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 Code of Federal Regulations (Last Updated: November 8, 2024)
 Title 47 - Telecommunication
 Chapter I - Federal Communications Commission
 SubChapter D - Safety and Special Radio Services
 Part 90 - Private Land Mobile Radio Services
 Subpart K - Standards for Special Frequencies or Frequency Bands

  § 90.267 - Assignment and use of frequencies in the 450-470 MHz band for low power use.  

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  • § 90.267 Assignment and use of frequencies in the 450-470 MHz band for low power use.

    Cross Reference
    Link to an amendment published at 83 FR 61097, Nov. 27, 2018.

    (a) The following frequencies between 450-470 MHz are designated for low-power use subject to the provisions of this section. For purposes of this section these frequencies are referred to as “low power frequencies.” Pairs are shown but single frequencies are available for simplex operations.

    (b) Group A1 Frequencies. The Industrial/Business Pool frequencies in Group A1 are available on a coordinated basis, pursuant to §§ 90.35(b)(2) and 90.175(b), as follows:

    (1) Group A1 frequencies are available for voice and non-voice operations on a co-primary basis. Base, mobile and operational fixed stations will be authorized on Group A1 frequencies. Fixed stations may be licensed as mobile.

    (2) Within 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the specified coordinates of the top 100 urban areas listed in § 90.741 of this chapter (“80 km circles”) only low power operation will be authorized. The coordinates of an operational fixed or base station and the geographic center (latitude and longitude) of a mobile area of operation determine whether a station is within an “80 km circle.”

    (i) The maximum ERP for low power operation on Group A1 frequencies is as follows:

    Operation Low side of frequency pair (watts) High side of frequency pair (watts)
    Operational Fixed or Base206
    Mobile66
    Portable22

    (ii) The maximum antenna height for low power fixed stations on Group A1 frequencies will be 23 meters (75 feet) above ground.

    (3) Outside the “80 km circles” defined in paragraph (b)(2), full-power operational fixed, base, or mobile stations will be authorized as follows:

    (i) Power and antenna height limits are governed by § 90.205 of this chapter;

    (ii) For any operational fixed, base or mobile station exceeding the low power or antenna height limits listed in paragraph (b)(2), the 21 dBu F(50,10) contour may not overlap any portion of an “80 km circle;” and,

    (iii) Wide area operations will not be permitted. The area of normal day-to-day operations will be described in the application in terms of maximum distance from a geographic center (latitude and longitude).

    (4) The Industrial/Business Pool Group A1 Low Power Frequencies are as follows:

    451/456.18125451/456.58125452/457.10625452/457.70625
    451/456.1875451/456.5875452/457.1125452/457.7125
    451/456.19375451/456.59375452/457.11875452/457.71875
    451/456.28125451/456.60625452/457.13125452/457.78125
    451/456.2875451/456.6125452/457.1375452/457.7875
    451/456.29375451/456.61875452/457.14375452/457.79375
    451/456.30625451/456.65625452/457.15625452/457.80625
    451/456.3125451/456.6625452/457.1625452/457.8125
    451/456.31875451/456.66875452/457.16875452/457.81875
    451/456.35625451/456.68125452/457.18125452/457.83125
    451/456.3625451/456.6875452/457.1875452/457.8375
    451/456.36875451/456.69375452/457.19375452/457.84375
    451/456.38125451/456.70625452/457.28125452/457.88125
    451/456.3875451/456.7125452/457.2875452/457.8875
    451/456.39375451/456.71875452/457.29375452/457.89375
    451/456.40625451/456.73125452/457.48125452/457.98125
    451/456.4125451/456.7375452/457.4875452/457.9875
    451/456.41875451/456.74375452/457.49375452/457.99375
    451/456.45625451/456.75625452.53125 (unpaired)462/467.18125
    451/456.4625451/456.7625452.5375 (unpaired)462/467.1875
    451/456.46875451/456.76875452.54375 (unpaired)462/467.19375
    451/456.48125452/457.03125452/457.63125462/467.45625
    451/456.4875452/457.0375452/457.6375462/467.4625
    451/456.49375452/457.04375452/457.64375462/467.46875
    451/456.50625452/457.05625452/457.65625462/467.48125
    451/456.5125452/457.0625452/457.6625462/467.4875
    451/456.51875452/457.06875452/457.66875462/467.49375
    451/456.55625452/457.08125452/457.68125462/467.50625
    451/456.5625452/457.0875452/457.6875462/467.5125
    451/456.56875452/457.09375452/457.69375462/467.51875

    (c) Group A2 Frequencies. The Industrial/Business Pool frequencies in Group A2 are available nationwide on a coordinated basis, pursuant §§ 90.35(b)(2) and 90.175(b) as follows:

    (1) Group A2 frequencies are available for voice and non-voice operations on a co-primary basis. Base, mobile or operational fixed stations will be authorized on Group A2 frequencies. Fixed stations may be licensed as mobile.

