PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 07-5110
Released:  December 31, 2007
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU EXTENDS
800 MHZ REBANDING NEGOTIATION PERIODS FOR 
WAVE 4 BORDER AREA NPSPAC AND NON-NPSPAC LICENSEES
WT Docket No. 02-55
By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) extends the 
mandatory negotiation periods for border area NPSPAC (Stage 2) and non-NPSPAC (Stage 1) licensees 
in Wave 4 to April 1, 2008, and postpones the beginning of the mediation period for such licensees until 
April 2, 2008.1 As we have noted in prior public notices, rebanding of border area licensees in Wave 4 is 
affected by ongoing international discussions on US-Canada and US-Mexico border issues.2 Extending 
the negotiation period for these licensees will alleviate administrative burdens on licensees, avoid 
unnecessary rebanding expenditures, and provide additional time for resolution of border issues and
issuance of frequency designations by the TA.3
During the extended negotiation period, Wave 4 border area licensees are not required to engage 
in planning or negotiation prior to the receipt of frequency designations from the TA, though we 
encourage them to engage in such activities to the extent that they are not frequency-dependent and would 
not result in unnecessary duplication of costs. If licensees choose to engage in such planning and 
negotiation activities, Sprint Nextel (Sprint) shall pay licensees’ reasonable costs in accordance with the 
requirements of the Commission’s orders in this proceeding.4
  
1 For details regarding rebanding waves and negotiation periods, see the 800 MHz Transition Administrator’s band 
reconfiguration schedule at www.800ta.org.
2 We have previously extended the negotiation periods for NPSPAC and non-NPSPAC border area licensees by 
separate public notices.  We most recently extended the non-NPSPAC negotiation period to January 2, 2008, and the 
NPSPAC negotiation period to January 31, 2008.  See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Extends 
Negotiation Period Between Sprint Nextel and Border Area Non-NPSPAC Licensees in Wave 4, Stage 1 of the 800 
MHz Band Reconfiguration, Public Notice, 22 FCC Rcd 17348 (PSHSB 2007); Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau Extends Negotiation Period Between Sprint Nextel and Border Area NPSPAC Licensees in Wave 
4, Stage 2 of the 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration, Public Notice, 22 FCC Rcd 18946 (PSHSB 2007).  In this Public 
Notice, we jointly extend the negotiation periods for both NPSPAC and non-NPSPAC border area licensees.
3 In November 2007, the Bureau issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a rebanding plan for the 
Canadian border region.  Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, Further Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking¸ 22 FCC Rcd 19266 (PSHSB 2007).  Negotiations with Mexico regarding 800 MHz border 
issues remain ongoing.
4 See FCC Announces Supplemental Procedures and Provides Guidance for Completion of 800 MHz Rebanding, 
Public Notice, 22 FCC Rcd 17227, 17232 (2007).
2
This extension extends the filing freeze on new applications in Wave 4 border areas until thirty 
working days after the May 1, 2008 date for completion of negotiations, i.e., until June 13, 2008.5
However, the freeze does not apply to modification applications that do not change an 800 MHz 
frequency or expand an 800 MHz station’s existing coverage area (e.g., administrative updates), 
assignments/transfers, or renewal-only applications.  In addition, Wave 4 border area licensees may 
expand their facilities or add channels during the freeze, based on an appropriate showing of public 
interest need, using the Special Temporary Authorization (STA) procedures described in the Bureau’s 
December 2006 STA Guidance PN.6  Facilities that are authorized under the STA procedures will be 
subject to rebanding, and Sprint will pay the cost of relocating such facilities to their new channel 
assignments.7
The extension of negotiations and the application freeze does not apply to Wave 4 licensees 
outside the border areas.  Such licensees remain subject to the previously announced negotiation and 
mediation schedules for this wave.
For further information, contact: Roberto Mussenden, Policy Division, Public Safety and 
Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-1428 or Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov; John Evanoff, Policy 
Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-0848 or John.Evanoff@fcc.gov.
Action by the Associate Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
–  FCC  –
  
5 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Outlines Application Freeze Process for Implementation of 800 MHz 
Band Reconfiguration, Public Notice, 20 FCC Rcd 8905 (WTB 2005).
6 See Public Safety And Homeland Security Bureau Provides Guidance For Public Safety Licensees With Regard To 
License Application And Special Temporary Authorization Procedures And  Payment Of Frequency Relocation 
Costs For Public Safety Facilities Added During 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration, Public Notice, 21 FCC Rcd 14658 
(PSHSB 2006).
7 Id. at 14661.