FCC Narrow Band Mandate It s Closer Than You

FCC Narrow Band Mandate: It’s Closer Than You Think

What is Narrow Banding? n n n A Federal Communications Commission unfunded mandate to make additional spectrum available in the 150 MHz / 450 -470 MHz spectrum by reducing the amount of space that a frequency occupies Also Refereed to as “REFARMING” Both Public Safety & Business-Industrial

What does Narrow Banding effect? Narrow banding will effect all radio systems: Voice – Dispatch n Data – MDT & AVL n Telemetry – Water pumps & Tanks, Waste Water, Gas, Electric, etc n Users on 700 or 800 MHz may be effected because many still have old V/U system n

Timeline n n n 1992 - Refarming Introduced by FCC 1995 - Report and Order and Further Notice of Rulemaking, 92 -235 establishes the timeline 1997 – FCC begins accepting applications for Narrow Band licenses

Timeline n n 2004 - 04 -292, Third Memorandum Opinion and Order (3 rd MO&O), Third Further Notice of Rule Making and Order (3 rd FNPRM), December 2004 (WT Docket 99 -87) Sets specific dates to phase in narrow banding with deadlines in 2005, 2011 and 2013.

Timeline / Deadlines Ø 2005 - VHF/UHF narrow band interoperability channels (see table below) become primary usage and adjacent channels are now secondary usage if they are still wide band emission such as 20 K 0 F 3 E, or as the Commission states, "utilizing emissions wider than 11 K per voice path on these channels. " Existing users on interoperability channels are now secondary to interoperability usage. Ø VCALL, VTACs & UCALL UTACs

Benefit for Narrow-banding Adj. Ch. 151. 13000 154. 44500 155. 74500 158. 73000 159. 46500 453. 20000 453. 45000 453. 70000 453. 85000 Interop Ch. 151. 13750 VTAC 11 154. 45250 VTAC 12 155. 75250 VCALL 10 158. 73750 VTAC 13 159. 47250 VTAC 14 453. 21250 UCALL 40 453. 46250 UTAC 41 453. 71250 UTAC 42 458. 86250 UTAC 43 Adj. Ch. 151. 14500 Not PS 155. 76000 158. 74500 Not PS 453. 22500 453. 47500 453. 72500 453. 87500

Benefit for Narrow-banding Add the National VHF & UHF Interoperability frequencies to your radio when rebanding using APCO Standard: ØCommon Frequencies ØCommon Channel Names ØCommon CTCSS Tones

Timeline / Deadline Ø Ø After December 31, 2010, end of this year, no new applications for wideband (20 K) licenses accepted; modifications only if existing coverage area is not increased Many frequency coordinators are not accepting any new wideband apps due to the time takes to process and get to the FCC no later than December 31, 2010.

Timeline / Deadline § January 1, 2013 (December 31, 2012) All VHF 150 MHz / UHF 450 – 470 MHz radio systems operating under FCC CFR Part 90 MUST be narrow band compliant.

How does the NB Mandate effect Public Safety? § § § What does narrow band compliant mean? All hand held, portables, mobiles, control stations, base stations and repeaters must be FCC certified to operate narrow band All radio equipment must be programmed to operate in the narrow band mode All equipment must operate in the narrow band mode.

Narrow Banding § FCC reaffirms date in 4 TH MO&O released on 5/14/2008 § FCC has gone on record stating that they will further reduce the band width of a frequency to 6. 25 KHz. No deadline yet. To accomplish this the technology will be digital. § APCO P 25 digital radio standard is the only accepted digital radio that is recognized in Federal Grants. Not Kenwood / ICOM NXDN nor Moto. TRBO n Narrow banding is going to happen, be ready.

