NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: March 22, 2007 Chelsea Fallon: (202) 418-7991 FCC ADDRESSES RULES FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SYSTEMS TO TRANSITION TO 6.25 kHz NARROWBAND TECHNOLOGY Washington, D.C. –Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Third Report and Order (Order) that declines, for now, to establish a fixed date for private land mobile radio (PLMR) systems in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands to transition to 6.25 kHz narrowband technology, but strongly urges licensees to consider migrating directly to 6.25 kHz technology rather than first adopting 12.5 kHz technology and later migrating to 6.25 kHz technology. The Order also revises the implementation date of the 6.25 kHz equipment certification rules from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2011. In today’s Order, the FCC declined to establish, at the present time, a fixed date for PLMR systems to transition to 6.25 kHz narrowband technology. There are no accepted industry standards for 6.25 kHz technology, which would be a bar to interoperability. Further, 6.25 kHz technology is not mature enough to warrant setting a migration schedule. The FCC reiterated, however, that it will expeditiously establish a schedule for transition to 6.25 kHz narrowband technology once the technology matures to the point that sufficient equipment is available for testing. The FCC also decided in today’s Order to change the date for the implementation of the 6.25 kHz equipment certification rules from January 1, 2005 to January 1, 2011, but strongly urges licensees to consider migrating directly to 6.25 kHz technology by January 1, 2013 rather than first adopting 12.5 kHz technology and later migrating to 6.25 kHz technology. Deferring the implementation date permits manufacturers to develop and test equipment after the expected finalization of 6.25 kHz standards in the near future. Action by the Commission on March 22, 2007, by Third Report and Order (FCC 07-39). Chairman Martin and Commissioners Copps, Adelstein, Tate, and McDowell. For additional information, contact Scot Stone at (202) 418-0638 or Scot.Stone@fcc.gov, or Thomas Eng at (202) 418-0019 or Thomas.Eng@fcc.gov. WT Docket No. 99-87. – FCC – News and other information about the Federal Communications Commission is available at www.fcc.gov.