The Narrowband Transition

Nebraska Council of Regions WebinarJune 20, 2011

Jim LundstedRegional Coordinator, Region VII

Office of Emergency Communications

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Topics

Why is it Necessary?

Who is Affected?

Key Deadlines & Exceptions

What are the Challenges?

Sample Steps to Narrowband

Frequently Asked Questions

Participant Questions

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Why is it Necessary?

The Public Safety community needs more channels in the 150-174 MHz (VHF) and 421-512 (UHF) bands.

To help satisfy Public Safety’s demand, the FCC is requiring all non-federal licensees in these bands to migrate their wideband 25 kHz voice channels to narrowband 12.5 kHz channels or to a technology that provides the equivalent of one voice path per 12.5 kHz of bandwidth or provides a data rate of 4800 bits per second per 6.25 kHz of bandwidth.

Federal agencies were required to narrowband on frequencies assigned to them by NTIA by 2005.

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Interim Deadline (January 1, 2011)New and expanded VHF/UHF systems must comply with 12.5 kHz standard

Final Deadline (January 1, 2013)All VHF/UHF systems must comply

with 12.5 kHz standard

Timeline of the FCC’s Narrowbanding Regulatory Policy Implementation

1997 --12.5 kHz Equipment Becomes Available

2004 -- January 2013 Narrowbanding

Deadline Announced

1995 – Original Narrowbanding Rules Adopted

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Who is Affected?

Typical VHF & UHF two way radio licensees and users include: Hospitals, Ambulance & Emergency Medical Services Local Municipal Government Agencies & Public Works Departments Public Safety, Disaster Response, EOC's & Search & Rescue City, County & State Government Agencies Wireless Data, SCADA, Telemetry & Private Radio Paging Networks Industrial Plants, Manufacturing & Warehousing Facilities Electric, Gas, Wind, Solar Energy Utilities Mining & Natural Resource Exploration Companies Highway, Railroad, Subway, Taxi, & Bus Transportation Services Delivery, Logistics, Freight, & Shipping Operations Airport Passenger Facilities, Security & Tarmac Operations Marine Terminals & Port Operations Automobile Towing & Heavy Equipment Recovery Companies Trash, Refuse, Recycling & Disposal Services Farming, Ranching, Agricultural & Nursery Services Construction & On-Site Facilities Maintenance Services School Districts, Universities & Colleges Student Transportation & School Bus Operations Convention Centers, Hotels & Hospitality Services Coliseums, Sports Arenas, Stadiums & Golf Courses …… plus many others!

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Key Deadlines

As of January 1, 2011, the FCC no longer accepts applications for new VHF/UHF systems that operate on channels exceeding 12.5 kHz channels, unless the equivalency standard is met.

FCC first ordered that after January 1, 2011 they would prohibit manufacture or import of equipment that operates on a bandwidth greater that 12.5 KHz; however,

The FCC has approved a petition filed by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) which now gives licensees the flexibility to continue to obtain 25 kHz equipment for existing systems until January 1, 2013.

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Key Deadlines

After January 1, 2011, the FCC will no longer accept applications for modification of VHF or UHF systems that increases the licensees authorized interference contour if it operates on channels exceeding 12.5 kHz, unless the equivalency standard is met.

As of January 1, 2013, all licensees must operate on channels with a bandwidth of 12.5 kHz , unless the equivalency standard is met.

For our planning purposes, the narrowband deadline is December 31, 2012.

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Exceptions

Paging-only channels – 152.0075 MHz and 157.4500 MHz are not subject to the narrowbanding mandate. There are also twelve channels reserved for paging in the VHF and UHF bands in the Business/Industrial pool that are exempted from narrowbanding.

Your agency may be conducting paging on channels that are not the designated paging-only channels. If so, your paging system must be narrowbanded.

Does your agency have public alerting systems (radio receivers or warning sirens) or remote control by radio (SCADA systems) that need to also be narrowband?

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Narrowbanding Challenges

Planning

Funding

Resources

Maintaining Operable/Interoperable Communications

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Narrowbanding Challenges - Planning

Identify personnel and resources to manage and support the transition.

Inventory and evaluate equipment to determine what is narrowband-capable and what equipment must be replaced.

Determine the costs and identify a funding mechanism.

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Narrowbanding Challenges - Planning

Establish internal planning meetings and with neighboring jurisdictions to coordinate your plan.

Establish a schedule within your jurisdiction and with neighboring jurisdictions as your agency transitions to narrowband operation.

Remember to share your plans with any State and Federal agencies you work with.

Identify solutions to maintain operable/interoperable communications during the transition.

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Narrowbanding Challenges - Planning

Although P25 digital radios satisfy narrowbanding requirements, it is not necessary to switch to a digital system in order to narrowband.

Many radios currently being used are narrowband capable but may not be digital or P25 compatible –ensure you are not buying new equipment when it is unnecessary; however,

Compare resources and costs to narrowband with your other communications needs to determine if changes to digital/P25, to trunking, or to other frequencies are appropriate.

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Narrowbanding Challenges - Planning

Range of radios may be reduced.

This problem is more acute in older narrowband-capable radios, which may have simply been retrofitted with narrowband receiver filters.

Some jurisdictions may need to install more towers, or increase the height of existing towers to maintain current coverage. Adding towers, increasing height or antenna systems or increasing transmitter power will require frequency coordination.

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Narrowbanding Challenges - Funding

Convincing officials that this isn’t a negotiable expenditure.

