Border Spectrum Issues

Public Safety agencies in the United States work closely with our border nations, Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Department of State is responsible for the treaty negotiations coordinating the shared use of spectrum in the border areas of the United States.

There are several issues affecting those public safety agencies in border states in the United States. The general congestion in the existing bands has created a high degree of interference potential and difficulties in assigning working frequencies in the border areas. High band VHF is widely used on both borders as is 450 UHF. Previous joint agreements have allowed effective use of 800 MHz, however, recent development of the Rebanding process for 800 MHz have lent an urgency to negotiate agreements with both Canada and Mexico in order for the process to move forward in a timely manner.

News:

State Department Signs Protocol Agreement with Mexico11/8/06
Mexico Graphic 700 MHz Channel Chart (shows secondary channels)

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Washington State (Region 43) Letter to the Dept. of State and FCC 8-16-06

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Public Safety meets with Negotiators Results of the Eighth Meeting of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Consultative Commission on Telecommunications, Washington, DC, July 17, 2006 - Since the July 17, 2006 meeting much work has been done with the Eighth HLCC. The attached documents flowed from that meeting and are being prepared for placement on EB/CIP's web page on State's website.

• Joint Statement 
• Directory Of Bilateral Issues 
• Letter to Mr. Jorge Alvarez Hoth the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes 
• Letter to Sr. John M.R. Kneuer the Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and lnformation Department of Commerce and Administrator of National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
• Protocol Between The Department Of State Of The United States Of America And The Secretariat Of Communications And Transportation Of The United Mexican States Concerning The Allotment And Use Of The 138-144 Mhz Band For Terrestrial Non-Broadcasting Radiocommunication Services Along The Common Border