FCC Licensing
Working with the FCC rules and regulations can be confusing for all users. We can help. NW Communications Inc,. has dedicated staff thoroughly knowledgeable about the relevant procedures for today’s applications.We have experienced resources that specialize in FCC matters.
****Important Dates for FCC Narrowbanding Mandate****
Jan 1, 2011
All new applications for frequency assignments must have a maximum bandwidth of 12.5 kHz. This also applies to all license modifications to expand service area, increase antenna height, or increase power output.
Jan 1, 2011
All manufacturing of 25kHz equipment will cease.
Jan 1, 2013
All current licensees must be fully operational on 12.5 kHz equipment. Older wideband equipment will be illegal to operate. Users that continue operation from this date forward will be subject to FCC fines of $8000 per day or more.
What to do?
- Check your current license for wide or narrowband status
- If license is wideband, re-license to narrowband
- If your equipment is narrowband capable, reprogram equipment to narrowband operation
- If equipment is wideband only capable, you must purchase new equipment
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has put together a plan to achieve greater spectrum efficiency in the private land mobile radio bands. This is known as refarming or rebanding, and was made necessary by the ever-increasing demands on available radio spectrum.
The FCC’s answer was to effectively double the number of frequencies by cutting them in half, so to speak, by reducing the bandwidth from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz, or from wideband to narrowband.
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.
Starting the process now gives you more control of your destiny:
- Less likely to deal with interference issues
- More desirable frequencies
- Time to determine a plan of action for dealing with coverage change
- A comfortable timeline to handle filings and make system adjustments
As a rule of thumb, make December 2011 your deadline to guarantee completion in time.
- Re-programming: days to weeks
- FCC license changes: 1 to 6 months
- Canadian border license users: 6 to 12 months
- Budgeting/implementing new equipment: 6 to 24 months
Is your Private Radio System “Narrowband” compliant?
If you are unsure please contact us to complete an assessment of your existing licenses. We will simplify the process for you and help you secure results.
You need to start planning now to migrate to narrowband systems by assessing your current radio equipment and applying for new or modified licenses – the FCC deadline of January 1, 2013 is not very far away.
