*Pages 1--4 from Microsoft Word - 59907.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- 1939 October 2, 2006 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU ANNOUNCES THAT 800 MHZ BAND RECONFIGURATION WILL COMMENCE NOVEMBER 1, 2006, IN THE NPSPAC REGIONS ASSIGNED TO WAVE 3 FOR NPSPAC CHANNELS 1 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. 2 As specified in the Report and Order, the band reconfiguration process is being overseen by a Transition Administrator (TA) 3 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. 4 On March 11, 2005, the Wireless Telecommunications 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. 5 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. 6 Each such 1 Delegated authority for handling 800 MHz band reconfiguration issues has been transferred from the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to the new Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. See Establishment of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Order, FCC 06- 35, released September 25, 2006. 2 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). 3 Additional information on the TA can be found on its web page – www. 800ta. org. 4 The TA’s band reconfiguration schedule may be viewed at www. 800ta. org. 5 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 3 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. 6 See 47 C. F. R § 90. 677( b) and Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 15076 ¶ 201. See also TA Plan PN at 2. 1 4 APPENDIX NPSPAC Regions Assigned to Wave 3 NPSPAC Region Description of Region 1 1 Alabama 9 Florida 10 Georgia 18 Louisiana 23 Mississippi 31 North Carolina 37 South Carolina 47 Puerto Rico 48 Virgin Islands 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. See TA Press Release, February 3, 2006. . 4