The report provides information concerning the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules governing the refarming of the land mobile radio spectrum and their impacts on current and future transit communications systems requirements. The report contains a nontechnical executive overview (in Chapter 2) that describes the rules issued in June 1995 by the FCC regarding the refarming of radio frequencies, provides an overview of the impacts of radio frequency refarming, and offers potential courses of action for transit and paratransit systems. In addition, the report provides more detailed technical information for communications specialists, and includes several examples of potential cost impacts to transit and paratransit systems. The Federal Communications Commission has decided to use "refarming" to help mitigate radio frequency congestion and increase spectrum efficiency in the private land mobile radio bands (frequencies below 512 MHz). Refarming is the term used for reduction in bandwidth allocated to radio channels in the designated bands. The refarming of frequencies has potential impacts on transit and paratransit communications systems and on capital procurement of communications equipment. FCC rules governing radio frequency refarming were issued in June 1995. Under TCRP Project C-5, research was undertaken by Arthur D. Little, Inc. to assist transit and paratransit agencies in formulating plans for future actions in response to the FCC decision to refarm radio frequencies by providing information on the impacts of the FCC's rules. To achieve the project objective, the researchers defined the scope of the FCC rules as they relate to the transit and paratransit industry. Once defined, the researchers characterised and assessed the impacts on the industry. To assist in this effort, a representative sample of transit and paratransit systems was surveyed to determine the types of communications systems and applications currently in use and planned for the future. Based on impacts identified for current and future communications-systems applications, a number of potential courses of action for transit and paratransit systems were identified for consideration in response to the FCC rules. Thus, the report is a valuable resource for transit managers and specialists responsible for communications systems within their organisation. (A)
Samenvatting