The FCC deadline is here, are you ready?

FCC Narrowbanding

The FCC recently defined the potential enforcement consequences

to VHF/UHF licensees of failing to narrowband by January 1, 2013.

They can be found at the bottom of page 5 of their Public Notice from July 13, 2011.

It reads as follows:

What are the potential enforcement consequences to VHF/UHF licensees of failing

to narrowband by January 1, 2013?  As of January 1, 2013, the Commission’s rules

will prohibit Industrial/Business and Public Safety Radio Pool licensees in the

150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands from operating with wideband channels

(unless their equipment meets the narrowband efficiency standard), even if the

license still lists a wideband emission designator. Licensees operating in wideband

mode after January 1,2013 that have not received a waiver from the Commission

extending the deadline will be inviolation of these rules. Operation inviolation of

the Commission’s rules may subject licensees to appropriate enforcement action,

including admonishments, license revocation, and/or monetary for feitures of up to

$16,000 for each such violation

...or each day of a continuing violation

and up to $112,500 for any single act

...or failure to act (11).

Understanding FCC Narrowbanding Requirements
The Federal Communications Commission mandated a move to 12.5 kHz narrowband voice channels by January 1, 2013 to increase spectrum efficiency and to accommodate more users.
Planning for the Move to Narrowband
Now is the time to take inventory of your equipment to verify that it is 12.5 kHz capable. While Motorola radios purchased in the last ten years are likely 12.5 kHz capable, older equipment may need to be replaced.

Start planning – the 1st FCC deadline is not very far away: January 1, 2011.
Assess your current equipment
Obtain new or modified licenses

Call the FCC Licensing Experts Now!
See what you need to do to be ready for a smooth and cost effective transition to comply with the standards and assure continued performance. We are ready to meet with you in a free one-on-one consultation and provide the information you need to make informed decisions. Call now!

847-245-4800

Understanding FCC Narrowbanding Requirements

Key Points About FCC Narrowbanding Requirements

Most current public safety radio systems use 25 kHz-wide channels.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that all non-Federal public safety licensees using 25 kHz radio systems migrate to narrowband 12.5 kHz channels by January 1, 2013.
Agencies that do not meet the deadline face the loss of communication capabilities.
Agencies need to start planning now to migrate to narrowband systems by assessing their current radio equipment and applying for new or modified licenses.

Overview

Figure 1: Narrowband channels allow additional channels to exist in the same spectrum.

Private land mobile radio (LMR) systems—including municipal government and State and local public safety systems—use blocks of radio spectrum called channels. (See Radio Spectrum9766.) 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 in figure 1.

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 older systems.

Planning for the Move to Narrowband

Public safety agencies 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 agencies to plan well in advance.
Assess current equipment and start planning.To prepare for the migration, public safety agencies 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 12.5 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, agencies must apply for new frequencies or modify existing licenses. An agency 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 agencies migrate to narrowband
operation, however, the pool of available frequencies will increase.

VHF/UHF Narrowbanding FAQs

Below is a collection of general questions on Narrowbanding.

Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) Q&A on Refarming Part 90 frequencies (pdf).

What is Narrowbanding?

Narrowbanding is an effort to ensure more efficient use of the VHF and UHF spectrum by requiring all VHF and UHF Public Safety and Industrial/Business land mobile radio (LMR) systems to migrate to at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology by January 1, 2013.
More specifically, all existing Part 90 radio systems operating in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands have until January 1, 2013 to convert those systems either to a maximum bandwidth of 12.5 kHz or to a technology that provides at least one voice path per 12.5 kHz of bandwidth or equivalent efficiency.

What does Equivalent Efficiency mean?

Any of the following meet the 12.5 kHz equivalent efficiency requirement:

One voice path in a 12.5 kHz channel
Two voice paths in a 25 kHz channel
Data operations on channels greater than 12.5 KHz must employ data rates greater than 4.8 kbps per 6.25 kHz channel, such as 19.2 kbps per 25 kHz channel

What is the purpose of Narrowbanding?

