CloseThe FCC released rules on December 23, 2004 affirming narrowband deadlines affecting Part 90 frequencies allocated between 150 - 174 & 421 - 512 MHz and further encourages more efficient use of this spectrum.
The
action taken by the Commission was included in a Third Memorandum
Opinion and Order, Third Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making and
Order (FCC 04-292).
Key
decisions are as follows:
Public Safety, Industrial/Land Transportation and Business licensees must migrate to 12.5 kHz technology or a technology that achieves the narrowband equivalent of one channel per 12.5 kHz of channel bandwidth (voice) or 4800 bits per second per 6.25 kHz (data) no later than January 1, 2013.
Applications for new 25 kHz bandwidth systems or modification applications that would expand an existing 25 kHz station's contour will not be accepted by the FCC after January 1, 2011.
Manufacture and importation of equipment operating at 25 kHz bandwidth is permitted until January 1, 2011.
Applications for certification of equipment received on or after January 1, 2005 operating with a 25 kHz bandwidth will be processed if the spectrum efficiency standard of one channel per 6.25 kHz of channel bandwidth (voice) or 4800 bits per second per 6.25 kHz (data). However, the FCC has stayed the January 1, 2005 deadline pending resolution of the issues in the 3rd Further Notice where the FCC asks whether it should continue to encourage migration to 6.25 kHz bandwidth technology.
Part 90 paging-only frequencies are exempt from all narrow-banding requirements.
The new rules will be effective 30 days after publication of the document in the Federal Register.
For information on this FCC ruling or other spectrum, licensing or related technical services issues, contact Tina Jackson at
(858) 484-8502 or tina.jackson@thespectrumfirm.com