EWA Offers FCC Recommendations on TETRA

(McLean, VA) – In a “Request for Further Clarification”, dated October 26, Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) offered the FCC a recommendation that, if “…a licensee that is currently operating a system utilizing 25 kHz channel bandwidth channels below 512 MHz in a shared spectrum environment, e.g., the system is licensed for station classes FB2, FB4, or FB6, must not only amend the emission designator to indicate TETRA use, but, in accordance with FCC Rule Section 90.187, must secure frequency advisory committee certification to operate exclusive use channels, e.g., an FB8 channel classification, for all 25 kHz channels used within the centralized trunked TETRA system.  Similarly, only systems authorized for exclusive use of their 800/900 MHz channels would qualify to deploy TETRA technology.”

The filing was made in response to the FCC’s recent Orders on Clarification where the FCC stated, “…we clarify that frequency coordination is not required for TETRA modification applications if the only proposed change to the station’s technical parameters is the emission bandwidth.  For example, a change from emission designator 20k0K1W to a TETRA emission designator of 21k0D1W would not require coordination.”

Further, in response to public statements by other concerned entities that all prospective Part 90 users would be aware of these additional frequency coordination requirements, EWA shared that they do not have that same level of confidence and requested that the Commission issue “…necessary guidance to the Part 90 community about the conditions under which TETRA might be the optimal choice for potential licensees.”