Newsroom

Date:07/25/03

FCC Posts Final Rules for Narrow-band Operations

If an agency wishes to obtain new licenses, or it needs to modify a license (significantly expand a system) that agency will soon be required to move the entire system to narrow-band technology. This could require new radios, reprogramming existing radios, or wholesale upgrade of an entire system. (Note that a system needs to switch-over entirely, and not try to move only some units to narrowband.)

THIS AFFECTS ALL FREQUENCIES AND ALL AGENCIES.

Please review the information found at: www.MABASRADIO.org which includes the Federal Register links.

If an agency needs to update or modify a license, and must remain wideband, it needs to submit the modification to a public-safety frequency coordinator prior to November 2003 in order to comply with the January 2004 date. After November, coordinators will likely reject such modifications and will advise the applicant to re-apply for the narrow-band emission type.

It appears that the FCC will NOT entertain waivers. It also seems unlikely that political pressure will help. This has been on the roadmap for about 7 years, so this should not be a surprise.

The MABAS Radio Committee is taking steps for fully understand the impact on the statewide communications plan, as well as the development of specific recommendations. Those issues will be widely distributed when available.