The FCC’s Part 90 interim narrowbanding deadline is Jan. 1, 2011, after which the FCC will no longer accept applications for new 25 kHz wideband systems or modifications of wideband systems that would expand the existing interference contour. Licensees who plan on modifying their wideband system must submit the required contour analysis (foot-print study) along with their application.

APCO International’s AFC Engineering Section can help with creation of such studies at a very minimal cost.  Please contact Steve Makky at 386/944-2462 or Farokh Latif at 386/944-2476 for more information. In order to process affected pending applications prior to Jan. 1, 2011, APCO-AFC will no longer accept any applications for non-compliant wideband systems after Dec. 8, 2010.

On Dec. 6, the FCC issued the following public notice reminding licensees, frequency coordinators and equipment manufacturers of the narrowband migration deadlines in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 Mhz bands. (Click here to download a PDF of the notice.)

The Office of Engineering Technology, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau & Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau Remind Licensees, Frequency Coordinators & Equipment Manufacturers of Narrowband Migration Deadlines in the 150-174 Mhz & 421-512 Mhz Bands

This Public Notice reminds interested parties of the Federal Communication Commission’s deadlines for private land mobile radio services in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands to migrate to narrowband (12.5 kHz or narrower) technology.

Key Deadlines
Licensees should be aware of the following deadlines:

1) beginning January 1, 2011, the Commission will no longer accept applications for:

• new wideband 25 kHz (i.e., operating with only one voice path per 25 kHz of spectrum) operations, and
• modification of existing wideband 25 kHz stations that expand the authorized interference contour (19 dBu VHF, 21 dBu UHF); and

2) by January 1, 2013, Industrial/Business and Public Safety Radio Pool licensees must:

• operate on 12.5 kHz (11.25 kHz occupied bandwidth) or narrower channels, or
• employ a technology that achieves the narrowband equivalent of one channel per 12.5 kHz of channel bandwidth for voice and transmission rates of at least 4800 bits per second per 6.25 kHz for data systems operating with bandwidths greater than 12.5 kHz.

Equipment manufacturers should be aware that, beginning January 1, 2011, the Commission will no longer certify 150-174 MHz or 421-512 MHz band equipment capable of operating with only one voice path per 25 kHz of spectrum. Providers may manufacture and import previously-certified equipment with a 25 kHz mode until January 1, 2013.

For more information on narrowbanding and direct link to FCC’s newly created narrowbanding Web site, please visit www.apcoafc.org.