800 MHz Rebanding services

The 800 MHz band is being reconfigured to reduce or eliminate the interference that exists caused by NEXTEL and/or Cellular A & B bands to Public Safety, Critical Infrastructure and other commercial services.  Depending on each licensee’s situation, technical representation during this process may significantly impact the overall success of the relocation to different frequencies.  According to the Transition Administrator (“TA”) “800 MHz Band Reconfiguration Handbook”, reconfiguring licensees generally have the right to:  

	Have their reasonable reconfiguration costs covered by Nextel
	Obtain comparable facilities
	Obtain funding for reconfiguration planning activities
	Obtain reasonable assistance from experts such as “engineers” and “attorneys”
	See TA assistance for resolution of disputes.

Reconfiguring licensees generally have the obligation to:  

	Enter into a reconfiguration implementation agreement with Nextel
	Negotiate in “good faith”
	Mediate disputes when so instructed by the TA
	Retain copies of all documents sent to Nextel as part of the reconfiguration
	Certify that their costs reflect the minimum costs necessary to obtain comparable facilities
	Certify when reconfiguration has been completed
	Submit documentation to Nextel for receipt of goods/services provided by third parties to enable accurate and timely payments
	Submit documentation in a timely manner to Nextel of the actual costs incurred if advance funding is provided. (Subject to audit by TA.)
	If required, provide timely refund to Nextel of any overpayment of actual costs
	Make representations to the TA with the same requirement of truth and candor as representation made to the FCC.

The overall process, simply defined, is:

 Reconfiguration Planning and Documentation  

1.                  Fill out a Point of Contact Form to let the TA know who will be representing the City, County or other entity in corresponding with the TA during this process.

2.                  Develop an Estimate of the planning funding that will be required

3.                  Document Subscriber Equipment Inventory

4.                  Document Infrastructure facilities inventory

5.                  Define interoperability environment

6.                  Evaluate proposed new frequencies

7.                  Prepare cost estimate (and Statement of Work if a large system) for implementation of reconfiguration

8.                  Negotiate contract with Nextel for Implementation of Plan

Reconfiguration Implementation Phase  

1.                  Baseline testing of existing equipment on existing frequencies

2.                  FCC applications filed and granted for new frequencies

3.                  Nextel to clear frequencies

4.                  Licensee relocate to new frequencies according to migration plan

5.                  Nextel makes payments for reconfiguration

6.                  Acceptance testing of reconfigured system on new frequencies

7.                  Channel surrender application filed with FCC to release frequencies

8.                  Licensee and Nextel certify completion

9.                  Licensee completes other filings.