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IAFC News Alert

For Immediate Release
Contact:  IAFC Government Relations Department
703/273-0911  

FCC Issues Stay for Narrowband Rule 

Fairfax, Va., Friday, December 12, 2003...The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a stay of the January 13, 2004 deadline that delays implementation of the narrowbanding rule.  January 13, 2004 was the deadline set to prohibit the filing of applications for new wideband systems or modifications of existing wideband systems.

This results from a petition filed in August by the IAFC, International Municipal Signal Association, International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Sheriffs' Association, Major Cities Chiefs Association, Major County Sheriffs' Association and the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council. 

The stay was granted to allow the FCC to review the various petitions for reconsideration of the narrowbanding rule.

The following deadlines are still in effect:

1.      the FCC will no longer certify 25 kHz equipment after January 1, 2005
2.      the manufacture and importation of 25 kHz equipment is prohibited after January 1, 2008
3.      by January 1, 2018 public safety must migrate to 12.5 kHz systems.   

It is possible that some dates in the migration from 25 kHz wideband to 12.5 kHz narrowband may be revised, but the requirement to narrowband will remain intact.  Fire chiefs must continue to plan for the 12.5 kHz federal policy.

The FCC order implementing the narrowband rule stay is available for download on the IAFC Web site at www.iafc.org/downloads/index.shtml.

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