             .5500
42....................................................             .5625
43....................................................             .5750
44....................................................             .5875
45....................................................             .6000
46....................................................             .6125
47....................................................             .6250
48....................................................             .6375
49....................................................             .6500
50....................................................             .6625
51....................................................             .6750
52....................................................             .6875
53....................................................             .7000
54....................................................             .7125
55....................................................             .7250
56....................................................             .7375
57....................................................             .7500
58....................................................             .7625
59....................................................             .7750
60....................................................             .7875
61....................................................             .8000
62....................................................             .8125
63....................................................             .8250
64....................................................             .8375
65....................................................             .8500
66....................................................             .8625
67....................................................             .8750
68....................................................             .8875
69....................................................             .9000
70....................................................             .9125
71....................................................             .9250
72....................................................             .9375
73....................................................             .9500
74....................................................             .9625
75....................................................             .9750
76....................................................             .9875
77....................................................          852.0125
78....................................................             .0375
79....................................................             .0500
80....................................................             .0625
81....................................................             .0750
82....................................................             .0875
83....................................................             .1000
84....................................................             .1125
85....................................................             .1250
86....................................................             .1375
87....................................................             .1500
88....................................................             .1625
89....................................................             .1750
90....................................................             .1875
91....................................................             .2000
92....................................................             .2125
93....................................................             .2250
94....................................................             .2375
95....................................................             .2500
96....................................................             .2625
97....................................................             .2750
98....................................................             .2875
99....................................................             .3000
100...................................................             .3125
101...................................................             .3250
102...................................................             .3375
103...................................................             .3500
104...................................................             .3625
105...................................................             .3750
106...................................................             .3875
107...................................................             .4000
108...................................................             .4125
109...................................................             .4250
110...................................................             .4375
111...................................................             .4500
112...................................................             .4625
113...................................................             .4750
114...................................................             .4875
115...................................................             .5125
116...................................................             .5375
117...................................................             .5500
118...................................................             .5625
119...................................................             .5750
120...................................................             .5875
121...................................................             .6000
122...................................................             .6125
123...................................................             .6250
124...................................................             .6375
125...................................................             .6500
126...................................................             .6625
127...................................................             .6750
128...................................................             .6875
129...................................................             .7000
130...................................................             .7125
131...................................................             .7250
132...................................................             .7375
133...................................................             .7500
134...................................................             .7625
135...................................................             .7750
136...................................................             .7875
137...................................................             .8000
138...................................................             .8125
139...................................................             .8250
140...................................................             .8375
141...................................................             .8500
142...................................................             .8625
143...................................................             .8750
144...................................................             .8875
145...................................................             .9000
146...................................................             .9125
147...................................................             .9250
148...................................................             .9375
149...................................................             .9500
150...................................................             .9625
151...................................................             .9750
152...................................................             .9875
153...................................................         .853.0125
154...................................................             .0375
155...................................................             .0500
156...................................................             .0625
157...................................................             .0750
158...................................................             .0875
159...................................................             .1000
160...................................................             .1125
161...................................................             .1250
162...................................................             .1375
163...................................................             .1500
164...................................................             .1625
165...................................................             .1750
166...................................................             .1875
167...................................................             .2000
168...................................................             .2125
169...................................................             .2250
170...................................................             .2375
171...................................................             .2500
172...................................................             .2625
173...................................................             .2750
174...................................................             .2875
175...................................................             .3000
176...................................................             .3125
177...................................................             .3250
178...................................................             .3375

[[Page 67840]]

 
179...................................................             .3500
180...................................................             .3625
181...................................................             .3750
182...................................................             .3875
183...................................................             .4000
184...................................................             .4125
185...................................................             .4250
186...................................................             .4375
187...................................................             .4500
188...................................................             .4625
189...................................................             .4750
190...................................................             .4875
191...................................................             .5000
192...................................................             .5125
193...................................................             .5250
194...................................................             .5375
195...................................................             .5500
196...................................................             .5625
197...................................................             .5750
198...................................................             .5875
199...................................................             .6000
200...................................................             .6125
201...................................................             .6250
202...................................................             .6375
203...................................................             .6500
204...................................................             .6625
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206...................................................             .6875
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208...................................................             .7125
209...................................................             .7250
210...................................................             .7375
211...................................................             .7500
212...................................................             .7625
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214...................................................             .7875
215...................................................             .8000
216...................................................             .8125
217...................................................             .8250
218...................................................             .8375
219...................................................             .8500
220...................................................             .8625
221...................................................             .8750
222...................................................             .8875
223...................................................             .9000
224...................................................             .9125
225...................................................             .9250
226...................................................             .9375
227...................................................             .9500
228...................................................             .9625
229...................................................             .9750
230...................................................             .9875
231...................................................          854.0125
232...................................................             .0375
233...................................................             .0625
234...................................................             .0875
235...................................................             .1125
236...................................................             .1375
237...................................................             .1625
238...................................................             .1875
239...................................................             .2125
240...................................................             .2375
241...................................................             .2625
242...................................................             .2875
243...................................................             .3125
244...................................................             .3375
245...................................................             .3625
246...................................................             .3875
247...................................................             .4125
248...................................................             .4375
249...................................................             .4625
250...................................................             .4875
251...................................................             .5125
252...................................................             .5375
253...................................................             .5625
254...................................................             .5875
255...................................................             .6125
256...................................................             .6375
257...................................................             .6625
258...................................................             .6875
259...................................................             .7125
260...................................................             .7375
261...................................................             .7625
262...................................................             .7875
263...................................................             .8125
264...................................................             .8375
265...................................................             .8625
266...................................................             .8875
267...................................................             .9125
268...................................................             .9375
269...................................................             .9625
270...................................................             .9875
271...................................................          855.0125
272...................................................             .0375
273...................................................             .0625
274...................................................             .0875
275...................................................             .1125
276...................................................             .1375
277...................................................             .1625
278...................................................             .1875
279...................................................             .2125
280...................................................             .2375
281...................................................             .2625
282...................................................             .2875
283...................................................             .3125
284...................................................             .3375
285...................................................             .3625
286...................................................             .3875
287...................................................             .4125
288...................................................             .4375
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290...................................................             .4875
291...................................................             .5125
292...................................................             .5375
293...................................................             .5625
294...................................................             .5875
295...................................................             .6125
296...................................................             .6375
297...................................................             .6625
298...................................................             .6875
299...................................................             .7125
300...................................................             .7375
301...................................................             .7625
302...................................................             .7875
303...................................................             .8125
304...................................................             .8375
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306...................................................             .8875
307...................................................             .9125
308...................................................             .9375
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310...................................................             .9875
311...................................................          856.0125
312...................................................             .0375
313...................................................             .0625
314...................................................             .0875
315...................................................             .1125
316...................................................             .1375
317...................................................             .1625
318...................................................             .1875
319...................................................             .2125
320...................................................             .2375
321...................................................             .2625
322...................................................             .2875
323...................................................             .3125
324...................................................             .3375
325...................................................             .3625
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328...................................................             .4375
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338...................................................             .6875
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340...................................................             .7375
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342...................................................             .7875
343...................................................             .8125
344...................................................             .8375
345...................................................             .8625
346...................................................             .8875
347...................................................             .9125
348...................................................             .9375
349...................................................             .9625
350...................................................             .9875
351...................................................          857.0125
352...................................................             .0375
353...................................................             .0625
354...................................................             .0875
355...................................................             .1125
356...................................................             .1375
357...................................................             .1625
358...................................................             .1875
359...................................................             .2125
360...................................................             .2375
361...................................................             .2625
362...................................................             .2875
363...................................................             .3125
364...................................................             .3375
365...................................................             .3625
366...................................................             .3875
367...................................................             .4125
368...................................................             .4375
369...................................................             .4625
370...................................................             .4875
371...................................................             .5125
372...................................................             .5375
373...................................................             .5625
374...................................................             .5875
375...................................................             .6125
376...................................................             .6375
377...................................................             .6625
378...................................................             .6875
379...................................................             .7125
380...................................................             .7375
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382...................................................             .7875
383...................................................             .8125
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[[Page 67841]]

