Narrowbanding : What is it and and How Will it Affect Me?

1. Narrowbanding: What is it and and How Will it Affect Me?

2. What is Narrowbanding? • FCC mandated process to require a channel efficiency of 1 voice channel per 12.5 kHz of spectrum for all users operating between 150-174 and 421-512 MHz. • Many Public Safety Licensees use 25 kHz (wideband) channels. Narrowbanding requires users to migrate to 12.5 kHz (narrowband) channels. • Requires data efficiency of 4800 bps for a 6.25 kHz channel, or 9600 bps for a 12.5 kHz narrowband channel.

3. What is the Deadline? • End of 2010 – At the end of 2010, the FCC will no longer grant New or MOD Apps for WB operations. In addition, the FCC will prohibit the manufacture or importation of equipment that operates on a 25 kHz BW. • End of 2012– At the end of 2012, all users operating between 150-174 and 421-512 MHz must be operating on a 12.5 kHz voice channel efficiency, 9600 bps (or equivalent) data rate. Users who are not NB compliant by this deadline risk cancellation of their FCC licenses.

4. Wideband Radio Users • Users with wideband-only radios in their fleet likely have associated wideband infrastructure which may need to be replaced. • If you have both dual-mode and wideband-only radios in your fleet, your dual-mode radios are probably operating in the wideband mode, and will need to be reprogrammed.

5. 6.25 kHz Bandwidth • After 2010, all Part 90 transmitters certified by the FCC must be capable of operating with a channel efficiency of one voice channel per 6.25 kHz of bandwidth. • No current FCC deadline for required migration to 6.25 kHz bandwidth.

6. List of Some Dual-Mode Capable Radios

7. Impact on Coverage • Transition from wideband to narrowband on an analog system will result in a reduction in coverage of about 3 dB. • A coverage analysis will be necessary to insure coverage reductions will not result in the loss of radio coverage in key areas, such as portable in-building coverage. • Increased power or additional transmitter locations may be required to account for lost coverage.

8. Coverage Loss Example Before After (3dB Loss)

9. Impact on Data Rates • Narrowbanding of data systems is intended to encourage development and use of most efficient data modulation techniques. • Users may continue to operate WB as long as they meet the equivalent efficiency requirements of 4800 bps for a 6.25 kHz channel (19200 bps for a 25 kHz channel.) • Equipment utilized in data systems that cannot meet the FCC’s efficiency requirement will need to be replaced.

10. Going Digital • Digital upgrades are not required as a result of narrowbanding. • Many agencies are using the costs associated with the replacement of non-compliant equipment to build-out digital systems. • Many new radios are capable of operating in analog and digital modes.

11. Transitional Problems • Communications between WB & NB radios is possible, although at a reduced performance. • Voice quality will be reduced, and data corruption will increase. • Radios and equipment must be upgraded expeditiously to insure minimal cutover time.

12. Will This Affect Interoperability? • Mismatch between WB & NB radios is inevitable between interoperating agencies. • Agencies may coordinate their narrowbanding cutover to insure minimal mismatch time. • Check with your region’s interoperability committee to see if plans have been put into place for narrowbanding.

13. Interoperability Channels • While not required, narrowbanding provides a good opportunity to add InterOp channels to your system. • Channels immediately adjacent to InterOp channels in the VHF and UHF bands have already narrowbanded. If you are operating adjacent to an InterOp channel with a wideband system, then your operations are on a secondary basis. If you are utilizing an InterOp channel for regular communications, plan on relocating.

14. Spectrum and Licenses • All licensed frequencies will remain the same. No frequency exchange is required. • FCC licenses must be updated to reflect a narrowband emission designator. Narrowband emission designators include 11k0F3E (voice), 11k0F1D (data), and 11k0F2D (data). • Updating the emission designator requires frequency coordination. The coordinators simply add new emissions designators. • Channels will be narrowbanded on a one-for-one basis.

15. How do I Show the FCC That I am Narrowband Compliant? • One method the FCC will verify narrowbanding compliance is through the emission designator on your FCC licenses. • The first four digits of the emission designator describe the bandwidth of the channel. Wideband emission designators starting with 20K0 or 16K0 must be removed, and narrowband emissions less than or equal to 11K3 must be added.

16. Narrowbanding License Example

17. Budgeting Replacement equipment represents the most significant investment in narrowbanding. Inventory your system now and determine what equipment will need to be replaced. Add the cost of new radios to your agencies budget immediately. New equipment represents a significant investment. It may take several years to secure the necessary resources.

18. Grant Funding No grant funding is available explicitly for narrowbanding. Narrowbanding costs may be piggybacked on other communications grants such as PSIC, IECGP, firefighter grants, etc. I believe this could fall under Unfunded Government Mandate.

19. Summary • The FCC has required that all users “narrowband” their VHF and UHF radio systems before the end of 2012. No new applications or modifications of wideband licenses will be granted after 2010. • Equipment not capable of operating in a narrowband configuration must be replaced. Equipment capable of operating in both wideband and narrowband configurations must be programmed to operate in narrowband mode. • Start planning now. The deadline is about 3 FY away!

20. Questions? Presenter: Ali Shahnami Company: ACD Telecom, LLC Address: 1268 Upsala Road Sanford, FL 32771 Phone: (407) 302 – 2237 Fax: (407) 302 - 2293