Nextel and FCC Swap Bandwidth

evilninja writes "Techweb is reporting on the sale of 10MHz worth of bandwidth to Nextel by the FCC. One term of the agreement will solve a problem that has been frustrating the FCC for some time. Nextel will return some of their bandwidth to the public domain, since it has been interfering with local emergency channels in some areas."

Comments

Re:the fcc

[silas_moeckel]

More importantly they were using the channels that the FCC gave them to use for cell phones right ext to emergency channels.

Public Domain?

[hugesmile]

Nextel will return some of their bandwidth to the public domain

I don't think this part of the spectrum is in the "public domain" as if anyone can use it. More accurately, it's been returned to the highly regulated, unaassigned pool of the spectrum.

Questions from the Article

[Lifix]

The issue here is simple: if the current allocation of frequencies is cutting into emergency services, then that needs to be fixed.

The FCC was debating letting Nextel reorganize the 800MHz band in return for their slice. This no doubt pissed off all their competitors who had to pay millions for their GHz freqs.

Usefull links:
Slashdot: FCC to Reorganize 800 band.
FCC Options and Alternatives for 800 band

Re:Nextel gets a steal

[Durrik]

Verizon is probably just pissed because they don't like competition. As for the 1.6 vs 3 billion, I'm not sure its that big of a steal. The 800 MHz mobile band is much more valuable then the 1.8 GHz PCS band, from the providors point of view.

One of the rules of RF cost/design is that as frequency goes up the electronics to increase the power and quality of the signal goes up, while the cost/size of the antennia goes down. The problem is, that the cost goes up faster for the electronics then the cost goes down for the antennia.

So they gave up an 800 MHz block that would probably be worth at least 1.5 to 3 billion to them, and bought another block. The money almost works out the same. What would have really sucked for Nextel and probably what Verizon wanted was for them to give up the 800 MHz block. And then lose the auction for the new block, cutting Nextel out of the market and reducing competition.

Also the higher the frequency the worse it is for distance. I can't remember the exact figures but I think for PCS you need 3 - 4 times the number of base stations as you need for the 800 MHz band.

As for upgrading the customer's phones, it won't be much if they already support the new band as many newer phones do. If they don't the customers are going to have to get new phones. In BC when Telus upgraded their PCS base stations to 3G the old 2G phones wouldn't work. They gave out their cheep phones to the old customers and didn't make them get a new contract. Nextel can do the same thing.

For the phones that already support the new frequency. The new frequency plan can be downloaded over the air during off hours, or even when the customer is talking on the phone.

Nextel Plans

[SolidCore]

Federal regulators said that they would vote next week on a proposal aimed at resolving problems with cellphone interference in police and fire communications systems. According to an agenda released, the FCC vote will come at the agency's monthly meeting. Nextel Communications is largely blamed for causing the interference. Radios used by police, firefighters and other first responders broadcast on the same 800 Mhz spectrum as Nextel phones. So, if a radio dispatch is made at 850 Mhz near a cell tower broadcasting at 851 Mhz, the radio signal can be drowned out. The commission is expected to approve a Nextel backed plan in which the company would abandon some of its airwaves in exchange for more lucrative spectrum in a band that won't disrupt the radio communications of emergency officials. Nextel would be relocated to more valuable spectrum in the 1.9 Ghz frequency range, where most other cellular companies operate. Nextel's competitors, Verizon and Cingular Wireless, have staunchly opposed the move.