Sprint Nextel Forms Public Safety Advisory Board; First Responders Provide Guidance on 800 MHz Reconfiguration

Sandy Edwards, vice president, spectrum for Sprint Nextel said,"Sprint Nextel recognizes that police, firefighters and otheremergency workers face a unique set of challenges in retuning theircommunications systems that are different from those faced bycommercial and private wireless operators. We believe the advisoryboard will ensure that we better understand the special considerationsand challenges involved in retuning public safety communicationssystems. We are hopeful that public safety officials across thecountry will come to rely on members of the advisory board as anadditional channel for sharing their thoughts and concerns asreconfiguration moves ahead as well as for facilitating communicationsamong themselves and Sprint Nextel."

Joining the advisory board are Stephen Browne of Denver, DavidSeidel of San Bernardino County and Chief Charles Werner ofCharlottesville, Va. Mr. Browne has an extensive background inemergency communications, having served most recently as executivemanager of safety for technology and operations for the City andCounty of Denver, Co. Mr. Seidel has spent three decades in lawenforcement, with particular expertise in the 800 MHz spectrum whilemanaging the public safety radio communications system for SanBernardino County, CA. Chief Werner is a thirty-year veteran of thefire service, currently serving as fire chief with the City ofCharlottesville, Va., Fire Department.

Commenting on the new advisory board, Chief Werner added, "Onbehalf of my colleagues, I'm pleased to see that Sprint Nextelcontinues to recognize the vital stake that public safety has inseeing 800 MHz reconfiguration through to a successful completion. Aswe move deeper into the reconfiguration of public safety channels at800 MHz, I encourage first responders to share critical informationwith us regarding their own systems and to reach out to us tounderstand how we can collaborate to get this done on time and asrequired by the FCC."

About Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of communicationsservices bringing mobility to consumer, business and governmentcustomers. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing,engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including tworobust wireless networks offering industry leading mobile dataservices; instant national and international walkie-talkiecapabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internetbackbone.