THE NARROWBANDING DEADLINE IS COMING JANUARY 1, 2013

(From the FCC)

ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN NOW BY LICENSEES TO PLAN ON CHANGING OUT NON-COMPLIANT EQUIPMENT. MOST VHF and UHF EQUIPMENT OLDER THAN 8-10 YEARS MAY NO LONGER BE LEGAL TO USE AFTER THE DEADLINE. From the FCC Narrowbanding Notice, Released 12-23-04 Executive summary of the FCC order: .. FCC establishes January 1, 2013 deadline for migration to 12.5 KHz technology. .. The order affects systems on VHF and UHF channels between 150 and 512 MHz, .. Applications for wideband operations (25 KHz channels) will NOT be accepted after January 1, 2011. .. Application for modification of operations that expand the authorized contour of an existing station using 25 KHz channels will NOT be accepted after January 1, 2011. (Also applies to "new" systems submitted for licensing.) .. Manufacture and importation of any equipment on 25 KHz channel will NOT be permitted after January 1, 2011. .. Part 90 "paging-only" frequencies are exempt from this ruling. .. Low Band VHF systems BELOW 150 MHz are not affected by this ruling. Links to FCC Documents: <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-292A1.doc> <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-292A1.pdf> <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-292A1.txt>

What This Means To LICENSEES All existing Part 90 radio systems operating on frequencies between 150-512 MHz have to convert those systems either to 12.5 kHz bandwidth or to a technology that provides one voice path per 12.5 kHz of bandwidth or provides a data rate of 4800 bps/6.25 kHz. This Deadline is not expected to be extended any further by the FCC, having done so once already. Licensees will be required to certify to the Commission that they have made the technical necessary changes and are using narrowband equipment. Licensees that do not meet this deadline will be cancelled by the FCC and relicensing of cancelled systems will become very difficult. .. NEW NARROWBAND EFFICIENCY STANDARDS o One voice channel/12.5 kHz bandwidth or 4800 bps/6.25 kHz (9600 bps for 12.5 kHz; 19.2 bps for 25 kHz) 12.5 kHz Conversion Deadline for Existing VHF/UHF Systems .. Both Industrial and Public Safety licensees have the same deadline for conversion of their systems to narrowband operation: January 1, 2013. Interim Deadlines for VHF/UHF Systems & Equipment ..

New applications for 25 kHz bandwidth will be accepted until January 1, 2011 .. Modifications of existing 25 kHz systems will be accepted until January 1, 2011 .. 25 kHz equipment can be manufactured and imported until January 1, 2011 .. The FCC exempts Part 90 "paging-only" frequencies from the new Rules .. Low Band VHF systems (30-50 MHz) are not required to be narrowbanded. .. THE BASICS Narrowbanding does not require moving to another frequency band. You reduce the bandwidth of the channel(s) you are now using. Most radios purchased in the last 6-8 years are already narrowband capable. They only need to be re-tuned or re-programmed by a technician to comply with the Rules. Check with your dealer or service shop to identify which units may need to be replaced. Your coverage will remain approximately the same. Only a thorough analysis of your coverage requirements can tell for sure. You do not have to convert to digital. However, many licensees are using this opportunity to upgrade to digital technology. Most digital radios are dual mode capable and can operate in wideband analog as well as narrowband analog and digital. Digital is also more immune from adjacent channel interference and has new features that are unavailable in analog. If your radios are not narrowband capable, you will have to spend money for new equipment and expect to spend money for retuning of existing dual-mode radios. The dates are extended to ensure most licensees have fully amortized the value of their current equipment by the time the mandates kick in. You need to PLAN IMMEDIATELY for how you will transition to narrowband operation and begin any equipment upgrades. Plan, Budget and Act! Do not wait! You will need to certify to the FCC by 1/1/2013 that you have made the conversion. Licensees who do not will likely be automatically terminated on the deadline date. Relicensing cancelled systems will not be a easy process and the FCC has indicated that they will not easily grant waivers for continued wideband operation after the deadline. Two Way Radio NARROW BANDING DEADLINE ALERT! When the FCC instituted Land Mobile Spectrum Refarming in 1998, they announced the division, or "narrowbanding" of most of the two-way radio channels between 150-512 MHz. In order to make way for new technology and more users of the VHF and UHF radio spectrum the Commission implemented specific technical requirements for equipment and deadlines for implementation.

In 1998, few people paid attention to those goals. Over the last ten years two-way radio equipment manufacturers have developed and sold new radio models capable of operating on both the old wide-band technology and on the new narrowband standards. In 2008, users MUST now heed the upcoming deadline for MANDATORY NARROWBANDING OF FCC LICENSED LAND MOBILE RADIO SYSTEMS BETWEEN 150-512 MHz BY JANUARY 1, 2013. Narrowbanding may be accomplished by reducing the occupied bandwidth of an analog system, or by transitioning to specific Digital modes meeting 12.5 kHz standards. Licensees must meet these equipment standards by the deadlines below, must disable all wideband operations and must certify to the FCC that they have met this technical deadline. Those failing to do the above risk their licenses being automatically terminated by the FCC. There is no expectation that the FCC will further change or modify these deadlines and the FCC is expected to make it difficult for licensees to obtain new licenses or to relicense if they fail to comply. Low band systems, operating BELOW 150 MHz are not affected. January 1, 2011 DEADLINES Halt application/licensing of any new 25 kHz wideband systems. Halt modification of 25 kHz wideband systems that expand existing service contours. Halt importation/manufacturing of wideband only equipment. Halt certification of new narrowband equipment that does not have ultra narrowband 6.25 kHz capability. January 1, 2013 DEADLINES MANDATORY 12.5 kHz conversion of both Business-Industrial and Public Safety systems. There are NO exclusions for "Rural" systems, "Small" systems, "Safety" systems or systems by any other special name. ONLY a very few, specifically designated "paging-only" channels are exempt. ACTION STEPS: Check your FCC license document. If the Frequency is between 150 MHz and 512 MHz you are involved. Look down the column labeled "Emission Designator," if it indicates 20K0F3E, or 16K0F3E or ANY other designator where the first two numbers are GREATER than 12 you are involved. If your designator lists two or more different "emission modes," consult with your radio service shop or dealer about whether or not your current equipment is presently "Dual Mode" compatible and will only require a software switch or a technical adjustment to comply. If you have wideband equipment, (most equipment that is older than 8-10 years) you need to plan now for the replacement by January 1, 2013. After that date it will no longer be legal to use radios in the affected band in wideband mode. THE FCC HAS NOT SET DEADLINES FOR FURTHER NARROWBANDING to 6.25 kHz standards, however, they are encouraging licensees to do so as soon as practicable. The Land Mobile Communications Council, of which FIT is a member, is presently working on separation and sharing standards for ultra-narrowband 6.25 kHz and FDMA, TDMA, or proprietary named digital systems.