FCC Says It, Mexican Counterparts Progress in Talks on Joint Goals

Mexico and the U.S. reaffirmed their commitment to common standards for repacking TV stations to clear 600 MHz spectrum for mobile broadband use and pledged to finalize an agreement for implementation of positive train control railroad collision avoidance technology in the border area, said FCC International Bureau Chief Mindel De La Torre in a blog Friday on a two-day bilateral spectrum coordination meeting. She said the FCC met with Mexico's Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation. Meeting outcomes also include an agreement on a path to rebranding the 800 MHz band along the border "to reduce interference to U.S. public safety licensees" and development of plans to tackle coordination in such bands as 400 MHz, 700 MHz, 2500-2686 MHz, 3.4-3.7 GHz, 5.9 GHz, and the PCS and AWS bands, De La Torre said.