Narrowbanding: What is It and Why You Need to Act Now
11/05/2009
Narrowbanding: What is It and Why You Need to Act Now
The FCC issued rules requiring all private LMR users in the VHF and UHF bands
to convert to 12.5-kilohertz (narrowband) operation by Jan. 1, 2013. This transition will NOT be paid for by Nextel or the Federal Government.
To meet the deadline, narrowbanding implementation needs to occur during 2012 or earlier — only two budget cycles away. The budgeting and planning process has to start no later than next year to appropriate money in time.
More than radios may need to be replaced. Equipment acquired before 1997 may not have the capacity for narrowbanding. Also, “Depending on coverage predictions, additional sites, voting receiver equipment and base station equipment could be required.”* For this reason, the conversion needs planning well in advance of the deadline.
CII will be doing an educational segment about Narrowbanding at Seminars around the State of Florida. Contact us for further details.
*Quoted from Mission Critical Magazine, “Narrowbanding Prep” by Joe Blaschka Jr. For the full article go to "Narrowbanding Prep" and see page 20.
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