Understanding FCC Narrowbanding Requirements

In December 2004, the Federal Communications Commission mandated that all private LMR users operating below 512 MHz move from 25 kHz wideband channel spacing to 12.5 kHz narrowband voice channels and highly efficient data channel operations by January 1, 2013. Using narrowband channels will ensure that organizations take advantage of more efficient technology and, by reducing channel width, will allow additional channels to exist within the same spectrum space.

Deadlines

To phase in the migration deadline of January 1, 2013, the FCC has estalished interim deadlines. The first important deadline is January 1, 2011, after which:

• The FCC will not grant applications for new voice operations or applications to expand the authorized contour of existing stations that use 25 kHz channels. Only narrowband authorizations will be granted.
• The FCC will prohibit manufacture or importation of new equipment that operates on 25 kHz channels. This will reduce the availability of new equipment for legacy radio systems and will affect how agencies maintain and upgrade older systems.

Planning for the Move to Narrowband

• Start planning – the FCC deadline is not very far away.
• Assess your current equipment
• Obtain new or modified licenses

Call Us Today to Help with Your Narrowbanding Process!

1-888-742-5893

Two Way Direct Brings a Fresh New Voice To Their Market Space

(San Diego, CA) - Two Way Direct offers next-generation two-way radio solutions in an industry that is still very traditional and conservative. Today, they have launched a new cutting-edge website revitalizing their online presence to reflect their current position as an invaluable information resource, a credible solutions provider and an environmentally innovative company.

While competitors sites are crowded, busy and highly templated, Two Way Direct's new site brings a fresh new voice to their market space through simple, intuitive architecture, interactive social networking features and an elegant product display and comparison tools.

Two-Way Radio Communications Company Offers Green Incentive Program: Article Featured on Hospitality Technology Magazine

Two-Way Radio Communications Company Offering Reusable, Affordable Technology: Article Featured on Hotel-Online.com

(San Diego, CA) – Two Way Direct launched in 2004 in San Diego, California out of President Brandon Ocampo 's living room. Two Way Direct has since grown over 310% in the past 12 months alone enabling its consumers to enhance efficiency in the workplace by providing the latest in two-way radio communication and offering consumers a competitive edge. Now, the company is pleased to announce an additional incentive to corporations--and especially hotels--interested in recycling their outdated two-way radios with their 2009 "Recycle and Save " campaign.

Hotels can take advantage of the "Recycle and Save " offer and receive an addition $100 off each new waterproof IC-F50V/F60V Series when they trade-in any working or non-working, handheld radio. In tough economic times, Two Way Direct is finding a way to stay environmentally friendly while increasing efficiency for their clients by offering them incentives to reuse and recycle.

“I saw the need to enable communication utilizing a trusted and proven technology with two-way radios,” says Brandon Ocampo, President of Two Way Direct.  “Our system appeals to hoteliers that value instant, secure communication at the touch of a button without the fear of busy signals or overage charges. We custom build each account to the customer specifications, because at the end of the day it’s about service. With this incentive program, we are offering yet another reason to go green with Two Way.”

With monumental growth since its launch, Two Way Direct quickly moved from Ocampo's living room to offices in San Diego with a 24-hour online store complete with round-the-clock online customer service providing portable, fully compatible, easily transportable, and durable reusable two-way radio systems.

“We believe our creative ideas and powerful strategies will create a new generation of two-way radio communication,” adds Ocampo. “We’re raising the industry-standard bar and as a result we have developed an online business network, which is the most advanced in the industry. It will help our customers increase safety, control and efficiency in the workplace.”

Two Way Direct offers top-of-the-line radios from Icom America, Inc. and Klein Electronics, and became Land Mobile Dealers Top 3 Fastest Growing Dealers of 2008. Current and past clients have included General Electric, Costco, Overstock.com, Omni Hotels, Four Seasons, and many more.

“Communication is the backbone of any company's operations speaking from experience,” Ocampo closes.  “In many cases, lives depend on it, and it is our goal to continually provide our customers with the most affordable, reliable, and effective communications solutions.”