 
389...................................................             .9625
390...................................................             .9875
391...................................................          858.0125
392...................................................             .0375
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396...................................................             .1375
397...................................................             .1625
398...................................................             .1875
399...................................................             .2125
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418...................................................             .6875
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422...................................................             .7875
423...................................................             .8125
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425...................................................             .8625
426...................................................             .8875
427...................................................             .9125
428...................................................             .9375
429...................................................             .9625
430...................................................             .9875
431...................................................          859.0125
432...................................................             .0375
433...................................................             .0625
434...................................................             .0875
435...................................................             .1125
436...................................................             .1375
437...................................................             .1625
438...................................................             .1875
439...................................................             .2125
440...................................................             .2375
441...................................................             .2625
442...................................................             .2875
443...................................................             .3125
444...................................................             .3375
445...................................................             .3625
446...................................................             .3875
447...................................................             .4125
448...................................................             .4375
449...................................................             .4625
450...................................................             .4875
451...................................................             .5125
452...................................................             .5375
453...................................................             .5625
454...................................................             .5875
455...................................................             .6125
456...................................................             .6375
457...................................................             .6625
458...................................................             .6875
459...................................................             .7125
460...................................................             .7375
461...................................................             .7625
462...................................................             .7875
463...................................................             .8125
464...................................................             .8375
465...................................................             .8625
466...................................................             .8875
467...................................................             .9125
468...................................................             .9375
469...................................................             .9625
470...................................................             .9875
471...................................................          860.0125
472...................................................             .0375
473...................................................             .0625
474...................................................             .0875
475...................................................             .1125
476...................................................             .1375
477...................................................             .1625
478...................................................             .1875
479...................................................             .2125
480...................................................             .2375
481...................................................             .2625
482...................................................             .2875
483...................................................             .3125
484...................................................             .3375
485...................................................             .3625
486...................................................             .3875
487...................................................             .4125
488...................................................             .4375
489...................................................             .4625
490...................................................             .4875
491...................................................             .5125
492...................................................             .5375
493...................................................             .5625
494...................................................             .5875
495...................................................             .6125
496...................................................             .6375
497...................................................             .6625
498...................................................             .6875
499...................................................             .7125
500...................................................             .7375
501...................................................             .7625
502...................................................             .7875
503...................................................             .8125
504...................................................             .8375
505...................................................             .8625
506...................................................             .8875
507...................................................             .9125
508...................................................             .9375
509...................................................             .9625
510...................................................             .9875
511...................................................          861.0125
512...................................................             .0375
513...................................................             .0625
514...................................................             .0875
515...................................................             .1125
516...................................................             .1375
517...................................................             .1625
518...................................................             .1875
519...................................................             .2125
520...................................................             .2375
521...................................................             .2625
522...................................................             .2875
523...................................................             .3125
524...................................................             .3375
525...................................................             .3625
526...................................................             .3875
527...................................................             .4125
528...................................................             .4375
529...................................................             .4625
530...................................................             .4875
531...................................................             .5125
532...................................................             .5375
533...................................................             .5625
534...................................................             .5875
535...................................................             .6125
536...................................................             .6375
537...................................................             .6625
538...................................................             .6875
539...................................................             .7125
540...................................................             .7375
541...................................................             .7625
542...................................................             .7875
543...................................................             .8125
544...................................................             .8375
545...................................................             .8625
546...................................................             .8875
547...................................................             .9125
548...................................................             .9375
549...................................................             .9625
550...................................................             .9875
551...................................................          862.0125
552...................................................             .0375
553...................................................             .0625
554...................................................             .0875
555...................................................             .1125
556...................................................             .1375
557...................................................             .1625
558...................................................             .1875
559...................................................             .2125
560...................................................             .2375
561...................................................             .2625
562...................................................             .2875
563...................................................             .3125
564...................................................             .3375
565...................................................             .3625
566...................................................             .3875
567...................................................             .4125
568...................................................             .4375
569...................................................             .4625
570...................................................             .4875
571...................................................             .5125
572...................................................             .5375
573...................................................             .5625
574...................................................             .5875
575...................................................             .6125
576...................................................             .6375
577...................................................             .6625
578...................................................             .6875
579...................................................             .7125
580...................................................             .7375
581...................................................             .7625
582...................................................             .7875
583...................................................             .8125
584...................................................             .8375
585...................................................             .8625
586...................................................             .8875
587...................................................             .9125
588...................................................             .9375
589...................................................             .9625
590...................................................             .9875
591...................................................          863.0125
592...................................................             .0375
593...................................................             .0625
594...................................................             .0875
595...................................................             .1125
596...................................................             .1375
597...................................................             .1625
598...................................................             .1875

[[Page 67842]]

 
599...................................................             .2125
600...................................................             .2375
601...................................................             .2625
602...................................................             .2875
603...................................................             .3125
604...................................................             .3375
605...................................................             .3625
606...................................................             .3875
607...................................................             .4125
608...................................................             .4375
609...................................................             .4625
610...................................................             .4875
611...................................................             .5125
612...................................................             .5375
613...................................................             .5625
614...................................................             .5875
615...................................................             .6125
616...................................................             .6375
617...................................................             .6625
618...................................................             .6875
619...................................................             .7125
620...................................................             .7375
621...................................................             .7625
622...................................................             .7875
623...................................................             .8125
624...................................................             .8375
625...................................................             .8625
626...................................................             .8875
627...................................................             .9125
628...................................................             .9375
629...................................................             .9625
630...................................................             .9875
631...................................................          864.0125
632...................................................             .0375
633...................................................             .0625
634...................................................             .0875
635...................................................             .1125
636...................................................             .1375
637...................................................             .1625
638...................................................             .1875
639...................................................             .2125
640...................................................             .2375
641...................................................             .2625
642...................................................             .2875
643...................................................             .3125
644...................................................             .3375
645...................................................             .3625
646...................................................             .3875
647...................................................             .4125
648...................................................             .4375
649...................................................             .4625
650...................................................             .4875
651...................................................             .5125
652...................................................             .5375
653...................................................             .5625
654...................................................             .5875
655...................................................             .6125
656...................................................             .6375
657...................................................             .6625
658...................................................             .6875
659...................................................             .7125
660...................................................             .7375
661...................................................             .7625
662...................................................             .7875
663...................................................             .8125
664...................................................             .8375
665...................................................             .8625
666...................................................             .8875
667...................................................             .9125
668...................................................             .9375
669...................................................             .9625
670...................................................             .9875
671...................................................          865.0125
672...................................................             .0375
673...................................................             .0625
674...................................................             .0875
675...................................................             .1125
676...................................................             .1375
677...................................................             .1625
678...................................................             .1875
679...................................................             .2125
680...................................................             .2375
681...................................................             .2625
682...................................................             .2875
683...................................................             .3125
684...................................................             .3375
685...................................................             .3625
686...................................................             .3875
687...................................................             .4125
688...................................................             .4375
689...................................................             .4625
690...................................................             .4875
691...................................................             .5125
692...................................................             .5375
693...................................................             .5625
694...................................................             .5875
695...................................................             .6125
696...................................................             .6375
697...................................................             .6625
698...................................................             .6875
699...................................................             .7125
700...................................................             .7375
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702...................................................             .7875
703...................................................             .8125
704...................................................             .8375
705...................................................             .8625
706...................................................             .8875
707...................................................             .9125
708...................................................             .9375
709...................................................             .9625
710...................................................             .9875
711...................................................          866.0125
712...................................................             .0375
713...................................................             .0625
714...................................................             .0875
715...................................................             .1125
716...................................................             .1375
717...................................................             .1625
718...................................................             .1875
719...................................................             .2125
720...................................................             .2375
721...................................................             .2625
722...................................................             .2875
723...................................................             .3125
724...................................................             .3375
725...................................................             .3625
726...................................................             .3875
727...................................................             .4125
728...................................................             .4375
729...................................................             .4625
730...................................................             .4875
731...................................................             .5125
732...................................................             .5375
733...................................................             .5625
734...................................................             .5875
735...................................................             .6125
736...................................................             .6375
737...................................................             .6625
738...................................................             .6875
739...................................................             .7125
740...................................................             .7375
741...................................................             .7625
742...................................................             .7875
743...................................................             .8125
744...................................................             .8375
745...................................................             .8625
746...................................................             .8875
747...................................................             .9125
748...................................................             .9375
749...................................................             .9625
750...................................................             .9875
751...................................................          867.0125
752...................................................             .0375
753...................................................             .0625
754...................................................             .0875
755...................................................             .1125
756...................................................             .1375
757...................................................             .1625
758...................................................             .1875
759...................................................             .2125
760...................................................             .2375
761...................................................             .2625
762...................................................             .2875
763...................................................             .3125
764...................................................             .3375
765...................................................             .3625
766...................................................             .3875
767...................................................             .4125
768...................................................             .4375
769...................................................             .4625
770...................................................             .4875
771...................................................             .5125
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774...................................................             .5875
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778...................................................             .6875
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782...................................................             .7875
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784...................................................             .8375
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786...................................................             .8875
787...................................................             .9125
788...................................................             .9375
789...................................................             .9625
790...................................................             .9875
791...................................................          868.0125
792...................................................             .0375
793...................................................             .0625
794...................................................             .0875
795...................................................             .1125
796...................................................             .1375
797...................................................             .1625
798...................................................             .1875
799...................................................             .2125
800...................................................             .2375
801...................................................             .2625
802...................................................             .2875
803...................................................             .3125
804...................................................             .3375
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[[Page 67843]]

 
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815...................................................             .6125
816...................................................             .6375
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818...................................................             .6875
819...................................................             .7125
820...................................................             .7375
821...................................................             .7625
822...................................................             .7875
823...................................................             .8125
824...................................................             .8375
825...................................................             .8625
826...................................................             .8875
827...................................................             .9125
828...................................................             .9375
829...................................................             .9625
830...................................................             .9875
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
25. Amend Subpart S by adding Sec.  90.614 to read as follows:


Sec.  90.614  Cellular and non-cellular portions of 806-824/851-869 MHz 
band for non-border areas.

