800 MHz Decision Goes Nextel's Way

Rich, I never called you or anyone on this board a "scam planner" but if the shoe fits, well don't let me ruin your joy.

There is no "quick and easy way" to snap your fingers and solve this, other than the FCC enforcing it's rules on Nextel as they do every other private wireless users, and that is: cease and desist or we take you off the air. Funny how ol Mr. Powell has no problemo going after Joe Schmo's analog SMR when some taxi cab company with a 25 year old Micor complains of interference, but yet Nextel can put out 40dBM sideband noise and make a brand new 5000 dollar public safety portable like an XTS5000 or Ma-Com Jaguar a paperweight and the FCC doesn't lift a finger. Could it be that maybe it is because your local SMR doesn't have the BIG BUCKS and SWEEET DEALS for FCC folks that they turn a blind eye to it all?

Well guess what Rich. Nextel is screwed. The noise they have been making both on and off the air is too loud and can no longer be ignored. Their shady deals and scams have caught up with them, and like other corporate criminal enterprises (Enron, Wordlcomm, etc) they will fall because they are their own worst enemy. Their greed is what will kill them. And too bad. Had McCaw and friends stayed in the ESMR business and done it the RIGHT way by bidding on PCS block, they could be spending all those magical billions they have stashed away on building a true 3G network and not "paying to relocate" all of us.


The word is out, there are many of us radio system managers who are getting together to let congress know that we all aren't stupid nor are we buying more of Nextel's lies.

After all, I ask this:

Did not Nextel outright DENY they even caused interference to public safety?

Why should we believe a word they say? All their so-called "experts" have been bought and paid for so they cannot be relied upon either. What is amazing is the technical aspects of the Scam Plan were drawn up by people with zero experience in iDEN networks, that is akin to someone with no aviation experience designing safety systems for commercial aircraft. Not a good idea.

Those of us who are neutral and not in the commercial wireless industry all agree this is yet another Nextel scam to get something for nothing.

We know what is going on. And soon everyone will. As said in "Catch Me if You Can"...

"The house always wins."

Only a matter of time...

 

Does anyone know exactly which statutes and regulations were not enforced in this complex deal? I have no background on this issue, but everyone here seems to have agreed that the deal was somehow illegal. Maybe your experience helps you come to this conclusion and that is why no reason has been clearly articulated (at least that I have noticed).

I'm sure this paying-off-public-officials conspiracy theory isn't embraced by everyone here. My question is if this deal was all about the payoff, why didn't the company with the deepest pockets win? Also, with these officials having non-political posts, how are these deals exclusive to a particular political party?

 

I am going to try and answer part of your question. Assuming I understand it correctly, so forgive me if I misunderstood. The idea of this deal being wrong or illegal is basically about the FCC not living up and not playing by their own rules. When spectrum is available the FCC rule is to auction it off to the highest bidder. The FCC completely bypassed that rule. Another fault at the FCC is that they allowed Nextel to move into the same spectrum as ER systems. Obviously that is breaking their own rules. As for Nextel they are being crybabies about this. I have included a copy of my earlier posting in the hopes it helps you understand what is going on or what we meant. Anyway, it could've been about being a big payoff, in business life, what isn't. It's usually all about profit. In this case, it may be in some of the minds in the companies involved. Since Verizon has the big pockets in this situation and didn't win the first round, I don't think payoff is the real issue. I also don't think that this whole ordeal is tied to any one particular politcal party.


Below here is my earlier post going over what is going on. Again, I hope I understood your questions correctly, sorry if I didn't.


Its not about being politically correct at all. It's all about making the FCC play by their own rules. I am sorry to burst the bubble. There is ways to solve the problems with interference and giving everyone a chance at the spectrum. I mentioned it before. If Nextel looses the bid for the spectrum. Oh well. that's life and business. They could go into other spectrum such as the 2.1 I believe it was. Granted it is not as good. It doesn't really matter because Nextel's coverage is for the birds anyway. There is no way anyone can convince me that shafting Verizon and the rest of the wireless industry while giving Nextel their version of gold for a cheap price is the best and quickest way. There are obviously other ways. Nextel only wants it this particular way because they are getting an easy way out the problem they caused with the FCC giving them gifts on the way out. It's not political correctness, its just stating the obvious facts and pointing out that the FCC is playing dirty.

 

I am somewhat familiar with the auction and bidding process, but what I'm really looking for is an actual statute or administrative rule that compels that process. I'm looking for an exception to that rule or discretion given to the FCC to overrule standard protocol. I'll do a Google search and see if I find anything. I'm just questioning whether there is more than one set of rules that the FCC must follow.

 

Well, since someone else mentioned that this is a country of laws, then it wasn't me the first one talking about being politically correct.

But anyway, moving on, I think what Fathead suggested would be what I want and what everyone in this thread wants as well, not to mention that would be great news for PS. What could be better than seeing the FCC pulling the plug on Nextel forcing them to shut down their dirty network? I'd be the first one to be happy about that. However, we have to be realistic. The fact of the matter is that there are only two plans on the table which means there are ONLY two possible solutions right now. Even though our ideas about the FCC playing by their own rules sounds the best plan, the truth is that is only a topic being discussed in this thread and not something the FCC or anyone else is considering bringing to reality. We have to focus on reality and stop fantasizing about what we agree would be the best solution. HOWEVER, out of the two solutions on the table which are 1) Giving Nextel 1900Mhz and having them move from 800Mhz in 3 years, or 2) Playing Verizon's rules and take this to court and spend an eternity in legal battles, I think the best solution is to just give Nextel 1900Mhz so this drama is finally over for PS. I am sure if we have it done Verizon's way, the problem will last much longer because the FCC is not going to pull the plug on Nextel, even though that's what they deserve and that's how the rules are. We live in a country of laws, YES!, but does everyone respect them? Again, let's be realistic. No matter how much we yank about it in these forums, the FCC is not going to play by the rules, so that means we are only limited to two options and I agree the one they chose is the best of the two.

 

I wonder how the numerous police departments that issue Nextel devices to their officers would feel about that. A bit of irony perhaps....

 

We can be "realistic" however, that basically means, giving into Nextel and the FCC. Thats like saying to Nextel you're messing up and that's okay we're going to let you get away with it. The problem is with being "realistic" is that we let Nextel and the FCC get away with this crap and bash Verizon for sticking up for what is right. That in itself isn't right. Just pulling the plugs on Nextel would be really cool. I admit that too. I do realize however, that it won't happen. That does NOT mean Nextel and the FCC should get away with their mistakes. I applaud Verizon for sticking up and fighting for what's right. Again, people are making Verizon out to be the bad guy in all this when their are obvious solutions to solve the problem and give everyone what they want. If people get upset because of Verizon's legal battles that they will present to stop this deal, those people need to get upset and go after the FCC and Nextel, because they ARE THE CAUSE of this entire situation in the first place. I applaud Verizon for their efforts.

 

I think that would be an hilarious irony.