Public safety D block, T-band give back

[Winger2002]

http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/ne ... -20120217/

Comments?

oh and checking interest on a bunch of t-band radios

[MassFD]

Although first responders will gain the D Block spectrum, the bill calls for public safety to return spectrum in the T-Band (470-512 MHz), which is used to support narrowband voice system in 14 of the largest metropolitan areas. Under the terms of the bill, this spectrum would have to be returned to the federal government in 9 to 11 years, and the federal government would cover costs to relocate public-safety systems. However, public safety will be allowed to keep its 700 MHz narrowband spectrum, where first-responder agencies have invested more than $2 billion in recent years to deploy LMR systems.

Give back in 9 to 11 years, if the give back takes as long as narrowbanding I will be well into my dirt nap and it will be someone elses problem.

[FMROB]

I wouldn't worry about it. There is no way in the next 9 or 11 years that any manufacturers are going to come to market with "public safety grade" voice systems in LTE for us. Hell, motorola can't even make a minitor pager that works well.

[Bill_G]

Sounds to me like congress just authorized privatizing public safety radio systems. By allowing public / private partnerships, they have given cellular providers a windfall to build out service in a reserved band over a time frame that is easily accomplished. The providers will maintain the backbone, and the agencies have a single line item in their budgets. We'll see it deployed in major metros first, followed by rural areas. Say bye bye to LMR.

[d119]

Yep. I support a LOT of systems in T-band, and I've got some pretty pissed off customers right now. Let's hope this bill doesn't pass, as it's likely to put me out of a job.

Cellular companies providing two-way for public safety... Sheesh!

[KE7JFF]

I dunno, it works in Canada

/me points to Bell FleetNet in Ontario

[motorola_otaku]

I dunno, it works in Canada

/me points to Bell FleetNet in Ontario

And Aliant TMRS over Nova Scotia way (paging Wavetar.) But we're talking about totally different regulatory mindsets and cultures here.

So let's see, the trade-off here is UHF spectrum which works well in high-site/low-density buildouts for 700 MHz spectrum which takes orders of magnitude more infrastructure to support the same level of coverage and comes with a digital voice usage mandate. Someone is winning here, but it ain't public safety.

[RADIOMAN2002]

What about business T band I have a hand full of channels that I am not giving back unless they move me somewhere without interference.

[resqguy911]

Let's hope this bill doesn't pass, as it's likely to put me out of a job.

Too late. http://urgentcomm.com/policy_and_law/ne ... -20120223/

[AL7OC]

Kind of sucks! ... Are they figuring on putting T band licensees back in the 450-470 band in new narrowband splinter frequencies?

[Tom in D.C.]

The whole T-band "deal" simply shows the political power of the CTIA and others who keep screaming for more spectrum. And don't think for a minute that this "takeover/giveaway" will be the last one to happen, because it won't be.

[MassFD]

Kind of sucks! ... Are they figuring on putting T band licensees back in the 450-470 band in new narrowband splinter frequencies?

To late for that in the NY/NJ area, every 12.5 offset has been licensed for years.

As I read it the plan is to move them to 700 where no equipment is avaiable yet. What will happen to fireground simplex operation and tone/voice paging remains to be seen.

[escomm]

Kind of sucks! ... Are they figuring on putting T band licensees back in the 450-470 band in new narrowband splinter frequencies?

To late for that in the NY/NJ area, every 12.5 offset has been licensed for years.

As I read it the plan is to move them to 700 where no equipment is avaiable yet. What will happen to fireground simplex operation and tone/voice paging remains to be seen.

Are you talking about PS being moved to 700 or LMR being moved to 700? Because there are a great number of LMR licenses above 470, somehow I don't think the legislation calls for commercial T band LTR radios to be replaced with public safety TDMA radios for 700MHz...

[motorola_otaku]

Almost all of the SMR trunks in Houston are T-band. Only a handful run exclusively on 450-470 channels, and there are none left on 800/900 thanks to Nextel. So between iDEN going away and this, you're 'd for business dispatch service.

[turtle9832]

I am posting these questions here because one of my department's administrators saw this article and raised questions about narrowing.

The questions are:

Does a city police department have to narrow its 474.XXXX freq by January 1st 2013?

Will the department have to give up the freq in 2024?

A substantial amount of money was spent to narrow the system and now he is saying it was a waste of cash.

Thanks in advance

[motorola_otaku]

Does a city police department have to narrow its 474.XXXX freq by January 1st 2013?

No, narrowbanding was waived for T-band licenses.
http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_syst ... -20120426/
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Release ... -642A1.pdf

Will the department have to give up the freq in 2024?

Unless the law is changed, yes, unfortunately. Everyone gets the boot and so far no guaranteed replacement spectrum has been offered.

[turtle9832]

Thank you

[d119]

I'm really hoping this issue dies a swift death here in the next six months. I know there have been questionnaires going out to T-band users as well as miles of paperwork written trying to present the case why this simply will not work.

Hopefully things will revert back to the way they were before too much longer. But you can bet the narrow-band mandate will be placed back into effect, albeit somewhat extended.