    The 806-824/851-869 MHz band (``800 MHz band'') will be divided as 
follows at locations farther than 110 km (68.4 miles) from the U.S./
Mexico border and 140 km (87 miles) from the U.S./Canadian border 
(``non-border areas''):
    (a) 800 MHz cellular systems--as defined in Sec.  90.7--are 
prohibited from operating on channels 1-550 in non-border areas.
    (b) 800 MHz cellular systems--as defined in Sec.  90.7--are 
permitted to operate on channels 551-830 in non-border areas.
    (c) In the following counties and parishes, 800 MHz cellular 
systems--as defined in Sec.  90.7--are permitted to operate on channels 
411-830:
    Alabama: Autauga, Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Butler, 
Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, 
Coffee, Colbert, Conecuh, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Cullman, Dale, 
Dallas, DeKalb, Elmore, Escambia, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Geneva, 
Greene, Hale, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jefferson, Lamar, Lauderdale, 
Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Lowndes, Macon, Madison, Marengo, Marion, 
Marshall, Mobile, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Perry, Pickens, Pike, 
Randolph, Russell, Shelby, St Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa, 
Tuscaloosa, Walker, Washington, Wilcox, Winston.
    Florida: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, 
Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Nassau, Okaloosa, Santa 
Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton, Washington.
    Georgia: Appling, Atkinson, Bacon, Baker, Baldwin, Banks, Barrow, 
Bartow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bleckley, Brantley, Brooks, Bryan, 
Bulloch, Burke, Butts, Calhoun, Camden, Candler, Carroll, Catoosa, 
Charlton, Chatham, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Cherokee, Clarke, Clay, 
Clayton, Clinch, Cobb, Coffee, Colquitt, Columbia, Cook, Coweta, 
Crawford, Crisp, Dade, Dawson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dodge, Dooly, 
Dougherty, Douglas, Early, Echols, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Evans, 
Fannin, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Gilmer, Glascock, 
Glynn, Gordon, Grady, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hancock, 
Haralson, Harris, Hart, Heard, Henry, Houston, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, 
Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Lanier, Laurens, 
Lee, Liberty, Lincoln, Long, Lowndes, Lumpkin, Macon, Madison, Marion, 
McDuffie, McIntosh, Meriwether, Miller, Mitchell, Monroe, Montgomery, 
Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, 
Pickens, Pierce, Pike, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Quitman, Rabun, Randolph, 
Richmond, Rockdale, Schley, Screven, Seminole, Spalding, Stephens, 
Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taliaferro, Tattnall, Taylor, Telfair, 
Terrell, Thomas, Tift, Toombs, Towns, Treutlen, Troup, Turner, Twiggs, 
Union, Upson, Walker, Walton, Ware, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Webster, 
Wheeler, White, Whitfield, Wilcox, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Worth.
    Louisiana: Catahoula, Concordia, Madison, Tensas.
    Mississippi: Adams, Alcorn, Amite, Attala, Calhoun, Carroll, 
Chickasaw, Choctaw, Claiborne, Clarke, Clay, Copiah, Covington, 
Forrest, Franklin, George, Greene, Grenada, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, 
Holmes, Itawamba, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jefferson Davis, Jones, 
Kemper, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Leake, Lee, Lincoln, Lowndes, 
Madison, Marion, Monroe, Montgomery, Neshoba, Newton, Noxubee, 
Oktibbeha, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Rankin, Scott, 
Simpson, Smith, Stone, Tippah, Tishomingo, Union, Walthall, Warren, 
Wayne, Webster, Wilkinson, Winston, Yazoo.
    North Carolina: Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon.
    South Carolina: Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, 
Barnwell, Beaufort, Edgefield, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, McCormick, 
Oconee.
    Tennessee: Bledsoe, Bradley, Franklin, Giles, Hamilton, Hardin, 
Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, McMinn, McNairy, Meigs, Monroe, Moore, Polk, 
Rhea, Sequatchie, Wayne.

0
26. Section 90.615 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  90.615  Individual channels available in the General Category in 
806-824/851-869 MHz band.

    The General Category will consist of channels 231-260 at locations 
farther then 110 km (68.4 miles) from the U.S./Mexico border and 140 km 
(87 miles) from the U.S./Canadian border.
    (a) Channels 231-260 will be available only to eligible applicants 
in the Public Safety Category until January 21, 2008. These same 
channels will be available only to eligible applicants in the Public 
Safety or Critical Infrastructure Industry Categories from January 21, 
2008.
    (b) All entities will be eligible for licensing on Channels 231-260 
after January 20, 2010.

0
27. Revise Sec.  90.617 to read as follows:


Sec.  90.617  Frequencies in the 809.750-824/854.750-869 MHz, and 896-
901/935-940 MHz bands available for trunked, conventional or cellular 
system use in non-border areas.

    Except for the counties and parishes listed in Sec.  90.614(c), the 
following channels will be available at locations farther then 110 km 
(68.4 miles) from the U.S./Mexico border and 140 km (87 miles) from the 
U.S./Canadian border (``non-border areas''). The channels in the 
counties and parishes listed in Sec.  90.614(c) will be available in 
accordance with an agreement between Southern LINC and Nextel 
Communications, Inc. The agreement will be approved by the Chief of the 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
    (a) The channels listed in Table 1 and paragraph (a)(1) of this 
section are available for non-cellular operations to eligible 
applicants in the Public Safety Category which consists of licensees 
eligible in the Public Safety Pool of subpart B of this part. 800 MHz 
cellular systems as defined in Sec.  90.7 are prohibited on these 
channels. These frequencies are available in non-border areas. 
Specialized Mobile Radio Systems will not be authorized in this 
category. These channels are available for intercategory sharing as 
indicated in Sec.  90.621(e).

     Table 1.--Public Safety Pool 806-816/851-861 MHZ Band Channels
                              [70 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Group No.                          Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
269.......................................  269-289-311-399-439

[[Page 67844]]

 
270.......................................  270-290-312-400-440
279.......................................  279-299-319-339-359
280.......................................  280-300-320-340-360
309.......................................  309-329-349-369-389
310.......................................  310-330-350-370-390
313.......................................  313-353-393-441-461
314.......................................  314-354-394-448-468
321.......................................  321-341-361-381-419
328.......................................  328-348-368-388-420
351.......................................  351-379-409-429-449
332.......................................  352-380-410-430-450
Single Channels...........................  391, 392, 401, 408, 421,
                                             428, 459, 460, 469, 470
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) Channel numbers 1-230 are also available to eligible applicants 
in the Public Safety Category in non-border areas. The assignment of 
these channels will be done in accordance with the policies defined in 
the Report and Order of Gen. Docket No. 87-112 (See Sec.  90.16).
    (2) [Reserved]
    (b) Unless otherwise specified, the channels listed in Table 2 are 
available for non-cellular operations to applicants eligible in the 
Industrial/Business Pool of subpart C of this part but exclude Special 
Mobilized Radio Systems as defined in Sec.  90.603(c). 800 MHz cellular 
systems, as defined in Sec.  90.7, are prohibited on these channels. 
These frequencies are available in non-border areas. Specialized Mobile 
Radio (SMR) systems will not be authorized on these frequencies. These 
channels are available for inter-category sharing as indicated in Sec.  
90.621(e).

 Table 2.--Business/Industrial/Land Transportation Pool 806-816/851-861
                            MHZ Band Channels
                             [100 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Group No.                          Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
322.......................................  322-362-402-442-482
323.......................................  323-363-403-443-483
324.......................................  324-364-404-444-484
325.......................................  325-365-405-445-485
326.......................................  326-366-406-446-486
327.......................................  327-367-407-447-487
342.......................................  342-382-422-462-502
343.......................................  343-383-423-463-503
344.......................................  344-384-424-464-504
345.......................................  345-385-425-465-505
346.......................................  346-386-426-466-506
347.......................................  347-387-427-467-507
Single Channels...........................  261, 271, 281, 291, 301,
                                             262, 272, 282, 292, 302,
                                             263, 273, 283, 293, 303,
                                             264, 274, 284, 294, 304,
                                             265, 275, 285, 295, 305,
                                             266, 276, 286, 296, 306,
                                             267, 277, 287, 297, 307,
                                             268, 278, 288, 298, 308
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) The channels listed in Table 3 are available to applicants 
eligible in the Industrial/Business Pool of subpart C of this part but 
exclude Special Mobilized Radio Systems as defined in Sec.  90.603(c). 
These frequencies are available in non-border areas. Specialized Mobile 
Radio (SMR) systems will not be authorized on these frequencies. These 
channels are available for intercategory sharing as indicated in Sec.  
90.621(e).
    For multi-channel systems, channels may be grouped vertically or 
horizontally as they appear in the following table.

 Table 3.--Business/Industrial/Land Transportation Pool 896-901/935-940
                            MHZ Band Channels
                             [199 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11-12-13-14-15...........................  211-212-213-214-215
16-17-18-19-20...........................  216-217-218-219-220
31-32-33-34-35...........................  231-232-233-234-235
36-37-38-39-40...........................  236-237-238-239-240
51-52-53-54-55...........................  251-252-253-254-255
56-57-58-59-60...........................  256-257-258-259-260
71-72-73-74-75...........................  271-272-273-274-275
76-77-78-79-80...........................  276-277-278-279-280
91-92-93-94-95...........................  291-292-293-294-295
96-97-98-99-100..........................  296-297-298-299-300
111-112-113-114-115......................  311-312-313-314-315
116-117-118-119-120......................  316-317-318-319-320
131-132-133-134-135......................  331-332-333-334-335
136-137-138-139-140......................  336-337-338-339-340
151-152-153-154-155......................  351-352-353-354-355
156-157-158-159-160......................  356-357-358-359-360
171-172-173-174-175......................  371-372-373-374-375
176-177-178-179-180......................  376-377-378-379-380
191-192-193-194-195......................  391-392-393-394-395
196-197-198-199-200......................  396-397-398-399
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) Unless otherwise specified, the channels listed in Tables 4A 
and 4B are available for non-cellular operations only to eligibles in 
the SMR category--which consists of Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) 
stations and eligible end users. 800 MHz cellular systems, as defined 
in Sec.  90.7 are prohibited on these channels. These frequencies are 
available in non-border areas. The spectrum blocks listed in Table 4A 
are available for EA-based services (as defined by Sec.  90.681) prior 
to January 21, 2005. No new EA-based services will be authorized after 
January 21, 2005. EA-based licensees who operate non-cellular systems 
prior to January 21, 2005 may choose to remain on these channels in the 
non-cellular portion of the 800 MHz band (as defined in Sec.  90.614). 
These licensees may continue to operate non-cellular systems and will 
be grandfathered indefinitely. The channels listed in Table 4B will be 
available for site-based licensing after January 21, 2005 in any 
Economic Area where no EA-based licensee is authorized for these 
channels.