    (2) Low power operation will be authorized nationwide on Group A2 frequencies.

    (i) The maximum ERP for low power operation on these frequencies is as follows:

    Operation Low side of frequency pair High side of frequency pair (watts)
    Operational Fixed or Base206
    Mobile66
    Portable22

    (ii) The maximum antenna height for low power fixed stations will be 23 meters (75 feet) above ground.

    (3) The Industrial/Business Pool Group A2 Low Power Frequencies are as follows:

    451/456.23125451/456.53125452/457.40625452/457.85625
    451/456.2375451/456.5375452/457.4125452/457.8625
    451/456.24375451/456.54375452/457.41875452/457.86875
    451/456.33125451/456.63125452/457.50625
    451/456.3375451/456.6375452/457.5125
    451/456.34375451/456.64375452/457.51875
    451/456.43125452/457.30625452/457.75625
    451/456.4375452/457.3125452/457.7625
    451/456.44375452/457.31875452/457.76875

    (d) Group B Frequencies. The Industrial/Business Pool frequencies in Group B are available nationwide on a coordinated basis, pursuant to §§ 90.35(b)(2) and 90.175(b) as follows:

    (1) Group B frequencies are available for non-voice operations on a primary basis. Voice operations will be permitted on a secondary basis. Base, mobile or operational fixed stations will be authorized on Group B frequencies. Fixed stations may be licensed as mobile.

    (2) Operation on these frequencies is limited to 6 watts ERP for base, mobile or operational fixed stations and 2 watts ERP for portable units. A maximum antenna height of 7 meters (20 ft) above ground is authorized for fixed stations.

    (3) The Industrial/Business Pool Group B Frequencies are as follows:

    462/467.20625462/467.28125462/467.35625462/467.43125
    462/467.2125462/467.2875462/467.3625462/467.4375
    462/467.21875462/467.29375462/467.36875462/467.44375
    462/467.23125462/467.30625462/467.38125
    462/467.2375462/467.3125462/467.3875
    462/467.24375462/467.31875462/467.39375
    462/467.25625462/467.33125462/467.40625
    462/467.2625462/467.3375462/467.4125
    462/467.26875462/467.34375462/467.41875

    (e) Group C Frequencies. The Industrial/Business Pool frequencies in Group C are available nationwide for non-coordinated itinerant use as follows.

    (1) Group C frequencies are available for voice and non-voice operations on a co-primary basis. Only mobile operations will be authorized on Group C frequencies. Stations may operate at fixed locations for a temporary period of time. No stations operating at a permanent fixed location will be authorized on Group C frequencies.

    (2) Operation on these frequencies is limited to 6 watts effective radiated power for fixed or mobile units and 2 watts ERP for portable units. Stations operating at fixed locations for a temporary period of time will be limited to an antenna height of 7 meters (20 feet) above ground.

    (3) The Industrial/Business Pool Group C Low Power Frequencies are as follows:

    461/466.03125461/466.15625461/466.28125462.8125
    461/466.0375461/466.1625461/466.2875462.8375 (unpaired)
    461/466.04375461/466.16875461/466.29375462/467.8625
    461/466.05625461/466.18125461/466.30625462/467.8875
    461/466.0625461/466.1875461/466.3125462/467.9125
    461/466.06875461/466.19375461/466.31875464/469.48125
    461/466.08125461/466.20625461/466.33125464/469.4875
    461/466.0875461/466.2125461/466.3375464/469.5125
    461/466.09375461/466.21875461/466.34375464/469.51875
    461/466.10625461/466.23125461/466.35625464/469.53125
    461/466.1125461/466.2375461/466.3625464/469.5375
    461/466.11875461/466.24375461/466.36875464/469.5625
    461/466.13125461/466.25625462.7625 (unpaired)464/469.56875
    461/466.1375461/466.2625462.7875 (unpaired)
    461/466.14375461/466.26875462.8125 (unpaired)

    (f) Group D Frequencies. The Industrial/Business Pool frequencies in Group D are available for central station alarm operations on a coordinated basis, pursuant to §§ 90.35(b)(2) and 90.175(b). Central station alarm signaling on these frequencies are co-primary with regard to co-channel or adjacent channel base, mobile or data operations.

    (1) Base, mobile or operational fixed stations will be authorized on Group D frequencies. Fixed stations may be licensed as mobile.

    (2) Unless concurrence is obtained in accordance with section 90.175(b) of this chapter from the Commission-certified frequency coordinator for frequencies designated for central station alarm operations, Group D frequencies subject to § 90.35(c)(63) are limited to central station alarm use within the urban areas described in § 90.35(c)(63). Outside the urban areas described in § 90.35(c)(63), Group D frequencies subject to § 90.35(c)(63) are available for general Industrial/Business use on a coordinated basis, pursuant to §§ § 90.35(b)(2) and § 90.175(b).

