Narrow-banding What It Means to Public Safety Webinar

Narrow-banding What It Means to Public Safety Webinar

Rick Mulvihill Director Presenters Charlie Stephenson Director of Outreach and Technology Assistance Robert Rhoads Office of Emergency Communications, DHS 2

This project is supported by Award No. 2007-IJ-CX-K013 and Supplements one and two awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in the presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Justice. 3

Purpose Today s webinar will cover the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) narrowbanding mandate and what it means to public safety agencies. 4

Outline Narrow-banding: History behind the change; Why do we need to change; Who is affected; Who mandated the change; The technical aspect of narrow-banding; Radio coverage and how it may be affected: Narrow-band challenges; Important dates to remember; Frequently asked questions; and What the future holds. 5

History Behind The Change Yesterday Today 6

Why Do We Need To Change 7

Why Do We Need To Change 8

Who Is Affected? All existing part 90 radio systems operating on frequencies between 150-512 MHz. This includes not only the public safety pool licenses but also the industrial/business pool licensees. 9

Who Mandated the Change Docket 92-235 narrow-banding begins Second R&O no new 25 khz systems after 1/2004 Jan. 1, 2011 all new applications and all modifications at 12.5kHz 1992 1997 2003 2004 2008 2011 2013 FCC type acceptance required to be 12.5 khz narrowband capable FCC established new dates for narrowband of 2011 and 2013 Jan 1, 2013 all licensees must be fully operational on 12.5kHz 10

Who Mandated the Change First Refarming Report and Order (R&O) 1995: Equipment required to be narrowband capable in 1997. Second Report and Order (R&O) 2003: Licensees given deadlines to migrate to 12.5 khz technology or utilize a technology that achieves equivalent efficiency; Non-Public Safety Deadline: January 1, 2013; and Public Safety Deadline: January 1, 2018. No applications for new wideband 25 khz systems or geographical expansion of existing wideband systems could be filed after January 13, 2004 Third Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) 2004: Delayed all 2nd R&O interim deadlines to January 1, 2011; and Accelerated public safety narrow-banding deadline from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2013, consistent with the Industrial/Business deadline. Exempted Part 90 paging-only frequencies from the narrow-banding requirements. 11

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding VHF Before Narrow-banding (150-174 MHz) 25 khz Channelization Wideband Wideband 25kHz Channel Wideband Overlap Overlap Adjacent channels 15kHz Channel Spacing 15kHz Channel Spacing 155.745 155.760 155.775 12

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding VHF Wideband - Narrowband During Transition (150-174 MHz) 25 & 12.5 khz Channelization Wideband Wideband Overlap 25kHz Channel Wideband Overlap Narrowband Narrowband 12.5kHz Channel 7.5kHz Channel Spacing 7.5kHz Channel Spacing 155.745 155.760 155.775 155.7525 155.7675 13

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding VHF After Narrow-banding (150-174 MHz) 12.5 khz Channelization Narrowband Narrowband Narrowband Narrowband Narrowband 12.5kHz Channel 7.5kHz Channel Spacing 155.745 155.760 155.775 155.7525 155.7675 14

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding VHF After Final Re-farming (150-174 MHz) 6.25 khz Channelization 15

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding UHF Before Narrow-banding (421-430 & 470-512 MHz) 25 khz Channelization Wideband 25kHz Channel Wideband Wideband 470.100 25kHz Channel Spacing 470.125 470.150 16

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding UHF Wideband - Narrowband During Transition (421-430 & 470-512 MHz) Wideband 25kHz Channel Wideband Wideband Narrowband Narrowband 12.5kHz Channel 12.5kHz Channel Spacing 470.100 470.1125 470.125 470.150 470.1375 17

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding UHF After Narrow-banding (421-430 & 470-512 MHz) 12.5 khz Operation Narrowband Narrowband Narrowband Narrowband Narrowband 12.5kHz Channel 12.5kHz Channel Spacing 470.100 470.125 470.150 470.1125 470.1375 18