[[Page 67845]]



 Table 4A.--EA-Based SMR Category 806-816/851-861 MHz Band Channels for
       Non-Cellular Operations Available Prior to January 21, 2005
                              [80 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Spectrum block                        Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
G.........................................  311-351-391-431-471
H.........................................  312-352-392-432-472
I.........................................  313-353-393-433-473
J.........................................  314-354-394-434-474
K.........................................  315-355-395-435-475
L.........................................  316-356-396-436-476
M.........................................  317-357-397-437-477
N.........................................  318-358-398-438-478
O.........................................  331-371-411-451-491
P.........................................  332-372-412-452-492
Q.........................................  333-373-413-453-493
R.........................................  334-374-414-454-494
S.........................................  335-375-415-455-495
T.........................................  336-376-416-456-496
U.........................................  337-377-417-457-497
V.........................................  338-378-418-458-498
------------------------------------------------------------------------


   Table 4B.--SMR Category 806-816/851-861 MHz Band Channels for Non-
Cellular Operations Available for Site-Based Licensing After January 21,
                                  2005
                              [80 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Spectrum block                        Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
315.......................................  315-355-395-435-475
316.......................................  316-356-396-436-476
317.......................................  317-357-397-437-477
318.......................................  318-358-398-438-478
331.......................................  331-371-411-451-491
332.......................................  332-372-412-452-492
333.......................................  333-373-413-453-493
334.......................................  334-374-414-454-494
335.......................................  335-375-415-455-495
336.......................................  336-376-416-456-496
337.......................................  337-377-417-457-497
338.......................................  338-378-418-458-498
Single Channels...........................  431, 432, 433, 434, 471,
                                             472, 473, 474, 479, 480,
                                             481, 488, 489, 490, 499,
                                             500, 501, 508, 509, 510
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (e) The Channels listed in Sec.  90.614(b) and (c) are available to 
eligibles in the SMR category--which consists of Specialized Mobile 
Radio (SMR) stations and eligible end users. ESMR licensees which 
employ an 800 MHz cellular system, as defined in Sec.  90.7, are 
permitted to operate on these channels in non-border areas. ESMR 
licensees authorized prior to January 21, 2005 may continue to operate, 
if they so choose, on the channels listed in Table 5. These licensees 
will be grandfathered indefinitely.

 Table 5.--ESMR Category 816-821/861-866 MHz Band Channels for Cellular
   Operations in Non-Border Areas Available Prior to January 21, 2005
                             [200 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Spectrum block                        Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.........................................  511 through 530
B.........................................  531 through 590
C.........................................  591 through 710
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (f) The channels listed in Tables 6 are available for operations 
only to eligibles in the SMR category--which consists of Specialized 
Mobile Radio (SMR) stations and eligible end users. These frequencies 
are available in non-border areas. The spectrum blocks listed below are 
available for EA-based services according to Sec.  90.681.

        Table 6.--SMR Category 896-901/935-940 MHz Band Channels
                             [200 channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Block                            Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A.........................................  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
B.........................................  21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-3
                                             0
C.........................................  41-42-43-44-45-46-47-48-49-5
                                             0
D.........................................  61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-7
                                             0
E.........................................  81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-9
                                             0
F.........................................  101-102-103-104-105-106-107-
                                             108-109-110
G.........................................  121-122-123-124-125-126-127-
                                             128-129-130
H.........................................  141-142-143-144-145-146-147-
                                             148-149-150
I.........................................  161-162-163-164-165-166-167-
                                             168-169-170
J.........................................  181-182-183-184-185-186-187-
                                             188-189-190
K.........................................  201-202-203-204-205-206-207-
                                             208-209-210
L.........................................  221-222-223-224-225-226-227-
                                             228-229-230
M.........................................  241-242-243-244-245-246-247-
                                             248-249-250
N.........................................  261-262-263-264-265-266-267-
                                             268-269-270
O.........................................  281-282-283-284-285-286-287-
                                             288-289-290
P.........................................  301-302-303-304-305-306-307-
                                             308-309-310
Q.........................................  321-322-323-324-325-326-327-
                                             328-329-330
R.........................................  341-342-343-344-345-346-347-
                                             348-349-350
S.........................................  361-362-363-364-365-366-367-
                                             368-369-370
T.........................................  381-382-383-384-385-386-387-
                                             388-389-390
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (g) Channels below 470 listed in Tables 2 and 4B which are vacated 
by ESMR licensees after January 21, 2005 are available only to eligible 
applicants in the Public Safety Category until January 21, 2008. These 
same channels will be available only to eligible applicants in the 
Public Safety or Critical Infrastructure Industry Categories from 
January 21, 2008 until January 20, 2010. After January 20, 2010 these 
channels will revert back to their original pool categories.

[[Page 67846]]

    (h) Channels below 470 listed in Tables 2 and 4B which are vacated 
by licensees relocating to Channels 511-550 after January 21, 2005 are 
available only to eligible applicants in the Public Safety Category 
until January 21, 2008. These same channels will be available only to 
eligible applicants in the Public Safety or Critical Infrastructure 
Industry Categories from January 21, 2008 until January 20, 2010. After 
January 20, 2010 these channels will revert back to their original pool 
categories.
    (i) Special Mobilized Radio Systems licensees who operate non-
cellular systems on any of the public safety channels listed in Table 1 
prior to January 21, 2005 are grandfathered and may continue to operate 
on these channels indefinitely. These grandfathered licensees will be 
prohibited from operating 800 MHz cellular systems as defined in Sec.  
90.7. Site-based licensees who are grandfathered on any of the public 
safety channels listed in Table 1 may modify their license only if they 
obtain concurrence from a certified public safety coordinator in 
accordance with Sec.  90.175(c). Grandfathered EA-based licensees, 
however, are exempt from any of the frequency coordination requirements 
of Sec.  90.175 as long as their operations remain within the Economic 
Area defined by their license in accordance with the requirements of 
Sec.  90.683(a).
    (j) Licensees operating ESMR systems in the non-cellular portion of 
the band (as defined in Sec.  90.614) prior to January 21, 2005 may 
elect to continue operating in the non-cellular portion of the band. 
These licensees will be permitted to continue operating 800 MHz 
cellular systems (as defined in Sec.  90.7) in the non-cellular portion 
of the band. These licensees will be grandfathered indefinitely subject 
to the provisions of Sec. Sec.  90.673, 90.674 and 90.675.
    (k) Licensees may operate systems other than 800 MHz cellular 
systems (as defined in Sec.  90.7) on Channels 511-550 at any location 
vacated by an EA-based SMR licensee. For operations on these channels, 
unacceptable interference (as defined in Sec.  22.970 of this chapter 
and Sec.  90.672) will be deemed to occur only at sites where the 
following median desired signals are received (rather than those 
specified in Sec.  22.970(a)(1)(i) of this chapter and Sec.  
90.672(a)(1)(i)). The minimum required median desired signal, as 
measured at the R.F. input of the receiver, will be as follows:
    (1) Mobile units:
    (i) For channels 511 to 524--the minimum median desired signal 
levels specified in Sec.  22.970(a)(1)(i) of this chapter and Sec.  
90.672(a)(1)(i) shall apply;
    (ii) For channels 524 to 534--the minimum median desired signal 
level shall increase linearly from the values specified in Sec.  
22.970(a)(1)(i) of this chapter and Sec.  90.672(a)(1)(i) to -70 dBm;
    (iii) For channels 534 to 550--the minimum median desired signal 
level shall increase linearly from -70 dBm to -65 dBm.
    (2) Portable units:
    (i) For channels 511 to 524--the minimum median desired signal 
levels specified in Sec.  22.970(a)(1)(i) of this chapter and Sec.  
90.672(a)(1)(i) shall apply;
    (ii) For channels 524 to 530--the minimum median desired signal 
level shall increase linearly from the values specified in Sec.  
22.970(a)(1)(i) of this chapter and Sec.  90.672(a)(1)(i) to -80 dBm;
    (iii) For channels 530 to 534--the minimum median desired signal 
level shall increase linearly from -80 dBm to -70 dBm;
    (iv) For channels 534 to 550--the minimum median desired signal 
level shall increase linearly from -70 dBm to -65 dBm.

0
28. Amend Sec.  90.619 by revising the section heading and paragraphs 
(a), (b), (c) and (d) introductory text to read as follows.


Sec.  90.619  Operations within the U.S./Mexico and U.S./Canada border 
areas.

    (a) Use of Frequencies in 800 MHz Band in Mexico Border Region. All 
operations in the 806-824/851-869 MHz band within 110 km (68.4 miles) 
of the U.S./Mexico border (``Mexico border region'') shall be in 
accordance with international agreements between the U.S. and Mexico. 
Channels 231-710 are offset 12.5 kHz lower in frequency than those 
specified in the table in Sec.  90.613. Stations located on Mt. Lemmon, 
serving the Tucson, AZ area, will only be authorized offset 
frequencies.
    (b) Use of Frequencies in 900 MHz Band in Mexico Border Region. All 
operations in the 896-901/935-940 MHz band within the Mexico border 
region shall be in accordance with international agreements between the 
U.S. and Mexico.
    (1) The channels listed in Table 1 below are available to 
applicants eligible in the Industrial/Business Pool of subpart C of 
this part but exclude Special Mobilized Radio Systems as defined in 
Sec.  90.603(c). These frequencies are available within the Mexico 
border region. Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) systems will not be 
authorized on these frequencies.
    For multi-channel systems, channels may be grouped vertically or 
horizontally as they appear in the following table. Channels numbered 
above 200 may be used only subject to the power flux density limits 
stated in paragraph (a)(2) of this section:

  Table 1.--United States/Mexico Border Area, Business/Industrial/Land
              Transportation Pool 896-901/935-940 MHz Band
                             [199 Channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11-12-13-14-15                       131-132-133-134-135
16-17-18-19-20                       136-137-138-139-140
31-32-33-34-35                       231-232-233-234-235
36-37-38-39-40                       236-237-238-239-240
51-52-53-54-55                       171-172-173-174-175
56-57-58-59-60                       176-177-178-179-180
71-72-74-75                          271-272-273-274-275
76-77-78-79-80                       276-277-278-279-280
91-92-93-94-95                       211-212-213-214-215
96-97-98-99-100                      216-217-218-219-220
111-112-113-114-115                  311-312-313-314-315
116-117-118-119-120                  316-317-318-319-320
151-152-153-154-155                  351-352-353-354-355
156-157-158-159-160                  356-357-358-359-360
191-192-193-194-195                  391-392-393-394-395
196-197-198-199-200                  396-397-398-399
251-252-253-254-255                  331-332-333-334-335
256-257-258-259-260                  336-337-338-339-340
291-292-293-294-295                  371-372-373-374-375
296-297-298-299-300                  376-377-378-379-380
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) The channels listed in Table 2 of this section are available 
for operations only to eligibles in the SMR category--which consists of 
Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) stations and eligible end users. These 
frequencies are available in the Mexico border region. The spectrum 
blocks listed in the table below are available for EA-based services 
according to Sec.  90.681.

