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DA 12-1386
August 22, 2012
Enforcement Advisory No. 2012-05
FCC NARROWBANDING RULES
ENFORCEMENT BUREAU REMINDS PRIVATE LAND MOBILE LICENSEES AND EQUIPMENT
MANUFACTURERS OF THE JANUARY 1, 2013 DEADLINE FOR TRANSITIONING TO
NARROWBAND TECHNOLOGY
To promote the efficient use of private land mobile radio (PLMR) spectrum
and to facilitate the introduction of advanced technologies, the
Commission has adopted rules requiring certain PLMR licensees and
manufacturers to transition from wideband technology (i.e., systems using
25 kHz of bandwidth) to narrowband technology (i.e., systems using 12.5
kHz or narrower bandwidth) by January 1, 2013. The FCC's Enforcement
Bureau is issuing this Enforcement Advisory to remind all private land
mobile radio licensees operating in the 150-174 MHz and 421-470 MHz
frequency bands (VHF/UHF bands) that they must migrate their systems to
narrowband technology by January 1, 2013. The Bureau also reminds
manufacturers (subject to the limited exceptions noted below) that they
must cease manufacturing and importing equipment that is capable of 25 kHz
mode operation in the VHF/UHF bands by the narrowbanding transition
deadline.
What must private land mobile licensees operating in the VHF/UHF bands do
as of January 1, 2013?
* Operate on 12.5 kHz (11.25 kHz occupied bandwidth) or narrower
channels, or
* Employ narrowband-equivalent technology, i.e., a technology that
achieves the narrowband equivalent of at least one channel per 12.5
kHz of channel bandwidth for voice and transmission rates of at least
4800 bits per second per 6.25 kHz for data systems operating with
bandwidths greater than or equal to 12.5 kHz.
* PLMR licensees are not required, at this time, to modify their
licenses to remove wideband emission designators. However, the
presence of a wideband emission designator on a license does not
authorize operation after January 1, 2013 that does not comply with
the narrowbanding standards.
What are manufacturers required to do as of January 1, 2013? Except under
certain limited circumstances, equipment manufacturers may no longer
manufacture and import previously-certified equipment capable of operating
with only one voice path per 25 kHz of spectrum in the 150-174 MHz or
421-470 MHz bands.
What if private land mobile licensees or manufacturers need more time? The
Commission has long emphasized its commitment to the January 1, 2013
deadline for migration to narrowband technology. PLMR licensees or
manufacturers that anticipate the need for additional time beyond the
January 1, 2013 deadline to complete the narrowbanding of their systems or
to bring their equipment into compliance with the equipment certification
rules, respectively, must request a waiver. However, requests for waivers
of the deadline will be subject to a high level of scrutiny under the
waiver standard set forth in Section 1.925 of the Commission's rules.
What are the penalties for failure to comply with the January 1, 2013
deadline? The Enforcement Bureau is committed to aggressively enforcing
the narrowbanding transition deadline and violators may be subject to
enforcement action. Penalties for non-compliance may include license
revocation, and/or monetary forfeitures of up to $16,000 for each such
violation or each day of a continuing violation, and up to $112,500 for
any single act or failure to act.
Need More Information? Detailed information and references concerning
narrowbanding are available at www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding. For further
information, licensees and frequency coordinators may contact Mr. Melvin
Spann of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, (202)
418-1333, Melvin.Spann@fcc.gov, or Mr. Roberto Mussenden of the Public
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Policy Division, (202) 418-1428,
Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov or narrowbanding@fcc.gov. Equipment
manufacturers may contact Mr. Andy Leimer of the Office of Engineering and
Technology, (301) 362-3049, Andrew.Leimer@fcc.gov. For more information
regarding enforcement of the narrowbanding rules, contact the Enforcement
Bureau at (202) 418-7450. Media inquiries should be directed to Mr.
William Davenport, William.Davenport@fcc.gov, (202) 418-1034.
To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to
fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at
202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). You may also contact the
Enforcement Bureau on its TTY line at 202-418-1148 for further information
about this Enforcement Advisory, or the FCC on its TTY line at
1-888-Tell-FCC (1-888-835-5322).
Issued by: Chief, Enforcement Bureau
-FCC-
See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 90.203(j), 90.209(b).
In April 2012, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety
and Homeland Security Bureau waived, on their own motion, the
narrowbanding requirement for licensees in the 470-512 MHz band. See
Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the Communications Act of
1934 as Amended, Order, WT Docket 99-87, DA 12-642 (OET, PSHSB, WTB) (rel.
Apr. 26, 2012). The waiver applies only to frequencies in the 470-512 MHz
band. Therefore, licensees that operate in the 470-512 MHz band and the
150-174 MHz or 421-470 MHz bands must meet the narrowbanding transition
deadline with respect to their frequencies below 470 MHz.
Beginning January 1, 2011, the Commission no longer certified equipment
capable of operating with only one voice path per 25 kHz of spectrum in
the 150-174 MHz or 421-512 MHz bands. Manufacturers may continue to
manufacture and import equipment that is capable of 25 kHz mode operation
in the 470-512 MHz band as long as the equipment also has a narrowband
emission designator (12.5 kHz and/or 6.25 kHz). In addition, there are
limited circumstances under which manufacturers may not be subject to the
January 1, 2013 deadline. See 47 C.F.R. S:S: 90.203(j)(7) and (8). For
additional guidance from OET regarding equipment authorization, visit
https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/kdb/forms/FTSSearchResultPage.cfm?switch=P&id=20292.
See Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the Communications Act of
1934 as Amended; Promotion of Spectrum Efficient Technologies on Certain
Part 90 Frequencies, Order, 25 FCC Rcd 8861, 8866 P: 12 (2010).
See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau, and Office of Engineering and Technology Provide Reminder
of January 1, 2013 Deadline for Transition to Narrowband Operations in the
150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz Bands and Guidance for Submission of Requests
for Waiver and Other Matters, Public Notice, 26 FCC Rcd 9647 (2011); see
also Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau Provide Supplemental Guidance for Licensees in the 150-174
MHz and 421-512 MHz Bands Seeking Waivers of the January 1, 2013
Narrowbanding Deadline, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 1936 (WTB, PSHSB 2012).
47 C.F.R. S:1.925.
See 47 U.S.C. S:S: 401, 501, 503; 47 C.F.R. S: 1.80.
Page 2 of 2
PUBLIC NOTICE
Page 1of 2
1
PUBLIC NOTICE
FCC ENFORCEMENT ADVISORY
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554