National Logistics Workshop
Communication Updates
“WHO DO YOU WANT TO TALK TO TOMORROW?”
2-WAY Radio Communications UPDATES
 NARROWBAND
 FREQUENCY CHANGES FROM the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS)
 FREQUENCY USE/MISSUSE
Understanding FCC Narrowbanding Requirements
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Key Points About FCC Narrowbanding Requirements
Overview
Deadlines
Planning for the Move to Narrowband
More Information on Communications Technology Issues
Key Points About FCC Narrowbanding Requirements
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Most current public safety radio systems use 25 kHz-wide channels.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that all non-Federal public safety
licensees using 25 kHz radio systems migrate to narrowband 12.5 kHz channels by January 1, 2013.
Agencies that do not meet the deadline face the loss of communication capabilities.
Agencies need to start planning now to migrate to narrowband systems by assessing their current radio
equipment and applying for new or modified licenses.
Overview
Figure 1: Narrowband channels allow additional channels to exist in the same spectrum.
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Private land mobile radio (LMR) systems—including municipal government and State and local public safety
systems—use blocks of radio spectrum called channels. (See Radio Spectrum9766.) Historically, LMR
systems have used 25 kHz-wide channels. In December 2004, the Federal Communications Commission
mandated that all private LMR users operating below 512 MHz move to 12.5 kHz narrowband voice channels
and highly efficient data channel operations by January 1, 2013. This migration complements a National
Telecommunications and Information Administration mandate for more rapid Federal agency migration to
12.5 kHz narrowband operation by January 1, 2008. The earlier Federal deadline affects State and local FCC
licensees that interface or share frequencies with Federal radio systems. Using narrowband channels will
ensure that agencies take advantage of more efficient technology and, by reducing channel width, will allow
additional channels to exist within the same spectrum space, as illustrated in figure 1.
Deadlines
To phase in the migration deadline of January 1, 2013, the FCC has established interim deadlines. The first
important deadline is January 1, 2011, after which:
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The FCC will not grant applications for new voice operations or applications to expand the authorized
contour of existing stations that use 25 kHz channels. Only narrowband authorizations will be granted.
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The FCC will prohibit manufacture or importation of new equipment that operates on 25 kHz
channels. This will reduce the availability of new equipment for legacy radio systems and will affect
how agencies maintain and upgrade older systems.
Planning for the Move to Narrowband
Public safety agencies need to aggressively develop a strategy to meet narrowband deadlines to avoid
cancellation of existing wideband FCC authorizations. Although the migration deadline may seem far off, the
long lead time and interim deadlines make it necessary for agencies to plan well in advance.
1. Assess current equipment and start planning.To prepare for the migration, public safety agencies should
start assessing their radio systems and planning for replacements or upgrades. They should inventory their
current equipment to ascertain what can be converted to 12.5 kHz and what will need to be replaced before
January 1, 2013. Most new equipment has the capability for both 25 kHz and 12.5 kHz operation because any
VHF/UHF radio equipment accepted by the FCC after February 14, 1997, had to have 12.5 kHz capability.
The 2.5 kHz narrowband equipment is available in both conventional analog FM and digital formats (such as
Project 25), so narrowband conventional FM systems will be compliant. Local governments should develop
contingency plans to accommodate system changes for both public safety and nonpublic safety systems.
2. Obtain new or modified licenses.To move to narrowband operations, agencies must apply for new
frequencies or modify existing licenses. An agency that is licensed for a 25 kHz-wide channel is not
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guaranteed two 12.5 kHz channels. Licensees will have to justify to the FCC why they need additional
channels. Consideration of applications for new narrowband licenses will follow the same process as a new
license application. As agencies migrate to narrowband operation, however, the pool of available frequencies
will increase.
FIRESCOPE COMMUNICATIONS GROUP UPDATES
 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed frequencies from the
FIRESCOPE Communications Plan.
 California Travel Channel
 Region 5 Tacticals
 Bureau of Land Management Air to Grounds
California Travel Channel
The biggest item is the change of TRAVEL CHANNEL usage. The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) has taken these frequencies and has left us with little to fend for. At this time, OES
(CalEMA) has released their net for use as a TRAVEL CHANNEL. This will stay until further notice.