[[Page 67847]]



Table 2.--United States-Mexico Border Area, SMR Category 896-901/935-940
                                MHz Band
                             [200 Channels]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Block                             Channel Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A..............................  1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
B..............................  21-22-23-24-25-26-27-28-29-30
C..............................  41-42-43-44-45-46-47-48-49-50
D..............................  61-62-63-64-65-66-67-68-69-70
E..............................  81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90
F..............................  101-102-103-104-105-106-107-108-109-110
G..............................  121-122-123-124-125-126-127-128-129-130
H..............................  141-142-143-144-145-146-147-148-149-150
I..............................  161-162-163-164-165-166-167-168-169-170
J..............................  181-182-183-184-185-186-187-188-189-190
K..............................  201-202-203-204-205-206-207-208-209-210
L..............................  221-222-223-224-225-226-227-228-229-230
M..............................  241-242-243-244-245-246-247-248-249-250
N..............................  261-262-263-264-265-266-267-268-269-270
O..............................  281-282-283-284-285-286-287-288-289-290
P..............................  301-302-303-304-305-306-307-308-309-310
Q..............................  321-322-323-324-325-326-327-328-329-330
R..............................  341-342-343-344-345-346-347-348-349-350
S..............................  361-362-363-364-365-366-367-368-369-370
T..............................  381-382-383-384-385-386-387-388-389-390
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Channels numbered above 200 may only be used subject to the power flux
  density limits at or beyond the Mexico border as stated in paragraph
  (4) of this section.

    (3) The specific channels that are available for licensing in the 
band 896-901/935-940 MHz within the Mexico border region are subject to 
Effective Radiated Power (ERP) and Antenna Height limitations as 
indicated in Table 3 below.

   Table 3.--Limits of Effective Radiated Power (ERP) Corresponding to
Antenna Heights of Base Stations in the 896-901/935-940 MHz Bands Within
            110 Kilometers (68.4 Miles) of the Mexican Border
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Antenna height above mean sea level                 ERP in
------------------------------------------------------------    watts
                    Meters                          Feet      (maximum)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
0-503.........................................       0-1650          500
504-609.......................................    1651-2000          350
610-762.......................................    2001-2500          200
764-914.......................................    2501-3000          140
915-1066......................................    3001-3500          100
1067-1219.....................................    3501-4000           75
1220-1371.....................................    4000-4500           70
1372-1523.....................................    4501-5000           65
Above 1523....................................   Above 5000            5
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (4) All channels in the 896-901/935-940 MHz band are available for 
assignment to U.S. stations within the Mexico border region if the 
maximum power flux density (pfd) of the station's transmitted signal at 
any point at or beyond the border does not exceed -107 dB (W/m\2\). The 
spreading loss must be calculated using the free space formula taking 
into account any antenna discrimination in the direction of the border. 
Authorizations for stations using channels allotted to Mexico on a 
primary basis will be secondary to Mexican operations and conditioned 
to require that licensees take immediate action to eliminate any 
harmful interference resulting from the station's transmitted signal 
exceeding -107 dB (W/m\2\).
    (c) Use of 800 MHz Band in Canada Border Region. All operations in 
the 806-824/851-869 MHz band within 140 km (87 miles) of the U.S./
Canada border (``Canada border region'') shall be in accordance with 
international agreements between the U.S. and Canada.
    (d) Use of 900 MHz Band in Canada Border Region. All operations in 
the 896-901/935-940 MHz band within the Canada border region shall be 
in accordance with international agreements between the U.S. and 
Canada. The following criteria shall govern the assignment of frequency 
pairs (channels) in the 896-901/935-940 MHz band for stations located 
in the U.S./Canada border area. They are available for assignments for 
conventional or trunked systems in accordance with applicable sections 
of this subpart.
* * * * *

0
29. Amend Sec.  90.621 by revising paragraphs (a), (b) introductory 
text, (b)(1), (b)(3), (c), (e) introductory text, (e)(1), (e)(2) 
introductory text, (e)(2)(i), (e)(2)(ii), (f), (g) and (h) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  90.621  Selection and assignment of frequencies.

    (a) Applicants for frequencies in the Public Safety and Business/
Industrial/Land Transportation Categories must specify on the 
application the frequencies on which the proposed system will operate 
pursuant to a recommendation by the applicable frequency coordinator. 
Applicants for frequencies in the SMR Category must request specific 
frequencies by including in their applications the frequencies 
requested.
* * * * *
    (b) Stations authorized on frequencies listed in this subpart, 
except for those stations authorized pursuant to paragraph (g) of this 
section and EA-based and MTA-based SMR systems, will be assigned 
frequencies solely on the basis of fixed distance separation criteria. 
The separation between co-channel systems will be a minimum of 113 km 
(70 mi) with one exception. For incumbent licensees in Channel Blocks G 
through V, that have received the consent of all affected parties or a 
certified frequency coordinator to utilize an 18 dB[mu]V/m signal 
strength interference contour (see Sec.  90.693), the separation 
between co-channel systems will be a minimum of 173 km (107 mi). The 
following exceptions to these separations shall apply:
    (1) Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, no 
station in Channel Blocks A through V shall be less than 169 km (105 
mi) distant from a co-channel station that has been granted channel 
exclusivity and authorized 1 kW ERP on any of the following mountaintop 
sites: Santiago Peak, Sierra Peak, Mount Lukens, Mount Wilson 
(California). Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, 
no incumbent licensee in Channel Blocks G through V that has received 
the consent of all affected parties or a certified frequency 
coordinator to utilize an 18 dB[mu]V/m signal strength interference 
contour shall be less than 229 km (142 mi) distant from a co-channel 
station that has been granted channel exclusivity and authorized 1 kW 
ERP on any of the following mountaintop sites: Santiago Peak, Sierra 
Peak, Mount Lukens, Mount Wilson (California).
* * * * *
    (3) Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, 
stations in Channel Blocks A through V that have been granted channel 
exclusivity and are located in the State of Washington at the locations 
listed in the table below shall be separated from co-channel stations 
by a minimum of 169 km (105 mi).

[[Page 67848]]

Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, incumbent 
licensees in Channel Blocks G through V that have received the consent 
of all affected parties or a certified frequency coordinator to utilize 
an 18 dB[mu]V/m signal strength interference contour, have been granted 
channel exclusivity and are located in the State of Washington at the 
locations listed in the table below shall be separated from co-channel 
stations by a minimum of 229 km (142 mi). Locations within one mile of 
the geographical coordinates listed in the table below will be 
considered to be at that site.
    Note: Coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 
(NAD83).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Site name                North latitude     West longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mount Constitution................        48[deg] 40'       122[deg] 50'
                                               47.4''             28.7''
Lyman Mountain....................        48[deg] 35'       122[deg] 09'
                                               41.4''             39.6''
Cultus Mountain...................        48[deg] 25'       122[deg] 08'
                                               30.4''             58.5''
Gunsite Ridge.....................        48[deg] 03'       121[deg] 51'
                                               22.4''             41.5''
Gold Mountain.....................        47[deg] 32'       122[deg] 46'
                                               51.3''             56.5''
Buck Mountain.....................        47[deg] 47'       122[deg] 59'
                                               05.3''             34.6''
Cougar Mountain...................        47[deg] 32'       122[deg] 06'
                                               39.4''             34.4''
Squak Mountain....................        47[deg] 30'       122[deg] 03'
                                               14.4''             34.4''
Tiger Mountain....................        47[deg] 30'       121[deg] 58'
                                               13.4''             32.4''
Devils Mountain...................        48[deg] 21'       122[deg] 16'
                                               52.4''             06.6''
McDonald Mountain.................        47[deg] 20'       122[deg] 51'
                                               11.3''             30.5''
Maynard Hill......................        48[deg] 00'       122[deg] 55'
                                               58.3''             35.6''
North Mountain....................        47[deg] 19'       123[deg] 20'
                                               07.3''             48.6''
Green Mountain....................        47[deg] 33'       122[deg] 48'
                                               40.3''             31.5''
Capitol Peak......................        46[deg] 58'       123[deg] 08'
                                               21.3''             21.5''
Rattlesnake Mountain..............        47[deg] 28'       121[deg] 49'
                                               09.4''             17.4''
Three Sisters Mountain............        47[deg] 07'       121[deg] 53'
                                               19.4''             34.4''
Grass Mountain....................        47[deg] 12'       121[deg] 47'
                                               14.1''             42.4''
Spar Pole Hill....................        47[deg] 02'       122[deg] 08'
                                               51.4''             39.4''
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (c) Conventional systems authorized on frequencies in the Public 
Safety (except for those systems that have participated in a formal 
regional planning process as described in Sec.  90.16) and Business/
Industrial/Land Transportation categories which have not met the 
loading levels necessary for channel exclusivity will not be afforded 
co-channel protection.
* * * * *
    (e) Frequencies in the 809-817/854-862 MHz bands listed as 
available for eligibles in the Public Safety and Business/Industrial/
Land Transportation Categories are available for inter-category sharing 
under the following conditions:
    (1) Channels in the Public Safety and Business/Industrial/Land 
Transportation categories will be available to eligible applicants in 
those categories only if there are no frequencies in their own category 
and no public safety systems are authorized on those channels under 
consideration to be shared.
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (e)(5) of this section, licensees of 
channels in the Business/Industrial/Land Transportation category may 
request a modification of the license, see Sec.  1.947 of this chapter, 
to authorize use of the channels for commercial operation. The licensee 
may also, at the same time or thereafter, seek authorization to 
transfer or assign the license, see Sec.  1.948 of this chapter, to any 
person eligible for licensing in the General or SMR categories. 
Applications submitted pursuant to this paragraph must be filed in 
accordance with the rules governing other applications for commercial 
channels, and will be processed in accordance with those rules. Grant 
of requests submitted pursuant to this paragraph is subject to the 
following conditions:
    (i) A licensee that modifies its license to authorize commercial 
operations will not be authorized to obtain additional 800 MHz 
Business/Industrial/Land Transportation category channels for sites 
located within 113 km (70 mi.) of the station for which the license was 
modified, for a period of one year from the date the license is 
modified. This provision applies to the licensee, its controlling 
interests and their affiliates, as defined in Sec.  1.2110 of this 
chapter.
    (ii) With respect to licenses the initial application for which was 
filed on or after November 9, 2000, requests submitted pursuant to 
paragraph (e)(2) of this section may not be filed until five years 
after the date of the initial license grant. In the case of a license 
that is modified on or after November 9, 2000 to add 800 MHz Business/
Industrial/Land Transportation frequencies or to add or relocate base 
stations that expand the licensee's interference contour, requests 
submitted pursuant to paragraph (e)(2) of this section for these 
frequencies or base stations may not be filed until five years after 
such modification.
* * * * *
    (f) Licensees of channels in the Business/Industrial/Land 
Transportation Categories in the 896-901/935-940 MHz bands may request 
a modification of the license, see Sec.  1.947 of this chapter, to 
authorize use of the channels for commercial operation. The licensee 
may also, at the same time, or thereafter, seek authorization to 
transfer or assign the license, see Sec.  1.948 of this chapter, to any 
person eligible for licensing in the General or SMR categories. 
Applications submitted pursuant to this paragraph must be filed in 
accordance with the rules governing other applications for commercial 
channels, and will be processed in accordance with those rules.
    (g) Applications for Public Safety systems (both trunked and 
conventional) in the 806-809/851-854 MHz bands will be assigned and 
protected based on the criteria established in the appropriate regional 
plan. See Sec.  90.16 and the Report and Order in General Docket 87-
112.
    (h) Channel numbers 511-520, 551-560, 591-600, 631-640, and 671-680 
are allocated for Basic Exchange Telecommunications Radio Service as 
described in Sec.  22.757 of this chapter. The FCC has proposed to 
remove these channels from the rural radiotelephone service in WT 
Docket No. 03-103 (FCC 03-95) released April 28, 2003 (68 FR 4403 July 
25, 2003) which is pending.


Sec.  90.629  [Amended]

0
30. Remove and reserve Sec.  90.629 paragraph (d).

[[Page 67849]]


0
31. Amend Sec.  90.631 by revising paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.631  Trunked systems loading, construction and authorization 
requirements.

* * * * *
    (b) Each applicant for a non-SMR trunked system must certify that a 
minimum of seventy (70) mobiles for each channel authorized will be 
placed into operation within five (5) years of the initial license 
grant. Except for SMR systems licensed in the 809-816/854-861 MHz band 
and as indicated in paragraph (i) of this section, if at the end of 
five (5) years a trunked system is not loaded to the prescribed levels 
and all channels in the licensee's category are assigned in the 
system's geographic area, authorizations for trunked channels not 
loaded to seventy (70) mobile stations cancel automatically at a rate 
that allows the licensee to retain one channel for every one hundred 
(100) mobiles loaded, plus one additional channel. If a trunked system 
has channels from more than one category, General Category channels are 
the first channels considered to cancel automatically. All non-SMR 
licensees initially authorized before June 1, 1993, that are within 
their original license term, or SMR licensees that are within the term 
of a two-year authorization granted in accordance with paragraph (i) of 
this section, are subject to this condition. A licensee that has 
authorized channels cancelled due to failure to meet the loading 
requirements of this section will not be authorized additional channels 
to expand that same system for a period of six months from the date of 
cancellation.
* * * * *

0
32. Amend Sec.  90.645 by revising paragraph (g) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.645  Permissible operations.

* * * * *
    (g) Up to five (5) contiguous 809-816/854-861 band channels as 
listed in Sec. Sec.  90.615, 90.617, and 90.619 may be authorized after 
justification for systems requiring more than the normal single channel 
bandwidth. If necessary, licensees may trade channels amongst 
themselves in order to obtain contiguous frequencies. Notification of 
such proposed exchanges shall be made to the appropriate frequency 
coordinator(s) and to the Commission by filing an application for 
license modification.
* * * * *

0
33. Add Sec. Sec.  90.672 through 90.677 to subpart S and add an 
undesignated center heading before Sec.  90.672 to read as follows:

Procedures and Process--Unacceptable Interference


Sec.  90.672  Unacceptable interference to non-cellular 800 MHz 
licensees from ESMR or Part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone systems.

    (a) Definition. Except as provided in 47 CFR 90.617(k), 
unacceptable interference to non-cellular licensees in the 800 MHz band 
will be deemed to occur when the below conditions are met:
    (1) A transceiver at a site at which interference is encountered:
    (i) Is in good repair and operating condition, and is receiving:
    (A) A median desired signal of -104 dBm or higher, as measured at 
the R.F. input of the receiver of a mobile unit; or
    (B) A median desired signal of -101 dBm or higher, as measured at 
the R.F. input of the receiver of a portable i.e. hand-held unit; and, 
either
    (ii) Is a voice transceiver:
    (A) With manufacturer published performance specifications for the 
receiver section of the transceiver equal to, or exceeding, the minimum 
standards set out in paragraph (b) of this section, and;
    (B) Receiving an undesired signal or signals which cause the 
measured Carrier to Noise plus Interference (C/(I+N)) ratio of the 
receiver section of said transceiver to be less than 20 dB, or;
    (iii) Is a non-voice transceiver receiving an undesired signal or 
signals which cause the measured bit error rate (BER) (or some 
comparable specification) of the receiver section of said transceiver 
to be more than the value reasonably designated by the manufacturer.
    (2) Provided, however, that if the receiver section of the mobile 
or portable voice transceiver does not conform to the standards set out 
in paragraph (b) of this section, then that transceiver shall be deemed 
subject to unacceptable interference only at sites where the median 
desired signal satisfies the applicable threshold measured signal power 
in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) of this section after an upward adjustment to 
account for the difference in receiver section performance. The upward 
adjustment shall be equal to the increase in the desired signal 
required to restore the receiver section of the subject transceiver to 
the 20 dB C/(I+N) ratio of paragraph (a)(1)(ii)(B) of this section. The 
adjusted threshold levels shall then define the minimum measured signal 
power(s) in lieu of paragraphs (a)(1)(i) of this section at which the 
licensee using such non-compliant transceiver is entitled to 
interference protection.
    (b) Minimum Receiver Requirements. Voice transceivers capable of 
operating in the 806-824 MHz portion of the 800 MHz band shall have the 
following minimum performance specifications in order for the system in 
which such transceivers are used to claim entitlement to full 
protection against unacceptable interference. (See paragraph (a)(2) of 
this section.)
    (1) Voice units intended for mobile use: 75 dB intermodulation 
rejection ratio; 75 dB adjacent channel rejection ratio; -116 dBm 
reference sensitivity.
    (2) Voice units intended for portable use: 70 dB intermodulation 
rejection ratio; 70 dB adjacent channel rejection ratio; -116 dBm 
reference sensitivity.


Sec.  90.673  Obligation to abate unacceptable interference.

    (a) Strict Responsibility. Any licensee who, knowingly or 
unknowingly, directly or indirectly, causes or contributes to causing 
unacceptable interference to a non-cellular licensee in the 800 MHz 
band, as defined in this chapter, shall be strictly accountable to 
abate the interference, with full cooperation and utmost diligence, in 
the shortest time practicable. Interfering licensees shall consider all 
feasible interference abatement measures, including, but not limited 
to, the remedies specified in the interference resolution procedures 
set forth in this chapter. This strict responsibility obligation 
applies to all forms of interference, including out-of-band emissions 
and intermodulation.
    (b) Joint and Several Responsibility. If two or more licensees 
knowingly or unknowingly, directly or indirectly, cause or contribute 
to causing unacceptable interference to a non-cellular licensee in the 
800 MHz band, as defined in this chapter, such licensees shall be 
jointly and severally responsible for abating interference, with full 
cooperation and utmost diligence, in the shortest practicable time. 
This joint and several responsibility rule requires interfering 
licensees to consider all feasible interference abatement measures, 
including, but not limited to, the remedies specified in the 
interference resolution procedures set forth in this chapter. This 
joint and several responsibility rule applies to all forms of 
interference, including out-of-band emissions and intermodulation.
    (1) This joint and several responsibility rule requires interfering 
licensees to consider all feasible interference abatement measures, 
including, but not limited to, the

[[Page 67850]]

remedies specified in the interference resolution procedures set forth 
in Sec.  90.674(c). This joint and several responsibility rule applies 
to all forms of interference, including out-of-band emissions and 
intermodulation.
    (2) Any licensee that can show that its signal does not directly or 
indirectly, cause or contribute to causing unacceptable interference to 
a non-cellular licensee in the 800 MHz band, as defined in this 
chapter, shall not be held responsible for resolving unacceptable 
interference. Notwithstanding, any licensee that receives an 
interference complaint from a public safety/CII licensee shall respond 
to such complaint consistent with the interference resolution 
procedures set forth in this chapter.


