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FCC RELEASED VACATED SPECTRUM SEARCH ENGINE - AFC ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOVEMBER 7
November 7, 2008 - The FCC today released the much anticipated public notice on Sprint/Nextel vacated spectrum. The FCC permitted Sprint/Nextel to release the spectrum it must vacate in stages as band reconfiguration progresses in each NPSPAC public safety region. Sprint/Nextel has relinquished its channel holdings in the 809-809.5/854.854.5 MHz band segment in all regions (20 channels in all). These channels will be made available for licensing exclusively to public safety entities for a three-year period, and exclusively to public safety and CII entities for an additional two years.
The FCC will announce procedures for eligible applicants to apply for vacated interleaved band channels by subsequent public notices. Each public notice will identify (by region and frequency range) the vacated channels for which applications may be filed, and will specify the initial date that the FCC will accept applications for such channels.
AFC will start accepting applications on November 07 for the vacated spectrum frequencies. The availability of channels will depend on Sprint/Nextel's EA Economical Area licensee and/or its site based 22 dBu footprint (based on actual antenna height listed on the license and 1000 watt of ERP). Any applications received by AFC for vacated spectrum will not be forwarded to the FCC until it announces the initial filing date by issuance of subsequent public notices.
AFC is a certified SMR coordinator, which means there are no additional charges for inter-service fees for the first 20 channels. However, as additional frequencies become available, there will be channels which will require approval/concurrence from a certified B/I coordinator. AFC has made arrangements with Untied Telecom Council (UTC) where a reduced inter-service fee will be charged for each requested channel.
Visit http://www.apcointl.com/new/news/documents/vacatedchannels.pdf to view the public notice.
Visit http://www.apcointl.org/frequency/ to learn how AFC can help you.
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