United States and Mexico Sign Border Spectrum Accords

Last week at the seventh meeting of the U.S.-Mexico High Level Consultative Commission (HLCC) on Telecommunications in Mexico City, senior level telecommunications officials of the two governments signed protocols to significantly reduce the potential of life-threatening cross-border interference in critical radio networks used by federal first responders, federal law enforcement, military security networks, federal emergency management and other federal radio communication networks in the U.S. border area.

The protocols will also reduce costly remedial measures necessary to eliminate interference where transmissions from a radio network in one country do not allow a cross-border radio network to function. The protocols became effective when they were signed on Wednesday, July 27 and covered the 380-399.9 MHz and 406.1-420 MHz bands.

The protocols were signed by Ambassador David A. Gross, U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy of the U.S. Department of State, Jorge Alvarez Hoth, Under Secretary of the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation and Jorge Arredondo Martinez, Chairman of Mexico's Federal Telecommunications Commission.

Ambassador Gross indicated that, "the new protocols will greatly minimize U.S. and Mexican radio signals interfering with one another. And, because the protocols allow for establishing independent U.S. and Mexican regulatory regimes, both sides will have more flexibility in deploying advanced communications technologies."

The signing of the protocols is the culmination of several years of bilateral discussions to find the appropriate technical mechanisms to achieve cross-border compatibility for both countries. Preparatory discussions within the U.S. government were organized by the Department of Commerce -- National Telecommunications and Information Administration (DOC/NTIA), with participation by the Departments of Homeland Security, Energy, Air Force, Army, Navy, Justice, Agriculture and Interior as well as the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, Veterans Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The discussions were led by the U.S. Department of State.

Additional information regarding the HLCC and its continuing activities is contained in the "Joint Statement" and "Directory of Bilateral Issues" issued at the meeting last week. The two documents and texts of the signed protocols can be found at http://www.state.gov/e/eeb/cip/c622.htm. Contacts are: State Department -- Hal Grigsby at 202-647-2723, and DOC/NTIA -- Clyde Ensslin at 202-482-7002.

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