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FAQs
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Reconfiguration & Relocation Overview
Why did the FCC order a reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band?
Public safety radio systems, such as those used by police, firefighters,
and emergency medical technicians and other systems operating at 806-824
MHz/851-869 MHz — commonly known as "the 800 MHz band" — have been experiencing
increasing levels of interference from commercial wireless carriers operating in
the same or adjacent spectrum bands. This problem has been exacerbated because,
during the past several years, 800 MHz public safety radio systems have become more
widespread and 800 MHz commercial wireless systems have proliferated, both in terms of
transmitter sites and subscribers. Consequently, public safety systems began to
encounter pockets of "dead zones" or have otherwise suffered from interference
within their coverage areas. The FCC ordered the reconfiguration of the 800 MHz
band to avoid a potentially life-threatening problem where public safety communications
equipment may be rendered inoperable. For more information about the circumstances
that prompted the need for reconfiguration, go to this page on the FCC’s Website.
What is the 800 MHz Reconfiguration project?
The primary purpose of the 800 MHz reconfiguration project is to eliminate and avoid interference to public safety radio systems and other 800 MHz systems by separating spectrum for commercial, low-site cellularized wireless networks from spectrum for “high-site” radio networks typically operated by public safety groups and other licensees. Separating these types of communications requires moving public safety systems to spectrum lower in the 800 MHz band, and moving commercial carriers such as Sprint Nextel to the opposite end of the band. The planned reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band includes creating a “guard band,” or buffer, to help ensure that signals from the different types of networks will not interfere with each other.
The 800 MHz rebanding is part of a larger solution to the 800 MHz interference problem. On August 6, 2004, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O), in which it established a two-pronged solution to the 800 MHz interference problem. First, to address actual interference problems, the FCC adopted technical standards (the Enhanced Best Practices) to identify and address instances of unacceptable interference to 800 MHz public safety or other non-cellular licensees. The second prong of the solution addresses the root cause of the interference, and involves reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band, placing generally incompatible technologies in separate band segments in order to prevent interference. Once started, the reconfiguration process is estimated to last three years.
Who needs to reconfigure in the 800 MHz band?
The diagram below depicts the affected portions of the 800 MHz band before and after reconfiguration.
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Figure 1:
800 MHz Band Reconfiguration
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Many 800 MHz systems, including public safety, CII, B/ILT, and commercial SMR systems operating in the 800 MHz Band will be required to relocate. Licensees in the 809-815/854-860 MHz Band are not required to relocate. The following general guidelines apply:
- Licensees currently in the 806-809 MHz/851-854 MHz band (“Channels 1-120”) will be relocated.
- NPSPAC licensees currently in the 821-824 MHz/866-869 MHz band will be relocated.
- Public safety systems currently operating in the newly created “Expansion Band” at 815-816 MHz/860-861MHz will be relocated unless they elect otherwise.
- EA licensees who qualify and wish to operate ESMR systems may elect to relocate into the “ESMR Band” at 817-824 MHz/861-869 MHz.
- Licensees operating below 817 MHz/862 MHz may elect to relocate to the “Guard Band” at 816-817 MHz/861-862 MHz.
- All licensees may request to make voluntary relocations during the 800 MHz reconfiguration under certain circumstances.
- There is a slightly different 800 MHz band plan for certain areas in the Southeastern United States (sometimes known as the “Appendix G area”). In these affected areas, licensees operating at 812.5-817 MHz/857.5-862 MHz may also be required to relocate.
- Licensees generally operating within 110 km (68.4 miles) of the Mexican border and 140 km (87 miles) of the Canadian border may also need to reconfigure. Details regarding border area reconfiguration requirements will be determined in the future based on ongoing international negotiations related to the use of that spectrum.
The TA’s Regional Prioritization Plan (RPP) provides a schedule – known as “Waves” – for when NPSPAC regions will begin the reconfiguration process. A complete copy of the RPP and RPP Modification is available on the TA’s Web site. You can view the prioritization waves and the reconfiguration schedule at 800TA.org.
Tools are available on our website to assist Non-EA based 800 MHz licensees in determining their reconfiguration requirements and options during the 800 MHz reconfiguration process.
Prior to the start of each Wave, the TA will notify those licensees assigned to that specific Wave who will have to reconfigure.
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