90.20—Public Safety Pool.

(a) Eligibility. The following are eligible to hold authorizations in the Public Safety Pool.

(1) Any territory, possession, state, city, county, town or similar governmental entity is eligible to hold authorizations in the Public Safety Pool to operate radio stations for transmission of communications essential to official activities of the licensee, including:

(i) A district and an authority;

(ii) A governmental institution authorized by law to provide its own police protection;

(iii) Persons or entities engaged in the provision of basic or advanced life support services on an ongoing basis are eligible to hold authorization to operate stations for transmission of communications essential for the delivery or rendition of emergency medical services for the provision of basic or advanced life support. Applications submitted by persons or organizations (governmental or otherwise) other than the governmental body having jurisdiction over the state's emergency medical service plans must be accompanied by a statement prepared by the governmental body having jurisdiction over the state's emergency medical services plan indicating that the applicant is included in the state's emergency plan or otherwise supporting the application;

(iv) Governmental entities and governmental agencies for their own medical activities; and

(v) Governmental entities and governmental agencies for providing medical services communications to other eligible persons through direct participation in and direct operational control of the system, such as through central dispatch service.

(2) Persons or organizations other than governmental entities are eligible to hold authorizations in the Public Safety Pool to operate radio stations for transmission of communications, as listed below. When requesting frequencies not designated by a “PS” in the coordinator column of the frequency table in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, applications must be accompanied by a statement from the governmental entity having legal jurisdiction over the area to be served, supporting the request:

(i) Persons or organizations charged with specific fire protection activities;

(ii) Persons or organizations charged with specific forestry-conservation activities;

(iii) Persons or organizations, listed below, engaged in the delivery or rendition of medical services to the public and on a secondary basis, for transmission of messages related to the efficient administration of organizations and facilities engaged in medical services operations:

(A) Hospital establishments that offer services, facilities, and beds for use beyond 24 hours in rendering medical treatment;

(B) Institutions and organizations regularly engaged in providing medical services through clinics, public health facilities, and similar establishments;

(D) Rescue organizations for the limited purpose of participation in providing medical services;

(E) Associations comprised of two or more of the organizations eligible under paragraph (a)(2)(iii) (A), (B), (C), and (D) of this section, for the purpose of active participation in and direct operational control of the medical services communication activities of such organizations; or

(F) Physicians, schools of medicine, oral surgeons, and associations of physicians or oral surgeons;

(iv) Persons or organizations operating a rescue squad for transmission of messages pertaining to the safety of life or property and urgent messages necessary for the rendition of an efficient emergency rescue service.

(A) Each rescue squad will normally be authorized to operate one base station, and a number of mobile units (excluding hand carried mobile units) not exceeding the number of vehicles actually used in emergency rescue operations.

(B) In addition, each rescue squad will be authorized to operate a number of hand carried mobile units not exceeding two such units for each radio equipped vehicle actually used in emergency rescue operations.

(v) Persons with disabilities. The initial application from a person claiming eligibility under this paragraph shall be accompanied by a statement from a physician attesting to the condition of the applicant or the applicant's child (or ward in case of guardianship).

(A) Any person having a hearing deficiency such that average hearing threshold levels are 90 dB above ANSI (American National Standards Institute) 1969 or ISO (International Standards Organization) 1964 levels and such other persons who submit medical certification of similar hearing deficiency.

(B) Any person having visual acuity corrected to no better than 20/200 in the better eye or having a field of vision of less than 20 degrees.

(D) Any person actively awaiting an organ transplant.

(E) Parents or guardians of persons under 18 years eligible under paragraphs (a)(2)(v)(A), (a)(2)(v)(B), (a)(2)(v)(C) of this section, or institutions devoted to the care or training of those persons.

(vi) A veterinarian, veterinary clinic, or a school of veterinary medicine for the transmission of messages pertaining to the care and treatment of animals. Each licensee may be authorized to operate one base station and two mobile units. Additional base stations or mobile units will be authorized only on a showing of need.

(vii) Organizations established for disaster relief purposes having an emergency radio communications plan for the transmission of communications relating to the safety of life or property, the establishment and maintenance of temporary relief facilities, and the alleviation of the emergency situation during periods of actual or impending emergency, or disaster, and until substantially normal conditions are restored. In addition, the stations may be used for training exercises, incidental to the emergency communications plan, and for operational communications of the disaster relief organization or its chapter affiliates. The initial application from a disaster relief organization shall be accompanied by a copy of the charter or other authority under which the organization was established and a copy of its communications plan. The plan shall fully describe the operation of the radio facilities and describe the method of integration into other communications facilities which normally would be available to assist in the alleviation of the emergency condition.

(viii) Persons or organizations operating school buses on a regular basis over regular routes for the transmission of messages pertaining to either the efficient operation of the school bus service or the safety or general welfare of the students they are engaged in transporting. Each school bus operator may be authorized to operate one base station and a number of mobile units not in excess of the total of the number of buses and maintenance vehicles regularly engaged in the school bus operation. Additional base stations or mobile units will be authorized only in exceptional circumstances when the applicant can show a specific need.

(ix) Persons or organizations operating beach patrols having responsibility for life-saving activities for the transmission of messages required for the safety of life or property.

(x) Persons or organizations maintaining establishment in isolated areas where public communications facilities are not available and where the use of radio is the only feasible means of establishing communication with a center of population, or other point from which emergency assistance might be obtained if needed, for the transmission of messages only during an actual or impending emergency endangering life, health or property for the transmission of essential communications arising from the emergency. The transmission of routine or non-emergency communications is strictly prohibited.

