Federal Communications Commission DA 26-838 DA 26-838 Released: August 11, 2026 THE PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON TWO APPLICATIONS AND A WAIVER REQUEST FROM THE NEW YORK DIVISION OF STATE POLICE SEEKING TO CONVERT A VEHICLE RECOVERY CHANNEL INTO A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS CHANNEL ULS File Numbers 0011998692 and 0011998702 Comment Date: September 10, 2026 Reply Comment Date: September 25, 2026 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment on two applications and an associated waiver request from the State of New York, Division of State Police (New York DSP) which seeks to convert VHF channel 173.075 MHz from a stolen vehicle recovery channel into a channel which can be used to support its public safety radio communications. State of New York, Division of State Police, Applications, Universal Licensing System (ULS) File nos. 0011998692 (received Apr. 16, 2026) (New York DSP Applications). See also Attachment to the New York DSP Applications labeled “Waiver” (attached Apr. 16, 2026) (Waiver Request). New York DSP is currently licensed to operate base stations with associated mobile units on channel 173.075 MHz throughout numerous counties in New York state as part of a stolen vehicle recovery system managed by LoJack. See call signs WPFS619 and WPUX388. See also Waiver Request at 1 (noting that LoJack “historically utilized this frequency as part of its stolen vehicle recovery network”). When a vehicle registered with LoJack is reported stolen, New York DSP transmits a message from its base stations which activates a vehicle location unit (VLU) installed on the vehicle. See Amendment of Section 90.20(e)(6) of the Commission’s Rules, WT Docket No. 06-142, Report and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 12601, 12604, para. 4 (2008). Once activated, the VLU transmits a tracking message which the police use to locate the stolen vehicle. Id. On March 11, 2026, New York DSP received a letter from the vendor of its VLU devices indicating that LoJack was “terminating” its operations on channel 173.075 MHz. Letter from Douglas R. Peterson, General Counsel & Secretary, Cal/Amp to Director of Communications, New York State Police (Mar. 11, 2026) (attached to New York DSP Applications). See also LoJack announcement at https://www.lojack.com/blog/2026/04/effective-march-26-2026-the-legacy-lojack-rf-system-was-discontinued/. The vendor informed New York DSP that it could cancel its licenses for that channel. Id. Instead of cancelling its licenses, New York DSP seeks to modify them by adding new emission designators so it can instead use the base stations transmitting on channel 173.075 MHz with traditional land mobile radio mobile units to “support both voice and data operations.” Waiver Request at 1. By making this modification, New York DSP states that its base station infrastructure can be used to “support mission-critical communications” for its personnel “operating throughout the Hudson Valley region of New York State.” Id. It notes that assignable Public Safety Pool channels from the VHF band are “extremely limited” within the “Hudson Valley region.” Id. Therefore, New York DSP submits that, with LoJack no longer active on the channel, it presents New York DSP with an opportunity to “repurpose this spectrum to support public safety communications.” Id. New York DSP requires a waiver because section 90.20(e)(6) of the Commission’s rules limits availability for channel 173.075 MHz only to “stolen vehicle recovery systems.” 47 CFR § 90.20(e)(6). Absent a waiver, New York DSP would not be permitted to use channel 173.075 MHz to support its public safety “voice and data operations.” Waiver Request at 1. New York DSP’s applications were coordinated by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, International (APCO), the Commission’s designated frequency coordinator for operations on the stolen vehicle recovery channel 173.075 MHz. See New York DSP Applications. See also 47 CFR § 90.20(c)(3) (specifying the Police Coordinator as the designated frequency coordinator for channel 173.075 MHz). Since all operations on channel 173.075 MHz are shared with federal users, the applications were also coordinated with and approved by the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). See New York DSP Applications. See also CFR § 90.20(e)(6) (stating that channel 173.075 MHz is available “on a shared basis with Federal stations in the fixed and mobile services”). We seek comment on New York DSP’s request for a waiver of section 90.20(e)(6) of the Commission’s rules so it can repurpose the stolen vehicle recovery system channel 173.075 MHz for use as a public safety radio communications channel. Waiver Request at 1; 47 CFR § 90.20(e)(6). In particular, we seek comment from any party who would be affected by New York DSP’s proposal to use channel 173.075 MHz for “voice and data operations.” Waiver Request at 1. Interested parties may file comments on or before September 10, 2026. Parties may file replies on or before September 25, 2026. Instructions for Filing Comments All comments and reply comments should reference the subject New York Department of State Police Waiver Request and the DA number indicated on this Public Notice. Comments may be filed: (1) electronically by accessing the applicant’s file number(s) in the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Enhances the Commission’s Universal Licensing System to Implement Electronic Filing for Pleadings, Public Notice, 21 FCC Rcd 424 (WTB 2006). See http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-125A1.pdf. or (2) by filing paper copies. Electronic Filers:  Pleadings may be submitted electronically as follows: · Begin the process by using the following link to the ULS website https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/pleadings/pleadingsType.jsp. The link will take you to the “Pleading Information” screen for “Non-docketed Pleadings” where you select “Reply” in the drop-down window for the type of pleading and then enter the pleadings filer information. Completion of the contact information is optional. Upon completion of this screen, please note the instructions for the filing: “Pleadings must be dated and must include a signature, in this instance an electronic signature, and the address and phone number of the signing party.” See 47 CFR Part 1. Click on “CONTINUE.” · The second step is to complete the File Numbers/Call Signs screen. Click if the pleading pertains to a File Number or Call Sign and enter the File Number or Call Sign. Please note that you must enter a File Number or Call Sign to continue. If the pleading pertains to multiple applications or licenses, you must enter each File Number or Call Sign as appropriate. After clicking the “SUBMIT” button, the screen will update to show all the File Numbers/Call Signs associated with the pleading. At this time, you may delete selected File Numbers/Call Signs from the page before continuing. · The third step is to complete the Attach File screen to attach the pleading document. Use the drop-down box to select Pleading or Confidential Pleading. The “BROWSE” button opens a file upload window where you will locate and select your pleading file. The Description field allows you to enter a brief description for the pleading. Click the “ADD ATTACHMENT” button to upload your pleading. You may submit up to thirty files for each pleading but each file must be smaller than 10 MB in size. You also can delete any selected file from the pleading. · Finally, to complete your electronic pleading submission, click on the “SUBMIT PLEADING” button and the Confirmation screen will be displayed. The Confirmation screen will display your Confirmation Number as well as your entered pleadings information. You may print this page for your records by selecting the Print Page link at the top of the page and have the option of submitting another pleading or returning to the ULS website by selecting a link at the bottom of the page. The ULS Application Search results will display pleadings under the ADMIN tab when a comment or reply comment has been filed. Users can view the pleading by clicking on the link for the specific comment or reply comment in the Description field. The general public will not be able to view confidential pleadings. For additional information or assistance on how to file a comment or reply comment or other relevant pleading, you may visit the Web at https://www.fcc.gov/available-support-services. You may also call the FCC ULS Customer Support Center at (877) 480-3201 and select option 2. For TTY, please call (717) 338-2824. Assistance from the FCC ULS Customer Support Center is available between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). To provide quality service and ensure security, all telephone calls to the FCC ULS Customer Support Center are recorded. Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must submit an original and one copy of each filing. · Filings can be sent by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. o U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554 The application(s), waiver request, and comments and reply comments can be accessed electronically via the Commission’s Universal Licensing System, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). For additional information, contact Brian.Marenco@fcc.gov, (202) 418-0838, of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Policy and Licensing Division. -FCC- 2