The new Travel Channel comes from the California Emergency Services Radio System (CESRS)
The transmit is 154.980 and receive is 153.755, Tones are the Standard 16.
Reminder: your repeater frequencies, which are licensed to your Department, are only for
use within 25 miles of your respected city or county. Otherwise the same frequency could be
used for other departments. When traveling to an incident you are to STRICTLY use TRAVEL
CHANNEL.
Region 5 Tacticals and Bureau of Land Management Air/Ground
 Region 5 Tactical Channels
 Tactical 4 Rx./Tx. 166.5500
 Tactical 5 Rx./Tx. 167.1125
 Tactical 6 Rx./Tx. 168.2375
 Bureau of Land Management Air/Ground
 BLM AG 1 Rx./Tx. 168.5375
 BLM AG 2 Rx./Tx. 168.5750
 BLM AG 3 Rx./Tx. 169.2875
 BLM AG 4 Rx./Tx. 169.0875
Subject: FCC Launches new webpage dedicated to narrowbanding public safety communications www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
December 6, 2010
Robert Kenny 202-418-2668
robert.kenny@fcc.gov
FCC’s PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU LAUNCHES NEW
WEBPAGE DEDICATED TO NARROWBANDING PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS –
www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding
The Commission is Committed to Helping UHF/VHF Licensees Migrate to Narrower Bandwidth
Communications by the January 1, 2013 Compliance Deadline
Washington, D.C. – With the January, 1, 2013 narrowbanding compliance deadline approaching for
VHF/UHF public safety and commercial licensees in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands, the Federal
Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) today launched a new
webpage dedicated to providing information and assistance to licensees migrating their land mobile radio
systems from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz or narrower channel bandwidth.
Migration of these systems to narrowband operation will ultimately help reduce spectrum congestion, improve
communications, and increase access to the spectrum for users of the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands.
James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.), Chief of the Bureau said, “The FCC’s commitment to helping
public safety make the migration to narrowband communications by the January 2013 compliance deadline
remains strong. We are at a critical juncture in this process, especially with the deadline approaching, state
and local governments tightening budgets, and public safety officials working hard to explain their fiscal and
technical needs to lawmakers. We will continue to work with the public safety community in the next two
years to meet these challenges.”
The Bureau is committed to ensuring that public safety officials have the most current and up-to-date
information to make the transition. The new webpage will supplement the Bureau’s ongoing outreach and
educational efforts to increase the awareness of state and local public safety officials, lawmakers and
policymakers of the benefits of narrowbanding and the importance of meeting the 2013 narrowbanding
deadline.
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The webpage, www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding, includes the following information:
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Narrowbanding benefits for public safety users;
Frequently Asked Questions – answering technical and policy-related questions;
Links to information and resources regarding grant programs;
FCC Bureau-level contacts for those seeking additional information and assistance;
FCC News Releases on narrowbanding proceedings and initiatives;
A list of public safety frequency coordinators; and
Access to the FCC’s licensing database.
The Bureau has also established a new e-mail box, narrowbanding @fcc.gov, for licensees and other
interested parties to submit narrowbanding-related questions.
For additional information about the 2013 narrowbanding compliance deadline, please contact Roberto
Mussenden, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 202-418-1428 or via email:
roberto.mussenden@fcc.gov
VHF/UHF NARROWBANDING FAQ’s
What will happen if I fail to comply with the FCC Narrowbanding mandate? Can I continue to operate
at 25 kHz efficiency on a secondary status after January 1, 2013?
No. Licensees are prohibited from operating 25 kHz efficiency equipment after January 1, 2013.
Non-compliance will be considered a violation that could lead to FCC enforcement action, which
may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.
If I need to Narrowband, do I need to implement digital technology?
No. Licensees can operate in either analog or digital formats as long as they operate at 12.5 kHz
efficiency.
Does Narrowbanding require me to change frequencies or obtain new channels?
No. Narrowbanding does not require moving to another frequency band or different channels.
