FCC Waives Narrowbanding For T-Band Users

As expected, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has waived its long-standing narrowbanding mandate, but only for public safety agencies that will eventually have to vacate T-Band frequencies under new legislation. The ruling last Thursday means that cities that are assigned 470-512 MHz frequencies can now focus their time and money on moving to other frequency bands—possibly 700/800 MHz—and not on the process of upgrading their radios to allow narrowband transmissions. The FCC issued its original narrowbanding orders in 1995, and set a deadline of January 2013. The order requires users of 150-173 MHz and 421-512 MHz frequencies to move from 25 kHz-wide channels to 12.5 kHz channels. For medium and large-sized users, the process can be time-consuming and expensive, especially since the radio systems must be in continuous use. The narrowbanding process has been complicated by passage of tax legislation in February that also funded a nationwide public safety wireless network, but also mandated a give-back of the T-Band spectrum. In its waiver last week, the FCC acknowledged the dual requirements for T-Band users that the legislation crated: narrowband by next January and vacate about nine years later. “Continuing to require narrowbanding could force many licensees in the band to invest in narrowband systems that may subsequently have to be relocated,” the FCC noted. “We conclude that it would be inequitable and contrary to the public interest.” The commission said it’s still committed to a “timely” transition to narrowband technology relieve spectrum congestion, and will consider how long waiver relief should remain in effect. Download (pdf) the FCC’s order and read a news story about one agency’s reaction.