Sec.  90.674  Interference resolution procedures before, during and 
after band reconfiguration.

    (a) Initial Notification. Any non-cellular licensee operating in 
the 806-824/851-869 MHz band who reasonably believes it is receiving 
harmful interference, as described in Sec.  90.672, shall provide an 
initial notification of the interference incident. This initial 
notification of an interference incident shall be sent to all part 22 
Cellular Radiotelephone licensees and ESMR licensees who operate 
cellular base stations (``cell sites'') within 1,524 meters (5,000 
feet) of the interference incident.
    (1) The initial notification of interference shall include the 
following information on interference:
    (i) The specific geographical location where the interference 
occurs, and the time or times at which the interference occurred or is 
occurring;
    (ii) A description of its scope and severity, including its source, 
if known;
    (iii) The relevant Commission licensing information of the party 
suffering the interference; and
    (iv) A single point of contact for the party suffering the 
interference.
    (2) ESMR licensees, in conjunction with part 22 Cellular 
Radiotelephone licensees, shall establish an electronic means of 
receiving the initial notification described in paragraph (a)(1) of 
this section. The electronic system must be designed so that all 
appropriate 800 MHz ESMR and part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensees 
can be contacted about the interference incident with a single 
notification. The electronic system for receipt of initial notification 
of interference complaints must be operating no later than February 22, 
2005.
    (3) ESMR licensees must respond to the initial notification 
described in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, as soon as possible and 
no later than 24 hours of receipt of notification from a public safety/
CII licensee. This response time may be extended to 48 hours after 
receipt from other non-cellular licensees provided affected 
communications on these systems are not safety related.
    (b) Interference analysis. ESMR licensees--who receive an initial 
notification described in paragraph (a) of this section--shall perform 
a timely analysis of the interference to identify the possible source. 
Immediate on-site visits may be conducted when necessary to complete 
timely analysis. Interference analysis must be completed and corrective 
action initiated within 48 hours of the initial complaint from a public 
safety/CII licensee. This response time may be extended to 96 hours 
after the initial complaint from other non-cellular licensees provided 
affected communications on these systems are not safety related. 
Corrective action may be delayed if the affected licensee agrees in 
writing (which may be, but is not required to be, recorded via e-mail 
or other electronic means) to a longer period.
    (c) Mitigation Steps. (1) All ESMR and part 22 Cellular 
Radiotelephone licensees who are responsible for causing unacceptable 
interference shall take all affirmative measures to resolve such 
interference. ESMR licensees found to contribute to harmful 
interference, as defined in Sec.  90.672, shall resolve such 
interference in the shortest time practicable. ESMR and part 22 
Cellular Radiotelephone licensees must provide all necessary test 
apparatus and technical personnel skilled in the operation of such 
equipment as may be necessary to determine the most appropriate means 
of timely eliminating the interference. However, the means whereby 
interference is abated or the cell parameters that may need to be 
adjusted is left to the discretion of involved ESMR and/or part 22 
Cellular Radiotelephone licensees, whose affirmative measures may 
include, but not be limited to, the following techniques:
    (i) Increasing the desired power of the public safety signal;
    (ii) Decreasing the power of the ESMR and/or part 22 Cellular 
Radiotelephone signal;
    (iii) Modifying the ESMR and/or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone 
systems antenna height;
    (iv) Modifying the ESMR and/or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone 
system antenna characteristics;
    (v) Incorporating filters into ESMR and/or part 22 Cellular 
Radiotelephone system transmission equipment;
    (vi) Permanently changing ESMR and/or part 22 Cellular 
Radiotelephone system frequencies; and
    (vii) Supplying interference-resistant receivers to the affected 
public safety licensee(s). If this technique is used, in all 
circumstances, the ESMR and/or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone 
licensees shall be responsible for all costs thereof.
    (2) Whenever short-term interference abatement measures prove 
inadequate, the affected licensee shall, consistent with but not 
compromising safety, make all necessary concessions to accepting 
interference until a longer-term remedy can be implemented.
    (3) Discontinuing operations when clear and imminent danger exists. 
When a public safety licensee determines that a continuing presence of 
interference constitutes a clear and imminent danger to life or 
property, the licensee causing the interference must discontinue the 
associated operation immediately, until a remedy can be identified and 
applied. The determination that a continuing presence exists that 
constitutes a clear and imminent danger to life or property, must be 
made by written statement that:
    (i) Is in the form of a declaration, notarized affidavit, or 
statement under penalty or perjury, from an officer or executive of the 
affected public safety licensee;
    (ii) Thoroughly describes the basis of the claim of clear and 
imminent danger;
    (iii) Was formulated on the basis of either personal knowledge or 
belief after due diligence;
    (iv) Is not proffered by a contractor or other third party; and
    (v) Has been approved by the Chief of the Wireless 
Telecommunication Bureau or other designated Commission official. Prior 
to the authorized official making a determination that a clear and 
imminent danger exists, the associated written statement must be served 
by hand-delivery or receipted fax on the applicable offending licensee, 
with a copy transmitted by the fastest available means to the 
Washington, DC office of the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications 
Bureau.


Sec.  90.675  Information exchange.

    (a) Prior Coordination. Public safety/CII licensees may notify an 
ESMR or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensee that they wish to 
receive prior notification of the activation or modification of ESMR or 
part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone cell sites in their area. Thereafter, 
the ESMR or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensee must provide the 
following information

[[Page 67851]]

to the public safety/CII licensee at least 10 business days before a 
new cell site is activated or an existing cell site is modified:
    (1) Location;
    (2) Effective radiated power;
    (3) Antenna height;
    (4) Channels available for use.
    (b) Purpose of Prior Coordination. The coordination of cell sites 
is for informational purposes only: public safety/CII licensees are not 
afforded the right to accept or reject the activation of a proposed 
cell or to unilaterally require changes in its operating parameters. 
The principal purposes of notification are to:
    (1) Allow a public safety/CII licensee to advise the ESMR or part 
22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensee whether it believes a proposed cell 
will generate unacceptable interference;
    (2) Permit ESMR or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensees to 
make voluntary changes in cell parameters when a public safety licensee 
alerts them to possible interference; and
    (3) Rapidly identify the source if interference is encountered when 
the cell is activated.
    (c) Public Safety Information Exchange. (1) Upon request by an ESMR 
or part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensee, public safety/CII 
licensees who operate radio systems in the 806-824/851-869 MHz shall 
provide the operating parameters of their radio system to the ESMR or 
part 22 Cellular Radiotelephone licensee.
    (2) Public safety licensees who perform the information exchange as 
described in this section must notify the appropriate ESMR and part 22 
Cellular Radiotelephone licensees prior to any technical changes to 
their radio system.


Sec.  90.676  Transition administrator for reconfiguration of the 806-
824/851-869 MHz band in order to separate cellular systems from non-
cellular systems.

    The Transition Administrator will be an independent party with no 
financial interest in any 800 MHz licensee; and will be selected by a 
committee representative of 800 MHz licensees. The Transition 
Administrator will serve both a ministerial role and a function similar 
to a special master in a judicial proceeding.
    (a) The duties of the Transition Administrator will include, but 
not be limited to:
    (1) Obtaining estimates from licensees regarding the cost of 
reconfiguring their systems and ensuring that estimates contain a firm 
work schedule. The Transition Administrator will retain copies of all 
estimates and make them available to the Commission on request.
    (2) Mediating disputes regarding cost estimates for reconfiguring a 
system.
    (3) Issuing the Draw Certificate to authorize and instruct the 
Letter of Credit Trustee to draw down on the Letter of Credit to pay 
relocation costs in connection with reconfiguring a licensee's system.
    (4) Establishing a relocation schedule on a NPSPAC region-by-region 
basis, prioritizing the regions on the basis of population. However, 
should a given region be encountering unusually severe amounts of 
unacceptable interference, that region may be moved up in priority. Any 
party disputing such a change in priority may refer the matter to the 
Chief of the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, who 
hereby is delegated the authority to resolve such disputes. The 
Transition Administrator may direct that adjoining regions be 
reconfigured simultaneously when conditions so require.
    (5) The Transition Administrator will coordinate relocation of a 
NPSPAC Region's NPSPAC channels with the relevant Regional Planning 
Committee(s) prior to commencing band reconfiguration in a NPSPAC 
Region.
    (b) Once band reconfiguration commences in a given NPSPAC Region, 
the Transition Administrator will;
    (1) Monitor the retuning schedule and resolve any schedule delays 
or refer same to the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division 
for resolution;
    (2) Coordinate with adjoining NPSPAC Regions to ensure that 
interference is not being caused to their existing facilities from 
relocated stations;
    (3) Provide quarterly progress reports to the Commission in such 
detail as the Commission may require and include, with such reports, 
certifications by Nextel and the relevant licensees that relocation has 
been completed and that both parties agree on the amount received from 
the letter of credit proceeds in connection with relocation of the 
licensees' facilities. The report shall include description of any 
disputes that have arisen and the manner in which they were resolved. 
These quarterly reports need not be audited;
    (4) Provide to the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure 
Division, on the anniversary of January 21, 2005, an audited statement 
of relocation funds expended to date, including salaries and expenses 
of Transition Administrator;
    (5) Facilitate resolution of disputes by mediation; or referral of 
the parties to alternative dispute resolution services;
    (c) The Transition Administrator may not serve as the repository of 
funds used in band reconfiguration, excepting such sums as Nextel may 
pay for the Transition Administrator's services. Moreover, the 
Transition Administrator will not be certified by the Commission as a 
frequency coordinator.


