By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Editor
DALLAS — Fire chiefs were reminded the clock is ticking to plan and implement narrowbanding during a special communications session at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas on Thursday.
The Federal Communications Commission is requiring that radio systems in 150-174 and 421-512 MHz operate at 12.5 kHz efficiency by January 1, 2013.
Chief Douglas Aiken, Chief of Lakes Region, N.H., Mutual Fire Aid and chair of the IAFC’s Communications Committee, said an important interim date for VHF/UHF narrowbanding comes on January 1, 2011.
From this date, there will be no new licenses for 25 kHz efficiency, manufacturers will not be able to market equipment that includes 25 kHz efficient mode and new equipment designs certified must include 6.25 kHz or equivalent efficiency mode.
Chief Aiken noted some of the public safety concerns at the changes during the session such as the removal of 25 kHz hampering interoperability transition and requiring 6.25 efficiency mode in equipment being premature before Phase II standard is done.
But he went on to debunk some of the myths that exist, such as users will have to go to 6.25 kHz, narrowbanding a system to 12.5 kHz efficiency will require the user to operate in digital mode and that the FCC “won’t enforce the rules on public safety.”
All three points, Chief Aiken said, are not true. He went on to urge chiefs to ensure the relevant person within their departments are looking at the requirements and planning fully for them.
“We need to take action to work towards narrowbanding,” he said.