Reliability is the degree to which information is transferred accurately within the system. For digital data systems, this will be measured by the percent of time the bit error rate exceeds the desired value. For analog or digital voice transmissions, this will be measured by the percent of time that audio signal quality meets an established threshold. Operating costs are those costs that affect the delivery of services to the end user. If the EA licensee provides facilities that entail higher operating cost than the incumbent's previous system, and the cost increase is a direct result of the relocation, the EA licensee must compensate the incumbent for the difference.
Costs associated with the relocation process can fall into several categories.
Second, increased maintenance costs must be taken into consideration when determining whether operating costs are comparable. For example, maintenance costs associated with analog systems may be higher than the costs of digital equipment because manufacturers are producing mostly digital equipment and analog replacement parts can be difficult to find. An EA licensee's obligation to pay increased operating costs will end five years after relocation has occurred. If an EA licensee cannot provide comparable facilities to an incumbent licensee as defined in this section, the incumbent licensee may continue to operate its system on a primary basis in accordance with the provisions of this rule part. EA licensees are required to relocate the existing 800 MHz SMR licensee in these bands if interference to the existing incumbent operations would occur.