Ecology, ethics, economics: The three E’s to live by

(San Diego, CA) - The Enviro-Business Society (e3) is bringing a new shade of green to the San Diego State University campus this April 22 for Earth Day.

According to the official e3 Web site, they “believe that at the core of their revolutionary new business model there are three pillars which must always be upheld: ecology, ethics and economics.” The Enviro-Business Society offers students of all majors an innovative and beneficial way to make an impact on campus, in the community and in the business world.

At e3’s annual event, Earth Day, on April 22, various events will help students in learning how they impact the world with their daily actions. Each event will act as a tool for e3 to teach SDSU students and community members about different environmental issues.

“We are striving to reach every student with some piece of information in an interactive way that they can take with them, in order to reduce their waste production, exposure to toxic chemicals and carbon footprint,” says e3 executive Josh Van Lente.

On Earth Day e3 is urging students to “get fresh with the locals.” The Enviro-Business Society is presenting a farmers market and has been working for two semesters to implement it on San Diego State University’s campus.

“The Earth Day Farmers Market will be the catalyst for change on the SDSU campus. Hopefully it will influence SDSU to implement a Farmers Market regularly for the students,” president Rae Gurne said.

Another Earth Day attraction is the Business Exhibit. Through endless networking, e3 has built relationships with many environmentally and socially responsible organizations. At least 60 green businesses are going to be featured on Campanile Walkway on Earth Day for student to network with. e3 is providing the future of corporate America (students) a chance to explore job opportunities with companies whose core values support ecology, ethics and economics on equal platforms.

Club e3 also plans to host their own booths in order to bring awareness to environmental issues that are detrimental to our Earth. Their booths will showcase various topics, and pinpoint issues that are specific to San Diego County. Along with awareness booths, there is going to be a “shock factor” component featured in the middle of Campanile Walkway about the use of plastic water bottles.

“We are really trying to make people open their eyes to the fact that changing little actions in their everyday lives, like buying a reusable water bottle, can really make an impact in the long-run,” Gurne said.

Other crowd-pleasing events that will catch students’ attention is the Earth Battle, a battle of the bands competition performed on a solar-energy stage in the evening; Earth Dance, a battle of the DJ competition where students are invited to stay and dance to the music; picnic in the park, where students are offered free pizza and an opportunity to view “Flow,” a documentary about water conservation; and a shock art exhibit, showcasing art submitted by SDSU students that pertain to the Earth.

e3 is working with environmentally-friendly companies such as Two Way Direct , a wireless two-way radio communications provider that has committed to going green. Two Way Direct offers many recycling programs to their customers, such as the new battery trade-in promotion, which offers extra discounts on new batteries in exchange for the customer's old batteries. This way, Two Way Direct can properly dispose of the old batteries to help protect the environment.

Earth Day is the Enviro-Business Society’s most effective way of reaching out to the student body and surrounding community. It is the means of completing their mission statement, and allows them to focus on bringing awareness to issues in the business world and day-to-day life that can easily be changed.

If you would like to find out more information about the Enviro-Business Society and their efforts for Earth Day, please visit their Web site at www.clube3.org .

Boilerplate: Enviro-Business Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit student organization. Their mission is to promote awareness of the beneficial relationship from integrating ecology, ethics and economics into business practices. The organization works on different activism projects and events according to the theme of each semester. e3 has an executive board that meets once a week for two hours. General member meetings are bi-weekly.

Two Way Direct enables customers to adjust to difficult economic times by offering reusable, affordable technology

(San Diego, CA) – Two Way Direct launched in 2004 in San Diego, California out of President Brandon Ocampo’s living room. Two Way Direct has since grown over 310% in the past 12 months alone enabling its consumers to enhance efficiency in the workplace by providing the latest in two-way radio communication and offering consumers a competitive edge. Now, the company is pleased to announce an additional incentive to corporations interested in recycling their outdated radios with their 2009 "Recycle and SAVE " campaign.

