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UTC Conference Panels to Address Narrowbanding Compliance Issues

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Mon, 13 May 2013 17:28:24 GMT

As evidenced by the number of VHF and UHF public safety and industrial/business entities in the FCC ULS database that are still only licensed for 25 kHz operation, there are still many of you who are scrambling to get into compliance with the FCC narrowbanding mandate.

The Utilities Telecom Council will help its members through any outstanding narrowbanding compliance and implementation issues at its May 15-17 UTC Telecom 2013 Conference in Houston, Texas. I will be speaking at the UTC panel session “Narrowbanding: I Missed the Deadline. Now What?” Please join me on May 16, from 7:30 – 8:30 AM in Room 320AB at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The panel is moderated by Don Vasek, UTC Director of Spectrum Services, and joining me is Richard Donaldson, IT PMO Manager at Duke Energy.

The panel will address Duke Energy’s lessons learned and pitfalls to avoid in completing your system narrowbanding, possible FCC audit and enforcement considerations, frequency coordinator treatment of remaining non-compliant systems, and recommendations for resolving non-compliance and project completion issues. I will mainly address narrowband impact on manufacturers, what it means to you the licensee, and what to do if you still need to buy 25 kHz capable radios or multi-mode radios that have some exceptions to the FCC mandate.

In addition, there is a second regulatory-related panel session in which I am also speaking aimed at those of you interested in gaining access to 700 MHz public safety broadband communications. I invite you to attend “Mission Critical Readiness: Are You Prepared for the Public Safety Broadband Network?” on May 16, from 2:30 – 3:45 PM also in Room 320AB. Joining me on the panel is my Motorola colleague Jared Pickrell, Director of Engineering, Strategic Products, and John Chaney of Harris County Texas. Harris County is currently implementing an early deployment of the 700 MHz nationwide PSBN in the Harris County (Houston) area, and John will share what they are doing on network sharing. I will address last year’s legislation that enables critical infrastructure access, how the PSBN can leverage utilities infrastructure assets, plus how utilities can promote partnership opportunities. Jared will provide valuable insight on LTE and broadband applications for utilities, the energy worker of the future and multi-service, multi-use priority and access.

Al Ittner is Senior Manager of Spectrum Strategy at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

For more information about Narrowbanding, please visit www.motorolasolutions.com/narrowbanding.

Answers to Your Urgent Questions on Narrowbanding

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:49:24 GMT

Now that the January 1^st FCC narrowband deadline has passed, I am busier than ever answering process-related questions for our customers, sales teams and channel partners. Below are the most pressing questions being asked. I covered some of these in my last “At the Wire!” blog, but they are important to reiterate.

1. What if I am out of compliance and still operating at 25 kHz wideband efficiency on Part 90 150-174 MHz or 421-470 MHz channels mandated to be narrowbanded by now?
Immediately file a waiver request with the FCC to request authorization to operate beyond the deadline. This will at least get you on the record with the Commission that you missed the narrowbanding deadline but are looking to do the right thing in asking its permission to temporarily continue operating for a limited time. And don’t forget to check your current license. If you are still licensed at 25 kHz-only operation, immediately submit a license modification application to include a 12.5 kHz emission designator.

2. What if I need additional 25 kHz radios that operate on these channels?
FCC rules don’t prohibit manufacturers and equipment providers from marketing and selling 25 kHz capable equipment out of remaining inventory after the deadline, as long as that equipment is manufactured or imported prior to Jan. 1, 2013. However, if you need manufacturers to build additional 25 kHz-capable equipment for you this year, the FCC requires you, the licensee, to first file a manufacturing waiver request with the FCC. The FCC will not consider such manufacturing waiver requests unless you have already filed and been granted a waiver to continue operating in 25 kHz beyond the deadline (see above). Once the FCC grants that manufacturing waiver request, Motorola and others can manufacture or import such equipment specifically for you.

