Did you know that the airwaves are a limited natural resource like the oil from dinosaur remnants? Airwaves are limited in a different way however. The airwaves are not going to dry up like oil but we are limited by how much we can use at once. For example; two television or radio stations cannot broadcast on the exact sa me frequency in the same geographic area or they will interfere with one another. Well, Two Way Radio is no exception. In an effort to allow more wireless spectrum sharing, the FCC has issued a mandate called “Narrowbanding.” Simply put, they are shrink ing up how much of the radio spectrum Two - Way Radio users can use so that they can squeeze more channels into the air. The airwaves are full of cellular, broadcast, 2 - way radio, amateur radio, satellite, wi - fi, blue tooth, and gps. New wireless products a re being developed all the time. This is why the FCC manages the use of this natural resource and assigns FCC licenses.
After January 1, 2013, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.