Customers can take advantage of the "Recycle and SAVE " offer and receive an addition $100 off each new IC-F50V / F60V Series when they trade-in any working or non-working, handheld radio. In tough economic times, Two Way Direct is finding a way to stay environmentally friendly while increasing efficiency for their clients by offering them incentives to reuse and recycle.

“I saw the need to enable communication utilizing a trusted and proven technology with two-way radios,” says Brandon Ocampo, President of Two Way Direct. “Our system appeals to corporations and businesses that value instant, secure communication at the touch of a button without the fear of busy signals or overage charges. We custom build each account to the customer specifications, because at the end of the day it’s about service. With this incentive program, we are offering yet another reason to go green with Two Way.”

With monumental growth since its launch, Two Way Direct quickly moved from Ocampo’s living room to offices in San Diego with a 24-hour online store—complete with round-the-clock online customer service—providing portable, fully compatible, easily transportable, and durable reusable two-way radio systems.

“We believe our creative ideas and powerful strategies will create a new generation of two-way radio communication,” adds Ocampo. “We’re raising the industry-standard bar and as a result we have developed an online business network, which is the most advanced in the industry. It will help our customers increase safety, control and efficiency in the workplace.”

Two Way Direct offers top-of-the-line radios from Icom America, Inc. and Klein Electronics, and became Land Mobile Dealers Top 3 Fastest Growing Dealers of 2008. Current and past clients have included General Electric, Costco, Overstock.com, Omni Hotels, Four Seasons, and many more.

“Communication is the backbone of any company’s operations speaking from experience,” Ocampo closes. “In many cases, lives depend on it, and it is our goal to continually provide our customers with the most affordable, reliable, and effective communications solutions.”

About Two Way Direct
Two Way Direct is a sole proprietorship with offices located at 402 West Broadway, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92101. Targeted industries include, but are not limited to, the following: Agriculture & Forestry, Airports, Apparel and Access Stores, Auto Dealers and Gas Services, Automobile Services and Parking, Casinos, Concert Management Services, Construction, Department of Defense, Educational Services, Utility Services, Entertainment Companies, General Government, Golf Courses, Health Services, Hospitality, Individual Consumers, Public Safety, Manufacturing, Mining, Motion Pictures, Night Club, Property Management, Race Teams, Religious Organizations, Restaurant, Retail Trade, Security, Ski Resorts, Sports Teams and Clubs, Theme Parks, Transportation, TV Broadcasting, Wind Energy, and Wholesale Trade. Visit http://www.twowaydirect.com or call 1-888-742-5893.

FCC ADDRESSES RULES FOR PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SYSTEMS TO TRANSITION TO 6.25 kHz NARROWBAND TECHNOLOGY

(Washington, D.C.) - Today, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Third Report and Order (Order) that declines, for now, to establish a fixed date for private land mobile radio (PLMR) systems in the 150-174 MHz and 421-5 12 MHz bands to transition to 6.25 kHz narrowband technology, but strongly urges licensees to consider migrating directly to 6.25 kHz technology rather than first adopting 12.5 kHz technology and later migrating to 6.25 kHz technology. The Order also revises the implementation date of the 6.25 kHz equipment certification rules from January 1,2005 to January 1, 2011.

In today's Order, the FCC declined to establish, at the present time, a fixed date for PLMR systems to transition to 6.25 kHz narrowband technology. There are no accepted industry standards for 6.25 kHz technology, which would be a bar to interoperability. Further, 6.25 kHz technology is not mature enough to warrant setting a migration schedule. The FCC reiterated, however, that it will expeditiously establish a schedule for transition to 6.25 kHz narrowband technology once the technology matures to the point that sufficient equipment is available for testing.

The FCC also decided in today's Order to change the date for the implementation of the 6.25 kHz equipment certification rules from January 1,2005 to January I, 201 1, but strongly urges licensees to consider migrating directly to 6.25 kHz technology by January 1,2013 rather than first adopting 12.5 kHz technology and later migrating to 6.25 kHz technology. Deferring the implementation date permits manufacturers to develop and test equipment after the expected finalization of 6.25 kHz standards in the near future.