On June 6, 2022 the FCC released Public Notice DA 22-613 announcing the availability of licensing interstitial (12.5 kHz) channels in the 800 MHz Mid-Band (809-817 / 854-862 MHz). The FCC will begin accepting applications for interstitial channels beginning July 7, 2022.
The 800 MHz Mid-Band has legacy channels spaced at 25 kHz. Interstitial channels are new 12.5 kHz channels located between the legacy 25 kHz channels, creating 318 new channels. Licenses for the interstitial channels will be limited to 12.5 kHz or narrower bandwidth. Systems licensed for legacy 25 kHz channels can continue to use wideband emissions, such as 16K0F3E or 20K0F3E.
The notice also delineates that beginning July 7, 2022 additional frequency coordination requirements for applications requesting 800 MHz Mid-Band channels will be implemented including requiring “both a forward and reciprocal contour analysis”. This means that coordinators must consider potential interference caused by the proposed application onto existing licensees, as well as potential interference from existing licensees onto the proposed application. These new coordination requirements will be used on applications for all 800 MHz Mid-Band Channels including applications for legacy 25 kHz channels.
The full Public Notice can be found here: https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-613A1.pdf or by searching for DA 22-613.