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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."
So the FCC couldn't just force Nextel to stop useing the bandwidth that was used for emergeny channels?
ReachInternet.com Wireless, Campus Area Networks, Office Networking.
...it hertz.
It used to be pretty reliable almost anywhere, although lately there were some 'lossy' spots to say the least.
On the other hand, since i'm no iDEN expert.. will this require an upgrade to the handset's codeplug?
*shower*
The spectrum is a public trust and if the FCC can eliminate the interference without killing off the company that they issued the origional spectrum to they should. Verizon is stupid for demanding that the spectrum be auctioned to the highest bidder because Nextel and the FCC are doing what is in the publics best interest.
There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
I'm sure that walkie feature is nice for some conditions, but I swear I'm going to slap the next person in the elevator who feels like using it to gossip about who slept with whom.
Who needs emergency cha- wait, where the hell did that tornado come from...
If you have to ask, you'll never know.
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.
I wonder if this will have much effect on Nextel's service? Previous to this, Nextel had some of the best coverage around. I am obviously no expert (as someone here is bound to point out) but is it possible that a change in the spectrum Nextel will be using will result in a change in their service? Then we have the whining. It sounds to me like some rivals (verizon) are fuming because they see their company's fortunes as being more important than the greater good of society (i.e. the ability to use emergency channels without interference) Won't Nextel incur significant costs to facilitate this switch anyway, partially offsetting what other companies see as a "giveaway"?
What happens to Nextel customers with phones that operate on the frequencies that they just sold back to the feds? Do the customers now "get to" buy a new phone from Nextel (with a new two year service contract, I assume)? If so, it sounds like a windfall for Nextel.
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
In nature, there are neither rewards or punishments, there are only consequences.
It doesn't make much sense to me, if they are supposed to be regulating the RF spectrum, then why are they allowed to sell any of it? That's about the worst thing for the "public" you can let them do.
If what this article is saying (it does not specifically say anything directly related to a "sale", but pretty much draws the inference on. That would mean Nextel now "owns" that part of the spectrum from the FCC?
Just sounds fishy, hope i'm interpreting that incorrectly.
All your base are belong to Google.
So, Nextel a mere $1.6 billion for bandwidth rights which should've cost somewhere between $3 billion or $5 billion.
"Oh, the poor emergency responders! Of course we'll trade bandwidth with you... it's for the good of the nation."
Give me a break!
Verizon must be pissed.
That would be against the Constitution, you know, that pesky little document that is the supreme law of the land. In Ammendment 5 it declares "nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation." This is why you are paid if a city emmenent domains your house to build a highway. They'd much rather just force you out and not have to pay. That would be better for the public good, since it wouldn't require using taxpayer dollars to pay for your house. Rather unfair to you, hence why Ammendment 5 is in there.
Well, same basic protections apply to corperations. When they buy something, be it land, or slices of RF, they expect that it then belongs to them. Now they can face emmenent domain too, but just like individuals, they need to be compensated. If you get down to it, it's just basic kindergarden level concepts of fairness. You don't take something from someone without giving them something in return.
And trust me, you don't want a government that can just take shit for "the public good" because that WILL get abused.
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.
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Nextel and FCC Swap Bandwidth
FCC has reportedly denied having mono, and sources claim that HIV test results should be available soon.
-Adam
Dispatcher: "Unit 9, we've got a head-on collision on I-70. Multiple casualties. Can you respond?"
Unit 9: "Roger that, dispa...zzzzzfffzzzkkkkkrkrkk...so I'm all like WHATEVER! he wasn't even cute enoug... Dispatch? Did you copy?"
Dispatcher: "Unit 9, negative. There appears to be interfe... and then he CALLED me and asked me out aga OH hold on, got another call *click* Hello? Hey babe! Yes, I watched American Idol last night. Can you BELIVE that bitch won?!?"
Unit 9: "Dispatch come back. Got chatter on the frequency."
Dispatcher: "Roger that, Unit 9. Hold on a sec. (alters voice) This is Nextel customer service. Sorry to interrupt your call, but we are investigating cloned numbers and we think you may be a victim. Can you please verify your billing address for us?"
Female teen voice: "OMIGOD where did that come from hahahaha! OMIGOD OK it's 5233 South Downing Lane."
Dispatcher: "That will be fine, ma'am. We'll be with you shortly. Unit 9, standby. SWAT, we've got what looks like a drug deal gone bad at 5233 South Downing Lane. Advise that you have permission to use deadly force and should go in locked, cocked and ready to rock."
SWAT: "Roger that, dispatch." (sounds of guns loading)
Dispatcher: "Unit 9, we've got a head-on collision on I-70. Multiple casualties. Can you respond?"
"Study your math, kids. Key to the universe." -The Archangel Gabriel
No, it just means the Nextel cell phones will have to be replaced with ones that work on the new frequency. Unless Motorola has been very forward thinking...
You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
I believe that in this case the FCC is entirely to blame. Isn't it their chartered duty to make sure that crap like this doesn't happen.
If someone is passing you on the right, you are an asshole for driving in the wrong lane.
Funny thing about the whole deal. I work for a 2-way radio company that has a table in a back room full of 800 Mhz radios. The radios came from companies that were using them. When Nextel purchased the 800 Mhz spectrum, we (back before I started) had to sell all of these companies new radios in a different spectrum. Well, Nextel has yet to build out in my area and it has been several years since all of this took place.
I overheard some of our current customers complaining that they thought the whole deal was phony and created to sell them new radios. And I could see where they are coming from since Nextel didn't build out and it has been years, it does make us look a little bad (each one of the radios on that back table is hundreds of dollars, so this was a *huge* amount of money spread across a lot of companies).
It would be almost a kind of irony if Nextel's customers had to buy new phones. First it makes companies have to spend a lot of money, then it turns around and makes consumers spend a lot of money.
Maybe Nextel's catch phrase should be: Nextel, we make a lot of money change hands.
(And if anyone was wondering, the 800 Mhz radios can be used for non-profit emergency-type stuff (VFD, first responders, sheriff, etc.), so my company has just started building out an 800 Mhz system and has started installing all of the radios and is eating all of the installation cost!)
Usurper_ii
Ron Paul
So in worst case scenario Nextel PTT service would be hit. More grief to local construction crews, some joy for people eating out at local chinese buffet [Prr-BEEP] JOHN GET YOUR $%^$ HERE, MIKE JUST SCREWED UP THE LINING ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
But seriously -- this plan is quite old.
See this article (Motorola drops 800 MHz bomb)
Hyperom.com
We rapidly established a protocol at the office where I work, in that you don't start talking without doing a silent Alert first. So if I want to walkie-talkie someone, I Alert them, they answer (if they are in a position to), and then we talk.
This avoids the random voice blurting out in a meeting, except for MORONS who randomly Direct Connect the WRONG NUMBER (who ARE These morons??)
Since their Direct Connect Number appears on my phone, I have added them to my phone directory (Moron1, Moron2, etc), so I can see if there are repeat offenders. When I am ready to turn in my phone for good, I am going to spend the prior week calling all these MORONS back in the middle of the night, and blurt out idiotic stuff like they did. Especially Moron3 - He has made the same mistake about 10 times!