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 Federal  Communications  Commission  FCC  06-  133 
 STATEMENT  OF  CHAIRMAN  KEVIN  J.  MARTIN 
 Re:  Former  Nextel  Communications,  Inc.  Upper  700  MHz  Guard  Band  Licenses  and  Revisions  to  Part  27  of  the  Commission’s  Rules,  Development  of  Operational,  Technical  and  Spectrum 
 Requirements  for  Meeting  Federal,  State  and  Local  Public  Safety  Communications  Requirements  Through  the  Year  2010  (Notice  of  Proposed  Rule  Making,  WT  Docket  Nos.  06-  169,  96-  86) 


 We  seek  comment  in  this  item  on  potential  changes  to  our  rules  governing  the  700  MHz  guard  bands,  including  proposals  that  would  alter  the  upper  700  MHz  band  plan.  These  proposals  promise  to 
 increase  the  amount  of  spectrum  available  for  public  safety  and  facilitate  more  efficient  use  of  both  public  safety  and  commercial  spectrum  in  the  band.  I  am  pleased  that  we  are  seizing  this  opportunity  to 
 simultaneously  consider  allowing  more  flexible  operations  for  existing  services  while  ensuring  that  public  safety  users  have  access  to  adequate  spectrum.  As  we  move  forward  in  this  proceeding,  however,  we 
 must  not  overlook  the  digital  television  transition  and  our  statutory  mandate  to  soon  commence  an  auction  of  700  MHz  spectrum.  I  am  hopeful  that  these  challenges  can  be  addressed  expeditiously  and  this 
 spectrum  put  to  use  as  efficiently  and  effectively  as  possible. 
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