Legalities for Cross Band Simulcast of Talkgroup

KF5DCI · #1 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 02:05 PM

What is the legalities involving an agency simulcasting audio from their agencies talkgroup to a conventional channel if the talkgroup belongs to the agency but they do not own the radio system? Not repeating, simply rebroadcasting the receive audio of the talkgroup to a conventional channel. Is it required to do this through the owner of the radio system or can the agency file for a license and rebroadcast on their own?

N_Jay · #2 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 02:59 PM

It should not be an issue, as long as the coordinator agrees with the use of the channel.

wb0wao · #3 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:18 PM

Is this the scenario you are asking about - say Town PD is using a talkgroup on a site that is owned by a third party (Bob's Communications Company). Town PD also has a license for a VHF frequency assigned to the Town PD by the FCC. Town PD wants to transmit the audio from the talkgroup on their VHF frequency. If this is what you are asking, then they do no need anyones permission to do so. Even though they do not "own" the trunk system hardware - they can transmit their traffic on their VHF frequency. They do not need any additional license to do this as their VHF license issued to them from the FCC will suffice

KF5DCI · #4 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wb0wao

Is this the scenario you are asking about - say Town PD is using a talkgroup on a site that is owned by a third party (Bob's Communications Company). Town PD also has a license for a VHF frequency assigned to the Town PD by the FCC. Town PD wants to transmit the audio from the talkgroup on their VHF frequency. If this is what you are asking, then they do no need anyones permission to do so. Even though they do not "own" the trunk system hardware - they can transmit their traffic on their VHF frequency. They do not need any additional license to do this as their VHF license issued to them from the FCC will suffice

Yes that is basically the question. I was unsure if "Town PD" would be required to use "Bob's Communications Company's" patch service, if offered, or if "Town PD" would be required to have pre-determined and/or written permission from "Bob's Communication Company" to rebroadcast the audio on their licensed (agency owned) UHV/VHF conventional channel.

Not sure if it matters, but "Bob's Communications Company" is not a commercial provider, they are a large scale, multi-agency, government owned system.

wb0wao · #5 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:33 PM

Shouldn't matter at all who actually owns the equipment - especially if the department in question is a "part owner". Any knowledge of _why_ they are doing/planning this?

KF5DCI · #6 (**permalink**) 10-07-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wb0wao

Shouldn't matter at all who actually owns the equipment - especially if the department in question is a "part owner". Any knowledge of _why_ they are doing/planning this?

A city no longer wishes to maintain a patch from the trunking system to the UHF channel once moved over to fully digital trunking. The city is issuing alphanumeric pagers to volunteers, although the volunteer department wishes to retain the volunteers abilities to monitor the radios. The city is most definetley not willing to hand out xts5000's to every single member. And at this point they are looking at the only option being purchasing a $500+ handheld digital scanner for every single member, a bit overkill and very expensive for a volunteer department with limited funds. Just contemplating other methods which might be a better alternative for the volunteers to be able to hear the radios when at home and in route to a call.