3. Can I continue to order 25 kHz radios if I am operating LMR radios on channels other than these?
The following are specifically excluded from the FCC narrowbanding mandate:

Canada and other foreign countries
U.S. federal government agencies
Licensees operating LMR on Part 80, 74, 22, 15, or any other non-Part 90 channels in the 150-174 MHz and 421-470 MHz bands
Licensees operating in T-Band (470-512 MHz band in 11 major metro areas)
Licensees that have been granted a waiver by the FCC to temporarily continue operating at 25 kHz efficiency on the narrowband mandated bands beyond the January 1, 2013 deadline (see above Question 2 for ordering additional 25 kHz equipment)
Licensees operating paging on the following paging-only channels: Public safety (152.0075, 157.450), Business/Industrial (152.480, 157.740, 158.460, 462.750, 462.775, 462.800, 462.825, 462.850, 462.875, 462.900, 462.925)

Note that radios operating on channels that include both the narrowband-mandated and exception channels must still narrowband on the mandated Part 90 channels. Contact your Motorola account manager or Motorola channel partner who can assist you in properly ordering radio equipment for these and all other frequencies.

4. Can radio service continue to repair my 25 kHz radios?
The FCC has not prohibited service shops from repairing 25 kHz-capable equipment after the deadline. Motorola and independent service shops can continue to repair such equipment and return the repaired radio to the licensee with 25 kHz capability. However, Motorola is advising customers that such equipment may not be operated in 25 kHz mode on Part 90 channels after Jan. 1, 2013 deadline, without an FCC-granted waiver or exception.

5. How will the FCC know whether I am narrowband compliant or not?
The Enforcement Bureau will use a number of means to determine non-compliance, including:

a. The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), which represents all of the authorized frequency coordinators, notified the FCC that as of Feb. 1, 2013 all coordinators will consider any non-compliant 25 kHz systems as if they were operating at 12.5 kHz analog systems for purposes of identifying frequency assignments in the VHF and UHF bands. Coordinators will report such non-compliant 25 kHz systems to the Enforcement Bureau. In addition, these remaining 25 kHz systems will likely interfere with new systems operating on adjacent 12.5 kHz channels, resulting in notifications by the new system licensees to the Enforcement Bureau for resolution.

b. The Enforcement Bureau will conduct an audit of licensee that still report a 25 kHz-only emission designator to verify that you are (a) still in operation, and (b) operating in compliance with narrowbanding rules. Inactive licenses will be terminated and non-compliant licenses will be subject to enforcement actions, which have been detailed in several previous blogs.

c. At this time, the FCC does not require existing licensees to provide a certification to show that they are operating at least 12.5 kHz technology on 12.5 kHz channels, or 12.5 kHz equivalent technology on 25 kHz channels (such as four voice paths in a 25 kHz channel or data radios with minimum data rates of 19.2 kHz on a 25 kHz channel). It may do so in the near future, and at license renewals or modifications.

For more information about Narrowbanding, please visit www.motorolasolutions.com/narrowbanding.

Al Ittner is Senior Manager of Spectrum Strategy at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Read all of Al Ittner’s blogs on narrowbanding here.

At IWCE: A Look at 'Life After Narrowbanding' and Beyond

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 22:55:11 GMT

For the past few years one of the key two-way radio programs has been VHF and UHF narrowbanding. I have provided much guidance through a series of blogs on how to Narrowband as the deadline grew nearer. But now it is time to begin talking about life after narrowbanding.

IWCE 2013 runs from March 11-15 in Las Vegas, and I will be speaking at a panel session “Life After Narrowbanding: Was It Worth the Effort?” I’d like to personally invite you to join me on Thursday, March 14, from 9:45-11 a.m. PST for the session. I will be addressing how manufacturers are impacted by and complying with the FCC narrowbanding mandate, what that means to you the licensee, and what to do if you’re still not narrowband compliant or need to obtain 25 KHz capable radios after the deadline.

In addition to this topic, there are other regulatory-related sessions at IWCE 2013 that I think will be equally engaging. If you are attending IWCE, I invite you to attend these sessions where my fellow Motorola colleagues will be speaking:

Project 25 Foundations and System Interface Updates for 2013

When: Monday, March 11, 1 - 4:30 p.m. PST

Panelists include: Debra Brown, Program Manager P25 Standards, APIC Vice Chair, PTIG Secretary, Motorola Solutions

Description: Gain a deeper understanding and updated awareness of established P25 standards and the matching equipment capabilities.

