FCC to Address Narrowband Deadline Concerns
The FCC is poised to approve an order as early as this week delaying a Jan. 1 mandate for requiring that some radios be narrowband-ready, and making other changes to dates for narrowband rules. The FCC also appears on target to vote out an order sua sponte -- on its own initiative -- by tonight (Wed.) addressing Nextel’s request for changes to the FCC’s Aug. 800 MHz rebanding order.
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The FCC order is expected to delay a Jan. 1 requirement that application for equipment authorization in the 150-174 MHz (150 MHz) and 421-512 MHz (450 MHz) bands submitted on or after Jan. 1 be capable of meeting a “spectrum efficiency standard” of one voice channel per 6.25 kHz of channel bandwidth. The provision is a key early date of a process designed to push the use of narrow bands as a way of improving spectrum efficiency through spectrum “refarming.” The initiative targets the crowded VHF and UHF land mobile radio frequencies below 800 MHz.
But the proposal has been controversial. A group of 3 manufacturers -- Motorola, Kenwood and EFJohnson -- recently filed a petition for reconsideration asking for a delay. “Forcing manufacturers to incorporate 6.25 kHz equivalent efficiency capabilities prior to the adoption of an industry standard exposes manufacturers to the risk of remanufacturing and redesign costs to satisfy subsequent new standards,” the groups said in a July petition: “This will ultimately place unnecessary additional cost burdens on licensees.”
The order is of particular concern to the Assn. of Public Safety Communications Officials and the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), which represents diverse groups from oil companies and railroads to police chiefs. The groups said the pending mandate would be premature. LMCC cited “significant industry concern surrounding obligations to migrate to 6.25 kHz technologies before there are multiple product solutions… These concerns are real and justify a decision deferring the enforcement” of the rule.
The National Assn. of Manufacturers also warned of increased costs for goods makers. “Forcing equipment manufacturers to include a 6.25 kHz operating mode prior to the establishment of a 6.25 kHz standard exposes them to the risk of re-design and re-manufacture once a standard is finally established,” NAM said: “This will increase manufacturing costs, which will ultimately be passed on to consumers.”
LMCC suggested that technologies other than narrowbanding can also lead to greater efficiency. “Many technologies, especially data communication systems, enjoy spectral efficiency through media other than narrow, designated channels. Indeed, technologies developed for other wireless services increasingly make use of wider channels to create additional voice and data paths,” LMCC said.
Along with the delay, the FCC is expected to seek further comment on other dates in the order, including a mandate that public safety groups in the bands move to 6.25 kHz channels in 2017 and other land-mobile users do so 4 years earlier. APCO has suggested that if certain transition deadlines are delayed, its members can meet the 2013 transition date.
Meanwhile, the 800 MHz rebanding order appeared likely to be voted out of the FCC today (Wed.), sources said. An order started to circulate last week (CD Dec 16 p 8). Under a Commission time limit, if the order isn’t approved by day’s end, the FCC would have to look at another mechanism for addressing Nextel’s concerns.