Federal Communications Commission DA 13-2270 1 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band Glendale Police Department, Arizona ) ) ) ) ) ) Docket No. 02-55 ORDER Adopted: November 26, 2013 Released: November 26, 2013 By the Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau I. INTRODUCTION 1. Under consideration is the request for extension to reband Station WNNH557 (Request) filed by the Glendale Police Department, Arizona (Glendale) seeking an extension of time within which to complete a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA) with Sprint Corporation (Sprint) as part of the Commission’s 800 MHz band reconfiguration initiative. 1 II. DISCUSSION 2. Glendale states that there was some confusion as to whether the Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC) would include Glendale’s frequencies as part of the RWC’s rebanding but RWC has since confirmed that it will not include Glendale’s frequencies. 2 Glendale also notes that it has not yet heard whether the Arizona State University Police Department remained interested in Glendale’s frequencies. 3 Glendale notes that it is involved in a (1) project to replace patrol officers’ in-car computers with individual tablet computers and (2) to replace its Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Record Management System. 4 Glendale adds that its project has taken the bulk of its time, as Glendale is deploying nearly 300 new tablet computers, and training the officers and dispatchers on the use of the CAD system. 5 Accordingly, Glendale requests an extension until December 6, 2103 to complete its FRA with Sprint. 6 1 Email from Timothy C. Ulery, Glendale Police Department, Arizona (Nov. 22, 2013). 2 Id. 3 Id. 4 Id. 5 Id. 6 Id. Federal Communications Commission DA 13-2270 2 III. DECISION 3. Section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules provides “It is the policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.” 7 The import of that rule is especially relevant to 800 MHz rebanding where delay in rebanding by one licensee can cause a “domino effect” delay in the rebanding efforts of other licensees that have met the Commission’s 800 MHz band reconfiguration deadlines, with a consequent delay of the overall program. We therefore afford a high degree of scrutiny to the reasons licensees advance for extensions of time. 8 4. In the instant matter, Glendale has known of the need to reband its 800 MHz system for several months but has devoted its resources to other endeavors. While we do not approve of such lack of diligence, we recognize that the extension of time requested is relatively modest, and that the licensee apparently has resolved issues of long standing concerning whether other licensees would participate in Glendale’s rebanding efforts. We therefore are granting the requested extension. IV. ORDERING CLAUSES 5. Accordingly IT IS ORDERED that extension request filed by the Glendale Police Department, Arizona, IS GRANTED. 6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Glendale Police Department, Arizona, SHALL CONCLUDE a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement with Sprint Corporation by December 6, 2013. 7. This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.191 and 0.392 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.191, 0.392. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Michael J. Wilhelm Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau 7 47 C.F.R. § 1.46. 8 See Regents of the University of California, WT Docket 02-55, Order, DA 13-2234, (PSHSB rel. Nov. 21, 2013).