Licensing
Individuals or entities desiring to operate on frequencies listed in the Industrial/Business Pool are required to obtain a radio station license for these frequencies.
Below is some helpful information to aid you with the licensing process.
Licensing Process
- Gathering Information
Preparing to License outlines the important information about your radio system that you gather before you contact a frequency coordinator. - Frequency Coordination
Frequency coordinators are FCC certified to recommend the most appropriate frequencies for applicants in the designated Part 90 radio services. Applications for new frequency assignments, changes to existing facilities or operation at temporary locations must include a showing of frequency coordination. - Filing Your Application
New applications and other actions which require frequency coordination are normally filed with the FCC through the recognized frequency coordinator. Other actions such as minor modifications or administrative updates may be filed with the FCC through the Universal Licensing System (ULS). STAs and Conditional AuthorityApplicants proposing operations that are compliant with requirements of 47 CFR 90.159 may begin operating on a conditional basis for a period of 180 days upon the filing of a properly completed application. In addition, you may apply for a
Special Temporary Authority pursuant to 47 CFR 1.931(b) of the Commission’s rules. In emergency situations as defined in 47 CFR 1.915(b)(1), a request for STA may be made by telePhone: or email provided a properly signed application is filed within 10 days of such request.
Notification of Construction
A licensee must notify the Commission that its system is constructed and placed into operation within 12 months of the date of grant or their license will automatically cancel. (See 47 CFR 90.155(a)). Notification is made by filing FCC Form 601 through ULS (Purpose CodEmail: NT). You may also request an extension of the construction period through Form 601 before the expiration of the construction period. This filing must be made within 15 days of the expiration of the applicable construction period. (See 47 CFR 1.946 (d)). You may also request an extension of the construction period through Form 601 (Purpose CodEmail: EX) before the expiration of the construction period. (See 47 CFR 1.946(e)).
Renewal of License
You must file for renewal of your license no later than the expiration date of your license period, and no sooner than 90 days prior to expiration by filing FCC Form 601 (Purpose CodEmail: RO) through ULS. (See 47 CFR 1.949).
Eligibility
Any applicant may apply for any frequency in the pool in which he/she establishes eligibility. Briefly, eligibility is open to persons primarily engaged in any of the following activities:
- The operation of a commercial activity;
- The operation of educational, philanthropic, or ecclesiastical institutions;
- Clergy activities; or
- The operation of hospitals, clinics, or medical associations.
There are specific frequency coordinator requirements for particular frequencies.
47 CFR 90.35(b) lists each frequency in the Industrial/Business Pool and any required frequency coordinator(s) using the following letter codes:
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| IP | Petroleum Coordinator | | IW | Power Coordinator | | LA | Automobile Emergency Coordinator | | LR | Railroad Coordinator |
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An applicant may use the services of any frequency coordinator certified in the pool in which he/she establishes eligibility. If the applied-for frequencies can only be recommended by another coordinator, the coordinator that you selected will seek the concurrence of the required coordinator. An examplEmail:
An eligible applicant may use the services of any coordinator certified for the Industrial/Business Pool. If the applied-for frequencies were allocated solely to the former Power Radio Service (IW), the application must receive concurrence from UTC, The Telecommunications Association, the coordinator of the former Power Radio Service (IW).
Eligibility is also provided for any corporation proposing to furnish nonprofit radiocommunication service to its parent corporation, to another subsidiary of the same parent, or to its own subsidiary. This corporate eligibility is not subject to the cooperative use provision of
47 CFR 90.179.
Eligibility is also provided for a nonprofit corporation or association that is organized for the purpose of furnishing a radiocommunications service to persons who meet the eligibility requirements of the Industrial/Business Pool. Such use is subject to the cooperative use provisions of
47 CFR 90.179.
Emission Designators
FCC Form 601 requests the emissions of the transmitter. Emissions are designated according to their classification and the necessary bandwidth. Three symbols are used to describe the basic characteristics of radio waves. Emissions are classified and symbolized according to the following characteristics:
- First Symbol - type of modulation of the main carrier.
