Goto Section: 90.619 | 90.623 | Table of Contents
FCC 90.621
Revised as of October 1, 2019
Goto Year:2018 |
2020
§ 90.621 Selection and assignment of frequencies.
(a) Applicants for frequencies in the Public Safety and
Business/Industrial/Land Transportation Categories must specify on the
application the frequencies on which the proposed system will operate
pursuant to a recommendation by the applicable frequency coordinator.
Applicants for frequencies in the SMR Category must request specific
frequencies by including in their applications the frequencies
requested.
(1) For trunked systems, the assignment of frequencies will be made in
accordance with applicable loading criteria and in accordance with the
following:
(i) Channels will be chosen and assigned in accordance with § § 90.615,
90.617, or 90.619.
(ii) A mobile station is authorized to transmit on any frequency
assigned to its associated base station.
(iii) There are no limitations on the number of frequencies that may be
trunked. Authorizations for non-SMR stations may be granted for up to
20 trunked frequency pairs at a time in accordance with the frequencies
listed in § § 90.615, 90.617, and 90.619.
(2) For conventional systems the assignment of frequencies will be made
in accordance with applicable loading criteria. Accordingly, depending
upon the number of mobile units to be served, an applicant may either
be required to share a channel, or, if an applicant shows a sufficient
number of mobile units to warrant the assignment of one or more
channels for its exclusive use, it may be licensed to use such channel
or channels on an unshared basis in the area of operation specified in
its application.
(i) Channels will be chosen and assigned in accordance with § § 90.615,
90.617, or 90.619.
(ii) A mobile station is authorized to transmit on any frequency
assigned to its associated base station.
(b) Stations authorized on frequencies listed in this subpart, except
for those stations authorized pursuant to paragraph (g) of this section
and EA-based and MTA-based SMR systems, will be assigned co-channel
frequencies solely on the basis of distance between fixed stations. In
addition, contour overlap as detailed in paragraph (d) of this section
will be the basis for geographic separation between fixed stations
operating on adjacent-channel frequencies in the 809-817 MHz/854-862
MHz sub-band. The separation between co-channel systems will be a
minimum of 113 km (70 mi) with one exception. For incumbent licensees
in Channel Blocks F1 through V, that have received the consent of all
affected parties or a certified frequency coordinator to use an 18
dBµV/m signal strength interference contour (see § 90.693), the
separation between co-channel systems will be a minimum of 173 km (107
mi). The following exceptions to these separations shall apply:
(1) Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, no station
in Channel Blocks A through V shall be less than 169 km (105 mi)
distant from a co-channel station that has been granted channel
exclusivity and authorized 1 kW ERP on any of the following mountaintop
sites: Santiago Peak, Sierra Peak, Mount Lukens, Mount Wilson
(California). Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section,
no incumbent licensee in Channel Blocks F1 through V that has received
the consent of all affected parties or a certified frequency
coordinator to utilize an 18 dBµV/m signal strength interference
contour shall be less than 229 km (142 mi) distant from a co-channel
station that has been granted channel exclusivity and authorized 1 kW
ERP on any of the following mountaintop sites: Santiago Peak, Sierra
Peak, Mount Lukens, Mount Wilson (California).
(2) The separation between co-channel stations that have been granted
exclusivity and that are located at high sites in California north of
35° N Latitude and west of 118° W Longitude shall be determined as
follows:
(i) Required co-channel separations between common antenna sites are
given by table 1. A channel group assigned to a station on a site
listed in the vertical column may not be re-assigned to a station on a
site listed in the horizontal column if there is an “X” in the box
created by the intersection of the vertical and horizontal lines. The
geographic coordinates listed in the table represent an average for
each particular site; all locations within 1.6 km (1 mi) of the
coordinates will be considered to be at that site.
