FCC Licensed Operation of Radiofrequency Stations

For Information or Help

Contact Person: Connie Geraghty

Tel: (510) 987-0440

Service Description

The University of California operates hundreds of radiofrequency stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). UC operates six noncommercial educational FM radio stations, one noncommercial educational television station, and one satellite delivered television station (UCTV), which is carried on numerous cable television systems and on channel 9412 of EchoStar's Direct Broadcast Satellite System (DBS), called Dish Network. UC also operates educational broadband service (EBS) stations in the 2 gigahertz microwave band. Other UC operated stations include maritime, aeronautical, experimental, and broadcast auxiliary systems. UC's land mobile stations include conventional and trunked public safety, special emergency, and business stations for police, fire, hospital, instructional, research, and administrative operations. UC also obtains licenses for fixed microwave stations, wireless microphone systems, and telemetry and paging systems, which are used for instructional, research, hospital, and administrative operations.

On behalf of the UC Regents, who are the owners of all UC radiofrequency stations, ITS coordinates station licensing, license renewal, and license modification, as well as long-term FCC initiatives such as 800 MHz rebanding and Educational Broadband Service (EBS) leases. ITS also serves as the UC liaison with the FCC in matters of compliance with commission regulations by responding to notices of apparent liability or violation and coordinating the UC response regarding FCC rules and regulations or the modification of existing rules.

How to Apply for or Modify an FCC Station License

To apply for a new FCC license to operate a radiofrequency station or to modify an existing FCC licensed station, an appropriate FCC application form (FCC Form 601 for most stations) must be completed and submitted by the campus telecommunications office to UCOP's office of Information Technology Services. Because most FCC license applications are submitted to the FCC via a frequency coordination company, a completed frequency-coordination request form must be sent to ITS with the FCC application form. The Association of Public Safety Communications Officers International, Inc. (APCO) coordinates frequencies for public safety land mobile applications. Frequency coordination for most business radio service land mobile applications is done by the Personal Communications Officials Industry Association. Departments requesting a new or modified FCC license pay the coordination fee, which varies based on the complexity of the application and the number of frequencies involved.

How to Renew a License

ITS automatically submits license renewals on-line to the commission for all campuses. Newly renewed copies of licenses are then forwarded to the campuses.

Related Information

Additional information may be obtained at the FCC, APCO, and PCIA web sites.