HME Product Compliance with FCC Narrowbanding Guidelines

As you may know, the FCC has released new Narrowbanding Guidelines that will go into effect on January 1, 2013. These Guidelines affect all radio types using the frequencies listed on the FCC website: http://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/public-safety-spectrum/narrowbanding-faq.html

In an effort to promote greater spectrum efficiency, the FCC Narrowbanding Guidelines require all Public Safety and Industrial/Business licensees using 25 KHz VHF and UHF radios systems operating in the 150-512 MHz frequency range to migrate to minimum 12.5 KHz efficiency by January 1, 2013.

Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology will allow the creation of additional channel capacity within the same radio spectrum, and support more users.

This means that 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.

You may have recently received some third party information regarding the FCC Narrowbanding Guidelines and how they affect some of the HME equipment you may own at this time. Please allow us to clarify:

The FCC Narrowbanding Guidelines do not affect any HME brand base stations or all-in-one headsets. It may, however, have affected a small number of HME belt-pacs including the System 102, System 100, System 3000, and System2000 (crystalized version, FCC ID: BYM9IDCOM2000). If you are operating one of these systems, we will no longer be able to repair it nor will you be able to operate it starting on January 1, 2013 in compliance with these new guidelines.

Compliant HME Communicator, highlighting dip switches

To identify if your HME communicator is the COM2000 (crystalized version, FCC ID: BYM9IDCOM2000), please follow these steps:

  1. Open the battery compartment of your communicator.
  2. Remove the batteries.
  3. If your communicator does not have a set of dip switches within the battery compartment, then your system is not compliant with the new guidelines.
Non-Compliant communicator, highlighting FCC ID

To identify if your HME communicator is the COM100, COM102, or COM3000, please follow these steps:

  1. Locate the white label on the side of the communicator.
  2. In the middle of the white label, find the FCC ID.
  3. If the FCC ID is one of the following, then your system is not compliant with the new guidelines: BYM8SXCOM100, BYM8SXCOM102, BYM8SXCOM3000.

Please note that the FCC is not requiring licensees to modify their existing licenses. They simply have to comply with the new rules by using narrowband equipment.

If you have identified that your current system is not compliant with the new guidelines, please call 858.535.6000 for details on discounts available to you through December 31, 2012.

If you are still in question about your current system, please feel free to contact the HME Help Desk by calling 800.848.4468 and then 1-2-3 for tech support.

We appreciate your continued commitment to HME products.

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