- Second Symbol - nature of signal(s) modulating the main carrier.
- Third Symbol - type of information to be transmitted.
Whenever the full designation of an emission is necessary, the symbol for that emission shall be preceded by the necessary bandwidth of the emission.
Designator Examples
The new International Telecommunication Union (ITU) emission designators must be used in place of the old designators. The following provides samples of the corresponding new ITU designators for the most commonly used emission designators:
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| Frequency modulated (FM) voice | 20F3 | 20K0F3E | | Frequency modulated (FM) voice | 13.6F3 | 13K6F3E | | Frequency modulated digitized voice | 20F3Y | 20K0F1E | | Frequency modulated digitized non-voice | 20F9Y | 20K0F1D | | Amplitude modulated single sideband voice | 3A3J | 3K00J3E | | Amplitude modulated (AM) voice | 8A3 | 8K00A3E |
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If you have questions about your emission designator, you may want to contact your radio vendor or manufacturer. Also, emission designators should be included in the type acceptance paper work from the Commission. Emissions are discussed in the CFR 47, 2.201 and 90.207.
Frequency Coordinators
In 1982, Congress provided the Commission with the statutory authority to use frequency coordinators to assist in developing and managing the Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) spectrum. Frequency coordinators, in this case, are private organizations that have been certified by the Commission to recommend the most appropriate frequencies for applicants in the designated Part 90 radio services. This frequency coordination process is intended to make more efficient use of the PLMR spectrum for the benefit of all members of the public. In general, applications for new frequency assignments, changes to existing facilities or operation at temporary locations must include a showing of frequency coordination (See
CFR 47, Section 90.175).
Anything that requires Frequency Coordination must be electronically submitted by the Coordinator. Frequency Coordination is required for a new filing. Major Modifications and Amendments that change or add frequencies, emissions, ERP, Output Power, Antenna Height, Ground Elevation, change location of Base, Fixed, Mobile or Control stations or number of Mobile units and any change to station class. (Hydro frequencies listed in
CFR 47 Section 90.265(a). Go through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for coordination.
Frequency Coordination is not required for STAs unless they are filing a waiver of the 180 day limit of STA. Developmental and Demonstration applications, Radiolocation (RS) applications, Itinerant operations and station classes ending in the letter "I" or "L" and applications for 6.1 Meter Control Stations.
There are different frequency coordinators authorized for the different categories of PLMR spectrum.
- For frequencies in the 470-512 MHz band, applicants may use any frequency coordinator.
- For frequencies below 470 MHz and above 512 MHz, applicants must choose a frequency coordinator as specified below.
- Contact information for each of the certified coordinators is below.
Below 800 MHz Coordinators
Frequency coordinators in this range are based on designations clarified in Section 90.35 of the Commission's Rules.
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c/o RadioSoft, Inc. 194 Professional Park Dr Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 888-601-FORM Phone: 706-754-1AAA Fax: 706-754-2745 | LA: Automobile | *Also coordinates on behalf of the Petroleum Frequency Coordinating Committee (PFCC), International Taxicab and Livery Association (ITLA), TelePhone: Maintenance Frequency Advisory Committee (TELFAC), Newspaper Association of America (NAA), and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. | IP: Petroleum | 2550 South Clark Street
Suite 960 Arlington, VA 22202 Phone: 202-872-0030 Fax: 202-872-1331 | IW: Power | 350 Keeler Pkwy Pueblo Colorado 81001 | LR: Railroad | The Monitoring Association (TMA) Attn: Louis Fiore 64 Fox Hollow Road Sparta, NJ 07871 Phone: 973-726-8300 1565 Oak Street Eugene, Oregon 97401 Phone: Main OfficEmail: 541-485-8441 Phone: Chicago: 888-583-2-WAY Phone: Dallas: 888-342-2-WAY Phone: Los Angeles 888-355-2-WAY Phone: WASH. D.C. 888-395-2-WAY Fax: 541-485-7556 Hydrological Federal Frequency* NOAA National Weather Service/NOAA National Weather Service Mark Glaudemans Analyze, Forecast, Support Office, W/AFS25 1325 East-West Highway, Room 13430 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 * Note that frequencies in the 169-172 MHz and 406-413 MHz bands available under Section 90.265(a) of the Commission's rules must be coordinated through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). c/o Radiosoft, Inc. 194 Professional Park Dr. Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 800-262-9206 WIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association 2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 210
Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-535-7502 Fax: 703-836-1608 | Other |
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800/900 MHz Coordinators
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Attn: Frequency Coordination Department 13221 Woodland Park Road, Suite 410 Herndon, VA 20171 Phone: 800-482-8282 Fax: 703-524-1074 | 1565 Oak Street Eugene, Oregon 97401 Phone: Main OfficEmail: 541-485-8441 Phone: Chicago: 888-583-2-WAY Phone: Dallas: 888-342-2-WAY Phone: Los Angeles 888-355-2-WAY Phone: WASH. D.C. 888-395-2-WAY Fax: 541-485-7556 | c/o Radiosoft, Inc. 194 Professional Park Dr Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 800-262-9206 | WIA - The Wireless Infrastructure Association 2111 Wilson Blvd, Suite 210
Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-535-7502 Fax: 703-836-1608 | Attn: Frequency Coordination Department 2550 South Clark Street
Suite 960 Arlington, VA 22202 Phone: 202-872-0030 Fax: 202-872-1331 | The following coordinators are certified for the 800 MHz General Category and SMR Pools, but not the 800 MHz B/ILT Pool or the 900 MHz band: c/o RadioSoft, Inc. 194 Professional Park Dr Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 888-601-3676 Fax: 706-754-2745 | Automated Frequency Coordination Department 351 N. Williamson Blvd Daytona Beach, FL 32114-1112 Phone: 888-272-6911 Fax: 386-322-2502 | 122 Baltimore Street Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone: 717-398-0815 Phone: 855-803-1465 Fax: 717-778-4237 | 122 Baltimore Street Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone: 717-398-0823 Phone: 855-803-1465 Fax: 717-778-4237 | The following coordinators are certified for the 800 MHz and 900 MHz B/ILT Pool, but not the 800 MHz General Category and SMR Pools: c/o RadioSoft, Inc. 194 Professional Park Dr Clarkesville, GA 30523 Phone: 888-601-FORM Phone: 706-754-1AAA Fax: 706-754-2745 | 350 Keeler Pkwy Pueblo Colorado 81001 |
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Radio Service Code
The following radio services apply to the Industrial/Business pool. A complete list of ULS radio service codes is also available on the
Universal Licensing System site.
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| IG - Industrial/Business Pool - Private, Conventional | | YG - Industrial/Business Pool - Private, Trunked | | GB - 806-821/851-866 MHz, Conventional | | GU - 896-901/935-940 MHz, Conventional | | YB - 806-821/851-866 MHz, Trunked | | YU - 896-901/935-940 MHz, Trunked | | GO - 806-821/851-866 MHz, Conventional | | GI - 896-901/935-940 MHz, Conventional | | YO - 806-821/851-866 MHz, Trunked | | YI - 896-901/935-940 MHz, Trunked |
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Preparing to License
Before you begin the license process, you must have detailed information about your radio system to provide to the frequency coordinator, such as:
Frequency/ Frequency Band
What frequency band or specific frequency you want to operate on. NotEmail: Frequencies in the 470-512 MHz band are shared with UHF-TV channels 14-20 and are only available in 11 cities. The Commission's rules require licensees to show that any assigned channels in this band in a particular urbanized area are at full capacity before they will be assigned additional 470-512 MHz channels in that area. See Shared Frequencies for more information.
Mobile Radio Count
The number of mobile radios that will operate on the system.
Output Power/ERP
The output power of the system amplifier, as well as the effective radiated power (ERP), which is the system's power at the antenna.
Emission Designators
Includes several pieces of vital information: modulation, signal, type of information and size of the channel. This determines the channel width your system will occupy.
International Coordination
For stations near the Canadian border, refer to the Industry Canada site to access Canadian licensing information. Note that the Canadian database does not show all valid stations.
