The FCC and Mexican telecom authorities are reporting progress from a Feb. 4-5 spectrum coordination meeting between the two countries, including on 800 megahertz rebanding along the border. In a blog posting, Mindel De La Torre, chief of the FCC’s International Bureau, said the meeting, which was hosted by the FCC and included officials from the Mexican communications regulator, the Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT), and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (SCT), was productive. “The results of this meeting represent another significant milestone in the cooperation between the United States and Mexico on spectrum coordination issues,” she said. “We were able to advance spectrum policy goals related to the upcoming Incentive Auction, train safety, and emergency communications along our common border.”

Among the outcomes of the meeting, she said, were (1) “[r]eaffirmation of our shared commitment to follow agreed common guidelines for repacking TV stations that will clear 600 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband use in both countries,” (2) “[c]ommitment to complete work on an agreement that will facilitate implementation of Positive Train Control technology (PTC) in the border area,” (3) “[a]greement on a roadmap to facilitate rebanding the 800 MHz band along the common border to reduce interference to U.S. public safety licensees,” and (4) “[d]evelopment of work plans to address coordination in several other frequency bands, including the 400 MHz, 700 MHz, 2500-2686 MHz, 3.4 -3.7 GHz, 5.9 GHz, and the PCS and AWS bands.” Mexican authorities released a statement also hailing the progress made at the meeting, which they said also included discussions of mobile phone theft and roaming.- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com
Courtesy TRDaily