[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 60 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16392-16393]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7597]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 00-109]


United States and Canada Reach Agreement Regarding Use of the 
220--222 MHz Band Along Their Border

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document announces that the Federal Communications 
Commission, the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, and Industry Canada have signed an interim sharing 
Arrangement regarding use of the 220-222 MHz band along the United 
States -Canada Border. Now that the

[[Page 16393]]

Arrangement has been agreed upon, any non-nationwide Phase I 220 MHz 
licensee with a base station authorized at a location North of Line A 
must construct its base station and place it in operation, or commence 
service, on all authorized channels by January 21, 2001. The 
authorization of a licensee that does not construct its base station 
and place it into operation, or commence service, by January 21, 2001, 
cancels automatically on that date and must be returned to the 
Commission. United States licensees along the border whose construction 
deadlines had previously been delayed pending completion of this 
Arrangement between the United States and Canada are now required to 
complete construction and commence operation by January 21, 2001.

DATES: Effective January 21, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Abeyta, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-1538; Henry Straube, 
International Bureau, at (202) 418-2144.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Public Notice, reproduced without 
footnotes, was released January 21, 2000. It is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center, 445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Washington D.C. The 
complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 
International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., 
Washington D.C. 20036 (202) 857-3800. The complete document is also 
available via the internet at http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/
Public--Notices/2000/index2.html.

Interim Sharing Agreement Reached Regarding Use of 220-222 MHz Band 
with Canada

    The Federal Communications Commission, the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, and Industry Canada 
have signed an interim sharing Arrangement regarding use of the 220-222 
MHz band along the U.S.-Canada border. The Arrangement will resolve 
long-standing uncertainty regarding use of this band in the border 
area. In addition, by significantly reducing the amount of cross-border 
coordination required, the Arrangement will allow quick implementation 
of new services expected to be offered in the band. U.S. licensees 
along the border whose construction deadlines had previously been 
delayed pending completion of a U.S.-Canada agreement will now be 
required to complete construction and commence operation by January 21, 
2001.
    The Arrangement governs operations in the 220-222 MHz band within 
120 kilometers of the U.S.-Canada border. The Arrangement identifies 
200 channel pairs within this band and allots each channel pair for 
primary use by the United States or Canada, or for shared use. 
Frequencies allotted for primary use by one country may also be used on 
a secondary basis by the other country provided certain conditions are 
met. The Arrangement also provides antenna height and power 
restrictions, and there are special sharing arrangements for certain 
geographic areas and for low power stations. In addition, the 
Arrangement provides that, to the extent possible, certain specified 
channels will be available for implementation of Intelligent 
Transportation Systems/Intelligent Vehicle Highway System and Public 
Safety and Mutual Aid services. Beyond 120 kilometers from the border, 
both countries have full and unrestricted use of all channels in the 
band.
    In commenting on the Arrangement, International Bureau Chief Donald 
Abelson stated, ``This Arrangement builds on the strong cooperative 
relationship between the U.S. and Canada and encourages prompt 
provision of new services to the citizens on both sides of the border 
while protecting licensees and consumers from cross-border 
interference.'' This Arrangement was reached as part of an on-going 
Commission effort to negotiate sharing agreements with Canada and 
Mexico that will promote efficient spectrum use in border areas.
    In 1995, the Commission extended the construction deadline for non-
nationwide Phase I 220 MHz licenses that were located north of Line A, 
near the Canadian border, due to the uncertainties surrounding the 
future of these licenses prior to reaching an agreement with Canada. 
The construction period was extended until twelve months after an 
agreement was reached between the United States and Canada on sharing 
the 220-222 MHz band. Now that the Arrangement has been realized, any 
non-nationwide Phase I 220 MHz licensee with a base station authorized 
at a location north of Line A must construct its base station and place 
it into operation, or commence service, on all authorized channels by 
January 21, 2001. The authorization of a licensee that does not 
construct its base station and place it into operation, or commence 
service, by January 21, 2001, cancels automatically on that date and 
must be returned to the Commission.
    The full text of the Arrangement has been placed on file at the 
International Bureau Reference Room CY-A257, located on the Courtyard 
level of 445 12th St. S.W., Washington, D.C. Copies are also available 
from the International Transcription Service at (202) 857-3800 and can 
be downloaded from the FCC's International Bureau internet site at 
http://www.fcc.gov/ib/pnd/agree.

Federal Communications Commission.
James D. Schlichting,
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 00-7597 Filed 3-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-U