Steps to Prepare § Verify that your Department or Agency has a valid FCC Part 90 license § Conduct a full inventory of all your radios in the VHF / UHF band n n Determine which radios can be reprogrammed and which radios must be replaced Develop a Budget for reprogramming & replacement

Steps to Prepare n n n Educate your elected officials Secure your funding for cost of reprogramming and replacement radios Develop a “wideband to narrow band” plan and timeline that addresses: Procurement, replacement & installation of any narrow band-capable base stations, control stations, repeaters, hand held and mobile radios. n Installation & reprogramming of all radios in your radio system without interruption n

Steps to Prepare n Develop a “wideband to narrow band” plan for: Your agency Other agencies that have your frequencies County agencies & systems Regional mutual aid systems Statewide mutual aid systems n Set a deadline prior to December 31, 2012 n Remember the ripple effect: what I do affects others and what other do affects me. n n n

Steps to Prepare n n n Work closely with your agency or contract radio communications personnel Schedule and coordinate the system conversion (Vendors have many customers) Modify your FCC radio license for narrow band emission designators Tailor the conversion plan to your agency Check your infrastructure before and after rebanding to make sure it is optimized; i. e. receiver, transmitter, antenna system Keep your neighbor informed

Community Effects ØNarrow banding effects all FCC Part 90 users, not just public safety ØVoice, Data & Telemetry ØBusiness, Industry, Agriculture, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Private & Public Utilities, State & Local Governments, Hospitals, Private Ambulance Services, Volunteer Rescue Squads, Fire Departments, Media, etc. all use business frequencies that will need to be narrow banded.

Community Effects Ø Be proactive with the community Ø Newspaper articles, local radio shows, Civic Clubs, Chamber of Commerce, Local Emergency Planning Councils, etc. ØPart 90 Business / Industry will need to take the same steps as Public Safety

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS n n Are we forced to move to another band or frequencies? NO! You will continue to use your existing frequencies We will have to buy new radios? Depends. Many radios purchased since 1997 are already narrow band capable, but may need to be reprogrammed

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS § Will we have to convert to digital? Not yet. However, many agencies are taking advantage of this opportunity to upgrade to P 25 digital. FCC has published that we are not stopping @ 12. 5 KHz, but going to 6. 25 KHz, no date set. n Will narrow banding reduce our coverage? Maybe. Only a through analysis of your coverage requirements and testing can tell for sure

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS n Will more VHF / UHF radio spectrum be available after January 1, 2013? Depends, maybe / maybe not § Narrow band frequencies have been coordinate & licensed since 1997. In many areas usable VHF / UHF radio spectrum is very hard to find if any at all

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS Can I use Federal Homeland Security / FEMA grants to purchase narrowband radio equipment? Yes as long as it is allowable under the grant.

COMMONLY ASKED QUESTIONS What about my MDT or AVL system? Data minimum: 4. 8 Kbps @ 6. 25 KHz (one voice path) 9. 6 @ 12. 5 KHz (two voice paths) 19. 2 @ 25 KHz (four voice paths) If you meet this, you do not need to narrow band

What Narrow Banding is Not n n You do not need to change frequency, your frequency goes on a diet. Does not affect Low band, 700 MHZ, 800 MHz or Microwave links, HAM, or Marine Channels Do not have to go digital, but may be a good time to consider P 25 is the only digital standard for grant reimbursement

Narrow Banding Resources Info n http: //www. imsasafety. org/PDFs/Narrowbanding%20 V 2%20 R 2. pdf

Narrow Banding Resources Info n http: //www. npstc. org/documents/Navigating. The. Narrowband 100630. pdf

Narrow Banding Resources Info http: //www. apcointl. com/new/commcenter 911/documents/APCO-NPSTC-ANS 1 -104 -1 web. pdf

Other Narrow Banding Resources Info www. apcointl. org/frequency/narrowband. php http: //www. fcc. gov/pshs/public-safety-spectrum/narrowbanding. html http: //wirelessradio. net/ http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Fr 9 qu. AXC 8 Uc Virginia SIEC video http: //www. npstc. org/narrowbanding. jsp

Questions / Comments Johnson Tennessee Emergency Management Agency 615 741 3826 jjohnson@tnema. org