(ii) Required co-channel separations involving antenna sites not listed
in table 1 shall be determined by Commission staff on a case by case
basis. The interference potential of proposed assignments will be
evaluated considering parameters such as antenna height, effective
radiated power, terrain irregularities, and market conditions.
eCFR graphic ec02ap91.013.gif
View or download PDF
(3) Except as indicated in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, stations
in Channel Blocks A through V that have been granted channel
exclusivity and are located in the State of Washington at the locations
listed in the table below shall be separated from co-channel stations
by a minimum of 169 km (105 mi). Except as indicated in paragraph
(b)(4) of this section, incumbent licensees in Channel Blocks F1
through V that have received the consent of all affected parties or a
certified frequency coordinator to utilize an 18 dBµV/m signal strength
interference contour, have been granted channel exclusivity and are
located in the State of Washington at the locations listed in the table
below shall be separated from co-channel stations by a minimum of 229
km (142 mi). Locations within one mile of the geographical coordinates
listed in the table below will be considered to be at that site.
Note: Coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83).
Site name North latitude West longitude
Mount Constitution 48° 40′ 47.4″ 122° 50′ 28.7″
Lyman Mountain 48° 35′ 41.4″ 122° 09′ 39.6″
Cultus Mountain 48° 25′ 30.4″ 122° 08′ 58.5″
Gunsite Ridge 48° 03′ 22.4″ 121° 51′ 41.5″
Gold Mountain 47° 32′ 51.3″ 122° 46′ 56.5″
Buck Mountain 47° 47′ 05.3″ 122° 59′ 34.6″
Cougar Mountain 47° 32′ 39.4″ 122° 06′ 34.4″
Squak Mountain 47° 30′ 14.4″ 122° 03′ 34.4″
Tiger Mountain 47° 30′ 13.4″ 121° 58′ 32.4″
Devils Mountain 48° 21′ 52.4″ 122° 16′ 06.6″
McDonald Mountain 47° 20′ 11.3″ 122° 51′ 30.5″
Maynard Hill 48° 00′ 58.3″ 122° 55′ 35.6″
North Mountain 47° 19′ 07.3″ 123° 20′ 48.6″
Green Mountain 47° 33′ 40.3″ 122° 48′ 31.5″
Capitol Peak 46° 58′ 21.3″ 123° 08′ 21.5″
Rattlesnake Mountain 47° 28′ 09.4″ 121° 49′ 17.4″
Three Sisters Mountain 47° 07′ 19.4″ 121° 53′ 34.4″
Grass Mountain 47° 12′ 14.1″ 121° 47′ 42.4″
Spar Pole Hill 47° 02′ 51.4″ 122° 08′ 39.4″
(4) Upon an applicant's specific request to the Commission or a
frequency coordinator, co-channel stations may be separated by less
than 113 km (70 mi) by meeting certain transmitter ERP and antenna
height criteria. The following table indicates separations assignable
to such co-channel stations for various transmitter power and antenna
height combinations. The minimum separation permitted is 88 km (55 mi).
Applicants will provide the Commission with a statement that the
application is submitted for consideration under the table, a list of
all co-channel stations within 113 km (70 mi), and the DHAATs and ERPs
for these stations and the applicant's proposed station. Applicants
seeking to be licensed for stations located at distances less than
those prescribed in the table are required to secure a waiver and must
submit with the application, in addition to the above, an interference
analysis, based upon any of the generally-accepted terrain-based
propagation models, that shows that co-channel stations would receive
the same or greater interference protection than provided in the table.
Requests for separations less than 88 km (55 mi) must also include an
analysis of interference potential from mobile transmitters to existing
co-channel base station receivers. Applicants seeking a waiver must
submit with their application a certificate of service indicating that
concurrent with the submission of the application to the Commission or
a coordinator, all co-channel licensees within the applicable area were
served with a copy of the application and all attachments thereto.
Licensees thus served may file an opposition to the application within
30 days from the date the application is filed with the Commission.