What is the Future of T-Band?

When: Wednesday, March 13 - 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Panelists include: David Eierman, Principal Staff Engineer, Spectrum Strategy, Motorola Solutions

Description: Now that T-Band licensees have been given a reprieve from their narrowbanding mandate, they must plan for their equipment future. Learn the most efficient and effective ways to maintain your system until the T-Band auction in nine years.

NPSTC Discusses Current Events

When: Wednesday, March 13 – 11 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Panelists include: Stu Overby, Senior Director, Global Spectrum Strategy, Motorola Solutions

Description: NPSTC discusses the broadband requirements for FirstNet, plus discusses outstanding issues with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

General Session:

From LMR to LTE: Pathway to the Future

When: Friday, March 15 – 8:30 - 9:45 a.m.

Panelists include: Sean Taylor, Senior Sales Specialist, LTE, Motorola Solutions

Description: At a 50,000-foot level, examine both the short- and long-term impacts of the migration to LTE technology. Discuss standards development, system design and funding, and how the transition will affect the operation of existing networks.

In addition to these wonderful seminars, I would also like to invite you to stop by the Motorola Solutions booth # 527, on Wednesday, March 13, or Thursday, March 14, where you can speak to our experts and see the latest interoperable technology communications, in-vehicle communications, wearable communications technology, next generation command and control, real-time video and so much more.

I am looking forward to the conference next week - I hope to see you there!

Al Ittner is Senior Manager of Spectrum Strategy at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Prepare with additional information about IWCE from Motorola’s Rishi Bhaskar.

Learn more about narrowbanding at www.motorolasolutions.com/narrowbanding.

Your FCC License and Registration, Please

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:27:26 GMT

Did you ever let your driver's license expire? A few years ago, I spent most of my birthday waiting at the motor vehicle bureau because I had forgotten to renew my license. Instead of enjoying cake with my family, I stood in line waiting to have my picture taken. The mug shot was awful, but the peace of mind was awesome. I didn’t have to worry about being pulled over and getting fined for operating illegally.

If you missed the January 1, 2013 deadline to narrowband your VHF or UHF radio network, you’re now operating with an expired FCC license. If you’re caught, the potential fines are a lot more than you’ll pay for a traffic violation.

Do You Know Why I Pulled You Over?

The FCC will start enforcing the narrowbanding mandate soon. Are you thinking you won’t be caught for operating illegally in the wideband mode? Would you be more inclined to act if you were worried about being pulled over? Here’s what could happen if FCC enforcement bureau personnel were authorized to make traffic stops.

FCC officer: Do you know how wide you were going?

You: I was just keeping up with traffic. Excuse me, did you say how wide?

FCC officer: I clocked you at 25 kHz in a 12.5 kHz zone. What’s the expiration date on you license?

You: November 2013 – it’s still valid.

FCC officer: Not your driver’s license, the FCC license for your radio system

You: Let me check . . . Oh, it looks like it expired on January 1^st.

FCC officer: Yes, you’re operating illegally in the wideband mode. I have the authority to fine you up to $16,000 and shut down your radio system.

Excuses Won’t Get You Off the Hook

Have you ever tried to talk your way out of a traffic ticket? The police officer who pulled you over has heard “I was just keeping up with traffic” and “I didn’t know about the law” hundreds of times. If you’re caught driving twice the speed limit, your excuses won’t stop the officer from issuing a citation that could keep you off the road.

Excuses won’t help you convince an FCC enforcement officer to let you off the hook. He or she doesn’t care that your neighbor is still using wideband radios or that you didn’t have time to comply with the 2004 narrowbanding ruling that gave you eight years to update your system. If you’re operating at twice the posted bandwidth, your excuses won’t stop the FCC from initiating action that could take you off the air.

It’s Time to Go Straight – and Narrow

The January 1, 2013 deadline has passed but the requirement to narrowband hasn’t. If you’re still operating in the wideband mode, you should take action now to go straight and narrow. You’ll need to narrowband your system to 12.5 kHz operation by reprogramming or replacing equipment and also get your license modified. Check the narrowbanding resources on the Motorola Solutions website if you need help determining how to upgrade your radios and infrastructure.