Funding to retune (reprogram) or replace radios. Allocating money for equipment “retuning” or

purchasing in a limited number of budget cycles. Identifying grant opportunities which may be used for:

Replacing non-narrowband capable equipment; Retuning existing equipment to comply with the

narrowband conversion; Acquiring or upgrading tower sites needed to

maintain coverage after narrowband conversion.

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Narrowbanding Challenges - Resources

Limited staff resources to: Develop and manage the transition plan; Provide informational awareness and user training; Accomplish licensing.

Limited technical resources to implement the plan. May need to hire technicians/engineers/consultants. Make sure that the local radio shop you choose can

support your requirements and schedule.

Public Safety Technical Assistance Toolshttp://www.publicsafetytools.info

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Narrowband License Status Tool

17http://www.publicsafetytools.info/start_nb_status.php

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Narrowbanding Challenges – Maintaining Operability/Interoperability

Multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency communications typically used for mutual aid response may not be possible if group members narrowband at different times. Ideal, but probably not feasible to assume that everyone in

your county or region will narrowband at the same time. Risk management planning decision that will affect virtually

every jurisdiction’s statewide interoperability governance boards.

If possible, schedule narrowband change-over for a time when scheduled services are being performed or when system usage is low.

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Sample Steps

Assign personnel to lead effort Verify that you have a current and valid FCC license Communicate and coordinate with interoperability groups and

surrounding jurisdictions Inventory and assess current equipment for narrowbanding

capabilities Identify equipment to be retuned or replaced Consider any additional needs, such as P25 Get quotes from vendors for equipment and/or services Request funding or apply for grants Schedule narrowbanding, considering resources and any

impacts on interoperability Switch to narrowband Modify FCC licenses to remove wideband emission designators

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will agencies have to buy new equipment? Not usually: most radios built since February 14, 1997 are narrowband capable. They just need to be reprogrammed/retuned; however, don’t just assume this capability – test it.

Does this apply to both conventional and trunked systems? Yes, if the operation is in the 150-174 or 421-512 MHz bands

Must agencies implement digital technology when using narrowband channels? The FCC has not mandated the use of digital radios.

Will agencies end up with twice as many channels? No. If you need additional channels you will need to justify them in accordance with the FCC’s rules.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Must 800 MHz systems be narrowbanded? The FCC’s current narrowbanding mandate does not apply to radio spectrum above 512 MHz. Narrowbanding and 800 MHz rebanding are two separate initiatives.

Will paging channels need to be narrowbanded? Yes and No. Paging channels 152.0075 MHz and 157.4500 MHz can remain wideband channels. If you use other channels to page, then you must narrowband your paging system.

Will narrowbanding reduce overall coverage? Not in all cases. Only a thorough analysis of your equipment and coverage requirements can tell for sure.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Will agencies need to change frequencies? No. Agencies may still operate on the same frequency; however, the bandwidth will be reduced.

• My local radio shop wants to add a third-party aftermarket device and do some “tweaking” to narrowband my wideband-only radios. Is this permissible? No. The FCC has ruled that the radio must be designed and type accepted by the original manufacturer to be narrowbanded or it can’t be used after December 31, 2012.

Will the FCC grant waivers to allow continued operation at 25 kHz after January 1, 2013? It’s possible; but don’t count on it.The FCC has taken a hard stand on non-compliance. Failure to narrowband may subject an agency to FCC actions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a second narrowband phase?

Beginning on January 1, 2013, to be certified, equipment manufacturers of VHF and UHF equipment must certify that their equipment is 6.25 kHz-capable (this was changed from January 1, 2011). The FCC expects licensees will ultimately use equipment that operates on a bandwidth of 6.25 kHz or less; however, there is no date for a second phase of VHF/UHF narrowbanding to 6.25 kHz channels.*

There is an FCC rule for 700 MHz users to migrate to 6.25 kHz-channel equivalency on January 1, 2017 but not other licensees in current regulations.

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Final Thoughts

Agencies cannot simply ignore the FCC’s rules. Your agency can seek a waiver, but don’t count on approval. FCC staff are on record stating agencies should not count on waivers. In their words: requests for waiver “must meet a high standard and are not routinely granted.”

After January 1, 2013, wideband operations in these two bands will be a violation of the FCC regulations. The FCC can take enforcement action, including admonishments, monetary forfeitures, and/or license revocation.

In addition, licensees who have not completed narrowbanding by this date may experience interference on their systems or interfere with other systems. As a wideband user, your agency could be ordered to cease operations if your system is causing interference.

Questions?

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Resources and References

• FCC Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau FAQShttp://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/public-safety-spectrum/narrowbanding-faq.html

• OEC’s Practical Guide to Narrowbanding (Short URL) http://go.usa.gov/Wk1

• IAFC’s “FCC Narrowbanding Mandate: A Public Safety Guide for Compliance” http://go.usa.gov/Wkb

• State of Vermont’s “Step by Step” Narrowbanding FCC License Modification Guide http://go.usa.gov/Wk9

• National Institute of Justice: Understanding FCC Narrowbanding Requirements http://www.nij.gov/pubs-sum/217865.htm

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OECoec@dhs.gov

WEBwww.dhs.gov, search keyword: OEC

Jim LundstedOffice (573) 298-0484 Mobile (202) 630-1177

James.Lundsted@dhs.gov

Contact Information

28Office of Emergency Communications