Lawrence R. Krevor
Vice President – Spectrum
Sprint Nextel
2001 Edmund Halley Drive
Reston, VA 20191
RE: Sprint Nextel Corporation’s December 1, 2005 comments on the 800 MHz Transition Administrator’s November 10, 2005 Quarterly Report (WT Docket No. 02-55).
Dear Mr. Krevor:
On December 1, 2005, Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint Nextel) submitted a letter to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau commenting on the 800 MHz Transition Administrator’s (TA) Quarterly Report submitted to the FCC on November 10, 2005.1 In its letter, Sprint Nextel identifies what it considers to be obstacles to completing 800 MHz band reconfiguration in the specified thirty-six month time frame. It requests that the previously designated start date for 800 MHz band reconfiguration (June 27, 2005) be readjusted to sixty days after publication of the 800 MHz Memorandum Opinion and Order in the Federal Register.2
We appreciate the comments and concerns regarding the 800 MHz band reconfiguration process expressed in your letter, and will keep your observations in mind as we continue to oversee this complex endeavor. While we are sensitive to the challenges involved in the 800 MHz rebanding process, we are also mindful that a paramount goal of the Commission in this proceeding is to eliminate harmful interference to public safety systems as quickly as possible. We therefore believe the public interest would not be served by a blanket adjustment of the current 36-month rebanding schedule, and will not grant your request that we establish a new start date in lieu of the previously designated June 27, 2005 start date. We emphasize, however, that our decision does not preclude the TA or the Commission from considering individual requests by 800 MHz licensees for adjustment of their band reconfiguration schedules where good cause is shown.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
Catherine W. Seidel
Acting Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission