Best FCC license

[Stevenholly2024]

I am trying to figure out what is the best FCC license to get for wildland firefighting for my RFPA we are volunteer organization and would like to be able to get our own frequency that we can use to communicate with our department

 

[mmckenna]

I am trying to figure out what is the best FCC license to get for wildland firefighting for my RFPA we are volunteer organization and would like to be able to get our own frequency that we can use to communicate with our department

The way to do that would be through a frequency coordinator that does public safety.
RadioSoft would be one of several you could start with:

FCC Licensing - RadioSoft

RadioSoft, Inc. is your “One Stop Shop” for all things FCC Licensing and Frequency Coordination. We will prepare, coordinate and file ALL your Part 90 FCC license applications, Low band through Microwave, coordinated by experienced professionals.

www.radiosoft.com

 

[Stevenholly2024]

The way to do that would be through a frequency coordinator that does public safety.
RadioSoft would be one of several you could start with:

FCC Licensing - RadioSoft

RadioSoft, Inc. is your “One Stop Shop” for all things FCC Licensing and Frequency Coordination. We will prepare, coordinate and file ALL your Part 90 FCC license applications, Low band through Microwave, coordinated by experienced professionals.

www.radiosoft.com

Thank you so much. I will try to contact them and go from there.

 

[clbsquared]

I’ll echo what mmckenna said and add that an itinerant license would most likely be what you need.

 

[mmckenna]

Thank you so much. I will try to contact them and go from there.

If the state you live in recognizes your agency as a provider of fire fighting services, as in you have an agreement with them, you should also contact your Statewide Interoperability Coordinator "SWIC". This person is usually under the State Office of Emergency Services, or whatever they call it where you are. The SWIC can help you with authorization to use the existing interoperability channels (state or federal) and make sure you qualify under the state licenses to use them. That would give you the option to talk to other agencies on a fire scene using interoperability channels or your statewide fire agency channels. These are separate from whatever you license for your agency in your jurisdiction.
Just make sure you have all your paperwork in order before contacting them.

You might want to talk to other local agencies, they may be willing to set up a Memorandum of Understanding to utilize their channels for Mutual Aid. The MOU is required under FCC rules. You'll probably also want to share your frequencies with them and have your own MOU so that can work both ways.