The Technical Aspect of Narrow-banding UHF After Final Re-farming (421-430 & 470-512 MHz) 6.25 khz Operation 19

Radio Coverage is it Affected? 20

Radio Coverage is it Affected? 21

Radio Coverage is it Affected? 100% 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Percentage of service area that has coverage More sensitive to small losses in S/N ratio Less sensitive to small losses in S/N ratio -20-15 -10-5 0 5 10 15 20 db 22

Radio Coverage is it Affected? What is the best course of action for an agency? It begins by having a good understanding of your radio system s current level of performance and ends with choosing the best course of action that will provide you with the level of coverage needed to meet your agency s specific needs. 23

Planning; Funding; Resources; Narrow-band Challenges Coordination; and Maintaining Interoperable Communications. 24

Narrow-band Challenges Planning Evaluate and inventory equipment to determine what is narrowband-capable and what equipment must be replaced; Identify the costs and identify a funding mechanism; Establish joint planning meetings with neighboring jurisdictions and agencies to coordinate your actions; Establish a schedule. Working with your neighboring jurisdictions and within your jurisdiction establish a schedule to transition to narrowband operation; Identify solutions to maintain interoperable communications during the transition; Develop internal and external procedures for the transition and review the procedures with all affected parties; Identify resources to manage and support the transition; and As needed work with a frequency coordinator. This is especially important for jurisdictions near international borders or quiet zones. 25

Narrow-band Challenges Planning Confusion about the mandate: Although P25 radios satisfy the narrow-banding requirement, it is not necessary to go digital in order to narrowband. Many radios currently being used are narrowband capable but perhaps not digital/p25 compatible check to ensure that you are not buying new equipment when it is unnecessary. Range of radios may be reduced: Narrowband systems may lose signal about 1.5 6dB compared to wideband systems. This problem is more acute in older narrowband-compliant radios, which may have simply been retrofitted with narrowband receiving filters. Some jurisdictions may need to install more towers, or increase the height of existing towers to maintain their current coverage.

Narrow-band Challenges Funding Funding needed to replace or re-program radios. Limited number of budget cycles left to allocate money for equipment retooling or purchase. SAFECOM Grants Guidance: To assist State, regional, local and tribal levels of government in achieving the Narrowband mandate, grant funds may be used for the narrowband conversion activities; Replacing non-narrowband compliant equipment; Acquiring or upgrading additional tower sites needed to comply with narrowband conversion; and Reprogramming existing equipment to comply with narrowband conversion. 27

Narrow-band Challenges Resources Limited Radio shop resources: Many local radio shops and service stations may be overwhelmed if multiple groups request narrow-banding assistance. Make sure that the local radio contractor/service has availability to support your schedule. If more than one contractor or service is involved, management and coordination of the activities is critical. Time demands on staff for conversion: Staff to coordinate internally and externally to manage the transition. Training of users regarding the transition: New channel plan. Challenges during the transition. 28

Narrow-band Challenges Maintaining Interoperable Communications It is realistically not feasible to assume that everyone will magically swap at the same time. This will be a risk management decision that will affect virtually every jurisdiction s communications decision maker. It may be necessary after careful consideration that your radios may need to be re-programmed more than once. If you complete narrowbanding before all your neighbors how does this affect your ability to communicate during mutual aid situations? When will your regional mutual aid networks change? When will your county or state change? 29

Narrow-band Challenges OEC offers States and territories an opportunity to make TA requests annually. Support for narrowband planning is offered. Agencies must apply through your State; SWIC and or SAA. 30

