Sprint Nextel, State of UT Sign Agreement on 800 MHz Reconfiguration

RESTON, Va. — 02/14/2006, Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) and the Utah Communications Agency Network (UCAN) announced today the completion of a planning funding agreement (PFA) for 800 MHz reconfiguration. The agreement will provide funding for public safety to achieve spectrum reconfiguration in the state of Utah, eliminating dangerous interference to their radios at 800 MHz. The agreement anticipates a full frequency relocation agreement (FRA) to be signed by June 30, 2006.

UCAN’s radio system operating in the 800 MHz frequency band serves 115 public safety agencies across the state of Utah, covering 12 counties and 85 percent of the population of more than 2.4 million people in Utah. This territory spans an impressive 28,000 square miles across the Beehive State. UCAN currently has 37 active licenses at 800 MHz, covering 227 channels, of which 213 are NPSPAC channels.

Commenting on the agreement, Sandy Edwards, vice president, spectrum for Sprint Nextel said, “Utah serves as an example of how an appropriate planning funding agreement can be reached in a complicated spectrum environment. The size of this system and the number of users, combined with the diverse geography of Utah and costs associated with reconfiguration set a good example of how the Transition Administrator’s (TA) template for planning funding can be used to its fullest potential in all of the different venues where public safety must operate.”

Steve Proctor, executive director of UCAN stated, “Our negotiations with Sprint Nextel have resulted in a fair deal for public safety in Utah. While this will be a challenging process, we look forward to working with Sprint Nextel to complete reconfiguration, making potential interference to public safety radios at 800 MHz a thing of the past.”

The UCAN planning funding agreement incorporates all the key components of the TA’s template for planning funding. Planning funding guidelines can be reviewed at http://www.800ta.org/content/documents/rfpf_forms.asp.

During the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, the UCAN system supported 15,600 users processing 8.5 million radio calls in 17 days (approximately 500,000 per 24 hours). The current normal traffic loading is averaging 15,000 users processing 230,000 radio calls per 24 hours. This complex public safety radio communications network, redesigned for the last Olympic Games, is part of wave 1 of the 800 MHz TA’s regional prioritization plan.

“We believe that our agreement with Utah, under the leadership of Steve Proctor, demonstrates how public safety, Sprint Nextel and vendors can come together to produce a planning funding agreement. Sprint Nextel will continue collaborating with UCAN until reconfiguration of the 800 MHz bands in Utah is complete,” added Edwards.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business and government customers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com/mr.

About UCAN
The Utah Communications Agency Network (UCAN) operates a regional trunked 800 MHz radio system within the state of Utah. The system provides public safety communications services to better than one third of the geographical area of the state and 85% of the population of 2.389 million people. Connected to the system are 115 public safety agencies that provide police, fire, EMS, corrections, transportation and other governmental services. The system’s critical test came during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, supporting public safety and events management of the venues. The system is a national model of cooperation between public safety agencies, providing interoperability and emergency communications. For more information, visit www.ucan800.org.

Contact Information

,

Media Contact

Sprint Nextel

Contact via E-mail