You won’t have to wait in line at the DMV to update your radio license. The first step is to go online and file a waiver application to let the FCC know you’re in the process of modifying your radios. If your waiver’s approved, you’ll still have to modify your equipment, but you’ll have permission to operate in the wideband mode a little longer.

So don’t wait until your birthday to update your FCC license. Narrowbanding your system isn’t a piece of cake, but taking action now means you’ll have the peace of mind you can’t be “pulled over” for operating your radio system illegally.

Rick Pollak is a Business Development Manager for Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Read additional blog posts by Rick Pollak here, including “A Wait Reduction to Make Your City Safer.”

Narrowbanding: At the Wire!

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 20:11:30 GMT

Now that the FCC narrowbanding deadline is just days away, this could be considered the “last chance” blog.

Unless you have completed or are well into narrowbanding your system to operate in 12.5 kHz efficiency, or you have filed a waiver request with the FCC to temporarily continue operating in 25 kHz efficiency after the 1^st of January, there are few options left. Note that as of the January 1^st deadline, the FCC requires licensees to not only be properly licensed to include 12.5 kHz or better emission designators, but to also be operating at 12.5 kHz or better efficiency.

If you are still licensed at 25 kHz-only operation, submit a license modification application to the FCC to include 12.5 kHz or better emission designators. The FCC stated that modification applications to show compliance with the narrowbanding mandate should be received by the FCC prior to the January 1^st deadline. However, if your modification requires coordination, the FCC further noted that it will not consider you in violation if the application was submitted to the coordinator by the deadline, but not yet submitted to FCC.
If you are still not operating at 12.5 kHz or better efficiency, immediately file a waiver request with the FCC to request operating at 25 kHz beyond the Jan. 1, 2013 deadline for a limited time. As of now, the FCC has not set a date after which it will no longer accept waiver requests.

The most risky choice is to keep doing nothing, continue operating in 25 kHz, and wait until the FCC Enforcement Bureau knocks on your door (more than likely mails you a letter) to tell you that your system is out of compliance. The Public Safety & Homeland Security Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau have publicly stated that they will turn over all licenses that are only licensed with a 25 kHz emissions mode to the Enforcement Bureau after the 1^st.

The Enforcement Bureau indicated it intends to conduct an audit to verify with the licensees that their systems are still in operation and will likely cancel the rest of the licenses. While it might take a few months to do this, you will find yourself in a position to either confirm that you are indeed operating 25 kHz illegally or ignore the audit letter. Either way, chances are good that your license could get cancelled.

As noted in my previous blog, the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC), representing all FCC certified frequency coordinators, agreed that effective February 1, 2013, coordinators will no longer consider non-compliant 25 kHz systems for purposes of identifying frequency assignments for use with LMR systems. Exceptions are 25 kHz systems that have a pending modification application evidencing compliance or a pending or granted waiver request for an extension of the narrowband deadline. The coordinators will inform both the non-compliant 25 kHz system licensees and the new applying 12.5 kHz system licensee that such continued non-compliant 25 kHz use may likely lead to interference. This may likely then involve the Enforcement Bureau for resolution.

On November 30^th, the FCC has issued a Public Notice that clarifies a number of open issues and, once again, reiterated the FCC deadline and potential consequences for failing to do so. Clarifications include the following:

The narrowbanding rules do not prohibit the sale after January 1, 2013 of 25 kHz capable Part 90 VHF/UHF equipment as long as it was manufactured or imported prior to that date. Motorola is complying with the FCC recommendation to let customer know that such equipment may not be operated in 25 kHz mode after January 1, 2013 without an FCC granted waiver or exception.
Note that the FCC has still not ruled on Motorola’s request for a limited waiver which requests that the FCC allow manufacturers to continue manufacturing and importing equipment after the January 1^st deadline that is 25 kHz capable, but only for licensees that have been granted a waiver or exception by the FCC. Until the FCC approves this limited waiver, Motorola will not be able to manufacture or import radios capable of 25 kHz operation after the deadline, even if customers have been granted a waiver for such operation.
Service shops are not prohibited from repairing 25 kHz capable equipment. Motorola will repair such equipment and return the repaired radio with 25 kHz capability. Again, we are complying with the FCC recommendation to let customer know that such equipment may not be operated in 25 kHz mode after January 1, 2013 without an FCC granted waiver or exception.

