Public Safety: Have You Converted to Narrowbanding Yet?

Jan. 1, 2013, not only marks the beginning of the new year, but it’s also the deadline for public safety agencies to convert their land mobile radio (LMR) functionality to narrowbanding, which allows radios to use spectrum more efficiently. Those that miss the deadline will need to submit applications for special waiver extensions, but they can’t claim that they weren’t given enough time, Dave Buchanan, committee chair of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council’s Spectrum Management Committee, told Government Technology last year. The FCC started this endeavor in 1991, and by 1992, the agency established its narrowbanding initiative. It asserted that all public safety and business LMRs operating in the 150-512 MHz radio bands should cease using 25 kHz efficiency technology and begin operating using at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology will allow the creation of additional channel capacity within the same radio spectrum and support more users, according to the FCC.