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

the fcc

[Fuzzy_Nuts]

So the FCC couldn't just force Nextel to stop useing the bandwidth that was used for emergeny channels?

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.

This story is so boring...

[Neil Blender]

...it hertz.

Hopefully...

[Count of Montecristo]

Although the article does not mention a lot of detail, I do hope that this will fix some of the reception problems i've been having in the LA Metropolitan area with Nextel.

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?

This is what the FCC is for

[afidel]

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.

Re:Beep Beep!

[Izago909]

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.

Bah

[Billobob]

Who needs emergency cha- wait, where the hell did that tornado come from...

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.

What about customers?

[bstone]

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.

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

Nextel gets a steal

[fishbert42]

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.

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.

Well you see

[Sycraft-fu]

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.

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.

Somewhere in Denver...

[Talisman]

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?"

FCC to blame

[Fujisawa Sensei]

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.