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Delta Air Lines Granted 1-Year Narrowbanding Extension (5/21/12)
The FCC granted Delta Air Lines’ VHF/UHF narrowbanding waiver request until Dec. 31, 2013.
The VHF/UHF narrowbanding deadline, which requires private land mobile radio (PLMR) licensees in the 150 – 174 MHz and 450 – 512 MHz bands to operate using channel bandwidth of no more than 12.5 kilohertz or equivalent efficiency, is Jan. 1, 2013.
Delta expects to complete narrowbanding for about 125 stations at some of its largest U.S. locations, comprising more than 60 percent of its fleet, by the end of 2012, and didn’t seek a waiver for those stations. Delta’s one-year waiver of the narrowbanding deadline covers the stations at 118 other airports.
“Based on the record before us, we conclude that Delta has presented sufficient facts to meet the high standard for grant of the requested waiver,” the FCC order said. “Delta’s radio system covers airports nationwide. The complexity of the system is increased by its lack of concentration in one geographic area, and the facilities’ location in secure airport areas that require special clearance and escort for technical personnel. Delta has purchased thousands of narrowband-compliant radio units, contracted with vendors and developed a schedule for completing its migration to narrowband technology.”
The FCC said Delta has shown diligence in planning for and implementing its transition to narrowbanding. Second, the record indicates that grant of the waiver will not significantly harm neighboring systems because the Delta system has no interoperability or interdependency with other radio systems, the order said.
The FCC granted Delta Air Lines’ VHF/UHF narrowbanding waiver request until Dec. 31, 2013.
The VHF/UHF narrowbanding deadline, which requires private land mobile radio (PLMR) licensees in the 150 – 174 MHz and 450 – 512 MHz bands to operate using channel bandwidth of no more than 12.5 kilohertz or equivalent efficiency, is Jan. 1, 2013.
Delta expects to complete narrowbanding for about 125 stations at some of its largest U.S. locations, comprising more than 60 percent of its fleet, by the end of 2012, and didn’t seek a waiver for those stations. Delta’s one-year waiver of the narrowbanding deadline covers the stations at 118 other airports.
“Based on the record before us, we conclude that Delta has presented sufficient facts to meet the high standard for grant of the requested waiver,” the FCC order said. “Delta’s radio system covers airports nationwide. The complexity of the system is increased by its lack of concentration in one geographic area, and the facilities’ location in secure airport areas that require special clearance and escort for technical personnel. Delta has purchased thousands of narrowband-compliant radio units, contracted with vendors and developed a schedule for completing its migration to narrowband technology.”
The FCC said Delta has shown diligence in planning for and implementing its transition to narrowbanding. Second, the record indicates that grant of the waiver will not significantly harm neighboring systems because the Delta system has no interoperability or interdependency with other radio systems, the order said.
