FCC set schedule for migrating private land mobile radio service ...

wasn’t enough by itself to shift to more efficient technology. FCC also approved further notice seeking comment on other efficiency issues. Order, adopted Feb. 12 and released Tues.: (1) Barred applications for new operations using 25 kHz channels, starting 6 months after order is published in Federal Register. (2) Prohibited changes that would expand authorized contour of existing station if bandwidth for covered transmissions were greater than 12.5 kHz, within 6 months of order’s being published. (3) Didn’t allow certification of equipment in 25 kHz mode starting Jan. 1, 2005. (4) Barred manufacture and import of 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz equipment that could operate on 25 kHz bandwidth starting Jan. 1, 2008. (5) Set deadlines for migrating to more efficient 12.5 kHz technology for private wireless systems at 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz. Deadline is Jan. 1, 2013, for nonpublic safety systems and Jan. 1, 2018, for public safety. FCC asked whether equipment certification provision of existing rules would promote migration to one voice path per 6.25 kHz bandwidth or equivalent technology and whether such migration should be mandatory. American Mobile Telecom Assn. (AMTA) had proposed to Commission that certain PLMRS licensees be required to use new spectrum- efficient technologies. It wanted nonpublic safety licenses between 222 MHz and 896 MHz either to be required to use technology with twice capacity of most current operations or to accept secondary status. Existing rules stipulate FCC will certify increasingly efficient equipment only in those bands, allowing 25 kHz capability to be included in more efficient narrowband 12.5 kHz or 6.25 kHz equipment to allow backward compatibility. Among changes were different nationwide mandatory migration dates for nonpublic safety and public safety systems to give consideration to budget constraints of state and local govts. Aside from deadlines, FCC said other “incremental changes” involving narrowband technology didn’t alone guarantee more spectrum efficiency but would “serve as catalysts toward employment of 12.5 kHz technology and encourage licensees to begin their conversion to narrowband technology prior to the mandatory migration dates.” Commission in further notice tentatively concluded similar steps were warranted to ease migration to 6.25 kHz technology, which is seen as ultimate goal after transitioning to 12.5 kHz. If migration to 6.25 kHz were adopted, FCC asked what compliance dates should be set.