City of Columbus - File #: 0808-2011

• File #: 0808-2011
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 5/19/2011
• In control: Public Safety & Judiciary Committee
• On agenda: 6/6/2011
• Final action: 6/8/2011
• Title: To authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement and accept a grant from the Nextel Communications Company for the frequency reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band, governed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC); to authorize the appropriation of $841,561.38 within the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($841,561.38)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/8/2011	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
6/7/2011	1	MAYOR	Signed
6/6/2011	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
6/6/2011	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
5/25/2011	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
5/25/2011	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/25/2011	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
5/25/2011	1	Safety Reviewer	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
5/24/2011	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/24/2011	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/23/2011	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/23/2011	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/23/2011	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/23/2011	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
5/20/2011	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
5/20/2011	1	SAFETY DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
5/19/2011	1	Safety Drafter	Sent for Approval

Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus holds a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) radio license in the 800 MHz frequency band for public safety communications. Pursuant to Order of the Federal Communications Commission Docket No. 02-55 (800 MHz Report and Order), all public safety systems operating in the 800 MHz band, including the City of Columbus and users of its radio system (approximately 120 outside agencies), must move from their current 800 MHz frequency spectrum to a new dedicated spectrum allocated for public safety users only. This move will eliminate interference currently being caused by Nextel and other commercial wireless systems sharing the same frequency band. This nation-wide project is referred to as the 800 MHz rebanding process.

The FCC further has ordered Nextel to pay all the funding relocation costs for affected licensees. Pursuant to the FCC order, Nextel has estimated that the City's cost to transition to the replacement frequencies will be approximately $841,561.38.

This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into agreement with Nextel and accept $841,561.38 from the company to be expensed against the cost of rebanding, and authorizes the City Auditor to appropriate said funds within Public Safety's Grant funds.

Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to meet rebanding deadlines and make the funds available immediately for reimbursement purposes.

FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the Safety Director to enter into agreement with Nextel and accept $841,561.38 from the company as an estimate of the cost of rebanding. Actual costs over the estimates will be reimbursed by Nextel. Remaining funds after rebanding is completed will be disbursed back to Nextel. Nextel gave the City $49,152.60 during the planning stage of rebanding in 2009.


Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement and accept a gran...