(i) The directional height of the antenna above average terrain (DHAAT)
is calculated from the average of the antenna heights above average
terrain from 3 to 16 km (2 to 10 mi) from the proposed site along a
radial extending in the direction of the existing station and the
radials 15 degrees to either side of that radial.
(ii) Except for the sites listed in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), and
(b)(3) of this section, additional co-channel distance separation must
be afforded to an existing station from an applicant wishing to locate
a station less than 113 km (70 mi) from a co-channel station, where
either the applicant's or the existing station is located at sites with
DHAATs of 458 m (1500 ft) and above. The separation between
short-spaced co-channel stations shall be determined as follows:
(A) Calculate the DHAAT in each direction between every existing
co-channel station with 113 km (70 mi) and the proposed station.
(B) In the table, locate the approximate ERP and DHAAT values for the
proposed and existing stations.
(C) When DHAAT values are greater than 458 m (1500 ft), use the
required separation for 305 m (1000 ft) and add 1.6 km (1 mi) for every
30.5 km (100 ft), or increment thereof, of DHAAT above 458 m (1500 ft)
to the distance indicated in the table. If both the proposed existing
stations have DHAATs of 458 m (1500 ft) or more, the additional
distance is separately determined for each station and the combined
distance is added to the distance obtained from the table. Protection
to existing stations will be afforded only up to 113 km (70 mi).
Short-Spacing Separation Table
Proposed station ERP (watts)/DHAAT(m)^3 Distance between stations
(km)^1 2
Existing station DHAAT (meters)^3
305 215 150 108 75 54 37
1000/305 113 113 113 113 113 113 113
1000/215 113 113 113 113 113 113 110
1000/150 113 113 113 113 112 108 103
1000/108 113 113 113 110 107 103 98
1000/75 113 112 108 103 100 96 91
1000/54 113 109 105 100 97 93 88
1000/37 109 104 100 95 92 88 88
500/305 113 113 113 113 113 113 110
500/215 113 113 113 112 109 105 100
500/150 113 112 108 103 100 96 91
500/108 112 107 103 98 95 91 88
500/75 107 102 98 93 90 88 88
500/54 103 98 94 89 88 88 88
500/37 99 94 90 88 88 88 88
250/305 113 113 113 112 109 105 100
250/215 113 113 107 102 99 95 90
250/150 109 104 100 95 92 88 88
250/108 105 100 96 91 88 88 88
250/75 99 94 90 88 88 88 88
250/54 95 90 88 88 88 88 88
250/37 91 88 88 88 88 88 88
125/305 113 111 107 102 99 95 90
125/215 108 103 99 94 91 88 88
125/150 103 98 94 89 88 88 88
125/108 98 93 89 88 88 88 88
125/75 93 88 88 88 88 88 88
125/54 88 88 88 88 88 88 88
125/37 88 88 88 88 88 88 88
62/305 108 103 99 94 91 88 88
62/215 103 98 94 89 88 88 88
62/150 97 92 88 88 88 88 88
62/108 92 88 88 88 88 88 88
62/75 88 88 88 88 88 88 88
62/54 88 88 88 88 88 88 88
62/37 88 88 88 88 88 88 88
^1Separations for stations on Santiago Peak, Sierra Peak, Mount Lukens,
and Mount Wilson (CA) and the locations in the State of Washington
listed in paragraph (b)(3) of this section are 56 km (35 mi) greater
than those listed in the table above. In the event of conflict between
this table and the table of additional California high elevation sites
shown in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, the latter will apply.
^2Distances shown are derived from the R-6602 curves and are based upon
a non-overlap of the 22 dBu (F50,10) interference contour of the
proposed station with the 40 dBu (F50,50) contour of the existing
station(s). No consideration is given to the 40 dBu service contour of
the proposed station and the 22 dBu contour of the existing station(s).
The minimum separation of stations will be 88 km (55 mi).
^3All existing stations are assumed to operate with 1000 watts ERP.
