APCO International Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International

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Special Fees for Interoperability Channels

For more information on Interoperability Frequencies, visit APCO's SIEC/Interopeability Page

No charge when included on any other application with fee-able non interoperability charges.

If submitted alone as a new license:

Same fees as normal Minor Modifications (see AFC Coordination Fees page).

• $50 per application
• Plus $10 for each Schedule D
• Plus $10 for each line item on Schedule H pages changed, added, or deleted.
• $100 minimum fee.

Interoperability channels as designated by the FCC, are by definition intended to be used for “two or more different entities to interact with one another and to exchange information…”  (FCC 90.7 - Definitions for “Interoperability”).  Consequently, normal frequency coordination to prevent inter-agency interference (contact) is not necessary.  To help promote the use and utilization of the FCC designated interoperability channels, APCO has exclusive coordination fees for these channels.

Frequencies Included in APCO’s special interoperability fee structure include the following:

National 800 MHz NPSPAC Channels

866.0125/821.0125 - Calling NPSPAC 1
866.5125/821.5125 - Tactical NPSPAC 2
867.0125/822.0125 - Tactical NPSPAC 3
867.5125/822.5125 - Tactical NPSPAC 4
868.0125/823.0125 - Tactical NPSPAC 5

National Police VHF Channel

155.475

Use is limited to criteria set forth under Part 90.20 frequency limitation (41)   ”This frequency is available for use in police emergency communications networks operated under statewide law enforcement emergency communications plans”.  Any request for this frequency under I/O pricing must be accompanied by an affidavit indicating the use of this frequency is consistent with a state plan officially recognized by the state in which it will be used.

VHF/UHF Interoperability Channels  (VTAC/UTAC Channels)

Use of the following frequencies must be compliant with FCC limitations (80) (…this frequency is available primarily for public safety interoperability only communications…) and limitation (27) (narrow band emission only).

An eligible entity must have a license to operate a base or control station on these channels.  Public safety licensees who are eligible to hold a Part 90 license, or who are otherwise licensed under Part 90, can operate mobile units on these channels without an individual license.

The Third MO&O states, "Prior toJanuary 1, 2005, interoperability use will be permitted only on a secondary basis to existing users; that is, interoperability transmissions can be made only when the channel is clear and on a non-interference basis." Particularly related to use as base or control stations licensed on these channels, the FCC will license interoperability use on these channels, the FCC anticipates a condition on any such license making interoperability communications secondary to the existing licensees until January 1, 2005. Incumbent operations licensed and operating on these frequencies prior to December 7, 2000 in non-interoperability manners are consider to be co-primary until January 1, 2005 at which time they will become secondary to any interoperability operations.

VHF

151.1375

154.4525

155.7525

158.7375

159.4725

UHF

453.2125

453.4625

453.7125

453.8625

458.2125

458.4625

458.7125

458.8625

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