To

Mayor and Council

Subject

Frequency Reconfiguration Agreements

Initiator

Engineering Department

Recommendation

Approval is requested to execute Frequency Reconfiguration Agreements with \n \n Sprint Nextel for the purpose of swapping 800 Megahertz frequencies as mandated \n \n by Federal Communication Commission.

Approval

Approved

Background

The City has three 800 Megahertz (MHz) radio licenses with Call Signs of

WNSK575, WPBD367 AND WPPU479 that are part of a national frequency

re-banding/reconfiguration plan. In simple terms, most local governments have

800 MHz radio licenses that are categorized as Public Safety frequencies. Over

the last 10 to 15 years, the FCC has issued radio licenses to private companies

such as Sprint Nextel to operate cellular telephone systems which has caused

interference to our Public Safety radio systems.



To remedy this problem, the FCC is requiring in our area Sprint Nextel to swap

frequencies with our licenses to eliminate this problem. The expenses of this

frequency swapping and reprogramming of radio systems and individual radios are

accomplished at Sprint Nextel's expense and not the City's. Each licensee has

to submit a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement to the 800 MHz Transition

Administrator (an agent for the FCC) for final approval.

Analysis

The Traffic Engineering Division manages all of the City's Radio Communication

Systems and Federal Communication Commission (FCC) licenses. We have worked

out an agreement with Sprint Nextel with the City Attorney's office assistance

and approval for WNSK575 that ready for execution. Both the City and Sprint

Nextel has a deadline of August 14, 2006 to have this agreement executed to 800

MHz Transition Administrator. These agreements are being process thru a

Mediation process which has very stringent deadlines. Two other Agreements

will follow based on the FCC timeline for our other two Call Signs.

Financial Considerations

There will not be any expenses incurred by the City.

Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement

Legal Considerations

A resolution is required authorizing the City Manager to execute the Frequency

Reconfiguration Agreements.

Recommendations/ Actions

Approve the execution of the Frequency Reconfiguration Agreements.

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