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 08-766
Released:  March 31, 2008
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 July 1, 2008, and postpones the beginning of the mediation period for such licensees until 
July 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
This extension extends the filing freeze on new applications in Wave 4 border areas until thirty 
working days after the July 1, 2008 date for completion of negotiations, i.e., until August 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), 
  
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.  Most recently, we jointly extended the NPSPAC and non-NPSPAC negotiation periods to 
April 1, 2008.  See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Extends 800 MHz Rebanding Negotiation Periods 
for Wave 4 Border Area NPSPAC and Non-NPSPAC Licensees, Public Notice, 22 FCC Rcd 21910 (PSHSB 2007).
3 The Bureau has 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).
5 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Outlines Application Freeze Process for Implementation of 800 MHz 
Band Reconfiguration, Public Notice, 20 FCC Rcd 8905 (WTB 2005).
2
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  –
  
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.