Photo Kenwood USA

By Chris Kindelspire

As of Jan. 1, 2013, all FCC Part 90 licensees operating in VHF spectrum 150–174 MHz and UHF spectrum based on location 421–512 MHz must reduce their emission to 12.5 kHz or less or use technology that provides an equivalency to 12.5 kHz in a 25 kHz emission.

The FCC’s ultimate goal is for 6.25 kHz or equivalent emission in the future. As of today, the FCC has not set a date for when this must take place.

There are exceptions to every rule. The only exception to the FCC narrowbanding mandate is that paging-only channels are not subject to it. But don’t get excited because only two VHF frequencies in the public safety pool are exempt: 152.0075 MHz and 157.450 MHz.

There are many myths associated with narrowbanding. One such myth: “When I narrowband, I will realize two frequencies from the migration.” Fact: You are reducing the emission of the current frequency, not dividing the frequency you’re using from 25 kHz into two separate 12.5 kHz frequencies.

You may be asking, “When I narrowband, will I have to change frequencies?” The answer is, no. If your current frequencies are fine, you don’t have to change them.

So what must you do as an affected licensee?

Verify that your agency has a current valid FCC Part 90 license, and add narrowband emissions to it.

This is a great opportunity to make administrative updates to your license. Many of you will find that the listed contact information is for an individual who has retired, the address is incorrect or, worse, a change in technical parameters relating to the transmitter location, antenna height or transmit power has occurred.

If you haven’t checked recently, you might find your license has expired. Operating a motor vehicle with an expired license can get you a ticket, and operating a radio with an expired license can get you fined or knocked off the air. Your frequency coordinator can help get you licensed again, but there might now be power or height restrictions to comply with. Learn more at www.apcoafc.org.

The FCC’s Universal Licensing System (www.fcc.gov/uls) is where you’ll go to make the verifications if paper copies of the license are not available.

Conduct a full inventory of all radios and stations in your system. Determine what equipment can be reprogrammed and what needs to be replaced.

Secure your budget for services and equipment.

Develop a wideband-to-narrowband system conversion plan that addresses replacement and installation of any narrowband-capable, off-site base or repeater station; and the actual reprogramming of all the radios in a system as close to simultaneously as possible. Work closely with a professional two-way radio service vendor.

Schedule and coordinate the actual system conversion. Take into account shared frequencies with your neighbors and interoperable frequencies that are currently wideband.

Modify your FCC license to remove any wideband emission designators.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan; however, it will put you in a better position to begin the process. Work with your neighboring agencies, fire associations and State Interoperable Executive Committees (SIECs). Many of these have already begun planning in some capacity.

When planning, don’t forget frequencies that you share with neighbors. It’s important that narrowbanding be a planned effort among all users. Communications between wideband and narrowband radios is a recipe for disaster.

Your world will be much simpler after narrowbanding when it comes to shared frequencies for mutual aid that are used regionally or statewide. If your agency is part of a regional or countywide Tactical Interoperable Communications Plan (TICP), this will be a huge step in helping you identify frequencies, equipment, agencies and migration strategies that all work together. Leverage the local governance committee for the planning process, along with mutual aid associations and State Interoperable Executive Committees. Many of these organizations have developed migration plans already. In Illinois, the Technology Working Group of the SIEC has worked with a number of associations throughout the state and has published a calendar with the planned migration of mutual aid frequencies throughout the state. Check it out at www.ilapco.org.

Also, check out the FCC’s narrowbanding website at www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding.

About the Author
Chris Kindelspire is director of electronic operations for Grundy County Emergency Telephone System Board, Morris, Ill. He is an Illinois APCO AFC advisor and a member of the Narrowbanding Taskforce created by the Illinois Chapter.

Adapted with permission from “730 Days & Counting,” originally published in January 2011 Public Safety Communications.

Originally published July 2011 in Narrowband Now: Strategies for Meeting the Jan. 1, 2013, Deadline, a supplement to APCO International’s Public Safety Communications sponsored by Aeroflex Inc., Kenwood USA Corp., Motorola and Simulcast Solutions LLC.

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