Forest industries telecommunications
Encyclopedia
Forest Industries Telecommunications (FIT) is a Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) certified frequency coordinator
and a non-profit association
. Established in 1947,
its members include those companies or individuals who employ or are eligible to use Land Mobile Radio Service
(LMRS) two-way radio
s.
They help manage radio frequency spectrum, perform engineering
services, and prepare and certify applications for submission to the FCC. In 1997, FIT was certified
to coordinate and file applications on behalf of all business and special emergency entities.
s industry to the Federal Communication Commission. The forest industry operates in remote regions where commercial wireless systems are not available; according to the FCC, this lack of coverage is one of the most commonly cited reasons for having a Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) system.
Among the forestry industries, private radio service is chiefly used by the lumber and paper industries.
In 1982, the United States Congress
amended the Communications Act of 1934
, permitting the FCC to certify private companies as frequency coordinators in order to develop and manage the Land Mobile Radio Service spectrum. FIT was among the pioneers using computer databases to manage LMRS frequencies.
Until February 1997, private land mobile radio frequencies below 512 MHz were divided among ten separate radio services: the Industrial Radio Services (Power, Petroleum, Forest Products, Film & Video Production, Relay Press, Special Industrial, Business, Manufacturers, Telephone Maintenance) and the Land Transportation Radio Services (Motor Carrier, Railroad, Taxicab, Automobile Emergency). As part of a "refarming" initiative to use these frequencies more efficiently, the FCC consolidated these services into one Industrial/Business Radio Pool.
As a former coordinator for the Forest Products pool, FIT could then coordinate frequencies throughout the Industrial/Business Radio Pool, along with the other former coordinators.
In November 2001, Nextel Communications
proposed that the FCC relocate certain users of the 800 MHz radio band to address interference problems between commercial users and public-safety radio services. Along with the National Association of Manufacturers
, MRFAC (another frequency coordinator), the American Petroleum Institute
, and others, FIT protested Nextel's proposal. FIT endorsed a "consensus plan" alternative.
In 2004, the FCC extended FIT's frequency-coordination authority to the 929–930 MHz paging frequencies and the PLMR Special Emergency frequencies below 512 MHz.
FIT was the only group to protest a proposal removing the FCC's rule against high-powered mobile repeaters in the Industrial/Business Pool frequencies below 450 MHz in 2010, citing concerns that without the rule, licensees might engage in a "power war", creating interference. The FCC understood, but did not share, FIT's concern.
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) certified frequency coordinator
Frequency coordinator
In 1982, the United States Congress provided the Federal Communications Commission the statutory authority to use frequency coordinators to assist in developing and managing the Private Land Mobile Radio spectrum...
and a non-profit association
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
. Established in 1947,
its members include those companies or individuals who employ or are eligible to use Land Mobile Radio Service
Land Mobile Radio Service
The Land Mobile Radio Service is regulated in the United States by the Federal Communication Commission in CFR 47 Part 90 for non-federal government wireless use between land-based mobile and fixed stations...
(LMRS) two-way radio
Two-way radio
A two-way radio is a radio that can both transmit and receive , unlike a broadcast receiver which only receives content. The term refers to a personal radio transceiver that allows the operator to have a two-way conversation with other similar radios operating on the same radio frequency...
s.
They help manage radio frequency spectrum, perform engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
services, and prepare and certify applications for submission to the FCC. In 1997, FIT was certified
Certification
Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of an object, person, or organization. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review, education, assessment, or audit...
to coordinate and file applications on behalf of all business and special emergency entities.
History
FIT was organized early in 1947 to represent the needs of the forest productForest product
A forest product is any material derived from a forest for commercial use, such as lumber, paper, or forage for livestock. Wood, by far the dominant commercial forest product, is used for many industrial purposes, such as the finished structural materials used for the construction of buildings, or...
s industry to the Federal Communication Commission. The forest industry operates in remote regions where commercial wireless systems are not available; according to the FCC, this lack of coverage is one of the most commonly cited reasons for having a Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) system.
Among the forestry industries, private radio service is chiefly used by the lumber and paper industries.
In 1982, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
amended the Communications Act of 1934
Communications Act of 1934
The Communications Act of 1934 is a United States federal law, enacted as Public Law Number 416, Act of June 19, 1934, ch. 652, 48 Stat. 1064, by the 73rd Congress, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, codified as Chapter 5 of Title 47 of the United States Code, et seq. The Act replaced the...
, permitting the FCC to certify private companies as frequency coordinators in order to develop and manage the Land Mobile Radio Service spectrum. FIT was among the pioneers using computer databases to manage LMRS frequencies.
Until February 1997, private land mobile radio frequencies below 512 MHz were divided among ten separate radio services: the Industrial Radio Services (Power, Petroleum, Forest Products, Film & Video Production, Relay Press, Special Industrial, Business, Manufacturers, Telephone Maintenance) and the Land Transportation Radio Services (Motor Carrier, Railroad, Taxicab, Automobile Emergency). As part of a "refarming" initiative to use these frequencies more efficiently, the FCC consolidated these services into one Industrial/Business Radio Pool.
As a former coordinator for the Forest Products pool, FIT could then coordinate frequencies throughout the Industrial/Business Radio Pool, along with the other former coordinators.
In November 2001, Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications
Nextel Communications, commonly styled NEXTEL and formerly traded on the NASDAQ as NXTL, now a part of the Sprint Nextel Corporation, was a United States telecommunications firm operating a nationwide push to talk mobile communications system. Unlike other mobile networks, the Nextel network...
proposed that the FCC relocate certain users of the 800 MHz radio band to address interference problems between commercial users and public-safety radio services. Along with the National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Manufacturers
The National Association of Manufacturers is an advocacy group headquartered in Washington, D.C. with 10 additional offices across the country...
, MRFAC (another frequency coordinator), the American Petroleum Institute
American Petroleum Institute
The American Petroleum Institute, commonly referred to as API, is the largest U.S trade association for the oil and natural gas industry...
, and others, FIT protested Nextel's proposal. FIT endorsed a "consensus plan" alternative.
In 2004, the FCC extended FIT's frequency-coordination authority to the 929–930 MHz paging frequencies and the PLMR Special Emergency frequencies below 512 MHz.
FIT was the only group to protest a proposal removing the FCC's rule against high-powered mobile repeaters in the Industrial/Business Pool frequencies below 450 MHz in 2010, citing concerns that without the rule, licensees might engage in a "power war", creating interference. The FCC understood, but did not share, FIT's concern.