Despite this inconvenient truth–or rather because of it–on June 28, 2010 President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum that directed the Secretary of Commerce, through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), to collaborate with the FCC to produce a ten-year plan and timetable for making available 500 megahertz of Federal and non-Federal spectrum suitable for wireless broadband use, while taking into account the need to ensure there is no loss of existing critical government capabilities and the need for appropriate enforcement mechanisms and authorities.

The NTIA and DOC have subsequently release two reports that include:

1. A Ten-Year Plan and Timetable to make 500 megahertz of Federal and non-Federal
   spectrum available for wireless broadband use; and
2. Fast Track Evaluation of the 1675-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, 3500-3650 MHz, and
   4200-4220 MHz and 4380-4400 MHz bands.

The NTIA has identified 2,200 megahertz of spectrum to evaluate for wireless broadband opportunities, including the four fast-track bands, as candidate bands for review. The report provides a roadmap for identifying wireless spectrum assigned to both Federal and non-Federal users that can be allocated for wireless broadband, as well as for using all spectrum more efficiently.

A detailed fact sheet spelling out the highlights of the reports is available here. The bottom line is that it should be no problem to find a spare 500 MHz of useful spectrum out of the proposed 2,200 MHz…after the FCC holds more meetings to hear from and address the concerns of a wide range of stakeholders.

That won’t be easy and it won’t happen overnight. But at some point it will happen. When it does, expect to see an outpouring of applications to take advantage of the newly opened spectrum. When the FCC opened up the ISM bands to unlicensed devices it gave rise to new wireless technologies that created multi-billion dollar industries. I’d expect nothing less the next time around.

 By the end of 2012, all private land mobile radio users operating below 512 MHz must move to 12.5 kHz narrowband voice channels and highly efficient data channel operations.  If they don’t, they will be in violation of their license and subject to fine by the FCC. In addition, the FCC will not be allowing any new licenses for systems operating with 25 kHz wide channels, or expansion of existing systems, after January 1, 2011. That means after December 31, 2010 operators will need to make decisions regarding how they intend to comply by the end of 2012.

 The purpose of the FCC’s 2003 edict was to clear up congestion in the HF/VHF bands, which this action would clearly do. However the public-safety agencies who have the most to gain from this change now find themselves strapped for the cash to implement it; in the absence of government funding for new equipment it’s essentially become another unfunded mandate. The FCC is hanging tough that it will indeed fine or shut down your local police communications center if they don’t comply, but I find it impossible not to share Bischoff’s view that that there’s no way that’s going to happen. It’s either a Mexican standoff or time to negotiate.

 All new equipment mandated by the DHS must comply with Project 25 (P25) standards set by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials ( APCO-25) and other agencies. This standard was developed to insure that first responders nationwide can all communicate with each other when they show up at a disaster site. Current APCO-25 Phase 1 radio systems operate in 12.5 kHz analog, digital or mixed mode using continuous 4-level FM (C4FM) modulation for digital transmissions at 4800 baud and 2 bits per symbol, yielding 9600 bits per second total channel throughput. Receivers designed for the C4FM standard can also demodulate the compatible quadrature phase shift keying (CQPSK) signals. As Bischoff points out, any equipment purchased before 2000 will have to be replaced in order to be interoperable with newer equipment. That represents a real hardship for smaller, rural police and fire departments in particular.

 The solution seems to me to be two-fold: (1) petition the FCC for an extension on compliance; and (2) push the administration to fund the purchase of new equipment, flying the flag of “homeland security”. In this economic environment more money is pretty unlikely, so getting the FCC to back off is the main hope.

 If this burr gets under your saddle you can contact the FCC or the P-25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG).  Or check out the IWCE conference and exhibition to be held in Las Vegas from March 8-12, 2010. In any case thanks to Jay (KA5OST) for bringing the issue to my attention and to Glen Bischoff for keeping it on the front burner.