NEWS News media Information 202 / 418-0500Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202/418-2555Internet: http://www.fcc.govftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th 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). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS: December 9, 2009 Linda Haller Sloan, (202) 418-1408 Linda.HallerSloan@fcc.gov Jen Howard, (202) 418-0506 Jen.Howard@fcc.gov FCC SUPPORTS ENHANCED U.S.-MEXICO COORDINATION AND COOPERATION ON COMMUNICATIONS ISSUES WASHINGTON – Today, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski announced support for three recent actions aimed at enhancing United States- Mexico coordination and cooperation on communications issues. The first is a “Joint Statement” in support of continued coordination on spectrum along the border and cooperation on communications issues of mutual interest between the U.S. and Mexico. The second, “The Directory of Bilateral Issues,” is a work plan for the U.S. and Mexico on communications issues for the next two years. The third is a new bilateral communications protocol with Mexico to govern public safety use in the 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) band. “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to enhance robust broadband access and maximize efficient spectrum use along the U.S.- Mexico border for vitally important communications services, including for public safety and homeland security purposes,” said Chairman Genachowski. “I applaud Ambassador Verveer and Assistant Secretary Strickling for their leadership in this important area and look forward to continued coordination and cooperation with our Mexican counterparts, led by Under Secretary Hernandez and Chairman Osuna. We will continue to work with all interested parties to further ensure that our borders are safe and protected." These documents were signed during a meeting of senior officials on the United States-Mexico High-Level Consultative Commission on Telecommunications (HLCC). Ambassador Philip L. Verveer, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, U.S. Department of State and Lawrence E. Strickling, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, and Administrator of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration also signed these documents along with their counterparts from the Mexican government, Ms. Gabriela Hernández Cardoso, Mexico's Under Secretary of Communications; and Mr. Hector G. Osuna Jaime, Chairman Federal Telecommunications Commission of the United Mexican States. The FCC will also implement a new bilateral communications protocol with Mexico to govern public safety use in the 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) band. The new protocol, signed by the State Department and Mexico, will allow U.S. and Mexican public safety officials to deploy broadband services along the border in the 4.9 GHz band. The protocol furthers the FCC goals of efficient and coordinated spectrum use for public safety services along the U.S.-Mexico border. FCC staff participated in all aspects of the State Department-led negotiations. 2 Specifically, the protocol, entitled Protocol Between the Department of State of the United States of America and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of the United Mexican States Concerning the Use of the 4940-4990 MHz Band for Terrestrial Non-Broadcasting Radiocommunication Services Along the Common Border, establishes a 30-mile sharing zone between U.S. public safety services and the Mexican public safety services. Among other things, it allows for maximum use of the spectrum by providing both countries with primary access throughout the entire band while establishing power limits designed to prevent interference between individual users along the border. Copies of these documents are available at http://www.fcc.gov/ib/sand/agree/ -- FCC --