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News & Events
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Press Releases
For Immediate Release
800 MHz Transition Administrator
c/o Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.
8000 Towers Crescent Drive, 14th Floor
Tyson’s Corner, VA 22182-2700 |
Contact: Brett Haan
Phone: 1-888-800-8220
E-mail: comments@800TA.org |
800 MHz Transition Administrator Implements New Process for Obtaining Planning Funding
Additional TA involvement will facilitate more timely delivery of planning funds for licensees.
February 1, 2006, Orlando, FL — During a presentation at the APCO 3rd Annual Winter Summit in Orlando, FL, the 800 MHz Transition Administrator, LLC (TA) today announced an improvement in the process by which licensees submit Requests for Planning Funding (RFPFs). In order to help streamline the planning activities associated with 800 MHz Reconfiguration, the TA is adopting a more active oversight role, which will include additional monitoring, an initial review of licensees’ planning funding submissions, and stated timeframes for action to be completed by the parties.
Specific changes to the process going forward are as follows:
Licensees will initially submit Requests For Planning Funding (RFPF) and supporting documentation directly to the TA. The TA will acknowledge receipt and validate that the request provides the supporting detail requested in established TA policy and guidance.
Once the request is determined to be complete in terms of supporting detail, the TA will forward it to Sprint Nextel, with a communication to both parties requesting that a negotiation schedule be established within 5 business days.
The TA will monitor the progress of all negotiations. If an agreement is not reached within 60 calendar days (measured from the date the TA provides the request to Sprint Nextel) and the parties have not by then entered the mandatory negotiation period, the TA will recommend that the parties submit to TA mediation. If the parties have entered the mandatory negotiations period, then TA mediation will be mandatory.
Licensees who have previously submitted an RFPF to Sprint Nextel are not required to follow the new process. However, any licensee who has submitted an RFPF may take advantage of this new process by submitting its RFPF to the TA. In addition to the RFPF process change, the TA will proactively contact Public Safety licensees to determine whether they intend to seek planning funding, to inform them of the process, and to educate them on resources available to assist with the process.
“An important part of the TA’s ongoing role is to ensure that the rebanding process is meeting the needs of all stakeholders in this complex program,” said Brett Haan, Director, 800 MHz Transition Administrator. “The TA’s more active oversight in the planning funding process is an improvement, based on inputs from stakeholders, that will have a streamlining effect on the rebanding program.”
For a detailed process description, visit the TA website at http://www.800TA.org/
For additional guidance, the TA will be offering an online webinar on February 8th on Requests for Planning Funding. Please visit the TA's website http://www.800TA.org/content/news/webinars.asp for more information, including how to register for this and other webinars. Current information regarding 800 MHz Reconfiguration is available on the TA’s website (www.800TA.org). Questions about the RFPF package should be directed to the TA at 1-888-800-8220 or comments@800TA.org.
All reconfiguring licensees who have not submitted a Point of Contact form to the TA should do so immediately. The form can be found on the TA website http://www.800TA.org/content/PDF/forms/POC.pdf. Please also ensure that your license information is updated in the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS).
About the 800 MHz Transition Administrator
800 MHz Transition Administrator, LLC ("TA LLC") is the Transition Administrator ("TA") for the reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band mandated by the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC"). TA LLC has contracted with BearingPoint, Inc., Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., and Baseline Telecom, Inc. to perform the duties of the TA. Among its duties, the TA establishes reconfiguration guidelines, specifies replacement channels, reviews reconfiguration cost estimates, monitors payment of reconfiguration costs, manages the relocation schedule, facilitates issue resolution, and administers the alternative dispute resolution process. TA LLC uses information it receives solely for the purposes of administering the 800 MHz reconfiguration process and may disclose such information to the FCC or other authorized parties pursuant to the requirements of the 800 MHz Order or other applicable laws.
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