FCC threatens to shutdown portion of Sprint Nextel’s iDEN network

Sprint just can’t seem to catch a break these days. Still without a CEO, the iDEN network operator has just come under fire from the FCC for their failure to vacate a portion of the 800Mhz frequency spectrum. Apparently, a swath of the Nextel iDEN network’s radio frequency spectrum occupies the same frequencies as public safety agencies in the US - and it’s causing interference-related problems for some 2,200 public safety agencies all over the nation.

Nextel had previously agreed to a “rebanding” project whereby the operator would vacate the slice of the frequency spectrum that’s been interfering with public safety agencies. And, when Sprint acquired the iDEN operator in 2005, the company assumed the rebanding duties promised to the government. However, after spending $1 billion on the rebanding project, Sprint has announced that the move has proved more difficult than expeected.

Well, it seems the FCC isn’t about to give up any sympathy for the CDMA and iDEN network operator. The FCC has just announced that they’ll be forcing Sprint Nextel to surrender the offending swaths of radio spectrum in markets where the Nextel iDEN network has not yet been rebanded. The deadline for the spectrum rebanding is set for June 26, 2008 and is estimated to be currently serving 20 million Nextel and Boost Mobile customers. As such, Nextel has petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals to step in and prevent the FCC from effectively shutting down the iDEN side of Sprint’s network operations.

If the FCC is all set to shut down part of Sprint Nextel’s network because they can’t get their butts into gear and vacate a particular frequency spectrum, they might want to look inward and lead by example. You see, T-Mobile has been waiting on the US government to vacate the 1700Mhz slice of radio spectrum to be re-purposed as T-Mobile’s 3G network. The sticky-slow bureaucracy tasked with moving off the 1700Mhz frequency is still sitting on the swath of frequency spectrum that T-Mobile needs to launch its 3G network - maybe the FCC should levy some fines to get their own asses in gear? Hey, FCC, give Sprint some more time to vacate the 800Mhz band -  it’s painfully evident that rebanding an entire network is no easy task, just ask…yourself.

[Via: Wireless Week]