Seminole Communications Inc. dba SCI-2-WAY has always worked closely with a licensed frequency coordinator on current FCC licensing requirements. We can assist you with new applications, renewals, relocations, and modifications as well as help you prepare for the future. We also want you to be aware of an FCC licensing change that could affect your business communications: the requirement to move to narrowband 12.5 kHz.
What is Narrowbanding?
Private land mobile radio (LMR) systems - including municipal government, state and local public safety systems - use blocks of radio spectrum called channels. Historically, LMR systems have used 25 kHz-wide channels. In December 2004, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that all private LMR users operating below 512 MHz move to 12.5 kHz narrowband voice channels and highly efficient data channel operations by January 1, 2013. This migration complements a National Telecommunications and Information Administration mandate for more rapid Federal agency migration to 12.5 kHz narrowband operation by January 1, 2008. The earlier Federal deadline affects state and local FCC licensees that interface or share frequencies with Federal radio systems. Using narrowband channels will ensure that agencies take advantage of more efficient technology and, by reducing channel width, will allow additional channels to exist within the same spectrum space, as illustrated below.
Whois Affected?
The FCC Narrowbanding rules affect all operators of land mobile radios (LMR), that use channels between:
• 150 and 174 MHz
• 421 and 512 MHz
Deadlines
To phase in the migration deadline of January 1, 2013, the FCC has established interim deadlines.
The first important deadline is January 1, 2011, after which:
• The FCC will not grant applications for new voice operations or applications to expand the authorized contour
of existing stations that use 25 kHz channels. Only narrowband authorizations will be granted.
• The FCC will prohibit manufacture or importation of new equipment that operates on 25 kHz channels.
This will reduce the availability of new equipment for legacy radio systems and will affect how agencies
maintain and upgrade their older systems.
• New equipment submitted for FCC type-acceptance must be 6.25/6.25 (e) kHz.
• New system applications must be 12.5 kHz or less.
• No 25 kHz system expansion will be permitted.
NEXEDGE Equipment by Kenwood meets this requirement and is Phase 2 Narrowband compatible
as well as having ablity to operate on analog or digital systems simply by changing
channels.
After January 1, 2013
• All existing licenses must operate on channels with a bandwidth of 12.5 kHz or less (narrowband). Failure
to comply with the January 1, 2013 deadline results in cancellation of license.
• I/B and PS 150-512 MHz incumbents must migrate to 12.5/12.5 kHz (e) or less.
• It is unclear what happens to licensed 25 kHz systems after this date.
Land Mobile Radios Systems still using wideband channels as of January 1, 2013 risk the following:
• Loss of Radio Communication
• Substantial FCC Fines
• Revocation of FCC Licenses
Planning the Move to Narrowband
LMR system operators (both public safety and nonpublic safety) need to aggressively develop a strategy to meet
narrowband deadlines to avoid cancellation of existing wideband FCC authorizations. Although the migration deadline
may seem far off, the long lead time and interim deadlines make it necessary for you to plan well in advance.
Assess Current Equipment and Start Planning
To prepare for the migration, organizations should start assessing their radio systems and planning for replacements or upgrades.
They should inventory their current equipment to ascertain what can be converted to 12.5 kHz and what will need to be replaced
before January 1, 2013. Most new equipment has the capability for both 25 kHz and 12 kHz operation because any VHF/UHF radio
equipment accepted by the FCC after February 14, 1997, had to have 12.5 kHz capability. The 2.5 kHz narrowband equipment is
available in both conventional analog FM and digital formats (such as Project 25), so narrowband conventional FM systems will be
compliant. Local governments should develop contingency plans to accommodate system changes for both public safety and nonpublic
safety systems.
Obtain New or Modified Licenses
To move to narrowband operations, organizations must apply for new frequencies or modify existing licenses. An organization that
is licensed for a 25 Khz-wide channel is not guaranteed two 12.5 kHz channels. Licensees will have to justify to the FCC why they
need additional channels. Consideration of applications for new narrowband licenses will follow the same process as a new license
application. As organizations migrate to narrowband operation, however, the pool of available frequencies will increase.
Plan for the Long-Term with by buying NEXEDGE Equipment and be ready for Phase 2!
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