*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 8152.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 01- 657 Released: April 11, 2001 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ESTABLISHES A NEW STATION CLASS CODE IN CONNECTION WITH LICENSING TRUNKED RADIO SYSTEMS OPERATING BETWEEN 150- 512 MHz On June 28, 2000, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (R& O) in WT Docket No. 98- 182 and PR Docket No. 92- 235. Among other things, the R& O modified Section 90.187 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 90.187, governing the operation and licensing of trunked radio systems below 512 MHz. More specifically, the Commission revised the definition of trunked systems that are governed by this rule. Section 90.187 now pertains to all types of trunked systems (centralized, decentralized, and hybrid) authorized in the 150- 512 MHz bands under Part 90 of the Commission’s Rules. 1 Further, the Commission specified new licensing procedures with respect to trunked radio systems operating in the 150- 512 MHz bands. The new rules became effective November 12, 2000. The R& O established a new station class code, FB8. Applicants must use this FB8 station class code to identify base and mobile relay channels that are not subject to a monitoring requirement (i. e., the applicant/ licensee has obtained the necessary consent or has exclusive use of the channel). 2 Under this new requirement, all channels associated with a centralized trunked system and any channels in a hybrid system where the necessary consent has been obtained or are licensed on an exclusive basis must have an FB8 code for the base/ mobile relay station. Recently, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) became aware that there is also a need to identify the mobile channels associated with centralized or hybrid trunked stations. Such identification is 1 In a “centralized trunked system”, the base station controller provides dynamic channel assignments by automatically searching all channels in the system for and assigning to a user an open channel within that system. In a “decentralized trunked system”, which is also a system of dynamic channel assignment, the system continually monitors the assigned channels for activity both within the trunked system and outside the trunked system, and transmits only when an open channel is found. A “hybrid trunked system” is one where at least one of the frequencies being trunked but not all the frequencies being trunked meet the criteria specified in 47 C. F. R. § 90.187( b). 2 Under the Part 90 Rules trunked systems must meet certain monitoring requirements. The monitoring requirements, however, do not apply if certain conditions are met. See 47 C. F. R. § 90.187 (b) and (c). 1 necessary because in certain portions of the 150- 512 MHz band channels are not assigned in pairs by rule 3 but rather are paired on a case- by- case basis as part of the frequency coordination process (non- standard frequency pairs). In order to determine which mobile channels are associated with centralized or hybrid trunked operations (channels not subject to monitoring requirements), the Bureau is establishing a new station class code, MO8. The MO8 station class code is to be used to identify mobile channels associated with base/ mobile relay stations with an FB8 code. Applicants for centralized or hybrid trunked operation must specify the channel( s) for which trunked operation is proposed by using the FB8 code for the base/ mobile relay and the MO8 code for the corresponding mobile channels. Licensees of centralized and hybrid trunked systems must modify their licenses to specify a MO8 station class code on the mobile channels being trunked, especially in cases of trunking non- standard frequency pairs. Such requests to modify the station class code must comply with the frequency coordination requirements and be accompanied by the appropriate licensing fee. Applicants may begin using the new code immediately. Questions regarding this matter should be directed to the Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch of the Bureau’s Public Safety and Private Wireless Division at (717) 338- 2646. Action by Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. 3 Section 90.173 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 90.173, specifies that frequencies in the 450- 470 MHz have a 5 MHz separation between base and mobile stations, in the 470- 512 MHz band the separation is 3 MHz and for a select number of channels in the 150- 170 MHz band the separation is 5.26 MHz. 2