    (3) Unless concurrence is obtained in accordance with section 90.175(b) of this chapter from the Commission-certified frequency coordinator for frequencies designated for central station alarm operations, Group D frequencies subject to § 90.35(c)(66) are limited to central station alarm use nationwide.

    (4) Operation on Group D frequencies is limited to 2 watts output power for mobile, base or operational fixed stations. Fixed stations used for central station alarm operations may utilize antennas mounted not more than 7 meters (20 feet) above a man-made supporting structure, including antenna structure.

    (5) The Industrial/Business Pool Group D Low Power Frequencies are as follows:

    460/465.90625460/465.95625461/466.00625
    460/465.9125460/465.9625461/466.0125
    460/466.91875460/465.96875461/466.01875
    460/465.93125460/465.98125
    460/465.9375460/465.9875
    460/465.94375460/465.99375

    (g) Low Power Public Safety Frequencies. The frequencies in the Public Safety Pool Low Power Group are available nationwide on a coordinated basis, pursuant to §§ 90.20(c)(2) and 90.175(b).

    (1) Base, mobile or operational fixed stations will be authorized on Public Safety Low Power frequencies. Fixed stations may be licensed as mobile.

    (2) Operation on these frequencies is limited to 6 watts effective radiated power for base, mobile or operational fixed stations and 2 watts ERP for portable units. A maximum antenna height of 7 meters (20 feet) above ground is authorized for fixed stations.

    (3) The Public Safety Pool Low Power Frequencies are as follows:

    453/458.03125453/458.13125453/458.95625460/465.53125
    453/458.0375453/458.1375453/458.9625460/465.5375
    453/458.04375453/458.14375453/458.96875460/465.54375
    453/458.05625453/458.88125453/458.98125460/465.55625
    453/458.0625453/458.8875453/458.9875460/465.5625
    453/458.06875453/458.89375453/458.99375460/465.56875
    453/458.08125453/458.90625460/465.48125
    453/458.0875453/458.9125460/465.4875
    453/458.09375453/458.91875460/465.49375
    453/458.10625453/458.93125460/465.50625
    453/458.1125453/458.9375460/465.5125
    453/458.11875453/458.94375460/465.51875

    (h) Unless otherwise noted, the following conditions apply to all low power frequencies:

    (1) Except for itinerant operations on Group C, wide area operations will not be authorized. The area of normal day-to-day operations will be described in the application in terms of maximum distance from a geographic center (latitude and longitude).

    (2) A hospital or health care institution holding a license to operate a radio station under this part may operate a medical radio telemetry device with an output power not to exceed 20 milliwatts without specific authorization from the Commission. All licensees operating under this authority must comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in this section.

    (3) No limit shall be placed on the length or height above ground level of any commercially manufactured radiating transmission line when the transmission line is terminated in a non-radiating load and is routed at least 7 meters (20 feet) interior to the edge of any structure or is routed below ground level.

    (4) Sea-based stations may utilize antennas mounted not more than 7 meters (20 feet) above a man-made supporting structure, including antenna structures.

    (5) Continuous carrier operations are prohibited on these frequencies.

    (6) Unless specified elsewhere in this part, licensees as of August 5, 1999, licensed for operations with an emission designator wider than 11.25 kHz on low power frequencies that are subject to an authorized bandwidth of 11.25 kHz, may obtain primary status with respect to co-channel licensees by supplying their coordinates to the Commission. These licensees will continue to operate on a secondary basis with respect to adjacent channel licensees. Additionally, these licensees may continue to operate with an authorized bandwidth wider than 11.25 kHz on such low power frequencies, subject to the provisions of § 90.209(b) of this chapter.

    (7) Unless specified elsewhere in this part, licensees as of August 5, 1999, licensed for operations with an emission designator wider than 11.25 kHz on frequencies that are subject to an authorized bandwidth of 11.25 kHz, which are not low power frequencies, may obtain primary status with respect to co-channel licensees by modifying their license to low power frequencies, supplying their coordinates to the Commission, and otherwise complying with the conditions of paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section. These licensees will continue to operate on a secondary basis with respect to adjacent channel licensees. Additionally, these licensees may continue to operate with an authorized bandwidth wider than 11.25 kHz on such low power frequencies, subject to the provisions of § 90.209(b) of this chapter.

    (8) Applicants proposing to operate with an authorized bandwidth wider than 11.25 kHz, on low power frequencies that are subject to an authorized bandwidth of 11.25 kHz, may be licensed on a secondary, non-interference basis. Such applicants are subject to the conditions of paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section and the provisions of § 90.209(b) of this chapter.

    [68 FR 19461, Apr. 21, 2003; 68 FR 55319, Sept. 25, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 4254, Jan. 29, 2004; 75 FR 19284, Apr. 14, 2010; 83 FR 61097, Nov. 27, 2018]