*Pages 1--4 from Microsoft Word - 58039.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 06- 1371 June 30, 2006 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES THAT 800 MHZ BAND RECONFIGURATION WILL COMMENCE AUGUST 1, 2006, IN THE NPSPAC REGIONS ASSIGNED TO WAVE 2 FOR NPSPAC CHANNELS WT Docket No. 02- 55 In July 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Report and Order in this docket which, inter alia, reconfigured the 800 MHz band to eliminate interference to public safety and other land mobile communication systems operating in the band. 1 As specified in the Report and Order, the band reconfiguration process is being overseen by a Transition Administrator (TA) 2 which has provided the Commission with a plan detailing when band reconfiguration will commence in each of the fifty- five 800 MHz National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) regions. 3 On March 11, 2005, the Bureau approved the TA’s basic 800 MHz band reconfiguration schedule, i. e., the grouping of the NPSPAC regions into four waves (Waves 1- 4) and starting the reconfiguration process in each wave on the dates recommended by the TA. 4 As part of the 800 MHz band reconfiguration process, the Commission stated that it would issue a Public Notice thirty days before reconfiguration is scheduled to start in each NPSPAC region. 5 Each such Public Notice specifies a three- month voluntary negotiation period during which time identified licensees in the regions being reconfigured are encouraged to reach agreement with Nextel on the details of relocating. 6 The voluntary negotiation period is followed by a three- month mandatory negotiation period, 1 See Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, Report and Order, WT Docket No. 02- 55, 19 FCC Rcd 14969 (2004) (Report and Order). See also Supplemental Order and Order on Reconsideration, WT Docket No. 02- 55, 19 FCC Rcd 25120 (2004) (Supplemental Order). See also, Memorandum Opinion and Order, WT Docket No. 02- 55, 20 FCC Rcd 16015 (2005). 2 Additional information on the TA can be found on its web page – www. 800ta. org. 3 The TA’s band reconfiguration schedule may be viewed at www. 800ta. org. 4 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Approves the Basic Reconfiguration Schedule Put Forth in the Transition Administrator’s 800 MHz Regional Prioritization Plan, Public Notice, DA 05- 619, released March 11, 2005 (TA Plan PN). The schedule for Wave 2 NPSPAC channels was later revised. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Revision of the Start Date for Negotiations Between Sprint Nextel and NPSPAC Licensees Assigned to Waves 2 and 3 of the 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration, Public Notice, DA 06- 767, released March 31, 2006. 5 See 47 C. F. R § 90. 677( b) and Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 15076 ¶ 201. See also TA Plan PN at 2. 6 See 47 C. F. R. § 90. 677( b). 1 4 APPENDIX NPSPAC Regions Assigned to Wave 2 NPSPAC Region Description of Region 1 4 Arkansas 12 Idaho 15 Iowa 16 Kansas 17 Kentucky 22 Minnesota 24 Missouri 25 Montana 26 Nebraska 32 North Dakota 34 Oklahoma 38 South Dakota 39 Tennessee 40 Texas (Central & Northeast) 44 West Virginia 46 Wyoming 49 Texas (Central - Austin area) 51 Texas (East – Houston area) 52 Texas (Panhandle, High Plains & Northwest – Lubbock area) 1 Regions that are only a portion of a state or states are defined by counties. A list of the counties in each of these regions can be accessed at http:// www. fcc. gov/ Bureaus/ Wireless/ Orders/ 1998/ fcc98191. txt. Note: Per the TA’s request, the Louisiana NPSPAC region (# 18) was moved from Wave 2 to Wave 3. See Wave 2 PN. The TA also moved the Puerto Rico (# 47) and US Virgin Islands (# 48) regions from Wave 2 to Wave 3. 4