 |
|
|
Overview of Licensee Reconfiguration Phases:
>
When should I get started?
Overview of Licensee Reconfiguration Phases
The TA has organized the reconfiguration process and all associated activities into two phases: a Planning and Negotiation Phase and a Reconfiguration Implementation Phase.
The objectives of the Planning and Negotiation Phase are to:
 |
Develop your plan for implementing the reconfiguration of your
system(s), and |
|
Execute a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA) with Sprint Nextel for the reconfiguration of your system(s). |
The objective of the Reconfiguration Implementation Phase is to execute the reconfiguration of your system(s) according to the plan and FRA developed in the first phase.
The TA has organized each phase into a series of steps that are described in this Handbook. The emphasis of this Handbook is on the Planning and Negotiation Phase to enable licensees to understand how and when to get started. While the two phases generally apply to all licensees, please note that not all of the steps are relevant for all licensees. The amount of planning required will vary significantly based on the size and complexity of the system to be reconfigured. Similarly, it is expected that the amount and types of testing required during implementation will also vary.
How do I get started?
Prior to the start of your reconfiguration prioritization Wave, you will receive an Information Packet Mailing, which includes a request to provide appropriate contact information to the TA. However, you can complete this Point of Contact (POC) Form at any time (the Form is available on the TA's website). The TA's website contains current information on 800 MHz Reconfiguration and is updated frequently.
Licensees should expect to be contacted by a Sprint Nextel representative to initiate negotiations before the end of the voluntary negotiation period for their Wave. Licensees may also contact Sprint Nextel directly to initiate negotiations. Reconfiguring licensees that are not contacted by Sprint Nextel are encouraged to contact Sprint Nextel directly or contact the TA for further instruction.
Licensees and Sprint Nextel may agree to begin voluntary negotiations before the official start date of a licensee's reconfiguration. You may also initiate early contact with Sprint Nextel if you wish, in case of a large or complex system.
Requests for Planning Funding
If you require funding for activities associated with planning for reconfiguration, you should submit a Request for Planning Funding (RFPF) Form to the TA, including a formal Statement of Work (SOW) in support of the request, and enter into a Planning Funding Agreement (PFA) with Sprint Nextel.
Planning Funding Agreement (PFA) Fast Track Option
The PFA Fast Track Option (Fast Track) provides a means for licensees and Sprint Nextel to streamline their efforts to execute a PFA. Fast Track does not require different action on your part when submitting your RFPF. Rather, it allows licensees, whose RFPF submissions meet certain guidelines, to more quickly secure planning funding. To qualify for the Fast Track Option, the licensee must be able to determine a reasonably accurate subscriber unit count. In addition, the following guidelines should be met:
- The total planning funding request should equate to $55 or less per subscriber unit
- The total legal costs should be 8% or less of the total request
- The total costs for project management should be 25% or less of the total request
If all of these guidelines are met, and the TA has approved the RFPF submission for conformance with program guidelines (including that the costs are reasonable and prudent expenses directly related to the retuning of an 800 MHz system), Sprint Nextel will incorporate it into a PFA.
RFPF Submission Deadlines
To encourage early action on planning funding in order to allow time for completion of
planning activities and the negotiation of an FRA, the TA established firm deadlines
for the submittal of Requests for Planning Funding (RFPFs). The TA established the following
deadlines but as of the publication of this version of the Handbook, the deadlines have all passed.
Channels 1-120
|
Wave 3, Stage 1: May 15, 2006 |
|
Wave 4, Stage 1: August 14, 2006 |
NPSPAC
|
Wave 1, Stage 2: July 17, 2006 |
|
Wave 2, Stage 2: August 1, 2006 |
|
Wave 3, Stage 2: November 1, 2006 |
|
Wave 4, Stage 2: February 1, 2007 |
Any Wave 4, Stage 1 licensee receiving a Frequency Proposal Report (FPR) on or after
August 1, 2006 or any Wave 4, Stage 2 licensee receiving an FPR on or after December
18, 2006 will have 45 calender days from the date of the earliest NPSPAC FPR cover letter
received to submit the RFPF. The RFPF deadline will be noted in the FPR cover letter.
These deadlines are provided to encourage licensees to consider their
planning funding needs in a manner consistent with the revised schedule.
Adherence to these deadlines and to the TA's RFPF process will afford
licensees and Sprint Nextel appropriate time within the negotiation periods
to negotiate an FRA. If you miss the RFPF deadline, the TA recommends that
you incorporate your planning costs into the Cost Estimate for the FRA.
However, if you miss the RFPF deadline and believe that a PFA for your planning
costs is needed prior to negotiating an FRA, you should provide an explanation
to the TA as to why you could not meet your RFPF deadline together with
details regarding any unique circumstances of your reconfiguration which
require that planning funding be provided prior to negotiating an FRA.
All licensees submitting RFPFs after June 19, 2006 must use RFPF version 2.6 available on the TA's website www.800ta.org.
RFPFs should be submitted to the TA via email (in PDF format if possible) to Comments@800TA.org or by fax to 888-701-4380. The TA will review to confirm that the RFPF and supporting documentation submission conforms to TA instructions and uses the TA's template. The RFPF instructions and template are available on the TA's website. This initial review does not represent TA approval of the proposed planning activities and costs or TA acceptance of the rates.
All planning activities and costs, including rates identified, are subject
to negotiations between Sprint Nextel and the incumbent licensee. Once the
RFPF and supporting documentation are determined to conform to TA instructions,
the TA will forward them to Sprint Nextel. If the submission meets the guidelines
for Fast Track, the RFPF will be sent to Sprint Nextel, to enter into a
PFA on the basis of the licensee's total cost per unit.
If the RFPF submission does not qualify for Fast Track, the RFPF will follow the standard 60-day negotiation process, wherein Sprint Nextel and the licensee have 60 days of negotiations to reach a PFA. The TA will contact both the licensee and Sprint Nextel on a regular basis to monitor the progress of negotiations. Once a PFA is reached, it must be submitted to the TA for review of the planning costs. If an agreement is not reached within 60 calendar days from the date of Sprint Nextel's receipt of the RFPF from the TA, the TA will recommend that parties pursue mediation. If the parties have entered the mandatory negotiation period, then TA mediation will be mandatory.
The TA recommends that funding for all licensee reconfiguration activities be approved by both Sprint Nextel and the TA in advance of incurring costs to ensure that they are reimbursable. Any costs incurred prior to approval are at risk for non-payment/reimbursement if both Sprint Nextel and the TA do not subsequently approve them.
The submission dates for each Wave and Stage of the RPP are identified in Figure 7:
 |
Figure 7:
Start Dates for Submission of Cost Estimates and Deadlines for RFPF Submission
Enlarge > |
|
|
|
|