When the ERP and/or DHAAT of a proposed station or the DHAAT of an
existing station is not indicated in the table, the next higher
value(s) must be used.
(5) The separation between co-channel systems may be less than the
separations defined above if an applicant submits with its application
letters of concurrence indicating that the applicant and each
co-channel licensee within the specified separation agree to accept any
interference resulting from the reduced separation between their
systems. Each letter from a co-channel licensee must certify that the
system of the concurring licensee is constructed and fully operational.
The applicant must also submit with its application a certificate of
service indicating that all concurring co-channel licensees have been
served with an actual copy of the application.
(6) A station located closer than the distances provided in this
section to a co-channel station that was authorized as short-spaced
under paragraph (b)(4) of this section shall be permitted to modify its
facilities as long as the station does not extend its 22 dBu contour
beyond its maximum 22 dBu contour (i.e., the 22 dBu contour calculated
using the station's maximum power and antenna height at its original
location) in the direction of the short-spaced station.
(7) Offset frequencies in the 811-821/856-866 MHz band for use only
within U.S./Mexico border area, as designated in § 90.619(a), shall be
considered co-channel with non-offset frequencies in this band as
designated in § 90.613. New applications for frequencies in this band
for stations adjacent to the U.S./Mexico border area must comply with
the co-channel separation provisions of this section.
(c) Conventional systems authorized on frequencies in the Public Safety
(except for those systems that have participated in a formal regional
planning process as described in § 90.16) and Business/Industrial/Land
Transportation categories which have not met the loading levels
necessary for channel exclusivity will not be afforded co-channel
protection.
(d) Geographic separation between fixed stations operating on adjacent
channels in the 809-817 MHz/854-862 MHz band segment will be based on
contour overlap as detailed below.
(1) Forward contour analysis. An applicant seeking to license a fixed
station on a channel in the 809-817 MHz/854-862 MHz band segment will
only be granted if the applicant's proposed interference contour
creates no overlap to the 40 dBu F(50,50) contour of an incumbent
operating a fixed station on an upper- or lower-adjacent channel. The
applicant's interference contour is determined using the dBu level
listed in the appropriate table in paragraph 43 of Creation of
Interstitial 12.5 Kilohertz Channels in the 800 MHz Band Between
809-817/854-862 MHz, et al. PS Docket No. 15-32 et al. Report and Order
and Order, FCC 18-143 rel. Oct. 22, 2018 (PLMR Order).
(2) Reciprocal contour analysis. In addition to the contour analysis
described above, any applicant seeking to license a fixed station on a
channel in the 809-817 MHz/854-862 MHz band segment must also pass a
reciprocal contour analysis. Under the reciprocal analysis, the
interference contour of an incumbent operating a fixed station on an
upper- or lower-adjacent channel must create no contour overlap to the
proposed 40 dBu F(50,50) contour of the applicant's fixed station. The
incumbent's interference contour is determined using the dBu level
listed in the appropriate table in paragraph 43 of the PLMR Order,
above.
(3) Contour matrix. Interference contour levels for the contour
analysis described in paragraphs (d)(1) and (2) of this section are
determined using Table 1 or Table 2 in paragraph 43 of the PLMR Order.
Table 1 is used to determine the interference contour level of a fixed
station operating on a 12.5 kilohertz bandwidth channel while Table 2
is used to determine the interference contour level of a fixed station
operating on a 25 kilohertz bandwidth channel. The dBu level of the
interference contour is determined by cross-referencing the modulation
type of the station operating on the 25 kilohertz bandwidth channel
with the modulation type of the station operating on the 12.5 kilohertz
bandwidth channel. The interference contour should be plotted using the
F(50,10)R-6602 curves.
