Business band

The business band is the name used by US radio users and scanner hobbyists who listen to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensees using Industrial/Business pool frequencies. The regulations listing frequencies in this pool are contained in Subpart C of Part 90, Title 47 of the CFR.

Overview

The pool describes a series of frequencies on the VHF and UHF two-way radio bands. They are reserved for use by companies and individuals operating commercial activities; educational, philanthropic, or ecclesiastical institutions; clergy activities or hospitals, clinics, or medical associations. In the United States, use of these frequencies requires a license issued by the U.S. FCC. The exceptions to this are five specific frequencies that are also part of the Multi-Use Radio Service, which permits unlicensed operation on these frequencies, provided the output power does not exceed 2 watts. There are also other frequencies such as citizen's band and Family Radio Service that may be used without a license.

Channels are available in several frequency ranges to suit the users' requirements for propagation and protection from interference. The electromagnetic spectrum between approximately 450 and 470 MHz is used largely for UHF business communications, although this spectrum is not exclusively for business use. In some large metropolitan areas, such as New York, the UHF-T band (between 470 and 512 MHz) is also used, due to congestion on the standard VHF or UHF bands. There are also a number of specific frequencies, in both the VHF and UHF spectrum, that are for business use; some of these have color-coded names, such as Blue Dot or Red Star.

In 2004, the FCC required all CFR 47 Part 90 VHF (150–174 MHz) and UHF (421–470 MHz) PLMR (Private Land Mobile Radio) licensees operating legacy wideband (25 kHz bandwidth) voice or data/SCADA systems to migrate to narrowband (12.5 kHz bandwidth or equivalent) systems] by January 1, 2013.

History

The Private Land Mobile Radio Service (47CFR90, or Part 90 of the FCC Rules) was established in the US in 1927 to permit commercial and public safety uses of two-way radio by commercial entities and non-Federal government agencies. Similar allocations are available in other countries. The available frequencies in the US have traditionally been separated into two pools. One is for industrial and business users, including some special categories such as petroleum, manufacturing and forestry; the other is for public safety including medical, police, fire and others. The industrial and business frequencies, sometimes also known as "business band radio" and the eligibility requirements are listed in 47CFR90.35. Frequencies are licensed on a non-exclusive basis, although fixed stations and mobiles operating in a defined area are issued licenses only following frequency coordination to assure equitable sharing of bandwidth. Anyone conducting commercial business or a number of other activities is eligible for a license.

Other general-purpose two-way radio services with simplified licensing requirements have also been established over the years in the US including GMRS and citizen's band, the latter now being licensed by rule, so that users don't need individual licenses. FRS and MURS are similar pools of frequencies that do not require individual licenses in the USA. There is a similar group of low power, unlicensed two-way frequencies in other countries, such as PMR in Europe and UHF CB in Australia.

Frequency charts

Although the term "business band" refers to several discrete frequencies that are not grouped into a single band, examples of some of the frequencies are grouped by band and listed below. These charts also list other frequencies not specifically part of the "business band" but commonly used by businesses. An individual license is still required under GMRS rules. A few manufacturers added these DOT frequencies to Business radios in the 1990s to have more "channels" and aid in selling radios.

Low-band frequencies

Name	Frequency	Notes
	27.490 MHz	Low power, itinerant
	27.510 MHz	Low power
	27.555 MHz	Low power
	30.840 MHz	Low power
	33.120 MHz	Low power
	33.140 MHz	Low power
	33.400 MHz	Low power
	35.020 MHz	Low power
	35.040 MHz	Low power, itinerant
	42.980 MHz	Low power
	43.040 MHz	Low power

VHF frequencies

Name	Frequency	Notes
	151.505 MHz	Itinerant
	151.5125 MHz	Itinerant (narrow band)
Red Dot	151.625 MHz	Itinerant
	151.700 MHz	Itinerant
	151.760 MHz	Itinerant
	151.820 MHz	Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 11.25 kHz bandwidth
	151.880 MHz	Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 11.25 kHz bandwidth
	151.940 MHz	Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 11.25 kHz bandwidth
Purple Dot	151.955 MHz
	154.515 MHz
	154.540 MHz
Blue Dot	154.570 MHz	Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 20 kHz bandwidth
Green Dot	154.600 MHz	Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS); 2 watts, 20 kHz bandwidth
	158.400 MHz	Itinerant
	158.4075 MHz	Itinerant (narrow band)

UHF and GMRS frequencies

Name	Frequency	Notes
White Dot	462.575 MHz	GMRS
Black Dot	462.625 MHz	GMRS
Orange Dot	462.675 MHz	GMRS
Brown Dot	464.500 MHz	Itinerant
Yellow Dot	464.550 MHz	Itinerant
Silver Star	467.850 MHz
Gold Star	467.875 MHz
Red Star	467.900 MHz
Blue Star	467.925 MHz
(Brown dpx)	469.500 MHz	Itinerant
(Yellow dpx)	469.550 MHz	Itinerant

References

• Fawcett, Bill. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Blue Dot Radios... But Were Afraid to Ask, Spaniel Journal

External links

• FCC description of Wireless Bureau's Industrial/Business Pool
• Common Itinerant and Business Frequencies
• FCC Part 90 VHF/UHF Narrowbanding Information and Licensee Resources