Federal Communications Commission          United States Department of State    
                                    
                                                               
                    February 28, 1997  
          JOINT PRESS RELEASE
                    
        U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


 PAGING SERVICES AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH
               MEXICO  

Yesterday, the United States and Mexico signed an agreement
delineating technical provisions for the coordination and use of
frequencies for Paging Services within 120 kilometers of the border
in the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz bands.  The agreement,
formally referred to as a "Protocol",  has been in the process of
negotiation for four years and its signing is a major step toward
establishing long term stability for paging systems operating in the
border area and it provides a reference upon which future service
developments in the border area may based.  

The Protocol was signed for the U.S. by Ambassador Vonya B.
McCann, U.S. Coordinator, International Communications and
Information Policy (CIP) of the Department of State, and FCC
Chairman Reed E. Hundt.  Signing  for Mexico was Carlos
Casasus, Chairman of the Federal Telecommunications Commission
of the Secretaria de Comunicaciones y Transportes (SCT).  The
signing took place at the Treaty Signing Room at the Department of
State in Washington, D.C.  The negotiating team included members
of the FCC's International Bureau and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, and State Department's CIP.  Upon
conclusion of the signing, a ceremony dedicated the proceedings to
the late Wendell Harris, former Associate Chief of the FCC's
International Bureau, whose efforts were instrumental in the
development and negotiation of this Protocol.  In attendance for the
commemoration were Mr. Harris's wife, Mrs Ansonia Harris, and
other members of the family.    

The Protocol identifies priority channels for the Administrations
across the full border for the 929 MHz band and within 7
longitudinal zones for the 931 MHz band.  Twelve frequencies are
designated as "shared channels", 6 each in the 929 MHz and 931
MHz bands.  The Protocol allows for -- and even encourages --
operators in both countries to form joint operating partnerships to
expand service areas and avoid transborder conflicts.  The FCC and
the Mexican SCT are to be notified of such agreements, which are
subject to review or approval, as appropriate, by the respective
agencies.    

The principal provisions of the new agreement are: 

Each Administration shall have full use of all the channels beyond
  120 kilometers (75 miles) of the border.

Stations are limited to a maximum 1000 watts E.R.P. with antenna
  height/power restrictions similar to FCC rules.
  
All U.S. operations licensed before negotiations were initiated with
  Mexico in 1993, are identified for full protection from any use
  by a Mexican operation even on those channels designated for
  Mexico's primary use.  
  
Stations on Mexican primary channels  that were licensed after
  negotiations began will be allowed to continue operations but
  may be required to modify their technical parameters if
  necessary to resolve harmful interference or, in the absence of
  other mitigating arrangements, to discontinue operation to
  protect Mexican operations.

Stations in each country will have limited access to the channels
 allotted to the other country on a secondary basis.

More specific details for each band include:

For the 929-930 MHz band:

    -  The United States and Mexico shall each have primary use
  of 17 of the 40 available channels.
    
    -  Six channels are designated for shared use.

For the 931-932 MHz band:

  -  On 34 of the 40 channels, there are seven geographic areas 
   designated along the border and priority use in each area is
   specified for an Administration.  
  
  -  The remaining 6 channels are designated for shared use.

The Protocol is augmented by a Letter of Understanding signed by
FCC Chairman Hundt and Carlos Casasus, Chairman of the Federal
Telecommunications Commission, that emphasizes the resolve of the
two agencies to collaborate on their activities to encourage paging
operators on both sides of the border to strive for joint operating
arrangements that will facilitate broader sharing of paging in the
border zone.  

The texts signed yesterday supersede the Letter of Understanding
Related to the Temporary Use of the 929-930 MHz and 931-932
MHz Bands for Paging Services Along the Common Border which
the United States and Mexico signed on December 19, 1995, in
Mexico City, Mexico.  The signing removes a number of
administrative barriers that had restricted the issuance of new
paging authorizations by the Commission during the negotiations
interval.  Allotments and priorities for frequencies and geographic
areas designated for use by each Administration as specified in the
Protocol can now be fully utilized.

The full text of the Paging Protocol has been placed on file at the
International Bureau Reference Room located on the first floor of
2000 M St. N.W.  Copies are available from International
Transcription Service at (202) 857-3800.  

For further information, contact Henry Straube in the Planning and
Negotiations Division of the International Bureau at (202) 418-2150
or Ron Netro, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-
1310.  The contact at the Department of State is: William H. Jahn,
at (202) 647-2723

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