FCC Seeks Comment on M2M Specturm Networks Petition for Rulemaking to Allow Specialized Mobile Radio Services Over 900 MHz Business/Industrial Land Transportation Frequencies

On June 26, 2015, M2M Spectrum Networks, LLC (M2M) filed a Petition for Rulemaking requesting that the Federal Communications Commission open a rulemaking proceeding to allow use of 896-901/935-940 MHz (900 MHz) Business/Industrial/Land Transportation (B/ILT) channels to provide for-profit service to B/ILT eligibles. By this Public Notice, the FCC seeks comment on the Petition for Rulemaking. M2M proposes that Section 90.617(c) be amended to permit SMR systems of 900 MHz B/ILT channels provided that the end-users are B/ILT-eligible.

Commenters that support permitting for-profit service to third-party B/ILT eligibles on 900 MHz B/ILT channels should discuss whether the proposed rule amendment is the best approach, or whether other or additional rules changes should be made, such as redesignating the 900 MHz B/ILT channels as General Category channels. More generally, commenters should address whether use of 900 MHz channels to provide for-profit service to B/ILT elgibles is desirable, the effect that such a rule change would have on the availability of 900 MHz B/ILT spectrum for traditional B//ILT users, and the extent to which such for-profit operations already may exist despite the prohibition in Section 90.617(c). Finally, commenters are asked to address whether the M2M proposal is compatible with the petition for rulemaking filed November 14, 2014 by the Enterpirse Wireless Alliance and Pacific DataVision, Inc., proposing that the 900 MHz band be divided into a 3/3 MHz broadband segment (898-901/937-40 MHz) and a 2/2 MHz narrowband segment (896-98/935-37 MHz).