PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 13-1803
Released:  August 27, 2013
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU AND 
OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY FREEZE CERTAIN APPLICATIONS IN 
THE 800 MHz NPSPAC PUBLIC SAFETY BAND
PS Docket No. 13-209
Today, in a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,
1
the Commission initiated a proceeding seeking 
comment on requiring:
? applicants for licenses in the 800 MHz NPSPAC public safety band
2
to employ only such 
digital equipment as conforms to Emission Mask H;
3
and 
? applications for certification of digital equipment capable of operating in the 800 MHz 
NPSPAC band to demonstrate compliance with Emission Mask H; and  
? applicants for licenses in the 800 MHz NPSPAC public safety band to employ only such 
equipment as is capable of operating in the analog FM mode on mutual aid channels
4
in that
band; and
? applications for certification of equipment capable of operating in the 800 MHz NPSPAC 
public safety band to specify only equipment capable of operating in the analog FM mode on 
mutual aid channels in that band.
As announced in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, in order to maintain a stable environment 
during the pendency of the rulemaking, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Office 
of Engineering and Technology are instituting a “freeze” on facilities applications and equipment 
certifications as follows: 
? Applications seeking 800 MHz NPSPAC channels where the applicant specifies digitally
modulated equipment that does not conform to Emission Mask H will not be accepted; and
                                                     
1
  Requiring H Mask for Digital Technologies on NPSPAC Channels and Analog FM on Mutual Aid and 
Interoperability Channels, PS Docket No. 13-209, RM-11663, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 13-117 ¶ 1 (rel. 
Aug. 27, 2013).
2
806-809/851-854 MHz.  See 47 C.F.R. § 90.617(a)(1).
3
47 C.F.R. §§ 90.210(h). 
4
There are 5 mutual aid channels in the NPSPAC public safety band, channels 1, 39, 77, 115, and 153.  47 C.F.R. § 
90.617(a)(1).
2? Applications seeking 800 MHz NPSPAC channels where the applicant specifies equipment 
not capable of analog FM modulation on the NPSPAC mutual aid channels will not be 
accepted; and
? Applications seeking certification of equipment capable of operating on the NPSPAC public 
safety channels will not be accepted unless the certification applicant demonstrates that the 
equipment conforms to Emission Mask H when operating on the NPSPAC public safety 
channels; and
? Applications seeking certification of equipment capable of operating on the NPSPAC public 
safety channels will not be accepted unless the certification applicant demonstrates that the 
equipment is capable of operating with analog FM modulation on the NPSPAC mutual aid 
channels.
The freeze is effective upon the release of this Public Notice, i.e., August 27, 2013, and will 
remain in effect pending further notice from the Commission.  For further information, please contact 
John A. Evanoff, Esq., Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Policy and Licensing Division,
john.evanoff@fcc.gov, or (202) 418-0848, or Bruce Romano, Office of Engineering and Technology, 
bruce.romano@fcc.gov, (202) 418-2124.
Action by the Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and Chief, Office of 
Engineering and Technology.
- FCC -