I'm not confused and am quite aware of the categories in the NIFOG; as a COM-L and communications planner I look at it all the time. We're talking about reality here, though, not the way the FCC would like it to be.
The point from my original post regarding the noted frequencies still stands; the FCC reserves them and several others for intersystem use (another facet of interoperability). As I noted, the base-to-mobile requirement is observed mostly in the breach; in many areas I've visited, very few agencies use them for base-to-mobile communications, but rather as interoperable fireground channels. Licensing is also kind of hit or miss; if they even have a license, many areas might have a single license for the frequency and simply issue a blanket authority (typically by letter and now, e-mail) to other agencies to use it.
FCC usage and licensing requirements aside, these frequencies (no matter the category) are listed in the NIFOG as interoperable frequencies with certain recommendations for use, and the majority of departments use them per the recommendation. As such, for the purposes of the RadioReference database, they stay on the Nationwide page, and a separate local listing is not needed.
However, my other comment still stands as well.
If a frequency is used at the local level with a different squelch tone than the standards recommended in the NIFOG (usually either CSQ or 156.7 with a few variations here and there), it can be listed in the state or county database, as applicable.
GE doesn't suck, by the way. I've got several.
wa8pyr, You and others may be confused. The VHF interop channels in the NIFGO are broken in to a few differnent groups:
Non-Federal VHF National Interoperability Channels
VHF Public Safety Mutual Aid and Common Channels
Weather Radio
VHF IR Federal Interoperability Channels
VHF LE Federal Interoperability Channels
The goup we are talking about in this thread is the "VHF Public Safety Mutual Aid and Common Channels"
These Channels are "LABELED" as
VSAR16
VFIRE21-26
VMED28 and 29
VLAW31-32
These channel are NOT nation wide intop channels. You MUST be licensed for these and they are both licensed locally and coordinated locally. Each state, and even with in each state, may use these or not use these channels and may use them differently.
This is the reason THESE channels should not have been removed from each database listing.