Frequently Asked Questions

Answers:

1. What is 800MHz rebanding? 800 MHz rebanding is a FCC mandated process by which Public Safety land mobile radio frequencies (NPSPAC channels) are being relocated within the 800 MHz spectrum. The reason for the relocation is to alleviate interference issues on Public Safety networks. However, before the Public Safety Agencies can be relocated, additional space in the 800 MHz spectrum must first be cleared. Please refer to www.800ta.org for additional information on rebanding of the 800MHz band.

A portion of the State of Illinois 800 MHz Rebanding effort, which involves the planning, negotiation, and reconfiguration of the STARCOM21 Network, is being managed by the State of Illinois Central Management Services in conjunction with the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS). ILEAS has been contracted by the State to oversee and manage the rebanding of the ITTF STARCOM21 subscribers in cooperation with Motorola and Sprint Nextel. This part of the rebanding process is scheduled to take place over a 4 month period spanning the timeframe of August to December 2008.    [return to top]

2. Does Rebanding affect my ITTF radios? Rebanding only affects you if you operate on the STARCOM21 system that includes all NPSPAC 800MHz frequencies. If you have not been contacted and are affected by this rebanding project please contact ILEAS. If you have received a StarCom21 radio from MABAS, IESMA, ILEAS, or any other committee of the Terrorism Task Force, this applies to you. If you have received notice from ILEAS, please use the scheduling tool to schedule to have your equipment reprogrammed. Following the FCC Report and Order is mandatory for all affected subscribers so active involvement in the Rebanding process will facilitate completion of your system modifications in the timeframe designated by the FCC.   [return to top]

3. What changes do you have to make? There are several changes that may be required on your STARCOM21 radio equipment. These changes can include rebanding and/or reprogramming. Again, please refer to this website, or check with ILEAS at www.ileas.org or, by telephone at 217/328-3800 for details regarding rebanding requirements.    [return to top]

4. How long do you have to make the changes? The actual time that you have to make changes depends on a variety of items, but in principal it depends upon your geographic location. ILEAS is working with Motorola Service Shops statewide to complete the rebanding. The Implementation Wave will begin in southern Illinois and roll north. This process will start on or about August 11, 2008. The time allocation is approximately four months from start to finish.    [return to top]

5. How can you get started? You can get started by visiting the schedule tool to schedule your department for rebanding. ILEAS will coordinate with all Motorola Service Shops to ensure impact is minimal as far as time and travel are concerned. Additionally, you can contact ILEAS directly via www.ileas.org.    [return to top]

6. What is involved in making these frequency switches? In most cases it can be accomplished through “re-tuning” of existing radios, usually by connecting each radio to a laptop and keying in the frequency change. Depending upon the configuration of the radio system, some radios may need to be re-tuned twice to ensure a seamless transition. Certain other system changes may also be needed in some cases. Software re-programming will be needed for some ITTF provided StarCom 21 radios.    [return to top]

7. What specific radios need rebanded? Any StarCom21 radio needs rebanding. This includes the following models:

XTL5000 – Mobiles
XTL5000 – Control Stations
XTS1500 – Portables
XTS5000 – Portables
XTL5000 – Consolette
KVL3000 – Key Loader

8. Do you need buy new radios, and if so who pays for that? Subscribers will not need to replace grant funded radios. Only National Public Safety Advisory Committee (NPSAC) 800MHz frequencies will require rebanding. This includes all ITTF provided STARCOM 21 radio equipment. For further information please refer to www.800ta.org.    [return to top]

9. What if you choose not to participate? Since the radio equipment was provided with grant funds, any subscriber who has ITTF provided radios and elects not to participate; those radios will be collected from you and reassigned.    [return to top]

10. Who will do this rebanding? Subscriber’s will have the rebanding done by Motorola at designated Motorola Service Shops in as close proximity as possible. The costs will be paid from the Nextel funds, directly to ILEAS who will then pay the subscriber a flat rate fee per radio rebanded for their inconvenience. A reimbursement schedule will be posted on this website.    [return to top]