Licensees stay on the same channel center(s), but reduce the bandwidth of the channel(s) currently
used, from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz and change the emission designator on the license. Alternatively,
licensees may stay on the same 25 kHz channel but implement a 12.5 kHz equivalent technology on
that channel.
If I currently have a license for a 25 kHz channel, will I automatically be entitled to license two 12.5
kHz channels after I Narrowband?
No. Your 12.5 kHz channel will remain on the same 25 kHz channel center. Your current 25 kHz
channel will not be split into two 12.5 kHz channels. You will need to justify and apply for additional
12.5 kHz channels through a certified frequency coordinator.
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Will I lose coverage area when I Narrowband?
It has been estimated that Narrowband compliance can result in a 3 dB loss in signal strength.
However, this rule of thumb is based upon a "plain vanilla" Narrowbanding scenario where a 25 kHz
analog system converts to a 12.5 kHz analog system. Consult with a manufacturer and/or consulting
engineer for a better estimate of how Narrowbanding will affect your particular system.
Has the FCC established a schedule for mandatory migration to 6.25 kHz efficiency?
No. The Commission has not set any date by which licensees must operate in 6.25 kHz efficiency.
The current mandate only requires users to migrate to 12.5 kHz efficiency by January 1. 2013.
NARROWBAND SURVEY JANUARY 1, 2011
Based on survey results released and discussed during the FCC’s VHF and UHF narrowbanding workshop
held Jan. 26, many licensees haven’t begun the process of transitioning to 12.5-kilohertz operations.
Preliminary results from a survey conducted by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council
(NPST) found that many jurisdictions are narrowband capable, but are still operating in wideband mode; few
licensees have totally converted to narrowband operation. Repeaters and base stations pose a big problem,
even if mobiles and portables are ready. Most respondents need to purchase some additional equipment before
the Jan 1, 2013, deadline.
NPSTC Chair Ralph Haller presented early results of the 11-question survey covering nine subject areas
developed by NPSTC. More than 600 responses had been submitted.
Most of the respondents had established timetables for narrowbanding, and cited funding as an obstacle to
meet their deadlines. The costs for narrowbanding ranged from a few thousand dollars to millions of dollars,
according to the preliminary data. Many licensees are looking for grants to pay for narrowbanding, although
some have partial funding in place. Volunteer fire departments need donations to meet the mandate.
Nearly half of respondents said they plan to file waivers to get more time for narrowbanding, with many
undecided. FCC officials said at the workshop that waivers would be held to a high standard and not routinely
granted for narrowbanding.
Narrowbanding is affecting interoperability, with respondents noting that interoperability suffers if not all
users are narrowbanded, and communications range could be reduced. The majority of the NPSTC survey
respondents said they aren’t migrating to 700/800 MHz instead of narrowbanding in current VHF and UHF
spectrum because of propagation issues with 700/800 MHz, interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions
and the high cost to migrate to different frequencies.
Motorola Survey
Motorola conducted a survey of its customers, said Chuck Jackson, Motorola Solutions vice president of
North America government and commercial markets. The Motorola survey found 163,000 licensees and
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National Logistics Workshop
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249,000 call signs that still require narrowbanding. Of that call sign number, about one-third (77,000) who
need to narrowband are public-safety licensees, and 70 percent (172,000) are business/industrial licensees.
In response to a question asking respondents if they are aware of the mandate, 16 percent said they are
unaware of it. Another 15 percent said they are aware of the mandate but don’t have plans in place to address
it. About 44 percent said they are aware and have plans in place, and 25 percent said they are already
compliant with the mandate.
More public-safety licensees are aware of the mandate and have met it or have plans to meet it (84 percent)
than business/industrial licensees (59 percent), according to the Motorola results to date.
APCO Survey
A December survey by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International
showed more than 70,000 licenses have not added narrowband emission. For example, Connecticut reports 70
percent of licensees have not added narrowband emissions. California shows more than 8,200 licenses and
Alabama shows more than 2,200 licenses that aren’t yet narrowbanded, said Farokh Latif, director of APCO’s
spectrum management division.
