NCJ Number
47895
Date Published
1978
Length
143 pages
Annotation
AN ANALYSIS OF TECHNICAL AND REGULATORY FACTORS AFFECTING THE APPLICABILITY OF THE 900 MHZ PORTION OF THE RADIO SPECTRUM TO LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM PROBLEMS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE OPENING OF THE 900 MHZ SPECTRUM FOR USE BY THE LAND MOBILE RADIO COMMUNITY NEARLY DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF SPECTRUM AVAILABLE, OFFERING A LONG-AWAITED HOPE OF RELIEF FROM CONSTRAINTS ON SYSTEM DESIGN CAUSED BY THE LIMITED NUMBER OF AVAILABLE FREQUENCIES. A GENERAL BACKGROUND DISCUSSION OF THE 900 MHZ REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT IS PRESENTED, CITING SPECIFIC EVENTS RELEVANT TO THE FORMATION OF THE NEW POLICY. A PERIOD OF RESEARCH TOOK PLACE, FOLLOWED BY A REPORT ON THE NEW SPECTRUM POSSIBILITIES. THE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS INVOLVED IN PASSING THE FREQUENCY REGULATIONS ARE TRACED. SOME COVERAGE CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE USE OF THE 900 MHZ FREQUENCIES ARE PRESENTED, INCLUDNG SHADOW EFFECTS, THE SCATTERING PHENOMENON, AND SITE SELECTION. OPERATIONAL CONCEPTS AND SPECTRUM EFFICIENCY OF THE TRUNKED SYSTEM, WHICH IS A RADIO COMMUNICATION FACILITY EMPLOYING BETWEEN 5 AND 20 CHANNEL PAIRS WITH ACCESS CONTROLLED BY A COMPUTER, IS DESCRIBED. ALSO EXPLAINED ARE THE ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTION OF THE CELLULAR SYSTEM, A HIGH CAPACITY SYSTEM IN WHICH A GEOGRAPHICAL AREA IS DIVIDED INTO A NUMBER OF SMALLER AREAS CALLED CELLS TO WHICH RADIO CHANNELS ARE ASSIGNED. CONSIDERATION OF THE OPERATIONAL SUITABILITY OF THE 900 MHZ SPECTRUM INCLUDES A FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICABILITY OF TRUNKED SYSTEMS, SPECTRUM MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS, AND EQUIPMENT CAPABILITIES. THE CONCLUSION PROVIDES MATERIAL ON THE TECHNOLOGICAL SUITABILITY OF THE SYSTEM. A DEMONSTRATION OF THE CAPABILITIES AND USES OF THE 900 MHZ SPECTRUM IS PRESENTED. APPENDIXES INCLUDE COMMENTS ON THE USE OF THE NEW SPECTRUM, A LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, AND A GLOSSARY. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS ATTACHED. (BAC)