December 21st, 2012 came and the world did not come to end. Take that Mayan calendar!!!
The FCC's January 1st, 2013 narrowbanding deadline has also come and gone. The world may not have come to an end, but that does not mean the FCC is finished yet. The Commission has promised to release a public notice in April that will detail their enforcement plans. We have been told that this will include an audit letter to all existing licensees who do not appear to have complied with this mandate. By way of background, the mandate stated that operators whose frequencies fall between 150- 470 MHz are required to convert their wideband equipment over to 11.25 KHz equivalent technology.
Below are a list of frequently asked questions about the migration to this new narrowband technology and what were up against:
Q: What if I did not convert my radios over to 11.25 KHz equivalent technology?
A: The FCC will expect you to cease operations or be covered by a granted waiver.
Q: Can I get into trouble if I am still operating above 11.25 KHz bandwidth?
A: Yes, the FCC has already released an enforcement advisory detailing fines of up to $112,500 (see DA 12-1386 8-22-12)
Q: Can I still modify my license?
A: Yes, the FCC is still allowing these modifications, but its not clear for how long.
Q: Will the FCC reimburs the cost of buying new radios?
A: No, but there were a few grants that were offered to public safety entities early on.
Q: Are all licenses or services included in this requirement.
A: No, GMRS, FRS, MURS and the Amateur Ham bands are all exempt. This covers only part 90. Some paging frequencies are also exempted.
Q: How many licenses are still not narrowbanded?
A: Close to 30% at least on paper, appear to be non-compliant
Q: Is there an easy way to modify my license?
A: Yes, the Commission modified the Universal License System (ULS) to allow licensees to easily access and make fee exempt modifications for narrowbanding. Look for the Narrowband only login. If you have your FCC Registration Number (FRN) and your password, its a snap!
Stay tuned for more information about this and more about the FCC or contact
David Smith
FCC FORMS
david@fccforms.com
