Over the past several years, I have been asked to define the Refarming Rules again. In the past I said that public safety will not be required to switch to the narrow band channels, except in the larger cities. Today, I wish to amend that remark and say, " You might need to change to the narrow band channels if you expect to upgrade your radio system". The spectrum is becoming so crowded in most of the state, that the only source of spectrum is the narrow band channels.

What is required? If you have procured equipment in the last two to four years, most likely your radios are narrow band compatible. If they are not, you will need to procure new equipment. After this is accomplished, you need to modify your license for the narrow band channels you presently have in operation. Any additional channels can then be added to your system.

Important Changes affect all applicants: For all using the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and Antenna Structure Registration Applicants, you must use your FCC Registration number(s), effective December 3, 2001. To review the Public Notice go to www.fcc.gov\wtb and review DA 01-2452. This will give you all of the information you will need. Seven pages are just too much for the news letter.

700 MHz Regional Planning Committees: Three of the Regions out of six in Texas have conducted their first meeting. Region 51 was toward the first part of the year and was sparsely attended. As of this writing, Region 49 will conduct their first meeting on October 29 at 1:30 p.m. CST at the City of Austin, Learning Resource Center, 2800 Spirit of Texas Drive, Austin, Texas. Region 53 will conduct their first meeting at
1 p.m. at the Alamo Area Cog. More details will be available soon.

APCO will do License service: APCO, AFC will reopen their license service November 1, 2001. This service will assist you in filling your license application. Several agencies have had problems in this area, and APCO has reached to point in the development of the new coordination system to reopen the process. Point of contact is Chris Phelps, (904) 944-2463. Chris will be more than happy to assist you.

A side note, shortly we will have the electronic filling available. Right now it is under development. There are problem between the transfer from you the applicant to APCO and the FCC. The FCC changes the way they want the application sent to them. Until this is brought under control, and the form we are developing is accepted, APCO will not open this feature.

800 MHz Coordination: As of early August, the FCC  has allowed any Public Safety Coordinator to coordinate the 800 MHz applications. In the past only APCO was the coordi

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