FCC 800 MHz Mediation

The FCC has ruled on whether Sprint should pay for third-party software to track the city of Boston’s trunked radio network in the midst of the FCC-mandated re-tuning project. The city wanted Sprint to pay $159,825 for MCM Technology LLC (MCM) for management and tracking of mobile and portable radios involved in the reconfiguration process. But Sprint says the cost and features are unnecessary and excessive, and beyond what is needed to reband the police department’s 3-site, 14-channel system that handles 419 mobile units, and the city’s transportation radio system. The FCC ruled that the city had not met its burden of proof that the software, “is operationally necessary in order for Boston to perform project management tasks associated with rebanding.” Download (pdf) the FCC’s decision here.