Important Dates To Remember January 1, 2011 (Interim Deadline) New applications for 25 khz bandwidth will be accepted only before January 1, 2011. After this date, applications for greater than 12.5 khz bandwidth will be accepted only if the equipment meets the efficiency standard of one voice channel/12.5 khz bandwidth or 4800 bps/6.25 khz (9600 bps for 12.5 khz; 19.2 bps for 25 khz). Modifications of existing 25 khz systems will be accepted until January 1, 2011. After this date, applications to modifications to 25 khz systems which result in an expanded service contour will be accepted only if the equipment meets the efficiency standard of one voice channel/12.5 khz bandwidth or for data, 4800 bps/6.25 khz (9600 bps for 12.5 khz; 19.2 Kbps for 25 khz. 31

Important Dates To Remember January 1, 2011 (Interim Deadline cont.) 25 khz equipment can be manufactured and imported until January 1, 2011. After this date, equipment operating at greater than 12.5 khz bandwidth must meet the efficiency standard of one voice channel/12.5 khz bandwidth or 4800 bps/6.25 khz. The FCC revised its rules to exempt 152.0075 MHz and 157.4500 MHz Part 90 paging-only frequencies from the narrow-banding requirements. 32

Important Dates To Remember January 1, 2013 as stated by the Third Memorandum Opinion and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order ( Third MO&O, Third Further Notice, and Order, respectively). For Public Safety Radio Pool licensees operating PLMR services in the same bands, we also establish a January 1, 2013 deadline for migration to 12.5 khz technology, or a technology that achieves the narrowband equivalent of one channel per 12.5 khz of channel bandwidth (voice) or 4800 bits per second per 6.25 khz (data) if the bandwidth for transmissions specified in the modification application is greater than 12.5 khz. For licensees in the Industrial/Business Radio Pool operating in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands, we affirm the Second Report and Order s January 1, 2013 deadline for migration to 12.5 khz technology, or a technology that achieves the narrowband equivalent of one channel per 12.5 khz of channel bandwidth (voice) or 4800 bits per second per 6.25 khz (data) if the bandwidth for transmissions specified in the modification application is greater than 12.5 khz. 33

Frequently Asked Questions Will agencies have to buy new equipment i.e. radios? That depends, most radios purchased in the last six to eight years are already narrow-band capable. They just need to be re-tuned. Must agencies implement digital technology when using narrowband channels? The FCC has not mandated the use of digital radios for anyone. Will agencies end up with twice as many channels? While it is possible to acquire additional channels it would require a separate action and there is no guarantee that the FCC would approve new licenses. 34

Frequently Asked Questions Must 800 MHz systems be narrow-banded? The FCCs narrowbanding mandate does not apply to radio spectrum above 512 MHz. Will paging channels need to be narrow-banded? Yes and no, paging channels at 152.0075 MHz and 157.4500 MHz can remain wideband channels all others must be narrow-banded. Will narrow-banding reduce overall coverage? Yes, however to what extent it affects each agencies service area it is hard to say. Only a thorough analysis of your coverage requirements can tell for sure. 35

Frequently Asked Questions Will agencies need to change frequencies? No, agencies will still operate on the same frequency however the bandwidth will be reduced. Will agencies that fail to meet narrow-banding compliance be able to operate in secondary status? To date the FCC has taken a hard stand on non-compliance. Failure to narrowband may subject an agency to FCC actions through the FCC Enforcement Bureau. Will the FCC allow continued operation at 25 khz after Jan 1, 2013 by waiver? Anything is possible however agencies should not count on it. 36

What The Future Holds The Federal Communications Commission has declined, for the time being to establish a schedule for further migration from 12.5 khz to 6.25 khz. 37

Questions? 38

For Additional Information Websites: http://www.commtechcoe.org http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/topics/technology/communication http://www.justnet.org Contacts: Rick Mulvihill, Director (267) 415-4761 or RMulvhill@commtechcoe.org Charles Stephenson, Director of Outreach and Technology Assistance (267) 415-4762 or CStephenson@commtechcoe.org Robert Rhoads Department of Homeland Security, OEC (202) 343-1620 or Robert.Rhoads@dhs.gov 39