November 18, 2010 - The FCC today released a new public notice on Sprint/Nextel vacated spectrum. The FCC permitted Sprint/Nextel to release additional spectrum it must vacate in stages as band reconfiguration progresses in each NPSPAC public safety region. Sprint/Nextel has relinquished its channel holdings in the 809.5-815/854.5-860 MHz band segment in all regions. These channels will be made available for licensing exclusively to public safety entities for a three-year period, and exclusively to public safety and CII entities for an additional two years.

The FCC has reiterated the procedures for eligible applicants to apply for vacated interleaved band channels. The public notice identifies (by region and frequency range) the vacated channels for which applications may be filed, and specifies the initial date that the FCC will accept applications for such channels.

AFC will start accepting applications on November 18 for the vacated spectrum frequencies. The availability of channels will depend on Sprint/Nextel's EA Economical Area licensee and/or its site based 22 dBu footprint (based on actual antenna height listed on the license and 1000 watt of ERP). Any applications received by AFC for vacated spectrum will not be forwarded to the FCC until the initial filing date indicated in the public notice.

AFC is a certified SMR coordinator, which means there are no additional charges for inter-service fees for the General Category or SMR channels. However, as additional frequencies become available, there will be channels which will require approval/concurrence from a certified B/I coordinator. AFC has made arrangements with Untied Telecom Council (UTC) where a reduced inter-service fee will be charged for each requested channel.

Click here to view the FCC public notice.

Visit http://www.apcointl.org/frequency/ to learn how AFC can help you.

Click here to submit an application online to AFC.