RFSTUF

LICENSEES, FREQUENCY COORDINATORS, AND EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS REMINDED OF NARROWBAND MIGRATION DEADLINES IN THE 150-174 MHz AND 421-512 MHz BANDS

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-09-2589A1.pdf

…Licensees of stations that already satisfy the narrowbanding requirements because their authorized bandwidth does not exceed 12.5 kHz do not need to take any action to notify the Commission that the station has met the narrowbanding deadline.

Licensees of stations that currently are authorized to operate with a bandwidth exceeding 12.5 kHz that are transitioning to 12.5 kHz or narrower operation must file a modification application to either add a narrowband emission designator or change the wideband emission designator to a narrowband emission designator. The licensee will not need to take any additional action to notify the Commission that the station has met the narrowbanding deadline. Adding or changing an emission designator for an existing frequency does not trigger a new construction requirement, so the licensee will not need to file a new construction notification.

Note: Many stations are or will be authorized to operate on their assigned frequencies with multiple authorized bandwidths, including both wideband 25 kHz emissions and 12.5 kHz or narrower emissions. It is not necessary for licensees of such stations to delete the wideband 25 kHz emission designator in order to demonstrate compliance with the January 1, 2013 deadline. Instead, absent information to the contrary, stations that were authorized to operate with both wideband and narrowband emissions prior to January 1, 2013 will initially be presumed to be operating only with narrowband emissions (i.e., that the wideband mode has been disabled) after January 1, 2013. (All equipment certified since 1997 has been required to have a 12.5 kHz operational mode. Licensees should check with their radio equipment vendor to determine how to ensure that the equipment is operating in the 12.5 kHz mode.) The Commission also will have discretion to inquire of licensees to verify that they are operating in compliance with the Commission’s rules. …