11. Who administers the re-banding process? The State of Illinois, Central Management Services has contracted ILEAS to administer this project.   [return to top]

12. What is the role of ILEAS? ILEAS will establish a re-banding schedule for each of the three Motorola Zones (3-South, 2-Central and 1-North). ILEAS will provide project oversight and administrative support, management, accounting, field asset and special projects staff.    [return to top]

13. What is the timing of this process? Departments in Zone 3 (Southern Illinois) will begin the rebanding process on or about August 11, 2008. Rebanding will be completed in Zone 3 in approximately thirty days and progress into Zone 2 (Central Illinois). Zone 2 will require approximately 45 days to be completed. Zone 1 (Northern Illinois) will be the final area to be rebanded with an estimated time of completion to be sixty days. It is the intent of ILEAS to complete all three zones no later than December 31, 2008.    [return to top]

14. How will Nextel pay for the costs of re-tuning? Each rebanded subscriber will be logged and approved by ILEAS which will in turn allow the State to acknowledge the completion of the work to Nextel. This authorizes Nextel to make payments directly to ILEAS who will then reimburse each subscriber as specified in the negotiated agreement between the State and Nextel. The subscriber will be paid a flat fee per radio rebanded for their inconvenience.    [return to top]

15. Do subscribers need to pay for the rebanding and then get reimbursed? No. The rebanding agreement between the State and Nextel specifies that all compensable rebanding costs are to be paid directly to rebanded subscribers from Nextel funds.    [return to top]

16. Can agencies in the midst of implementing a new 800 MHz system obtain extensions of their construction deadline so radios can be deployed with the new channels? Yes. The FCC indicates in the order that it will entertain requests to extend construction deadlines for licensees that have commenced some aspect of system construction but cannot proceed until new channels are specified.    [return to top]

17. Will there be a “freeze” on new applications? Not yet. However, there will be a freeze on new applications in each Illinois Motorola Zone during the period from the Public Notice of the initiation of voluntary negations in that region until 30 days after the end of the mandatory negotiation period for that region. The freeze does not apply to applications for modifications that do not extend the coverage area of existing systems. Waivers of the freeze will also be entertained. Please use the link www.800ta.org for additional information. The deadline is June 26, 2008 for all waivers.    [return to top]

18. What about interference that occurs before, during or even after the re-tuning process? The FCC adopted “Enhanced Best Practices” which contain stringent new rules to require those causing interference in the 800 MHz band to correct such interference.    [return to top]

19. Will there be any additional 800 MHz spectrum available as part of the rebanding? Yes, one of the significant benefits of the FCC’s order is that approximately 4.5 MHz of additional 800 MHz band spectrum will become available for new and expanded public safety operations once Nextel vacates all channels below 817/862 MHz and certain other frequency changes are completed.   [return to top]

20. When will the new channels become available, and does public safety get priority? Eligibility for the new channels, followed by two years when eligibility will be shared with “critical infrastructure industry” (CII) subscribers. Thereafter, all Part 90 non-cellular entities will be eligible. Clarification and/or modification of the FCC’s order may be necessary to ensure that public safety get the full benefit of the three-year and two-year periods.   [return to top]

21. What does the 1.9 GHz band have to do with all of this? In exchange for Nextel agreeing to reduce its spectrum holdings in the 800 MHz band, giving up spectrum in the 700 MHz guard band, and paying for all of the transition costs, the FCC has assigned new spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band to Nextel. However, to the extent that the value of the spectrum that Nextel gives up and the cost of re-banding is less than the value of the 1.9 GHz band ($4.85 billion), Nextel must pay the balance into the U.S. Treasury.   [return to top]

22. Can you get any STARCOM 21 radio rebanded, or only those provided by the ITTF? Only affected radios provided with ITTF grant funds are being managed by ILEAS for this rebanding project.   [return to top]