(4) Letters of concurrence. Applicants may submit applications which
cause overlap under the forward contour analysis described in paragraph
(d)(1) of this section provided the applicant includes a letter of
concurrence from each incumbent that receives contour overlap. In the
letter of concurrence, the incumbent operator must agree to accept any
interference that occurs as a result of the contour overlap. Applicants
may also submit applications which receive contour overlap under the
reciprocal analysis described in paragraph (d)(2) of this section
provided the applicant includes a letter of concurrence from each
incumbent that causes contour overlap. In this case, the incumbent
operator must state in its letter of concurrence that it does not
object to the applicant receiving contour overlap from the incumbent's
facility.
(e) Frequencies in the 809-817/854-862 MHz bands listed as available
for eligibles in the Public Safety and Business/Industrial/Land
Transportation Categories are available for inter-category sharing
under the following conditions:
(1) Channels in the Public Safety and Business/Industrial/Land
Transportation categories will be available to eligible applicants in
those categories only if there are no frequencies in their own category
and no public safety systems are authorized on those channels under
consideration to be shared.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (e)(5) of this section, licensees of
channels in the Business/Industrial/Land Transportation category may
request a modification of the license, see § 1.947 of this chapter, to
authorize use of the channels for commercial operation. The licensee
may also, at the same time or thereafter, seek authorization to
transfer or assign the license, see § 1.948 of this chapter, to any
person eligible for licensing in the General or SMR categories.
Applications submitted pursuant to this paragraph must be filed in
accordance with the rules governing other applications for commercial
channels, and will be processed in accordance with those rules. Grant
of requests submitted pursuant to this paragraph is subject to the
following conditions:
(i) A licensee that modifies its license to authorize commercial
operations will not be authorized to obtain additional 800 MHz
Business/Industrial/Land Transportation category channels for sites
located within 113 km (70 mi.) of the station for which the license was
modified, for a period of one year from the date the license is
modified. This provision applies to the licensee, its controlling
interests and their affiliates, as defined in § 1.2110 of this chapter.
(ii) With respect to licenses the initial application for which was
filed on or after November 9, 2000, requests submitted pursuant to
paragraph (e)(2) of this section may not be filed until five years
after the date of the initial license grant. In the case of a license
that is modified on or after November 9, 2000 to add 800 MHz
Business/Industrial/Land Transportation frequencies or to add or
relocate base stations that expand the licensee's interference contour,
requests submitted pursuant to paragraph (e)(2) of this section for
these frequencies or base stations may not be filed until five years
after such modification.
(iii) Requests submitted pursuant to paragraph (e)(2) of this section
must include a certification that written notice of the modification
application has been provided to all Public Safety licensees, see
§ 90.20(a), with base stations within 113 km (70 mi.) of the site of the
channel(s) for which authorization for commercial use is sought that
operate within 25 kHz of the center of those channel(s). If, pursuant
to paragraph (e)(2) of this section, modification and assignment or
transfer applications are filed at different times, the written notice
required by this paragraph must be provided each time.
(iv) The applicant must certify that it will take reasonable
precautions to avoid causing harmful interference to Public Safety
licensees, see § 90.20(a), and to take such action as may be necessary
to eliminate interference to such licensees caused by its operations.
(When an assignment or transfer application is filed pursuant to
paragraph (e)(2) of this section, this representation is required only
of the assignee or transferee.) Licensees of stations suffering or
causing harmful interference are expected to cooperate and resolve this
problem by mutually satisfactory arrangements. If the licensees are
unable to do so, the Commission may impose restrictions including
specifying the transmitter power, antenna height, or area or hours of
operation.
(3) Licensees granted authorizations pursuant to paragraph (e)(2) of
this section may at any time request modification of the license to
authorize use of the channels consistent with the rules governing the
category to which they are allocated, provided that the licensee meets
the applicable eligibility requirements.
(4) [Reserved]
(5) The frequency coordinator must certify that frequencies are not
available in the applicant's own category, and coordination is required
from the applicable out-of-category coordinator.
(6) The out-of-category licensee must operate by the rules applicable
to the category to which the frequency is allocated.
