The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and Office of Engineering and Technology (collectively, the Bureaus) have released the agenda for the public forum on improving the co-existence of Cellular and public safety licensees in the 800 MHz band. The forum is open to the public and will be held on Monday, November 6, 2017, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the FCC or can be viewed by webcast on the FCC’s web page www.fcc.gov/live. In its March 2017 Cellular Reform Second Report and Order, the FCC revised the Cellular Service power and related technical rules to provide flexibility in deployment of advanced broadband services. The FCC also took steps to protect public safety systems from potential increased interference. At this time, the FCC directed the Bureaus to convene a forum between stakeholders to resolve concerns of potential interference. The forum agenda outlines the following sessions: (1) an overview of the 800 MHz band RF environment and re-banding progress report and a case study on public safety interference abatement; (2) a panel of 800 MHz Cellular and enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio service licensees who will discuss LTE deployment plans, testing, and deployment best practices; (3) a panel of public safety radio manufacturers and public safety licensees who will discuss the state of public safety receivers and designing public safety systems for greater tolerance of interference; and (4) a solutions roundtable discussion on methods to improve coexistence among wireless carriers and public safety operations, deployment best practices, and designing interference-resistant systems to help eliminate objectionable interference. Senior FCC leadership will summarize the lessons learned from the day’s presentations and share their views on progress going forward.
