The USA and Mexican authorities have signed an agreement that allows the sharing of radio spectrum in the 800 MHz and 1.9 GHz bands along the U.S.-Mexican border.

In a statement, the USA’s telecoms regulator, the FCC said that the agreement will help support commercial broadband services and public safety mission-critical voice communications along the US-Mexico border and throughout the United States.

“These agreements with Mexico will unleash investment and benefit consumers near the borders by enabling the rollout of advanced wireless broadband service and advanced systems for critical public safety and emergency response communications,” Chairman Julius Genachowski stated. “I appreciate the commitment and dedication of agency staff and those at the State Department who made these important agreements possible.”

Specifically, the new 800 MHz Protocol allots band segments between the United States and Mexico and specifies the technical parameters for operation on these band segments within 110 kilometers (68 miles) of the common border

The agreement also creates a bi-national Task Force to support the transition of incumbent operators along the border to the new allotment plan.

The Protocol for 800 MHz replaces a previous agreement and paves the way for completion of 800 MHz rebanding by U.S. public safety and commercial licensees operating along the U.S.-Mexico border. The FCC ordered rebanding to alleviate interference to public safety licensees in the band caused by commercial cellular licensees.

The new Protocol for the 1.9 GHz band allows Sprint Nextel to deploy CDMA service along the border with Mexico. Sprint obtained access to the 1.9 GHz band in 2004 as compensation for vacating its spectrum holding in the lower segment of the 800 MHz band in accordance with the rebanding project.