Understanding Radio
System Licensing
Ralph Haller
General Manager
Public Safety Coordination Associates
The FCC and You
• The FCC requires that all radio systems be
licensed
• Licensing requires a choice of technical
parameters based on communications needs
• License applications must be reviewed and
certified by FCC-certified frequency
coordinators
What is Frequency
Coordination?
• Frequency coordinators review applications for FCC licenses
for accuracy and help select radio channels for radio
systems.
• All applications for land mobile (two-way) radio licenses
must be reviewed by a certified frequency coordinator
before the FCC will accept them.
• PS has four FCC certified coordinators
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APCO
AASHTO
FCCA
IMSA/IAFC
Who Are We?
The Public Safety Coordination Associates (PSCA) is
a non-profit corporation formed by the
International Municipal Signal Association
(IMSA), the International Association of Fire
Chiefs (IAFC), and the Forestry Conservation
Communications Association (FCCA) to handle
land mobile frequency coordination for the three
organizations. IMSA, IAFC, and FCCA have each
been certified by the FCC as public safety
frequency coordinators. PSCA performs that work
for the three organizations on a non-profit basis.
What is Spectrum?
• Spectrum is a general term for
electromagnetic radiation
• Light is electromagnetic radiation that we can
see and the different colors correspond to
frequency (red to violet – low to high)
• Radio spectrum is below light in frequency,
but if it could be seen, it would also form a
rainbow from low to high.
Radio Wave Fundamentals
• Radio waves travel at the speed of light
• Each time the distance from the antenna
doubles, one-fourth the power is available
(Inverse Square Law)
How is Spectrum Measured?
What Bands are Available?
• Private Land Mobile Bands
– Low VHF: 25 – 50 MHz
– VHF: 150 – 174 MHz
– UHF: 450 – 470 MHz
– T-Band: 470 – 512 MHz
– 700 MHz
– 800 MHz
– NPSPAC
Factors Affecting Range
• Factors affecting distance and quality of signal
– Radiated Power
– Frequency (the higher the freq, the more
(atmospheric attenuation) loss)
– Height of antenna (line of sight in the PLMR
bands)
– Land use (e.g. vegetation kills 800 MHz)
– Foliage and Water Vapor
Band Characteristics
• 30 – 50 MHz (Low VHF)
– Wide area coverage with minimal sites
– Subject to long distance “skip”
– Poor in-building coverage
• 150 – 174 MHz (VHF)
– Most popular PS band – Channels shared
– Good outdoor and moderate indoor coverage
– Channels not in pairs for repeater operation
Band Characteristics
• 450 – 470 MHz (UHF)
– Channels paired for repeater operation
– Reasonably good outdoor and indoor coverage
– Shared channels
• 470 – 512 MHz (T-Band)
– Available in 11 cities, but currently frozen
– Same characteristics as 450 – 470 MHz
– Exclusive channels
Band Characteristics
• 700 MHz, 800 MHz, and NPSPAC
– Outdoor coverage requires many more sites than
VHF or UHF.
– Good in-building coverage
– 700 MHz and NPSPAC allocated by regional plans
– Paired channels for repeater operation
Simplex Systems
• All stations (fixed, mobile and portable)
operate on the same radio channel.
• Limited range – line of sight – unit to unit.
Duplex (Repeater) Systems
Trunking – Multiple Repeaters
Multi-Site Trunked System
Prediction of Coverage - Contours
Coverage – Matrix Based
Steps to Licensing
• 1. Select site and frequency band (generally
with help of radio shop)
• 2. Submit FCC Form 601 to frequency
coordinator
– Coordinator selects or reviews applicant selected
channels
– Successful applications sent to FCC by coordinator
• 3. FCC reviews application and issues license
Filing of Application
• FCCA/IMSA/IAFC
– Create account at www.freqeasy.com
• APCO
– Log in at www.apco911.org
• AASHTO
– Log in at www.aashto.org
• In all cases
– Enter station parameters on-line
– Submit application to the frequency coordinator
– Respond to correspondence from freq. coordinator
FreqEasy Screens - Home
Application List Page
Application Type
Create Application Home Page
Main Form
Admin Page
Technicals Page
Submit
When finished, select
coordinator and submit
Next Steps
• Respond to coordinator questions
• Respond to FCC questions through
coordinator
• Wait for FCC license
• In some cases, operation can begin 10 days
after the FCC receives the application under
“conditional licensing” – coordinator will
advise when this is possible
Things to Remember
• In most cases, the FCC considers land mobile
channels to be shared. You may not have a
private channel.
• The station must be constructed exactly as
licensed.
• With limited exceptions, station identification
is required every 15 or 30 minutes of
continuous operation.
Contact Information