FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media Contact: November 20, 2000 Rosemary Kimball: 202-418-0500 E-mail: rkimball@fcc.gov FCC TAKES STEPS TO ALLOCATE ADDITIONAL SPECTRUM FOR NEW WIRELESS SERVICES (ET Docket No. 00-221) Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) that proposes to reallocate 27 megahertz of spectrum transferred from Federal Government use for non-Government services. The Notice proposes reallocation of a number of small spectrum blocks transferred pursuant to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. These actions and proposals will benefit consumers by permitting and encouraging the introduction of new wireless technologies. Specifically, the FCC proposes to allocate 27 megahertz of spectrum from the 216-220 MHz, 1390- 1395 MHz, 1427-1429 MHz, 1429-1432 MHz, 1432-1435 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz, and 2385-2390 MHz bands transferred from Government to non-Government use. The transfer of these bands to non-Government use should enable the development of new technologies and services, provide additional spectrum relief for congested private land mobile frequencies, and fulfill the FCC’s obligation as mandated by Congress to assign this spectrum for non-Government use. The Notice also requests comment on procedures for the reimbursement of relocation costs incurred by incumbent Federal Government users as mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act of 1999. As with all matters involving spectrum allocated to government use, this proceeding has been the subject to coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. This proceeding continues the implementation of the FCC’s recent Spectrum Policy Statement, which, among other things, identified a preliminary allocation plan for this spectrum, and articulated a number of goals for efficient spectrum management. The Commission has received several suggestions for use of this spectrum including: (1) pairing some of the bands and assigning licenses to band managers through competitive bidding, while proposing traditional site-licensed approaches in other bands for use by industrial and public safety operations; (2) using of a portion of this spectrum for satellite feeder links; (3) using a portion of this spectrum for utility telemetry to support automated meter reading; and (4) requests have also been made for using a portion of this spectrum for personal location services. This Notice examines these recommendations and identifies several other options for making use of these bands to provide valuable services to the public. Action by the Commission on November 1, 2000 by Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 00-395). Chairman Kennard and Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth issuing separate statements; and Commissioners Ness and Tristani issuing a joint statement. Staff Contact: Tom Mooring at (202) 418-2450, e-mail: tmooring@fcc.gov News media Information 202 / 418-0500 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).