Page "Advanced Mobile Phone System" Paragraph 10

At the inception of cellular in 1983, the FCC had granted each carrier within a market 333 channels ( 666 channels total ).

By the late 1980s, the cellular industry's subscriber base had grown into the millions across America and it became necessary to add channels for additional capacity.

In 1989, the FCC granted carriers an expansion from the current 666 channels to the final 832 ( 416 per carrier ).

The additional frequencies were from the band held in reserve for future ( inevitable ) expansion.

These frequencies were immediately adjacent to the existing cellular band.

These bands had previously been allocated to UHF TV channels 70 – 83.