R.I.P. analog wireless: The old FM cellular bands can now shut down

According to a decision set forth in 2002, mobile telecommunications companies are allowed to shut down their 1G Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) starting today.

AMPS was introduced in 1983, and operated in the 800 MHz Cellular FM band. With the explosive growth of cellular traffic, it was expanded to the upper 800s frequency range in 1989. It was at this time that analog cellular communication began to impinge upon analog television, as this frequency was occupied by UHF TV channels 77-83 (849-869 MHz.)

Among those most affected by this "sunset" are home alarm companies. Since the shutdown's announcement, the National Burglar and Fire Alarm Association (NFBAA) and Alarm Industry Communications Committee (AICC) were actively lobbying for an extension, as most existing cellular alarm communicators were AMPS-based by default, and thousands of customers would require upgrades to GSM-based radios for their alarms to maintain function. That sort of widespread change incurs a great amount of expense.

While the AMPS systems typically acted only as a backup means of communication, certain systems require a workable backup scheme be in place to function at all.

Alltel's phase-out schedule will be complete by September 2008, occurring in three phases, beginning in the Southeastern US, then expanding to the Midwest (and Alaska), and finally ending in the Western US.

Verizon Wireless, and Bell and Telus Mobility in Canada all have scheduled turndowns for which completion has been estimated for December 2008.