Businesses, emergency response agencies and multiple types of government organizations have been in the process of updating two-way radio equipment to comply with the fast-approaching federal narrowbanding mandate. Another communications regulation in the works may also effect the two-way radio industry and those organizations that make use of the technology.

As of January 1, 2013, all Federal Communications Commission two-way radio licensees must update their equipment to narrowband-ready devices such as the Motorola XPR6350, one of the digital two-way radios in the MOTOTRBO line. Although a digital model isn’t necessary to comply with the FCC mandate – the requirement is to migrate from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz spacing – two-way radios such as the XPR6350 provide another feature that may soon be the newest must-have in communications technology.

The newest announcement from the FCC is that all cell phones, including touch-screen “smartphones” and traditional “feature” phones, must be equipped with a GPS device by 2018. This advancement in the industry may provide emergency responders and their dispatchers with the means to instantly pinpoint a caller’s location.

Digital two-way radios like the XPR6350 have GPS functionality, and this feature can provide many benefits to operations. A device including GPS technology can help a business monitor the location of a company vehicle and employees while on the job, as well as pinpoint the closest worker to a call for assistance.

The Federal Communications Commission is requiring all public institutions, agencies and government bodies, as well as businesses, nonprofit organizations and other enterprises to change from “wideband” technology used in the past to new “narrowband” devices currently available from two-way radio dealers.

By switching to new products such as the Motorola BPR40 portable radio, part of the company’s Mag One line, businesses operating older, non-compliant equipment can update to the FCC’s requirements in addition to obtaining an affordable, versatile means of communication. The BPR40, despite being an affordable option, has options such as power saving, one-to-one communication and auto scanning functions.

Businesses must update such products by January 1, 2013. Failure to do so may result in a loss of the FCC operating license, and each piece of equipment used must be narrowband-capable in order to comply.

The move to a 12.5 kHz radio spectrum began in the 1990s, when the FCC decided to begin the steps to implement the change-over and manufacturers began developing products to help the public and private sectors to comply. Due to this timing, radios made in the 1990s (except a few models produced toward the end of the decade) and a few products sold until a few years ago still run at 25 kHz.