(f) Licensees of channels in the Business/Industrial/Land
Transportation Categories in the 896-901/935-940 MHz bands may request
a modification of the license, see § 1.947 of this chapter, to authorize
use of the channels for commercial operation. The licensee may also, at
the same time, or thereafter, seek authorization to transfer or assign
the license, see § 1.948 of this chapter, to any person eligible for
licensing in the General or SMR categories. Applications submitted
pursuant to this paragraph must be filed in accordance with the rules
governing other applications for commercial channels, and will be
processed in accordance with those rules.
(g) Applications for Public Safety systems (both trunked and
conventional) in the 806-809/851-854 MHz bands will be assigned and
protected based on the criteria established in the appropriate regional
plan. See § 90.16 and the Report and Order in General Docket 87-112.
(h) [Reserved]
[ 47 FR 41032 , Sept. 16, 1982]
Editorial Notes: 1. For Federal Register citations affecting § 90.621,
see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding
Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
2. At 63 FR 68968 , Dec. 14, 1998, § 90.621 was amended by adding a note
before Table 1 and revising the first two columns of Table 1. However,
Table 1 of § 90.621 as it appears in the October 1, 1998 revision of
title 47 parts 80-end is an illustration and cannot be edited for
amendments. For the convenience of the user, the revised text is set
forth as follows:
§ 90.621 Selection and assignment of frequencies.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
Table 1—Co-Channel Separations Between Common Antenna Sites in the
State of California North of 35° North Latitude and West of 118° West
Longitude
[Note: Coordinates are referenced to North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)]
North latitude West longitude * * *
38°03′39.7″ 122°36′20.9″ * * *
37°55′43.7″ 122°35′14.9″ * * *
37°50′56.7″ 122°29′59.9″ * * *
37°52′53.7″ 121°55′08.9″ * * *
37°51′11.7″ 122°12′33.9″ * * *
37°52′57.7″ 122°13′14.9″ * * *
37°50′59.7″ 122°11′33.9″ * * *
37°43′32.8″ 122°24′55.9″ * * *
37°41′20.8″ 122°26′11.9″ * * *
37°24′38.8″ 122°18′23.9″ * * *
37°19′12.8″ 122°08′36.9″ * * *
37°10′36.8″ 121°54′27.8″ * * *
37°07′08.8″ 121°50′01.8″ * * *
37°06′39.8″ 121°50′32.8″ * * *
36°31′44.9″ 121°36′27.8″ * * *
37°29′14.8″ 121°52′06.8″ * * *
40°15′45.6″ 122°05′41.0″ * * *
39°51′49.6″ 121°41′23.9″ * * *
39°12′16.6″ 121°49′05.9″ * * *
39°08′00.6″ 121°06′01.8″ * * *
38°52′14.6″ 121°07′42.8″ * * *
38°24′19.7″ 122°06′33.9″ * * *
38°01′14.7″ 120°35′09.7″ * * *
37°30′30.8″ 121°22′29.8″ * * *
37°32′31.8″ 120°03′48.6″ * * *
37°04′09.8″ 119°25′42.5″ * * *
36°44′37.8″ 119°17′02.4″ * * *
36°18′09.8″ 120°24′06.6″ * * *
36°17′06.8″ 118°50′22.3″ * * *
35°38′28.8″ 118°47′11.3″ * * *
35°33′08.8″ 118°49′23.3″ * * *
35°17′16.9″ 119°30′58.4″ * * *
35°17′26.9″ 119°45′51.5″ * * *
35°16′50.9″ 119°44′55.5″ * * *
* * * * *
return arrow Back to Top
Goto Section: 90.619 | 90.623
Goto Year: 2018 |
2020
CiteFind - See documents on FCC website that
cite this rule
Want to support this service?
Thanks!
Report errors in
this rule. Since these rules are converted to HTML by machine, it's possible errors have been made. Please
help us improve these rules by clicking the Report FCC Rule Errors link to report an error.
hallikainen.com
Helping make public information public