Outreach News - 12/29/2010

1. Dynamic spectrum access technologies and techniques have the potential to enable more efficient utilization of our nation’s precious spectrum resource. While Industry is now seeing the emergence of technologies that enable “dynamic” sharing – that is, the ability of devices to identify slices of spectrum that are available at that location, whether for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days. The need to undertake long term spectrum planning poses a vital strategic and economic challenge for our nation. As the FCC take steps in other proceedings to make more spectrum available, the Commission must ensure that any available spectrum is used as efficiently and productively as possible. In the attached Notice of Inquiry (NOI), the FCC seeks to promote and facilitate wireless innovation, taking additional steps to ensure that the promise of these advanced radio technologies – as well as the new models of spectrum management techniques that they make possible – can be fully realized and applied across more of the radio spectrum. Specifically, the Commission seeks comment on the variety of ways in which dynamic spectrum access radios and techniques can promote more intensive and efficient use of the radio spectrum, and the potential that these technological innovations have for enabling more effective management of spectrum.

2. PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON REGION 5 (SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA) 700 MHZ REGIONAL PLAN AMENDMENT. (DA No. 10-2430). (Dkt No 02-378 ). Comments Due: 01/18/2011. Reply Comments Due: 12/28/2010. PSHSB . Contact: Jeannie Benfaida at (202) 418-2313, email: Jeannie.Benfaida@fcc.gov
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-2430A1.doc
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-2430A1.pdf
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-2430A1.txt

3. Please see an important reminder below.

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION TO HOLD WORKSHOP ON JANUARY 26, 2011 ON VHF/UHF NARROWBANDING

Washington, D.C. – The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) today announced it will hold a workshop on VHF/UHF narrowbanding to assist licensees in completing the transition to narrowband radio communications by January 1, 2013. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, from 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305).

The Commission’s rules have set January 1, 2013 as the deadline for all VHF and UHF Public Safety and Industrial/Business land mobile radio (LMR) systems in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands to migrate from 25 kHz channel bandwidth to 12.5 kHz or narrower technology. Timely completion of narrowbanding will ensure more efficient use of spectrum, relieve congestion, and result in increased channel availability for LMR systems.

The workshop will provide Public Safety and Industrial/Business licensees with information regarding the narrowbanding transition path, and will include input from federal agencies, equipment manufacturers, and public safety organizations to help ensure timely compliance with the deadline across the nation. The Commission will release a complete agenda closer to the event date.

The workshop will be open to the public; however, admittance will be limited to the seating available. Individuals interested in attending this event must pre-register on-line at http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration.html, where they will be asked to provide their name, title, organization affiliation, and contact information. Individuals may also contact Deandrea Wilson at Deandrea.Wilson@fcc.gov or via phone at 202-418-0703 regarding pre-registration. The deadline for pre-registration is Monday, January 24, 2011.

Audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live. The FCC’s webcast is free to the public. Those who watch the live video stream of the event may email event-related questions to livequestions@fcc.gov. Depending on the volume of questions and time constraints, the panel moderators will work to respond to as many questions as possible during the workshop.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please include a description of the accommodation you will need. Individuals making such requests must include their contact information should FCC staff need to contact them for more information. Requests should be made as early as possible. Please send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). For additional information about the meeting, please contact Susan McLean at (202) 418-7868 or by email: Susan.McLean@fcc.gov. For information on narrowbanding please visit: www.fcc.gov/narrowbanding.