For years, Section 90.267 of the FCC’s rules has limited portable radios on certain UHF Industrial/Business Pool “low power” channels to just 2 watts ERP, while mobiles on the very same channels are already permitted to operate at 6 watts ERP.
The problem is that today’s land mobile radio industry no longer looks like it did when these rules were written.
Most modern Part 90 portable radios are built around 4-5 watt operation as the industry standard. Dealers, coordinators, and end users are increasingly forced to either:
- artificially reduce radio power,
- maintain separate programming templates,
- or navigate unnecessary compliance complications simply to accommodate an outdated limitation.
At Forest Industries Telecommunications (FIT), we have begun evaluating whether the FCC should modernize Section 90.267 by harmonizing the rule and allowing portable radios to operate at up to 6 watts ERP on the same basis as mobiles for Group A and Group C channels.
Importantly, portable radios inherently produce smaller real-world interference contours than mobiles due to lower antenna heights, body-loss attenuation, and intermittent duty cycles. At the same time, modern narrowband technologies are substantially more spectrally efficient than the wideband systems in place when many of these rules were originally adopted.
This is not about dramatically expanding power levels. It is about bringing the rules in line with modern equipment realities and reducing unnecessary regulatory complexity for Part 90 licensees.
Before any formal action is considered, we want to hear from the industry.
Do you believe Section 90.267 should be modernized? Are there coordination or operational concerns that should be considered? We welcome constructive feedback from dealers, coordinators, manufacturers, utilities, and Industrial/Business Pool users.
The best rulemakings begin with industry conversation.
Email dave@landmobile.com