FCC Licensing for Part 90 Land Mobile Radio Systems

Recommended Reading: FCC for Beginners – Plain-English Overview

FCC’s Role in LMR Spectrum Management

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates and licenses radio spectrum in the United States, including Land Mobile Radio (LMR) services. Under Title III of the Communications Act, the FCC assigns radio frequencies and issues station licenses (ecfr.gov). Rules in 47 CFR Part 90 govern Public Safety and Industrial/Business licensing pools. The FCC allocates bands, sets technical limits, and enforces compliance to prevent interference.

Frequency Coordinators and Their Authority

Most Part 90 applications require review by an FCC-certified frequency coordinator (law.cornell.edu). The Enterprise Wireless Alliance (EWA) and APCO International are common coordinators. A coordination letter is mandatory before the FCC will grant a new licence or major modification (enterprisewireless.org).

Application Process and Requirements

Preparing the Application:

• Form 601 & Coordination Letter — filed via FCC ULS.
• Exact Transmitter Location — lat/long for each site.
• Antenna Height — above ground or average terrain (law.cornell.edu).
• Power Output — ERP or transmitter power within Part 90 limits (law.cornell.edu).
• Frequencies & Emissions — certified channel/emission pair.
• Area of Operation — radius or geographic footprint.
• Number of Units — total mobiles and any itinerants.

Fees: ≈ $205 FCC fee plus coordination cost (forums.radioreference.com).

Licensing Timeline and Conditional Operation

Normal Timeline: Most uncontested filings are granted within 1–2 weeks after appearing on FCC public notice.

Conditional Authority: Under 47 CFR § 90.159, operation may begin 10 business days after submitting a complete application if:

• Site is outside Canada/Mexico border zones.
• No rule waivers requested.
• Antenna complies with FAA/environmental rules (law.cornell.edu).

Conditional authority ends immediately if the FCC dismisses the filing. For emergencies, request STA (Special Temporary Authority) (hitechwireless.com).

License Duration and Renewal

Part 90 licences are valid for 10 years (law.cornell.edu). Renewals accepted 90 days before expiry. A 30-day grace period exists, but authority lapses. New systems must be on-air within 12 months (hitechwireless.com).

Legal Obligations and Penalties

FCC rule § 90.403(a) mandates a valid licence for any Part 90 use (law.cornell.edu). Fines begin at $10,000/day and may include equipment seizure (docs.fcc.gov).

Frequency Sharing and Geographic Considerations

Part 90 channels are shared. Coordinators apply spacing or contour rules (docs.fcc.gov). Industrial/Business Pool and itinerant channels lack interference protection (govinfo.gov). Geography, terrain, and proximity to Canada impact channel reuse.

Preventing Interference: PSI’s Spectrum Analysis

Coordination databases are not foolproof. PSI conducts on-site spectrum scans before frequency selection. This reveals hidden interferers—like a 100-watt transmitter nearby—and ensures optimal channel selection and system reliability from day one.

Sources

• 47 CFR Part 90 – Private LMR Services (ecfr.gov)
• § 90.175, § 90.159, § 90.403 – Coordination & Operating Rules (law.cornell.edu)
• Enterprise Wireless Alliance (enterprisewireless.org)
• APCO International – Renewal Info (apcointl.org)
• FCC Enforcement Bureau – Fines (docs.fcc.gov)
• HiTech Wireless – Licensing Guide (hitechwireless.com)
• RadioReference Forum – Fee Info (forums.radioreference.com)