INTEROPERABILITY CHANNEL LICENSING ISSUE Presentation to CalSIEC 22 JUNE 2009

CLEMARS Plan developed under OES, Law Enforcement Division Plan developed under OES, Law Enforcement Division CLEMARS Executive Committee provides policy guidance CLEMARS Executive Committee provides policy guidance All licenses held by State All licenses held by State Technical restrictions Technical restrictions –Antenna Height –Power output

CLEMARS FREQUENCIES CLEMARS MHz CLEMARS MHz CLEMARS MHz CLEMARS MHz NALEMARS MHz NALEMARS MHz CLEMARS 4/5460/ MHz CLEMARS 4/5460/ MHz CLEMARS 6/739.46/45.86 MHz CLEMARS 6/739.46/45.86 MHz CLEMARS 8/9823/ MHz CLEMARS 8/9823/ MHz CLEMARS 20/21*821/ MHz CLEMARS 20/21*821/ MHz CLEMARS 22** MHz CLEMARS 22** MHz *Northern California Only ** Los Angeles Only

CLERS Plan developed under OES Plan developed under OES Intended as point-to-point network Intended as point-to-point network Mountain-top repeaters licensed by State Mountain-top repeaters licensed by State Control stations licensed by individual agencies Control stations licensed by individual agencies 12 frequencies combinations in VHF and UHF bands 12 frequencies combinations in VHF and UHF bands

FIRE WHITE Plan developed under OES, Fire and Rescue Branch Plan developed under OES, Fire and Rescue Branch Licenses held by individual agencies Licenses held by individual agencies Technical restrictions Technical restrictions –Power output –Primarily mobile operations

FIRE WHITE FREQUENCIES White MHz White MHz White MHz White MHz White MHz White MHz

CESRS/CALCORD Plan developed by OES Plan developed by OES Licenses held by State Licenses held by State Technical Restrictions Technical Restrictions –CALCORD is mobile only Frequencies Frequencies –CESRS / MHz –CALCORD MHz

HEARS Plan developed under Emergency Medical Services Authority Plan developed under Emergency Medical Services Authority Licenses held by individual agency Licenses held by individual agency Frequency Frequency – MHz

NPSPAC MUTUAL AID Plans developed by Region 5 (Southern California) and Region 6 (Northern California) Regional Planning Committees Plans developed by Region 5 (Southern California) and Region 6 (Northern California) Regional Planning Committees Committee review/approve all applications Committee review/approve all applications All licenses held by State All licenses held by State Technical Restrictions Technical Restrictions

NPSPAC FREQUENCIES ICALL821/ MHz ICALL821/ MHz ITAC 1821/ MHz ITAC 1821/ MHz ITAC 2822/ MHz ITAC 2822/ MHz ITAC 3822/ MHz ITAC 3822/ MHz ITAC 4823/ MHz ITAC 4823/ MHz

700 MHz INTEROP CHANNELS Plan to be developed by CalSIEC Plan to be developed by CalSIEC –Channel names defined –Not yet defined Who will license stations Who will license stations Technical limitations Technical limitations Operational requirements Operational requirements

NEW CHANNELS Unknown if any entity has “assumed” responsibility for these Unknown if any entity has “assumed” responsibility for these Not yet defined Not yet defined –Who will license stations –Technical limitations –Operational requirements

“NEW” Frequencies VCALL MHz VCALL MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz VTAC MHz UCALL453/ MHz UCALL453/ MHz UTAC 1453/ MHz UTAC 1453/ MHz UTAC 2453/ MHz UTAC 2453/ MHz UTAC 3453/ MHz UTAC 3453/ MHz

LICENSING PROBLEMS Licenses intended to be held by differing entities Licenses intended to be held by differing entities –Some state-held/Some individual agency-held –Difficult to change due to “legacy” processes “Plan” developed by different groups “Plan” developed by different groups –OES (now Cal EMA) on older frequencies –800 MHz Regional Planning Committees (2) –Cal SIEC –Recommend consolidation under Cal SIEC

LICENSING PROBLEMS Existing plans need to be reviewed and updated Existing plans need to be reviewed and updated –Recommend Cal SIEC establish a series of “working groups” to accomplish this task –Cal SIEC Executive should then review the individual “plans” for consistency

LICENSING PROBLEMS Existing process for licenses held by State is not functioning properly Existing process for licenses held by State is not functioning properly Current Process Current Process –“Requesting agency” prepares a state-generated form –Submits form together with fee to OES for review for compliance with plan –OES forwards form to DGS-TD for preparation of license application to FCC –License forwarded to “requesting agency”

RECOMMENDATION Establish a working group to define a new process Establish a working group to define a new process –Requests complying with defined criteria should be “fast-tracked” (i.e. staff are authorized to process) –Requests not complying with defined criteria should be diverted through an “Exception Process” that requires review/approval by one or more higher level policy committees Requests that affect other users, all of whom are within a Regional Planning Area, might require review/approval by the Regional Planning Area Executive Committee Requests that affect other users, all of whom are within a Regional Planning Area, might require review/approval by the Regional Planning Area Executive Committee Requests having greater effect might require review/approval by the Cal SIEC Executive Committee Requests having greater effect might require review/approval by the Cal SIEC Executive Committee The new process must clearly define “who” is responsible for completing each step and forwarding to next stage The new process must clearly define “who” is responsible for completing each step and forwarding to next stage

LICENSING PROBLEMS State-generated form does not collect all of the required information State-generated form does not collect all of the required information –Recommend using FCC Form 600 as alternative “Requesting agency” does not provide all of the required information “Requesting agency” does not provide all of the required information –Recommend using FCC Form 600. If incomplete, return to “requesting agency” Requests “disappear into Black Hole” Requests “disappear into Black Hole” –Provide feedback to “requesting agency” throughout process

DESIRED OUTCOMES Decision Decision –Is “responsibility” for all interop channels going to be consolidated within Cal SIEC or continue to be separated? Creation of “working groups” to review and update (in some cases “create”) plans Creation of “working groups” to review and update (in some cases “create”) plans –Plan updates should define criteria for a “routine” application Creation of a “working group” to update licensing process Creation of a “working group” to update licensing process –Includes decision as to “who” will license each channel –Should include both a “routine” and an “exception” process –Clearly defines “who” performs each step

“LETTER LICENSES” Agency “A” authorizes Agency “B” to operate under the license held by Agency “A” Agency “A” authorizes Agency “B” to operate under the license held by Agency “A” Permitted under Section of the FCC Rules Permitted under Section of the FCC Rules –Agency “A” assumes responsibility for how Agency “B” operates Applies to mobile stations only Applies to mobile stations only –Fixed stations must be properly licensed –Question---does Agency “A” license in its own name, or does it allow Agency “B” to obtain a license on the frequency

RECOMMENDATION Standardize a process Standardize a process Information needs to be exchanged Information needs to be exchanged –Frequencies authorized –Power and ERP permitted –CTCSS tones, system ID codes, etc. –Area of operation permitted –Callsign under which stations are to operate Recommend periodic renewal Recommend periodic renewal