FCC denied separate petitions for reconsideration filed by Americ...

FCC denied separate petitions for reconsideration filed by American Mobile Telecommunications Assn. (AMTA) and Petroleum Communications on order that implemented new licensing system for 800 MHz specialized mobile radio (SMR) service. For upper 200 channels of band, agency replaced site-specific and frequency- specific licensing with geographic-based system. FCC granted licenses awarded through competitive bidding in upper 200 channels right to relocate incumbents to comparable spectrum elsewhere in band. Economic areas were created as licensing areas for lower band channels. AMTA had asked FCC to reconsider decision on timing of Economic Area (EA) licensee payments to incumbents who were relocated involuntarily. Group wanted EA licensees to have to make progress payments to incumbents if they requested this during relocation process. Agency had denied previous request by AMTA and PCIA, deciding payment of relocation costs shouldn’t be due until incumbent was fully relocated and frequencies were clear. “However, because we anticipate that EA licensees will bear most relocation costs directly we believe that it is equitable for the incumbent to be repaid for any remaining costs that it has incurred after relocation has occurred,” FCC said in order released Fri.