FCC Calls 800 MHz Reband a Success, Votes to End Proceeding

 By Leslie Stimson, Inside Towers Washington Bureau Chief FCC Commissioners and other agency officials patted themselves on the back yesterday as the Commissioners voted to formally wrap-up its 800 MHz rebanding effort. The program, begun in 2004, enabled public safety, critical infrastructure, and other licensees to operate without the interference that previously plagued first responder communications in these frequencies.

The agency said commercial cell networks operated by Sprint and other providers caused harmful interference to public safety radio systems and other licensees in the band. To reduce the interference, the Commission re-packed the 800 MHz band. The FCC moved Sprint’s system to the upper range of frequencies and public safety licensees to the lower end of the band. Continue Reading