Antenna Information
You must also provide the following information about your antenna:
Structure
The most common codes arEmail:
- B - Building with side mounted antenna
- BANT - Building with antenna on top
- MAST - Self-supported structure
- PIPE - Pipe antenna
- POLE - Any type of pole antenna
- GTOWER - Guyed structure used for communication purposes
- LTOWER - Lattice Tower
Height
Antenna height from ground to tip, in meters.
Support Structure Height
If antenna is mounted on top of a building, it is the distance from ground to the top of the building. Check with your building management company for this information.
Coordinates
All coordinates (latitude/longitude) must be referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). Latitude and longitude must be listed in degrees, minutes and seconds.
Site Elevation
The antenna site ground elevation above sea level. This information should always be in meters.
FAA Antenna Structure Registration
Refer to ASR TOWAIR Determination to determine if your antenna needs to be registered with the FCC.
Shared Frequencies
Frequencies in the 470-512 MHz band are shared with UHF-TV channels 14-20 and are only available in 11 cities.
47 CFR 90.313 requires licensees to show that any assigned channels in this band in a particular urbanized area are at full capacity before they will be assigned additional 470-512 MHz channels in that area. For stations that are operating at full capacity, the rules specify the minimum allowable distance between co-channel stations.
32 kilometers (20 miles) for:
- Channel 15 in Chicago
- Channel 20 in Philadelphia
- Channel 17 in Washington
64 kilometers (40 miles) for all other channels and areas.
In accordance with these rules, new applicants may apply for only one channel at a time. After loading that channel to full capacity, a licensee may apply for another channel. Current licensees may use existing loading to satisfy this requirement and apply for more than one channel at one time.
Licensees in the 470-512 MHz band that are operating above full capacity may use those units to qualify for additional channels. Licensees operating in other frequency bands may also use existing licensed units to qualify for more than one channel at one time. In each of these instances, the licensee must concurrently modify his/her existing license(s) to remove units from these licenses so that they may be applied towards the loading of a 470-512 MHz band license.
Available Cities
The 470-512 MHz band is available for licensing within 50 miles of the geographic center of 11 cities:
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| Boston, MA | 41o 21' 24" | 71o 03' 75" | 14 | 470-476 | | 16 | 482-488 | | | | Chicago, IL | 41o 52' 28.1" | 87o 38' 22.2" | 14 | 470-476 | | 15 | 476-482 | | | | Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 32o 47' 09.5" | 96o 47' 38" | 16 | 482-488 | | | | Houston, TX | 29o 45' 26.8" | 95o 21' 37.8" | 17 | 488-494 | | | | Los Angeles, CA** | 34o 03' 15" | 118o 14' 31.3" | 14 | 470-476 | | 20 | 506-512 | | | | Miami, FL | 25o 46' 38.4" | 80o 11' 31.2" | 14 | 470-476 | | | | New York/N.E. NJ | 40o 45' 06.4" | 73o 59' 37.5" | 14 | 470-476 | | 15 | 476-482 | | | | Philadelphia, PA | 39o 56' 58.4" | 75o 09' 19.6" | 19 | 500-506 | | 20 | 506-512 | | | | Pittsburgh, PA | 40o 26' 19.2" | 79o 59' 59.2" | 14 | 470-476 | | 18 | 494-500 | | | | San Francisco/Oakland, CA | 37o 46' 38.7" | 122o 24' 43.9" | 16 | 482-488 | | 17 | 488-494 | | | | Washington, DC/MD/VA | 38o 53' 51.4" | 77o 00' 31.9" | 17 | 488-494 | | 18 | 494-500 |
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* Coordinates are referenced to North America Datum 1983 (NAD83).
* * Channel 16 (482-488 MHz) is available in Los Angeles for use by public safety users.
In addition, channels 14 (470-476 MHz) and 15 (476-482 MHz) are allocated in Cleveland, OH and channels 15 (476-482 MHz) and 16 (482-488 MHz) are allocated in Detroit, MI. Assignments on these channels, however, are not available until further order from the Commission. Applicants in these cities may apply for channels in the 421-430 MHz band.
