AFC is looking for sponsors to help spread the word to public safety licensees regarding the narrowbanding deadline. There are approximately79,000licensees that have not yet converted from wideband operations. If these licensees do not comply with the narrowbanding deadline, they would be in jeopardy of loosing their license to operate. This is not acceptable for public safety communications. AFC will aggressively take action to notify all public safety licensees to avoid what could be a very costly oversight on their part.

Click here for FCC's new Narrowbanding website.

Narrowbanding Notice Released 12-23-2004 by FCC.

FCC executive summary of the order:

• FCC establishes January 1, 2013 deadline for migration to 12.5 KHz technology.

• Applications for wide band operations (25 KHz channels) will be accepted until January 1, 2011.
• Application for modification of operations that expand the authorized contour of an existing station using 25 KHz channels will be accepted until January 1, 2011. (Also applies to "new" systems submitted for licensing.)
• Manufacture and importation of any equipment on 25 KHz channel will be permitted until January 1, 2013.[Updated]
• Part 90 paging-only frequencies are exempt from this ruling.

PROMOTION OF SPECTRUM EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES ON CERTAIN PART 90

FREQUENCIES. Addressed eighteen petitions for reconsideration of therules adopted in the Second Report and Order proceeding to promote migration to narrowband (12.5 KHZ) technology in the private land mobile radio (PLMR) services. (Dkt No. 99-87). Action by: By the Commission: Adopted: 12/20/2004 by MO&O. (FCC No. 04-292).

Links to FCC Documents:

• http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-292A1.doc
• http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-292A1.pdf
• http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-292A1.txt

To view the Narrowbanding FAQ, click here.

What This Means To Users

All existing Part 90 radio systems operating on frequencies between 150-512 MHz have eight years to convert those systems either to 12.5 kHz bandwidth or to a technology that provides one voice path per 12.5 kHz of bandwidth or provides a data rate of 4800 bps/6.25 kHz.

12.5 kHz Conversion Deadline for Existing VHF/UHF Systems

• Industrial/Business Pool licensees conversion deadline remains January 1, 2013
• Public Safety Pool licensees conversion deadline has been changed to January 1, 2013
  • After this date, all systems must have converted either to 12.5 kHz bandwidth or to a technology that provides one voice channel per 12.5 kHz or operates at a data rate 4800 bps per 6.25 kHz of bandwidth.

Interim Deadlines for VHF/UHF Systems & Equipment

• New applications for 25 kHz bandwidth will be accepted until January 1, 2011
  • After this date, applications for greater than 12.5 kHz bandwidth will be accepted only if the equipment meets the efficiency standard of one voice channel/12.5 kHz bandwidth or 4800 bps/6.25 kHz (9600 bps for 12.5 kHz; 19.2 bps for 25 kHz)
• Modifications of existing 25 kHz systems will be accepted until January 1, 2011
  • After this date, applications to modifications to 25 kHz systems which result in an expanded service contour will be accepted only if the equipment meets the efficiency standard of one voice channel/12.5 kHz bandwidth or for data, 4800 bps/6.25 kHz (9600 bps for 12.5 kHz; 19.2 Kbps for 25 kHz)
• 25 kHz equipment can be manufactured and imported until January 1, 2013.[Updated]
  • After this date, equipment operating at greater than 12.5 kHz bandwidth must meet the efficiency standard of one voice channel/12.5 kHz bandwidth or 4800 bps/6.25 kHz.
• 90.203(j) has been amended to allow certification of equipment operating at 25 kHz after January 1, 2005 if it meets the efficiency standards listed above. Effective date of 90.203(j)(5) has been stayed until the FCC releases a decision on the Manufacturers Petition for stay. (See next article).
• The FCC also revised its rules to exempt Part 90 paging-only frequencies from the narrowbanding requirements.