Currently, the majority of UHF and VHF LMR licensees operate using 25 kHz efficiency technology. However, the UHF and VHF frequency bands are congested with limited spectrum available for system expansion or implementation of new systems. The migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology will require licensees to operate more efficiently, either on narrower channel bandwidths or increased voice paths on existing channels. This will allow creation of additional channels within the same spectrum, thereby supporting more users.

What frequency bands are subject to the Narrowbanding mandate?

The 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands are subject to the Narrowbanding mandate.

Are paging-only channels exempt from Narrowbanding?

Yes, however, there are only 14 paging-only channels.

152.0075 and 157.4500 MHz in the Public Safety Pool
152.480, 157.740, 158.460, 462.750, 462.775, 462.800, 462.825, 462.850, 462.875, 462.900, 462.925, and 465.000 MHz in the Business Industrial Pool.

Note that Med Channels 163.250, 150.775 and 150.790 MHz are not exempt, as these channels are shared with Federal Government users who must Narrowband as part of the Federal Government Narrowbanding effort.

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have the following five additional paging only frequencies in the Business Industrial Pool: 150.83, 150.92, 151.07, 151.19 and 151.31.

What is the difference between the January 1, 2011 interim deadline and the January 1, 2013 final deadline?

After January 1, 2011, the Commission will only accept applications for new licenses or modification applications that expand an existing service area for systems that operate using 12.5 kHz efficiency.

After January 1, 2011, the Commission will not certify VHF/UHF equipment that has a 25 kHz mode. Providers may still sell equipment with a 25 kHz mode after that date, if it was manufactured/imported prior to January 1, 2013.

After January 1, 2013, all licensees must operate in at least 12.5 kHz efficiency.

After January 1, 2013, the Commission no longer allows manufacturing or importation of equipment that includes a 25 kHz mode.

What will happen if I fail to comply with the FCC Narrowbanding mandate? Can I continue to operate at 25 kHz efficiency on a secondary status after January 1, 2013?

No. Licensees are prohibited from operating 25 kHz efficiency equipment after January 1, 2013. Non-compliance will be considered a violation that could lead to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.

If I need to Narrowband, do I need to implement digital technology?

No. Licensees can operate in either analog or digital formats as long as they operate at 12.5 kHz efficiency.

Does Narrowbanding require me to change frequencies or obtain new channels?

No. Narrowbanding does not require moving to another frequency band or different channels. Licensees stay on the same channel center(s), but reduce the bandwidth of the channel(s) currently used, from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz and change the emission designator on the license. Alternatively, licensees may stay on the same 25 kHz channel but implement a 12.5 kHz equivalent technology on that channel.

If I currently have a license for a 25 kHz channel, will I automatically be entitled to license two 12.5 kHz channels after I Narrowband?

No. Your 12.5 kHz channel will remain on the same 25 kHz channel center. Your current 25 kHz channel will not be split into two 12.5 kHz channels. You will need to justify and apply for additional 12.5 kHz channels through a certified frequency coordinator.

Will I lose coverage area when I Narrowband?

It has been estimated that Narrowband compliance can result in a 3 dB loss in signal strength. However, this rule of thumb is based upon a "plain vanilla" Narrowbanding scenario where a 25 kHz analog system converts to a 12.5 kHz analog system. Consult with a manufacturer and/or consulting engineer for a better estimate of how Narrowbanding will affect your particular system.

Has the FCC established a schedule for mandatory migration to 6.25 kHz efficiency?

No. The Commission has not set any date by which licensees must operate in 6.25 kHz efficiency. The current mandate only requires users to migrate to 12.5 kHz efficiency by January 1. 2013.

Are governmental entities other than traditional public safety entities subject to the Narrowbanding mandate?

Yes. Below is a partial list of the types of governmental entities that could be subject to the Narrowbanding mandate.

Public Utilities – both traditional voice and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems
Schools (including school buses)
Transportation Departments
Mass Transit Agencies
Community Watches

In addition, licensees should remember to include the following types of radios in their Narrowbanding efforts.

Cache Radios – Transportable Systems
Command Post/Communications Vehicles
Mutual Aid Gateways

FCC VHF/UHF Narrowbanding FAQs

This presentation contains a brief history of the Narrowbanding proceeding, as well as information about compliance with the deadline.

Ask a question about this product

The FCC deadline is here, are you ready?