The FCC also issued an Order on November 30^th that impacts only the 470-512 MHz (T-Band) rules. It allows manufacturers to continue filing applications for FCC certification of radios that are capable of 25 kHz radios operation after the January 1, 2013 deadline. As you will recall, the FCC waived the requirement to narrowband radios in the T-Band and allowed continued operation, manufacture and import of 25 kHz radios. The November 30^th Order allows T-Band customers access to the newest radios and features in 25 kHz over the coming years.

The FCC addresses frequently asked questions and additional narrowbanding migration and compliance information at its narrowbanding website http://www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding. The FCC has named following contact points for all narrowbanding questions and instructions:

Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (for public safety licensees)
Roberto Mussenden
202-418-1428
Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (for business/industrial licensees)
202-418-7949
Zenji.Nakasawa@fcc.gov

For more information about Narrowbanding, please visit www.motorolasolutions.com/narrowbanding.

Al Ittner is Senior Manager of Spectrum Strategy at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

The Future is Bright for Utilities That Use Data Applications

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:52:29 GMT

As Yogi Berra famously predicted, "The future ain’t what it used to be." Utilities across the country will probably agree as their workforce heads toward retirement. A recent article in Electric Light and Power points out that 50 percent of Baby Boomers – which power companies have in record numbers – will retire in the next five years. How to keep operations running smoothly as veteran talent leaves?

Technology offers a bright spot. It can bring less-experienced personnel up to speed quickly by improving the flow of information throughout the company. Today, many utilities use data applications like integrated GPS to keep tabs on employees, vehicles and assets in the field.

Work order tickets are making information-sharing dynamic and coordinated. Now mobile workers can access, edit and update work order tickets, in real time, right on their devices. Applications like lone worker/man down not only improve information, but enhance safety by automatically notifying a dispatcher if someone is injured in the field, or if there hasn’t been any activity for a certain period of time.

Agile applications like these have important ramifications for utilities. Not only do they improve efficiency and safety, but they increase a crew’s ability to respond to events faster – making a big difference between a prolonged outage and a speedy restoration.

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it," quipped Yogi Berra. For utility companies seeking to improve the flow of information – and ultimately their operation – applications are a bright idea for the days ahead.

For more information on data applications, please click here.

Cody O’Neill is the Vertical Channel Account Manager for Utilities at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Apps Aren't Just for Phones

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:20:55 GMT

If you own a smartphone, chances are you're pretty familiar with the thousands of applications, or "apps" as they've come to be known, available to use. From giving us something to do while waiting in line, to helping organize our lives, apps are changing the way people interact with devices and use data on the go. But apps aren't just for consumer with smartphone. With a range of data-ready devices available, two-way radios are helping users communicate more quickly, efficiently and reliably.

Using applications on a two-way radio lets you take communication beyond voice and enable employees to do more than ever. When new work orders come in, they’re sent directly to the employees who need them, instantly. If workers are in the field, apps help dispatch track and assist them, and can even automatically alert someone if the employee is in danger. There are apps that let two-way radios directly connect with cell phones so suppliers can be reached right from the shop floor.

When it comes to applications, we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Motorola Solutions has the largest selection of data applications available, plus the industry’s largest application developer program. That means more ways to help your employees connect, more ways to share information, and more opportunities to make your business smarter and more efficient.

For more information about applications, please view the following video. http://video.motorolasolutions.com/video.aspx/mototrbo-applications-expanding-co mmunications-beyond-voice/1456661381001.

Paul Cecchin is the Two-way Radio Market Development Manager at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Narrowbanding Procrastinators - Do You Feel Lucky? Do You?

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:05:50 GMT

In the movie Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood pointed his empty .44 Magnum handgun at a bank robber and said "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well do ya, punk?" If you’ve procrastinated too long on narrowbanding your radio system, you’re probably asking yourself the question: “What happens if I don’t meet the January 1, 2013 deadline?” Your luck won’t keep your system on the air if you’re operating in the wideband mode next year. The FCC is getting ready to pull the trigger on violators of the new rules and they’re not bluffing.

