A group of utilities urged the FCC to reject a proposed reconfigu...

certain private wireless groups, would bar cellularized systems below 861 MHz, calling it an “arbitrary” definition. In place of technology bans, the companies recommended better-defined coordination and technical requirements to prevent interference. As an example, they said the FCC could adopt out-of-band emission limits applicable to digital systems. The utilities -- American Electric Power, Cinergy, Consumers Energy and Entergy -- also raised concerns about the “consensus plan’s” potential freeze on licensing while bands were realigned and about the public safety set-aside of “greenspace” spectrum for 5 years. They said utility radio systems need a chance to expand to meet service and coverage needs, including new offerings such as mobile data. If the Commission decides on a rebanding approach for 800 MHz, the utilities said there shouldn’t be a freeze on licensing, or it should be in place just long enough to design a channel- mapping plan for each region. Nextel, the Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials and others have backed an 800 MHz plan that would involve reconfiguring spectrum at 700, 800 and 900 MHz, including a swap that would give Nextel spectrum at 1.9 GHz in exchange for licenses it would give up elsewhere. The utilities said they backed a compromise endorsed by CTIA and others that would rely on best practices and other mitigation techniques, rather than spectrum swaps. The utilities also argued against an additional set-aside of spectrum for public safety at 800 MHz unless the eligibility included “public safety radio services” under Sec. 309(j) of the Communications Act. That would include private internal radio services used to protect life and health and not made commercially available, as well as “traditional” public safety offerings.