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Narrowbanding FAQs
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What licensing bands are affected by the narrowband mandate?
On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the VHF 150-174 MHz and UHF 421-470 MHz radio bands will need to to modify their systems to operate at 12.5 kHz channel bandwidths or narrower, or at an equivalent throughput efficiency for which 25 kHz exclusive use channels may be retained.
(The FCC in April 2012 removed the narrowband requirement for T-Band licensees in the 470-512 MHz band). The FCC’s effort began in the early 90's to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum and greater spectrum access for business/industrial and public safety users. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology, once referred to as Refarming, but now referred to as Narrowbanding, will allow for more capacity within the same radio spectrum, and will therefore support more users. After the January 1, 2013 deadline, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.
What can happen if we don't move to narrowband operation?
Your license will be in violation of the FCC Rules and you could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include a monetary fine, admonishment or loss of your license.
How can I quickly determine if my license must be modified to meet the narrowbanding mandate?
If the Emission Designator reported on your license indicates 4K00F1E, 4K00F1D, 7K60FXE, 7K60FXE or 11K2F3E, then your license need not be modified. If your Emission Designator starts with a number greater than 11K, more than likely a 20KF03E designator, then you need to change your emission.
Do I have to change frequencies when I go narrowband?
Adding or changing your emission to narrowband does not require a frequency change.
Do we have to convert to digital when we convert to narrowband operation?
There is no digital requirement when you migrate to narrowband.
Will the FCC still accept and grant a waiver requests seeking an extension of the January 1, 2013, narrowbanding deadline?
They may accept them, but there is absolutely no guarantee that they will grant such requests given the date. In a Public Notice released in July 2011, the Commission provided specific guidance on suggested content and filing procedures.
Will we end up with more spectrum after we move to narrowband operation?
No, you will still be licensed on your current frequency, however, you can apply for the adjacent frequencies.
After we convert our radio system and licenses to 12.5 kHz narrowband use, do we keep the 25 kHz spectrum we were once authorized to use?
No. If a licensee chooses to update their system to comply with the narrowbanding mandate and upgrades to either a 12.5 kHz or equivalent analog or digital technology, the amended license will reflect the original channel assignment, but the amount of authorized spectrum will be reduced. There are, however, certain digital technologies that comply with the narrowband spectrum efficiency requirement that will permit the continued use of 25 kHz authorized channels.
Is there a an FCC mandate for licensees to migrate VHF and UHF systems to 6.25 kHz channel bandwidths?
No, the FCC is not presently engaged in any rule making proceeding that would require licensees to migrate their systems to a 6.25 kHz or equivalent efficiency.
Are paging-only frequencies exempt from Narrowbanding?
Yes. However, there are only (14) paging-only frequencies the FCC recognizes as being exempt.
Public Safety Pool – 152.0075 and 157.4500
Business/Industrial Pool – 152.480, 157.740, 158.460, 462.750, 462.775, 462.800, 462.825, 462.850, 462.875, 462.900, 462.925 and 465.000
For more information, see EWA’s full explanation about Narrowband Exempt Paging-Only Frequencies.
In the case of a user who neglects to properly narrowband their equipment, could a wireless sales/service provider be held liable for programming radios with frequencies that the customer is no longer authorized to use?
Yes. FCC Rule 90.427, Precautions Against Unauthorized Operation covers this issue. EWA has drafted for use by wireless sales/service providers a Customer Radio Programming Release Form that can be used in this situation. It should be noted however, that the form only serves the purpose of drawing your customers’ attention to the fact that they need licenses for the devices you are maintaining. The document itself does not remove your responsibility in this regard, but it helps and puts the customer on notice.
In terms of penalties, if you are not licensed and “get caught”, you will receive a Citation from the FCC; if you hold an FCC license and get caught, you will receive a Violation Notice; if you do not respond to either of these notices properly or on time, you may then receive a forfeiture (fine). Remember that if you “get caught”, then your customers were caught at the same time, and they may wonder why you did not warn them about their FCC licensing requirements!
Does a a tower owner have any responsibility to the FCC for those tower lessee occupants who choose not to comply with the FCC's narrowbanding mandate and continue to transmit non-compliant signals?
No. The tower owner is not responsible.
How should we prepare to go narrowband?
You've taken the right first step by visiting EWA! Next, see EWA's "Does Narrowbanding Apply to You" for more information.
Will 25 kHz non-compliant systems receive interference from narrowband licensees?
Almost for sure interference will result from both primary co-channel and adjacent channel narrowband systems.
Is Narrowband designed to provide more spectrum to Public Safety?
No, narrowbanding is intended to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum when all licensees have transitioned to narrowband.
Are narrowband radios expensive?
Not necessarily. The cost is dependent on the type of system with which it will be used, and other factors. Contact a wireless sales and service provider, or contact EWA for a list of providers in your area.
What does Equivalent Efficiency mean?
If your radios meet any of the following criteria, then they meet the 12.5 kHz equivalent efficiency requirement:
One voice path in a 12.5 kHz channel
Two voice paths in a 25 kHz channel
Data operations on channels greater that 12.5 kHz must employ data rates greater than 4.8 kbps per 5.25 kHz channel, such as 19.2 kbps per 25 kHz channel
Printer-friendly version
What licensing bands are affected by the narrowband mandate?