Sec.  90.677  Reconfiguration of the 806-824/851-869 MHz band in order 
to separate cellular systems from non-cellular systems.

    In order to facilitate reconfiguration of the 806-824/851-869 MHz 
band (``800 MHz band'') to separate cellular systems from non-cellular 
systems, Nextel Communications, Inc. (Nextel) may relocate incumbents 
within the 800 MHz band by providing ``comparable facilities.'' For the 
limited purpose of band reconfiguration, the provisions of Sec.  90.157 
shall not apply and inter-category sharing will be permitted under all 
circumstances. Such relocation is subject to the following provisions:
    (a) Within thirty days of Commission approval of the Transition 
Administrator, the Transition Administrator described in Sec.  90.676 
will provide the Commission with a schedule detailing when band 
reconfiguration shall commence for each NPSPAC Region. The plan should 
also detail--by NPSPAC Region--which relocation option each non-Nextel 
ESMR licensees has chosen. The Chief of the Public Safety and Critical 
Infrastructure Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will 
finalize and approve such a plan. The schedule shall provide for 
completion of band reconfiguration in no more than thirty-six months 
following release of a public notice announcing the start date of 
reconfiguration in the first NPSPAC region. Relocation will commence 
according to the schedule set by the Transition Administrator but all 
systems must have commenced reconfiguration within thirty months of 
release of a public notice announcing the start date of reconfiguration 
in the first NPSPAC region.
    (b) Voluntary negotiations. Thirty days before the start date for 
each NPSPAC region, the Chief of the Public Safety and Critical 
Infrastructure Division of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will 
issue a public notice initiating a three-month voluntary negotiation 
period. During this voluntary negotiation period, Nextel and all 
incumbents may negotiate any mutually agreeable relocation agreement. 
Nextel and relocating incumbents may agree to conduct face-to-face 
negotiations or either party may elect to communicate with the other 
party through the Transition Administrator.
    (c) Mandatory negotiations. If no agreement is reached by the end 
of the voluntary period, a three-month

[[Page 67852]]

mandatory negotiation period will begin during which both Nextel and 
the incumbents must negotiate in ``good faith.'' Nextel and relocating 
incumbents may agree to conduct face-to-face negotiations or either 
party may elect to communicate with the other party through the 
Transition Administrator. All parties are charged with the obligation 
of utmost ``good faith'' in the negotiation process. Among the factors 
relevant to a ``good-faith'' determination are:
    (1) Whether the party responsible for paying the cost of band 
reconfiguration has made a bona fide offer to relocate the incumbent to 
comparable facilities;
    (2) The steps the parties have taken to determine the actual cost 
of relocation to comparable facilities; and
    (3) Whether either party has unreasonably withheld information, 
essential to the accurate estimation of relocation costs and 
procedures, requested by the other party. The Transition Administrator 
may schedule mandatory settlement negotiations and mediation sessions 
and the parties must conform to such schedules.
    (d) Transition Administrator. If no agreement is reached during 
either the voluntary or mandatory negotiating periods, all disputed 
issues shall be referred to the Transition Administrator who shall 
mediate and attempt to resolve them within thirty working days. If 
disputed issues remain thirty days after the end of the mandatory 
negotiation period; the Transition Administrator shall forward the 
record to the Chief of the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure 
Division, together with advice on how the matter(s) may be resolved. 
The Chief of the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division is 
hereby delegated the authority to rule on disputed issues, de novo.
    (e) Waiver Requests. Incumbents who wish not to relocate according 
to the schedule may petition the Commission for a waiver of the 
relocation obligation. Such a waiver would only be granted on a strict 
non-interference basis.
    (f) Comparable Facilities. The replacement system provided to an 
incumbent must be at least equivalent to the existing 800 MHz system 
with respect to the four factors described in Sec.  90.699(d) part.
    (g) Information Exchange. Absent agreement between parties, the 
Transition Administrator will be responsible for determining the 
information that relocating incumbents must supply in support of a 
relocation agreement.
    (h) The relevant Regional Planning Committee shall be informed of 
any proposed changes to any NPSPAC channel.

0
34. Amend subpart S by revising the undesignated center heading before 
Sec.  90.681 to read as follows:

Policies Governing the Licensing and Use of EA-Based SMR Systems in the 
809-824/851-869 MHz Band

0
35. Revise Sec.  90.681 to read as follows:


Sec.  90.681  EA-based SMR service areas.

    EA licenses in for channels 711 through 830 and Spectrum Blocks A 
through V listed in Tables 4 and 5 of Sec.  90.617 are available in 175 
Economic Areas (EAs) as defined in Sec.  90.7.

0
36. Amend Sec.  90.683 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec.  90.683  EA-based SMR system operations.

    (a) EA-based licensees authorized in the 809-824/854-869 MHz band 
pursuant to Sec.  90.681 of this part may construct and operate base 
stations using any of the base station frequencies identified in their 
spectrum block anywhere within their authorized EA, provided that:
* * * * *

0
37. Amend Sec.  90.685 by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  90.685  Authorization, construction and implementation of EA 
licenses.

    (a) EA licenses in the 809-824/854-869 MHz band will be issued for 
a term not to exceed ten years. Additionally, EA licensees generally 
will be afforded a renewal expectancy only for those stations put into 
service after August 10, 1996.
    (b) EA licensees in the 809-824/854-869 MHz band must, within three 
years of the grant of their initial license, construct and place into 
operation a sufficient number of base stations to provide coverage to 
at least one-third of the population of its EA-based service area. 
Further, each EA licensee must provide coverage to at least two-thirds 
of the population of the EA-based service area within five years of the 
grant of their initial license. Alternatively, EA licensees in Channel 
blocks G through V in the 809-824/854-869 MHz band must provide 
substantial service to their markets within five years of the grant of 
their initial license. Substantial service shall be defined as: 
``Service which is sound, favorable, and substantially above a level of 
mediocre service.''
* * * * *

0
38. Revise Sec.  90.687 to read as follows:


Sec.  90.687  Special provisions regarding assignments and transfers of 
authorizations for incumbent SMR licensees in the 809-824/854-869 MHz 
band.

    An SMR license initially authorized on any of the channels listed 
in Tables 4 and 5 of Sec.  90.617 may transfer or assign its channel(s) 
to another entity subject to the provisions of Sec.  1.948 of this 
chapter and Sec.  90.609(b). If the proposed transferee or assignee is 
the EA licensee for the spectrum block to which the channel is 
allocated, such transfer or assignment presumptively will be deemed to 
be in the public interest. However, such presumption will be 
rebuttable.

0
39. Amend Sec.  90.693 by revising paragraphs (a), (c), and (d)(2) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  90.693  Grandfathering provisions for incumbent licensees.

    (a) General provisions. These provisions apply to ``incumbent 
licensees,'' all 800 MHz licensees authorized in the 809-821/854-866 
MHz band who obtained licenses or filed applications on or before 
December 15, 1995.
* * * * *
    (c) Special provisions for spectrum blocks G through V. Incumbent 
licensees that have received the consent of all affected parties or a 
certified frequency coordinator to utilize an 18 dB[mu]V/m signal 
strength interference contour shall have their service area defined by 
their originally-licensed 36 dB[mu]V/m field strength contour and their 
interference contour shall be defined as their originally-licensed 18 
dB[mu]V/m field strength contour. The originally-licensed contour shall 
be calculated using the maximum ERP and the actual HAAT along each 
radial. Incumbent licensees seeking to utilize an 18 dB[mu]V/m signal 
strength interference contour shall first seek to obtain the consent of 
affected co-channel incumbents. When the consent of a co-channel 
licensee is withheld, an incumbent licensee may submit to any certified 
frequency coordinator an engineering study showing that interference 
will not occur, together with proof that the incumbent licensee has 
sought consent. Incumbent licensees are permitted to add, remove or 
modify transmitter sites within their original 18 dB[mu]V/m field 
strength contour without prior notification to the Commission so long 
as their original 18 dB[mu]V/m field strength contour is not expanded 
and the station complies with the Commission's short-spacing criteria 
in Sec. Sec.  90.621(b)(4) through 90.621(b)(6). Incumbent licensee 
protection extends

[[Page 67853]]

only to its 36 dB[mu]V/m signal strength contour. Pursuant to the minor 
modification notification procedure set forth in Sec.  1.947(b) of this 
chapter, the incumbent licensee must notify the Commission within 30 
days of any changes in technical parameters or additional stations 
constructed that fall within the short-spacing criteria. See 47 CFR 
90.621(b).
    (d) * * *
    (2) Special Provisions for Spectrum Blocks G through V. Incumbent 
licensees that have received the consent of all affected parties or a 
certified frequency coordinator to utilize an 18 dB[mu]V/m signal 
strength interference contour operating at multiple sites may, after 
grant of EA licenses has been completed, exchange multiple site 
licenses for a single license. This single site license will authorize 
operations throughout the contiguous and overlapping 36 dB[mu]V/m field 
strength contours of the multiple sites. Incumbents exercising this 
license exchange option must submit specific information on Form 601 
for each of their external base sites after the close of the 800 SMR 
auction. The incumbent's geographic license area is defined by the 
contiguous and overlapping 18 dB[mu]V/m contours of its constructed and 
operational external base stations and interior sites that are 
constructed within the construction period applicable to the incumbent. 
Once the geographic license is issued, facilities that are added within 
an incumbent's existing footprint and that are not subject to prior 
approval by the Commission will not be subject to construction 
requirements.

[FR Doc. 04-24840 Filed 11-19-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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