Low Power Radio Service (LPRS)

About

The Low Power Radio Service (LPRS) is a private, one-way short-distance communication service providing auditory assistance to persons with disabilities, persons who require language translation, and persons in educational settings, health care assistance to the ill, and law enforcement tracking services in cooperation with law enforcement. The most common use of LPRS spectrum is for short-distance communications for health care, educational, and law enforcement industries.

Similar services also may be provided using Part 15 devices.

LPRS was authorized 260 channels in the 216.0 – 217.0 MHz range in 1996.

Data

Channels

There are 260 Low Power Radio Service (LPRS) channels. LPRS channels can have a bandwidth of 25, 50, or 5 kHz.

When the channel has a bandwidth of 25 kHz, the channels are identified as channels 1-40.

When the channel has a bandwidth of 50 kHz, the channels are identified as channels 41-60.

When the channel has a bandwidth of 5 kHz, the channels are identified as channels 61-260. Channels 19, 20, 50, and 151-160 are reserved for law enforcement tracking. Low power AMTS point-to-point network control communications are permitted in the 216.75-217.0 MHz band.

Examples of LPRS Uses

1) Auditory assistance communications (including, but not limited to, applications such as assistive listening devices, audio description for the blind, and simultaneous language translation) for persons with disabilities or require language translation; or who may benefit from auditory assistance communications in educational settings;

2) Health care related communications for the ill;

3) Law enforcement tracking purposes; and

4) AMTS point-to-point network control communications.

Licensing

LPRS is licensed by rule, except when an LPRS transmitter is used for point-to-point network control communications in a maritime telecommunications network. Licensed by rule means an individual license is not required for an entity to operate a LPRS transmitter if it is not a representative of a foreign government and if it uses the transmitter only in accordance with the rules outlined in 47 C.F.R. Part 95, Subpart G. There is no age restriction regarding who may operate an LPRS transmitter.

Operations

You can operate a LPRS transmitter at any location where the FCC regulates radio communications. An LPRS device must be certified by the FCC.

None of the LPRS channels are assigned for the exclusive use of any entity. You must cooperate in the selection and use of the channels in order to make the most efficient use of them and to reduce the possibility of interference.

Operating an LPRS device is subject to the condition that no harmful interference is caused to:

• The United States Navy’s SPASUR radio system (the system operates on 216.88 – 217.08 MHz);
• TV reception within the Grade B contour of any TV channel 13 station, or within the 68 dBu predicted contour of any low power TV or TV translator station operating on channel 13.