Here are three questions VHF and UHF license holders are asking about the approaching deadline. The answers show that good, bad, and ugly things can happen depending on which actions you take.

Will the FCC Really Enforce Narrowbanding?

David Furth, the Deputy Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, means business. At the APCO conference in August he said “Let me reiterate what the commission has said all along: We are not moving the narrowbanding deadline. It is, and will be, Jan. 1, 2013.” He also mentioned the “commission’s intent to aggressively enforce the narrowband mandate.”

Aggressive enforcement doesn’t mean an FCC agent will be knocking at your door when you wake up on New Year’s Day. But the Commission has said it will audit their database sometime after the deadline to identify the VHF and UHF license holders who haven’t switched to narrowband operation. Are you planning to rely on your luck next year and hope the FCC doesn’t catch up with you? If you’re superstitious at all, ignoring the narrowbanding mandate could bring you worse luck than walking under a ladder on Friday the 13^th.

What Are the Penalties For Non-Compliance?

The FCC’s enforcement advisory published in August 2012 is very clear – you can be fined a fistful of dollars if you’re operating in the wideband mode in 2013. The document states “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.”

Getting fined is bad but having your license cancelled is really ugly. Your system might be shut down and your channel could be reassigned to another agency or business. That lucky rabbit’s foot you carry won’t prevent the FCC from penalizing you if you’re non-compliant.

I’ve Decided to Stop Procrastinating – What Should I Do Now?

Here’s the good news – you’re not too late to dodge the enforcement bullet. You still have until the end of this year to reprogram your existing equipment and purchase new radios to bring your system into compliance. If you’re not sure of the next steps to take, look at the narrowbanding resources on the Motorola Solutions Web site.

If you can’t finish the transition to narrowband technology by the end of this year, you can apply to the FCC for a waiver. This waiver is an extension, not an exemption. When you apply for an extension from the IRS, you get extra time to work on your return. The extension doesn’t waive your obligation to pay your income taxes. If you have a VHF or UHF license, you’re still required to narrowband. The waiver just gives you more time to comply with the rules.

Deputy Chief Furth said in August, “In order to obtain a waiver, you need to make a timely request — that means now, if you have not filed a waiver. I cannot overemphasize that waiver requests that are filed at the 11^th hour before the deadline will be viewed with skepticism and are very likely not to be granted.”

Go Ahead, Take Action Now!

The 11^th hour Mr. Furth refers to is almost here. If your narrowbanding won’t be completed by the end of December, you need to request a waiver now. The FCC’s waiver guidance public notice has instructions on how to apply for an extension to the deadline. You need to show the progress you’ve made so far, and tell the FCC when you’ll comply with the new rules. If you submit a detailed plan by the end of October, you have a chance of getting your extension granted. But if you turn in your request on Christmas Eve, all of your lucky pennies, horseshoes, and four-leaf clovers won’t likely help get your waiver approved.

So with all of the excitement of the approaching deadline, don’t lose track of the time. You’ll be subject to fines and license revocation if you keep procrastinating. If your waiver request is approved, or your system is in compliance by the end of December, you won’t need good luck charms to keep your system on the air in 2013. Go ahead and take action now – it will make your day.

Rick Pollak is a Business Development Manager for Motorola Solutions, Inc.

FCC Narrowbanding: Important Clarifications to Consider

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 23:01:48 GMT

As noted in my previous blog, I moderated a Narrowbanding Panel at the APCO Annual Conference on August 21. Roberto Mussenden, the FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau point of contact for narrowbanding, pointed out that there has been a lot of progress by licensees. Both the total number and the percent of public safety licensees that are still licensed at 25 kHz-only operation have been more than cut in half over the last two years. However, there are still about 35%, or roughly 37,000, licenses in the FCC database that are 25 kHz emission-only licenses.

If you are one of these, you need to immediately submit to the FCC either (1) a license modification application to include 12.5 kHz or better emission designators, or (2) a waiver request to continue operating temporarily at 25 kHz beyond the Jan. 1, 2013 deadline. The only exceptions are 12.kHz or 6.25 kHz equivalent efficient systems that operate on 25 kHz channels. Roberto emphasized that last-minute waiver requests will “be viewed with skepticism and not likely granted.” He also urged licensees to check their license data in the database and advise the FCC licensing bureau if there are any errors. Finally, he let the attendees know that the FCC Enforcement Bureau will soon issue guidance reminding licensees of their obligation and of the FCC’s intent to aggressively enforce the mandate. That FCC Enforcement Advisory No. 2012-05 was indeed issued on August 22.

The Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) Board of Directors, of which I am a member representing TIA, met on Sept. 12 with FCC staff to address this and other outstanding issues. Here is the latest feedback from that meeting by FCC staff responsible for narrowbanding.

At some time after the deadline, the FCC will likely conduct an audit of remaining 25 kHz licensees to confirm that they are narrowband compliant. Licensees not properly answering the audit letter will have their licenses cancelled.
As mentioned in the last blog, the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) requested and is still waiting for the FCC to clarify that it will include and accept 25 kHz mode in new applications for equipment certifications to operate in the 470-512 MHz T-Band. The FCC is drafting a decision to be routed to all three bureaus, and expects to have such decision issued by the end of October.
The FCC has not yet made a decision on LMCC’s proposal that, effective Feb. 1, 2013, frequency coordinators will no longer consider non-compliant 25 kHz narrowbanded systems still operating in Part 90 VHF (150-174 MHz) and UHF (421-470 MHz) channels for purposes of identifying exclusive frequency assignments within centralized trunked systems, absent evidence of license applications or waivers seeking an extension of the narrowbanding deadline.

The FCC plans to issue additional Public Notices (PN) soon, once again reiterating the Jan. 1, 2013 deadline requirements and consequences. It will likely also address these and other requested clarifications in such PNs.

Al Ittner discussed Narrowbanding from APCO 2012 in Minneapolis: http://video.motorolasolutions.com/video.aspx/al-ittner-on-narrowbanding-from-a pco-2012/1853848971001

For more information about Narrowbanding, please visit www.motorolasolutions.com/narrowbanding.

Al Ittner is Senior Manager of Spectrum Strategy at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

“Dad, the Whole School’s in Lockdown”

noreply@jivesoftware.com — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 16:14:48 GMT

A parent’s nightmare showed me exactly how and why public safety communications must adapt with the times.

People communicate naturally in different ways. An entire generation now uses a paradigm that didn’t exist five years ago. This was brought home to me in a way I’ll never forget.

My daughter, then a senior in high school, sent me a text: her school was in a hard security lockdown. I texted back asking what was happening. She replied that she didn’t know and couldn’t see anything; she was in an inside room, out of the line of sight of the door window, not allowed to talk, and the lights were off. We kept texting and finally she sent the message: “OK the police are here.” Shortly after, she was able to text to me that a SWAT team was in the building.

My first reaction was relief of course, but my next was anger. How did she suddenly know all this information? I thought she must be doing something dangerous, like leaving the room and looking out the window. When we talked later, she said no, one of her friends was in the science room with an outside window and she was taking pictures with her smartphone and posting them to Facebook. Another friend was overlooking the foyer and doing the same.

Two things struck me about this. First, these kids had the capacity to collect and share information in real time that public safety didn’t have – information that would be hugely beneficial if public safety did have it. Second, they did all this on their own. Sharing information about events around them with the very powerful technology at their disposal (smartphones, wireless broadband, and social networking) is their perfectly normal response when something happens. This is how the public will collaborate in the future. Our agencies must adapt to meet the expectations of these connected citizens and take full advantage of the opportunity to tap into their constant flow of information – information that is often trivial, but sometimes has the potential to save lives.

In my daughter’s case, a man had called the school to say he was coming there with a gun to kill himself. He never made it to the school, but the experience was unnerving. When we talk about building safer cities and thriving communities, I think of those high school kids. Sure, they have powerful technology in their hands – but what’s more important is that they can be counted on to use it, even during an emergency. Especially in an emergency. If we can patch them through to the PSAP via NG9-1-1, pick out the important and relevant data, and send that data back out to the field in real time, then our first responders can proceed with additional intelligence and ultimately act more effectively to get those kids home safe.

Paul Steinberg is the Chief Technology Officer at Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Read the collection of Steinberg’s blogs here.