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FAQs
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Subscriber Equipment Deployment
Will Subscriber Equipment Deployment (SED) require me to have two (2) FRAs?
No. SED negotiations result in the signing and execution of your Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA) with standard FRA terms and conditions. However, the costs will specifically cover only the subscriber equipment deployment. All additional costs associated with reconfiguration of your infrastructure will be included in an amendment to the FRA once those are agreed to by you and Sprint Nextel.
If I have completed planning and am ready to provide a cost estimate and plan for reconfiguring my entire system, including subscriber units and infrastructure, am I required to negotiate a SED and then separately negotiate my infrastructure reconfiguration at a subsequent time?
No. However, if you feel you would benefit from the SED program and it would speed your reconfiguration then SED is an option for you. If you have completed your planning and are ready to provide a cost estimate and negotiate an FRA that covers all aspects of your reconfiguration, that can be done in a single negotiation. The FRA should include terms that call for early deployment of all subscriber equipment if appropriate and early completion of any other tasks that can be done ahead of infrastructure reconfiguration.
Will SED cause delays in my negotiation periods and ultimately my reconfiguration schedule?
SED is intended to speed reconfiguration of subscriber equipment prior to completing all negotiations. As such, negotiation periods will be maximized since licensees and vendors will be able to start implementation activities earlier and spread the work over a longer period of time. Also, if you identify any tasks or vehicle types that might cause a delay in completing the FRA for SED, the parties may consider deferring those items to the infrastructure negotiations.
When do I negotiate the terms and conditions of my FRA?
If you choose to participate in the SED initiative, then during negotiations for SED. One of the benefits of SED is the parties can agree on standard FRA terms and conditions not related to tasks and costs up front and get approvals one time for the FRA. Historically, negotiations over terms and conditions have not been a significant point of contention.
Can I participate in SED if I am still in the planning phase and do not have a PFA?
Yes. If your planning is far enough along to determine the subscriber equipment and associated costs, then it will likely make sense to participate.
Do I need to complete any other documentation as part of my SED request? The Subscriber Equipment Deployment Request Form does not include such items as travel costs. In what document do I account for those costs?
Any costs associated with tasks that are required for SED but not included on the Form may be added to your Schedule C. Any costs not required or known for SED should be added to the later amendment to the FRA when infrastructure reconfiguration is negotiated.
I have specialty vehicles not listed on the request form. Can these units be included?
You can add specialty vehicles (such as motor graders and boats, among others) to the form by inserting the costs in the special vehicle section (item 1d). Insert additional lines for each vehicle type. List the vehicle type and include a brief description of the installation type, LOE, labor rate, and total cost.
Item 1 lists tasks to be included for front or remote mount replacements, but I need to do some additional small tasks such as engraving an asset tag number on the unit or tracking the vehicle in a data base. What should I do?
The suggested LOE for item 1a includes time for such details. Include your time for those small tasks in that LOE number. If your LOE exceeds the LOE number that is presumed to be reasonable, then you should include an explanation justifying the additional time.
The tasks for the templates only refer to modifying existing templates. My old radios used a DOS-based template and I need to create a new template using new Windows-based software. How do I show that?
The template modification task is intended to include the time to create a new Windows template with other templates or derivatives of a master template. Although you are creating a new template in Windows, it is considered a modification of the old DOS template. Include all templates in the modify templates task.
Are the LOE numbers provided by the TA in the SED Request Form absolutes for all tasks? Will the TA accept numbers that may be above or below the numbers provided?
The TA recognizes that each system is unique, and in some cases the suggested LOE number may not
be suitable for some tasks. The standards suggested may be lower or higher than what is actually
required by the licensee for a particular vehicle or other situation.
Each licensee should request only the minimum hours required to complete a task based on their network. If this time is less than the suggested stated LOE, further justification is not required. For the tasks listed on the form for which your LOE exceeds the suggested standard LOE presumed reasonable and more time is required for a task, the licensee must justify the additional time required.
If I require multiple touches to my system, do I negotiate that as part of SED or do I address that as part of the infrastructure amendment to my FRA?
The SED can get you started with the initial touch of your subscriber equipment. In the SED request, include any replaced units and, any units needing reprogramming (flashed), and the initial retune of the subscriber equipment. Any further touches of the subscriber equipment would be part of the later amendment to the FRA for infrastructure reconfiguration. This approach would allow a licensee to get started on reconfiguration of subscriber equipment while negotiating the total reconfiguration package.
What if I am in mediation? Can I still participate in SED?
Yes. If the parties are in mediation, the TA mediator will assist the parties to reach agreement according
to the terms of the Alternative Dispute Resolution plan. Interest in participating in SED should be communicated
to the TA mediator.
If I am not in mediation, and negotiations do not appear to be progressing toward an agreement, what should I do?
SED is intended to speed reconfiguration of subscriber equipment prior to completing all negotiations.
Parties should seek mediation when negotiations are not progressing. The TA’s ADR Plan provides that prior to
or during the voluntary negotiation period, both parties must request mediation and that during the mandatory
negotiation period either party may make the request. The “Request for Mediation Form” is available on the
TA’s website at http://www.800TA.org/content/800mhz/forms.asp.
I have incurred outside legal costs associated with issues regarding the reconfiguration of my infrastructure. Can
these additional outside legal costs be included on the Subscriber Equipment Deployment form so that they can be paid
without waiting for the FRA to be amended to include the additional costs associated with reconfiguration of my
infrastructure?
No. The legal costs included on the Subscriber Equipment Deployment form should be limited to costs incurred or
anticipated to be incurred with respect to negotiating the terms and conditions of the FRA. Legal costs incurred
negotiating issues associated with implementation should be included in the subsequent amendment once all
negotiations are complete.
I have completed an FRA, should I now negotiate an SED agreement?
No, the FRA you already have should be enough to get you started. You should start work as soon as possible on tasks, such as replacing or reprogramming subscriber units, that can be done in advance of reconfiguring your infrastructure. Advise Sprint Nextel as soon as possible of the date you anticipate having your subscriber units ready and any other necessary tasks completed and when you would be ready to start your infrastructure reconfiguration.
If I am in a Wave 4 region can I participate in SED?
Those licensees in Wave 4 with operations outside of the FCC-defined border areas (110 km for Mexico and 140 km for Canada) and those licensees that operate a system with transmitter locations and subscriber units that operate both outside and inside a border area, can participate in SED. For agencies that operate entirely within the border area, participation would be on a case-by-case basis and those agencies should contact the TA prior to submitting the SED request. Send an email to comments@800TA.org, or call 888.800.8220 and a TA representative will assist you.
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