By the US DHS Office of Emergency Communications
In December 2004, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that all non-Federal radio licensees operating 25 kHz systems in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands (VHF and UHF) must migrate to more efficient 12.5 kHz (narrowband) channels by January 1, 2013.
This rule applies to both conventional and trunked radio systems, and affects all FCC-licensed State and local emergency response radio systems.
To assist the nation’s public safety community and government officials in the transition from wideband to narrowband channels, the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) has released a guidance document entitled, “A Practical Guide to Narrowbanding.”
This guide covers some of the risks posed by the transition, such as potential reduction in coverage, as well as some of the benefits, including the potential for enhanced responder safety benefits created by upgrading to new equipment with more capacity and features.
Designed to provide best practices and recommendations for overcoming the most common challenges agencies may experience when transitioning to narrowband, OEC’s Narrowbanding Guide specifically contains the following:
- State case studies that illustrate lessons learned by emergency response communities during the narrowband transition
- Customizable letter template to assist states in raising awareness of the narrowband transition among local stakeholders, and provide background information about the narrowbanding decision
- Step-by-step guide to assist affected VHF and UHF licensees, including recommendations for internal processes ranging from budget considerations to inventory of radio equipment, as well as external processes from coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions to ensuring FCC mandates for licenses and modifications are met
“A Practical Guide to Narrowbanding” will assist public safety agencies and their governing bodies with the narrowband transition by addressing some of the confusion and common myths associated with this mandate, while also providing easy-to-follow guidance and best practices for them to incorporate into their own transition process to meet the January 1, 2013 deadline.
The guide is available for download on the OEC website or for more information contact OEC at OEC@hq.dhs.gov.
Established by Congress in 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) partners nationwide with emergency communications personnel and government officials at all levels of government to address challenges and develop solutions that address operability, interoperability, and continuity of communications. These partnerships help drive emergency communications policy and strategy. OEC’s initiatives focus on aligning national planning supporting coordination; assessing the level of capability across the nation; and better targeting federal, state, and local resources toward the biggest gaps and challenges.