NCC/NPSTC Standard Channel Nomenclature for the Public Safety Interoperability Channels

In response to input from a number of public safety organizations requesting that NPSTC reexamine the Channel Naming Recommendations of the National Coordination Committee (NCC), at its November 2006 meeting, the NPSTC Governing Board established a Task Group to solicit input and establish consensus on a set of Common Names for the channels designated by the FCC for interoperability use.

Common Naming Task Group

The Task group solicited input in the December 2006 - January 2007 time frame, and held a Public Forum in conjunction with the February 2007 quarterly NPSTC meetings in Orlando, FL.

The Common Naming Task Group developed a Report of Committee, proposing the consensus Revised Common Naming Standard developed as a result of the February 5, 2007 forum. They accepted comments on this proposed format through May 20, 2007. The Task Group evaluated all comments received and developed the Final Draft Recommendation for adoption by the NPSTC Governing Board at the quarterly meeting on June 13, 2007. The NPSTC Governing Board approved the Final Recommendations and have now release the NPSTC Channel Naming Report. The report was presented at the SAFECOM Executive Committee Meeting that was help on June 14, 2007 and they voted to support the report. The Channel Naming Report is currently in the process of becoming a standard within the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) process.

Channel Naming Report Revisions

The Channel Naming Report is a living document that will require revisions from time to time; for example, in response to changes in the 700 MHz band, created by the FCC's 2nd Report and Order, in which previously bifurcated spectrum was consolidated. The Report will also require revisions as federal channel names are revised and protocols with Canada are adopted, and soon include an addendum with the addition of six-character names in the 800 MHz band for radios that have limited space for channel names.

700MHz Changes Addendum

To the right is an addendum for the 700Mhz changes. Announcements will be sent via the NPSTC Participant Listserv when updates are posted or standards process impacts the Report. All updates will also be posted to this website. If you would like to join the listserv, please contact the NPSTC Support Office or submit a Subscription Request.

Standard Channel Nomenclature(Revised June 15, 2009)

The Standard Channel Nomenclature document has been submitted to APCO in order to complete the ANSI certification process meeting requirements established within the DHS National Emergency Communications Plan (NECP). This document reflects the latest updates from the June 2009 NPSTC meeting in Arlington, VA.

Four major changes have been made to the previous "B" version of this document:

• Frequency/channel heading revised and all FCC channel numbers removed, leaving only frequencies
• NTIA activity on page 2
• FCC activity related to the Inland Marine (VSPCA) channels on page 3, and
• Table 3 on the last page of the "Informative" section of the standard/overall document has been revised to show less technical information since it primarily addresses the names; it now appears in standard 8.5 x 11 format as with all of the earlier pages. A note has been added to the end of the Short Form section on page 5 of the "Normative" section of the standard stating that short names are not applicable to the 700 MHz band since equipment being delivered for this band is of latest design and does not have the 6-character display limit of earlier products

Download the most recent document here: Standard Channel Nomenclature (Revised 06/15/2009)

Candidate APCO/NPSTC ANS 1.104.1-200x: Standard Channel Nomenclature for the Public Safety Interoperability Channels

This document provides a standardized naming format for each Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated Interoperability Channel in the Public Safety Radio Services. For more information about the proposed standard including background history and frequently asked questions with answers, click here.

Public Review and Comment Period is October 16 - November 30, 2009.

• To download the current draft for review, click here
• To download Frequently Asked Questions, click here
• To submit comments, e-mail standards@apco911.org by November 30, 2009. When submitting a comment, please include your contact information, the comment and suggested resolution, and reference the page number and line number(s).