On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the VHF 150-174 MHz and UHF 421-470 MHz radio bands will need to to modify their systems to operate at 12.5 kHz channel bandwidths or narrower, or at an equivalent throughput efficiency for which 25 kHz exclusive use channels may be retained.
(The FCC in April 2012 removed the narrowband requirement for T-Band licensees in the 470-512 MHz band). The FCC’s effort began in the early 90's to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum and greater spectrum access for business/industrial and public safety users. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology, once referred to as Refarming, but now referred to as Narrowbanding, will allow for more capacity within the same radio spectrum, and will therefore support more users. After the January 1, 2013 deadline, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.
What can happen if we don't move to narrowband operation?
Your license will be in violation of the FCC Rules and you could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include a monetary fine, admonishment or loss of your license.
How can I quickly determine if my license must be modified to meet the narrowbanding mandate?
If the Emission Designator reported on your license indicates 4K00F1E, 4K00F1D, 7K60FXE, 7K60FXE or 11K2F3E, then your license need not be modified. If your Emission Designator starts with a number greater than 11K, more than likely a 20KF03E designator, then you need to change your emission.
Do I have to change frequencies when I go narrowband?
Adding or changing your emission to narrowband does not require a frequency change.
Do we have to convert to digital when we convert to narrowband operation?
There is no digital requirement when you migrate to narrowband.
Will the FCC still accept and grant a waiver requests seeking an extension of the January 1, 2013, narrowbanding deadline?
They may accept them, but there is absolutely no guarantee that they will grant such requests given the date. In a Public Notice released in July 2011, the Commission provided specific guidance on suggested content and filing procedures.
Will we end up with more spectrum after we move to narrowband operation?
No, you will still be licensed on your current frequency, however, you can apply for the adjacent frequencies.
After we convert our radio system and licenses to 12.5 kHz narrowband use, do we keep the 25 kHz spectrum we were once authorized to use?
No. If a licensee chooses to update their system to comply with the narrowbanding mandate and upgrades to either a 12.5 kHz or equivalent analog or digital technology, the amended license will reflect the original channel assignment, but the amount of authorized spectrum will be reduced. There are, however, certain digital technologies that comply with the narrowband spectrum efficiency requirement that will permit the continued use of 25 kHz authorized channels.
Is there a an FCC mandate for licensees to migrate VHF and UHF systems to 6.25 kHz channel bandwidths?
No, the FCC is not presently engaged in any rule making proceeding that would require licensees to migrate their systems to a 6.25 kHz or equivalent efficiency.
Are paging-only frequencies exempt from Narrowbanding?
Yes. However, there are only (14) paging-only frequencies the FCC recognizes as being exempt.
Public Safety Pool – 152.0075 and 157.4500
Business/Industrial Pool – 152.480, 157.740, 158.460, 462.750, 462.775, 462.800, 462.825, 462.850, 462.875, 462.900, 462.925 and 465.000
For more information, see EWA’s full explanation about Narrowband Exempt Paging-Only Frequencies.
In the case of a user who neglects to properly narrowband their equipment, could a wireless sales/service provider be held liable for programming radios with frequencies that the customer is no longer authorized to use?
Yes. FCC Rule 90.427, Precautions Against Unauthorized Operation covers this issue. EWA has drafted for use by wireless sales/service providers a Customer Radio Programming Release Form that can be used in this situation. It should be noted however, that the form only serves the purpose of drawing your customers’ attention to the fact that they need licenses for the devices you are maintaining. The document itself does not remove your responsibility in this regard, but it helps and puts the customer on notice.
In terms of penalties, if you are not licensed and “get caught”, you will receive a Citation from the FCC; if you hold an FCC license and get caught, you will receive a Violation Notice; if you do not respond to either of these notices properly or on time, you may then receive a forfeiture (fine). Remember that if you “get caught”, then your customers were caught at the same time, and they may wonder why you did not warn them about their FCC licensing requirements!
Does a a tower owner have any responsibility to the FCC for those tower lessee occupants who choose not to comply with the FCC's narrowbanding mandate and continue to transmit non-compliant signals?
No. The tower owner is not responsible.
How should we prepare to go narrowband?
You've taken the right first step by visiting EWA! Next, see EWA's "Does Narrowbanding Apply to You" for more information.
Will 25 kHz non-compliant systems receive interference from narrowband licensees?
Almost for sure interference will result from both primary co-channel and adjacent channel narrowband systems.
Is Narrowband designed to provide more spectrum to Public Safety?
No, narrowbanding is intended to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum when all licensees have transitioned to narrowband.
Are narrowband radios expensive?
Not necessarily. The cost is dependent on the type of system with which it will be used, and other factors. Contact a wireless sales and service provider, or contact EWA for a list of providers in your area.
What does Equivalent Efficiency mean?
If your radios meet any of the following criteria, then they meet the 12.5 kHz equivalent efficiency requirement:
One voice path in a 12.5 kHz channel
Two voice paths in a 25 kHz channel
Data operations on channels greater that 12.5 kHz must employ data rates greater than 4.8 kbps per 5.25 kHz channel, such as 19.2 kbps per 25 kHz channel
