NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
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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).
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
August 1, 2011  David Fiske: (202) 418-0513
david.fiske@fcc.gov
FCC ANNOUNCES MAJOR SPECTRUM-SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH CANADA AND 
MEXICO ENABLING 4G WIRELESS BROADBAND AND PUBLIC SAFETY 
COMMUNICATIONS IN THE BORDER AREAS
Washington D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reached arrangements with 
Industry Canada and Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT) for sharing 
commercial wireless broadband spectrum in the 700 MHz band along the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-
Mexican border areas.  The FCC also reached an arrangement with Industry Canada for sharing 
spectrum in the 800 MHz band.  These actions will help support commercial broadband services and 
public safety mission-critical voice communications.  
“These arrangements will unleash investment and benefit consumers near the borders by enabling the 
rollout of 4G wireless broadband service and advanced systems for critical public safety and emergency 
response communications,” Chairman Julius Genachowski stated after signing the documents.  “I 
appreciate the commitment and dedicated efforts of everyone who has been involved in these 
discussions to ensure that we are making the most effective use of this valuable spectrum.”   
The technical sharing principles reached on the 700 MHz band will facilitate the deployment of mobile 
wireless broadband systems near the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican borders and will provide 
consumers in these areas with advanced opportunities for 4G high-speed mobile broadband access.  
Under the arrangements, licensees on both sides of the borders will have greater access to the 698-758 
MHz and 776-788 MHz bands. 
The technical sharing principles reached on 800 MHz will pave the way for completion of 800 MHz 
rebanding by U.S. public safety and commercial licensees operating along the U.S.-Canadian border.  
The FCC ordered rebanding to alleviate interference to public safety licensees in the band caused by 
commercial cellular licensees.  The arrangement specifies (1) how primary channels will be allotted 
between the United States and Canada, (2) the technical parameters for operation on these channels 
within 140 kilometers (87 miles) of the common border, and (3) a schedule for transitioning facilities 
from the channels needed by the U.S. to complete rebanding along the U.S.-Canadian border.
The relevant documents are available on the International Bureau web site at 
http://transition.fcc.gov/ib/sand/agree/.  They are also available for reference in the FCC Reference Information 
Center, Courtyard Level, and 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C.  Copies may be purchased by calling 
Best Copy and Printing, Inc. at (800) 378-3160.
Contacts:  Larry Olson, International Bureau at (202) 418-2142, Brian Marenco, Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau at (202) 418-0838 and Tim Maguire, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-
2155.
– FCC –
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