*Pages 1--1 from Microsoft Word - 45944.doc* NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: February 7, 2005 Barry Ohlson: (202) 418- 2300 e- mail: barry. ohlson@ fcc. gov STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN ON NEXTEL ACCEPTANCE OF 800 MHZ BAND RECONFIGURATION PLAN Our unanimous decision last year to adopt a solution to the interference crisis faced by public safety licensees operating in the 800 MHz band was one of the major accomplishments of this Commission. The primary goal of that item remains – to protect the nation’s police, fire and emergency medical personnel, who are on the front lines of our country’s public safety efforts. Our decision put that priority front and center, right where it belongs. In this light, I am very pleased that Nextel has agreed to accept the terms and conditions of our 800 MHz Report and Order. Nextel was the primary proponent of 800 MHz band reconfiguration, and their active participation is critical to its success. We now have all of the pieces in place to greatly minimize, and hopefully eliminate, the interference currently experienced by our nation’s first responders who communicate on land mobile radio systems in the 800 MHz band. We’ve given Nextel and all of the affected licensees what they asked for – the regulatory tools to solve this problem both through rebanding and enhanced best practices. Let’s all work together to eliminate this unacceptable and dangerous interference problem. - FCC - 1