Wisconsin and Illinois are two states that have established migration schedules through their state
interoperability executive council (SIEC) policies for all input/output (I/O) channels. Latif cited several
narrowbanding factors, including a lack of communications among agencies when converting and a lack of
feedback indicating that a system has been narrowbanded. He also cited a lack of qualified technicians,
coverage and simulcast issues, and funding impacts.
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National Logistics Workshop
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Existing Radios that meet/don’t meet new Narrowband Rule (12.5 KHz spacing)
THE FOLLOWING RADIOS ARE NARROWBAND COMPLIENT:
Locomotive:
Motorola Railroad Astro; Ritron RCCR; JEM; GE 12R
PORTABLES:
Motorola: P1225, HT1000, MT2000, MTS2000, JT1000; HT750, HT1250, EX500, EX600, XTS
Series, CP200, CP150, PR400, PR860, PR1500, MT1500, CP185, CP110.
Kenwood: NX200, TK5210, TK272G, TK290, TK2140, TK2180, TK230ZVK; (Following models
must have "N" suffix) TK240N, TK250N, TK260N.
Icom: IC-F50, IC-F11, IC-F14, IC- F3G, IC- F3021, IC-F33G, IC-F30GS.
Vertex: VX-160, VX-180, VX-210, VX-310, HX292UT, VX-400, VX-510, VX-800, VX900, VX600;
VX-231, VX-350, VX-410-420; VX510/537, VX-820, VX-920, VX-P820, VX-P920.
MOBILES:
Motorola: M1225, Astro, CM200, CM300, PM400, CDM750, CDM1250, CDM1550, XTL Series
(all), PM1500.
Kenwood: NX700, TK762, TK2160, TK2170, TK5710, TK7102H, TK7150, TK7160, TK7180.
Icom: IC-F121, IC-F5021, IC-F521, IC-F721, IC-F5021.
Vertex: VX-2100/2200, VX-4100/4200, CNT-5000, VX-5500, VX-6000, VX-7100/7200, VX-2000,
VX- 2500, VX-3000, VX-3200, VX-4000.
BASE/REPEATERS:
Motorola: XPR8300, R1225, MTR2000,
Kenwood: NXR7000, TKR750, TKR(B)751, TKR7400, TKR7500. Icom: IC-FR3000, IC-FR5000,
IC-F121S.
Vertex: VXR7000, VXR9000, VXR1000.
THE FOLLOWING RADIO MUST BE REPLACED
PORTABLES:
Motorola: HT600, MT1000, GP300, GP350, P100, P110, Saber, P200, SP50, HT50.
Kenwood: Any radio with "W" suffix: TK240W, TK250W, TK260W.
Vertex: FTH-2070, FTH- 7009, VX-200, VX-300, VX-500.
MOBILES:
Motorola: Maxtrac, Maratrac, GM300, M100, M216, M208, SM50, Syntor, Spectra, Micor, Mitrek.
Kenwood: Any radio with "W" suffix: TK702W, TK705W, YK760W, TK740W
Vertex: FTL-2011, FTL-7011, VXR-5000.
BASE/REPEATERS:
Motorola: MSR5000, MSF5000, R100, Desktrac.
Kenwood: TKR720, TKR740.
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Valuable Internet Sites
FIRESCOPE (Firefighting Resources of Southern California Organized for
Potential Emergencies)
www.firescope.org
NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center)
http://radios.nifc.gov/
NIFC (Communications)
http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/niicd/index.html
FCC (Federal Communications Commission )
http://www.fcc.gov/
www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding
APCO (Association of Public Communications Officials)
http://www.apcointl.org/
California Office of Emergency Services (OES/aka CalEMA)
www.oes.ca.gov
GRANTS AVAILABLE
State Homeland Security Program
www.fema.gov/government/grants/saa/index.shtm
Metropolitan Medical Response Systems
www.fema/gov/pdf/government/grant/2010/fy10_hsgp_kit.pdf
Operation Stonegarden Program
Justice Assistance Grants
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/grant/10jagallocations.html
Assistance to Firefighters Grant
www.firegrantsupport.com
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