Licensing
Shared Frequencies
Frequencies in the 470-512 MHz band are shared with UHF-TV channels 14-20 and are only available in 11 cities.
47 CFR 90.313 requires licensees to show that any assigned channels in this band in a particular urbanized area are at full capacity before they will be assigned additional 470-512 MHz channels in that area. For stations that are operating at full capacity, the rules specify the minimum allowable distance between co-channel stations.
32 kilometers (20 miles) for:
- Channel 15 in Chicago
- Channel 20 in Philadelphia
- Channel 17 in Washington
64 kilometers (40 miles) for all other channels and areas.
In accordance with these rules, new applicants may apply for only one channel at a time. After loading that channel to full capacity, a licensee may apply for another channel. Current licensees may use existing loading to satisfy this requirement and apply for more than one channel at one time.
Licensees in the 470-512 MHz band that are operating above full capacity may use those units to qualify for additional channels. Licensees operating in other frequency bands may also use existing licensed units to qualify for more than one channel at one time. In each of these instances, the licensee must concurrently modify his/her existing license(s) to remove units from these licenses so that they may be applied towards the loading of a 470-512 MHz band license.
Available Cities
The 470-512 MHz band is available for licensing within 50 miles of the geographic center of 11 cities:
| Boston, MA | 41o
21' 24" | 71o
03' 75" | 14 | 470-476 |
| 16 | 482-488 |
 |
| Chicago, IL | 41o
52' 28.1" | 87o
38' 22.2" | 14 | 470-476 |
| 15 | 476-482 |
|
| Dallas/Fort Worth, TX | 32o
47' 09.5" | 96o
47' 38" | 16 | 482-488 |
|
| Houston, TX | 29o
45' 26.8" | 95o
21' 37.8" | 17 | 488-494 |
|
| Los Angeles, CA** | 34o
03' 15" | 118o
14' 31.3" | 14 | 470-476 |
| 20 | 506-512 |
|
| Miami, FL | 25o
46' 38.4" | 80o
11' 31.2" | 14 | 470-476 |
|
| New York/N.E. NJ | 40o
45' 06.4" | 73o
59' 37.5" | 14 | 470-476 |
| 15 | 476-482 |
|
| Philadelphia, PA | 39o
56' 58.4" | 75o
09' 19.6" | 19 | 500-506 |
| 20 | 506-512 |
|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 40o
26' 19.2" | 79o
59' 59.2" | 14 | 470-476 |
| 18 | 494-500 |
|
| San Francisco/Oakland, CA | 37o
46' 38.7" | 122o
24' 43.9" | 16 | 482-488 |
| 17 | 488-494 |
|
| Washington, DC/MD/VA | 38o
53' 51.4" | 77o
00' 31.9" | 17 | 488-494 |
| 18 | 494-500 |
|
* Coordinates are referenced to North America Datum 1983 (NAD83).
* * Channel 16 (482-488 MHz) is available in Los Angeles for use by public safety users.
In addition, channels 14 (470-476 MHz) and 15 (476-482 MHz) are allocated in Cleveland, OH and channels 15 (476-482 MHz) and 16 (482-488 MHz) are allocated in Detroit, MI. Assignments on these channels, however, are not available until further order from the Commission. Applicants in these cities may apply for channels in the 421-430 MHz band.
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