• Acting on WT Docket 96-86, in 1998 the FCC adopted service rules for the 24 megahertz of spectrum in the 764-776/794-806 MHz frequency bands (collectively, the 700 MHz band). At the direction of Congress, this spectrum was reallocated from television broadcast services to public safety communications services. It will be available as soon as existing TV stations vacate the spectrum, which is targeted for no later than December 31, 2006. (link)
• Advising the FCC on this matter is the Public Safety National Coordinating Committee (NCC), a FCC-chartered Federal Advisory Committee. Based on the NCC's recommendations, in January 2001 the FCC adopted technical and operational standards for use of the narrow band portion of this spectrum.
• The FCC divided the 24 MHz spectrum pool into sub-pools including State License, Interoperability, General Use (designated for local, regional and state users), and adopted the Regional Planning process to manage the General Use pool.
• The RPCs are allowed maximum flexibility to meet state and local needs, encourage innovative use of the spectrum, and accommodate new and as yet unanticipated developments in technology equipment, and are responsible for creating and managing regional spectrum utilization plans.
• The Region 6 RPC is creating a new planning committee to deal with the 700 MHz issue. This page is to keep the community informed of the progress of the 700 MHz Committee and its working groups.

11/19/2009

The first frequency coordination was held in Roseville, CA after the monthly NAPCO meeting. Five applications were accepted for coordination. The applications in order of submission are;

1) Golden Gate Bridge and Transit District
2) Alameda County
3) City and County of San Francisco
4) San Mateo County
5) East Bay Regional Communications System Authority

If your juristiction wishes to be considered for frequencies prepare an application package using the 700 MHz plan as a guide. Submit the package at the next coordination meeting. The announcement of the next coordination meeting will be published on the napco.org web page..

The next filing opening will be in February of 2010.

10/22/2009

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau approves Region 6 (Northern California) 700 MHz Regional Plan.

DA/FCC: DA 09-2276
Docket(s): 02-378
Release Date:  10/22/2009

The link(s) for the document are as follows:

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2276A1.pdf

6/28/2009
On June 28, the Region 6 Chair for the 700Mhz RPC, Randy Hagar, submitted the revised 700Mhz Plan to the FCC. The Plan was approved by the full RPC membership during its June 16, 2009 meeting.
Revised 700 MHz Plan

05/28/2009
Customer friendly list of the 700 MHz frequency allotments in SpreadSheet format. Click Here

02/01/09
This document is provided for your information as to the current and transition DTV channels.  Note: licensed low-power television stations will remain analog and on the air.  TV translator stations are secondary to public safety and are also not shown in the list below. Click Here

01/05/08
Final Region 6 700 MHz Plan Available Click Here

08/21/08
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) and Order, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed prohibiting low power auxiliary stations, including wireless microphones, to operate in the 700 MHz Band after the end of the digital television (DTV) transition on February 17, 2009. The Notice also proposes that the FCC prohibit the manufacture, import, sale, or shipment of devices that operate as low power auxiliary stations in the 700 MHz Band after the end of the DTV transition. These actions would ensure that low power auxiliary operations do not cause harmful interference to new
public safety and commercial wireless services in the band.

Full Text of NPRM WT (Docket No. 08-166 and WT Docket No. 08-167)

03/21/2008
FCC DELINKS 700 MHz UPPER D BLOCK FROM OTHER BLOCKS;

FCC Order
FCC News Release
Adelstein Statement
Copps Statement