Federal Communications Commission DA 13-2280
Before the
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
In the Matter of
State of California
and
Nextel Communications, Inc. 
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Docket No. 02-55
Mediation No. TAM-45022
TA Mediator John C. Henry
ORDER
Adopted:  November 27, 2013 Released: November 27, 2013
By the Deputy Chief, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.
I. INTRODUCTION
1. Under consideration is the Recommended Resolution and Request for Waiver (RR), filed 
November 14, 2013 by the Transition Administrator (TA) Mediator on behalf of the State of California 
(California) and Nextel Communications, Inc., (Sprint)
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regarding the adoption of an 800 MHz Planning
Funding Agreement (PFA) by California and Sprint.  California timely submitted a request for planning 
funding (RFPF) on August 23, 2013 and the TA Mediator, after review of the RFPF, issued a Notice of 
Commencement of Negotiations between California and Sprint on September 3, 2013.  Mediation was 
instituted and the mediation period expired on November 4, 2013.  At the end of the mediation period, the 
parties had not yet executed a PFA.
II. DISCUSSION
2. In the normal course, if a dispute has not been resolved by the close of the mediation 
period, the TA Mediator submits a recommended resolution to the Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau which conducts a de novo review of the record and decides the disputed issues.
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  However, the TA 
Mediator may instead recommend to the Bureau that parties “be given additional time to allow further 
negotiations under mediation.”
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  In the instant case, the TA Mediator recommends that the Commission 
grant the parties additional time for negotiation under the TA Mediator’s auspices.
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  The TA Mediator has 
attached to the RR, a Schedule to Complete PFA, which schedule calls for Sprint to file a PFA with the 
TA by December 16, 2013.
                                                     
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For purposes of uniformity in 800 MHz band reconfiguration orders, we refer to Sprint subsidiaries such as Nextel 
Communications, Inc. as their parent company, Sprint.
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See 47 C.F.R. § 90.677(d)(2).
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Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Procedures for De Novo Review in the 800 MHz Public Safety 
Proceeding, Public Notice, 21 FCC Rcd 758, 759 (2006).
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RR at 4.
Federal Communications Commission DA 13-2280
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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.”
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  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.
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4. In the instant matter, the TA Mediator requests only a modest extension of time for the 
parties to conclude and file a PFA for a large and complex 800 MHz system.  It does not appear that 
granting a brief extension of time will adversely affect the ability of California to timely reconfigure its 
system.  We are, therefore, granting the requested extension.
IV. ORDERING CLAUSES
5. Accordingly IT IS ORDERED that the Recommended Resolution and Request for 
Waiver filed by the 800 MHz Transition Administrator Mediator on November 14, 2013, IS GRANTED.
6. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Sprint and the State of California SHALL 
CONCLUDE a Planning Funding Agreement and submit it to the 800 MHz Transition Administrator no 
later than December 16, 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 
                                                     
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47 C.F.R. § 1.46.
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See Regents of the University of California, WT Docket 02-55, Order, DA 13-2234, (PSHSB rel. Nov. 21, 2013).