PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 12-12
Released:  January 5, 2012               
LESS THAN ONE YEAR REMAINS FOR LAND MOBILE RADIO LICENSEES IN THE 150-
174 MHz AND 421-512 MHz BANDS TO TRANSITION TO NARROWBAND OPERATIONS 
This Public Notice reminds licensees, frequency coordinators, equipment manufacturers, and 
other interested parties of the Federal Communications Commission’s January 1, 2013 deadline for 
private land mobile radio licensees in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz (VHF/UHF) bands to migrate 
to narrowband (12.5 kHz or narrower) technology.1  
Key Narrowbanding Deadlines2
VHF/UHF Licensees: By January 1, 2013, all VHF/UHF Industrial/Business and Public Safety 
Radio Pool licensees must:
-operate on 12.5 kHz (11.25 kHz occupied bandwidth) or narrower channels, or 
-employ a technology that achieves the narrowband equivalent of at least one channel per 
12.5 kHz of channel bandwidth for voice and transmission rates of at least 4800 bits per 
second per 6.25 kHz for data systems operating with bandwidths greater than 12.5 kHz 
(narrowband-equivalent technology).
Equipment Manufacturers: As of January 1, 2013, equipment manufacturers may no longer
manufacture and import previously-certified equipment that includes a 25 kHz mode.3
Additional Narrowbanding Information
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and 
Office of Engineering and Technology have issued prior guidance by Public Notice regarding 
narrowbanding migration, compliance, and waiver requests.4 In addition, detailed information and 
references to other resources concerning narrowbanding are available at www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding.  
  
1 See Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934 as Amended, Second Report and 
Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket No. 99-87, RM-9332, 18 FCC Rcd 3034 
(2003) (Second R&O); Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934 as Amended,
Third Memorandum Opinion and Order, Third Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order, WT Docket 
No. 99-87, RM-9332, 19 FCC Rcd 25045 (2004) (Third MO&O); Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 as Amended, Order, WT Docket No. 99-87, RM-9332, 25 FCC Rcd 8861 (2010) 
(Narrowbanding Waiver Order); see also 47 C.F.R. §§ 90.203(j), 90.209(b).
2 The Commission has already ceased to accept VHF/UHF applications for new 25 kHz wideband operations and  
for modification of wideband operations that expand the authorized contour of existing stations.  47 C.F.R. § 
90.209(b)(6).  These restrictions took effect on January 1, 2011.  Id.
3 Narrowbanding Waiver Order, 25 FCC Rcd at 8864 ¶ 8.
4 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, and Office of 
Engineering and Technology Provide Reminder of January 1, 2013 Deadline for Transition to Narrowband 
2
For further information, licensees and frequency coordinators may contact Mr. Melvin Spann of
the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, (202) 418-1333, Melvin.Spann@fcc.gov, 
or Mr. Roberto Mussenden of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Policy Division, (202) 
418-1428, Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov or narrowbanding@fcc.gov.  Equipment manufacturers may 
contact Mr. Andy Leimer of the Office of Engineering and Technology, (301) 362-3049, 
Andrew.Leimer@fcc.gov.  
Action by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau, and Office of Engineering and Technology.
-FCC-
    
Operations in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz Bands and Guidance for Submission of Requests for Waiver and 
Other Matters, Public Notice, 26 FCC Rcd 9647 (2011).