(A) Special eligibility showing. The initial application requesting a station authorization for an establishment in an isolated area shall be accompanied by a statement describing the status of public communication facilities in the area of the applicant's establishment; the results of any attempts the applicant may have made to obtain public communication service, and; in the event radio communications service is to be furnished under paragraph (a)(2)(x)(C)(2) of this section, a copy of the agreement involved must be submitted.

(B) Class and number of stations available. Persons or organizations in this category may be authorized to operate not more than one fixed station at any isolated establishment and not more than one fixed station in a center of population.

(C) Communication service rendered and received. (1) The licensee of a station at any establishment in an isolated area shall make the communication facilities of such station available at no charge to any person desiring the transmission of any communication permitted by paragraph (a) of this section.

(2) For the purpose of providing the communications link desired the licensee of a station at an establishment in an isolated area either may be the licensee of a similar station at another location or may obtain communication service under a mutual agreement from the licensee of any station in the Public Safety Pool or any other station which is authorized to communicate with the fixed station.

(xi) A communications common carrier operating communications circuits that normally carry essential communication of such a nature that their disruption would endanger life or public property is eligible to hold authorizations for standby radio facilities for the transmission of messages only during periods when the normal circuits are inoperative due to circumstances beyond the control of the user. During such periods the radio facilities may be used to transmit any communication which would be carried by the regular circuit. Initial applications for authorization to operate a standby radio facility must include a statement describing radio communication facilities desired, the proposed method of operation, a description of the messages normally being carried, and an explanation of how their disruption will endanger life or public property.

(xii) Communications common carriers for radio facilities to be used in effecting expeditious repairs to interruption of public communications facilities where such interruptions have resulted in disabling intercity circuits or service to a multiplicity of subscribers in a general area. Stations authorized under this section may be used only when no other means of communication is readily available, for the transmission of messages relating to the safety of life and property and messages which are necessary for the efficient restoration of the public communication facilities which have been disrupted.

(xiii) Persons or entities engaged in the provision of basic or advanced life support services on an ongoing basis are eligible to hold authorization to operate stations for transmission of communications essential for the delivery or rendition of emergency medical services for the provision of basic or advanced life support. Applications submitted by persons or organizations (governmental or otherwise) other than the governmental body having jurisdiction over the state's emergency medical service plans must be accompanied by a statement prepared by the governmental body having jurisdiction over the state's emergency medical services plan indicating that the applicant is included in the state's emergency plan or otherwise supporting the application.

(b) International police radio-communication. Police licensees which are located in close proximity to the borders of the United States may be authorized to communicate internationally. Request for such authority shall be written and signed and submitted in duplicate. The request shall include information as to the station with which communication will be conducted, and the frequency, power, emission, etc., that will be used. If authorized, such international communication must be conducted in accordance with Article 5 of the Inter-American Radio Agreement, Washington, DC, 1949, which reads as follows:

Article 5. Police radio stations. When the American countries authorize their police radio stations to exchange emergency information by radio with similar stations of another country, the following rules shall be applied.

(a) Only police radio stations located close to the boundaries of contiguous countries shall be allowed to exchange this information.

(b) In general, only important police messages shall be handled, such as those which would lose their value, because of slowness and time limitations if sent on other communication systems.

(c) Frequencies used for radiotelephone communications with mobile police units shall not be used for radiotelegraph communications.

(d) Radiotelephone communications shall be conducted only on frequencies assigned for radiotelephony.

(e) Radiotelegraph communications shall be conducted on the following frequencies: 2804 kHz calling, 2808 kHz working, 2812 kHz working, 5195 kHz day calling, 5185 kHz day working, 5140 kHz day working.

(f) The characteristics of police radio stations authorized to exchange information shall be notified to the International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland.

(g) The abbreviations contained in Appendix 9 of the Atlantic City Radio Regulations shall be used to the greatest possible extent. Service indications are as follows: “P”, priority, for messages that are to be sent immediately, regardless of the number of other messages on file. If no service indication is given, the messages are to be transmitted in the order of receipt.

(h) The message shall contain the preamble, address, text and signature, as follows:

Preamble. The preamble of the message shall consist of the following: The serial number preceded by the letters “NR”, service indications, as appropriate; the group count according to standard cable count system; the letters “CK”, followed by numerals indicating the number of words contained in the text of the message: Office and country of origin (not abbreviations): Day, month, and hour of filing;

Address. The address must be as complete as possible and shall include the name of the addressee with any supplementary particulars necessary for immediate delivery of the message;

Text. The text may be either in plain language or code;

Signature. The signature shall include the name and title of the person originating the message.

(c) Public Safety frequencies. (1) The following table indicates frequencies available for assignment to Public Safety stations, together with the class of station(s) to which they are normally assigned, the specific assignment limitations which are explained in paragraph (d) of this section, and the certified frequency coordinator for each frequency:

(2) (i) The letter symbol(s) listed in the Coordinator column of the frequency table in paragraph (c)(3) of this section specifies the frequency coordinator(s) for each frequency as follows:

PF—Fire Coordinator

PH—Highway Maintenance Coordinator

PM—Emergency Medical Coordinator

PO—Forestry-Conservation Coordinator

PP—Police Coordinator

PS—Special Emergency Coordinator

PX—Any Public Safety Coordinator, except the Special Emergency Coordinator

(ii) Frequencies without any coordinator specified may be coordinated by any coordinator certified in the Public Safety Pool.

(3) Frequencies.

Public Safety Pool Frequency Table

Tips

Frequency or band	Class of station(s)	Limitations	Coordinator
Kilohertz
530 to 1700	Base (T.I.S.)	1	PX
1610	Base (T.I.S.)	1	PX
1722	......do	2, 3	PP
1730	......do	2, 3	PP
2212	......do	4	PO
2226	......do	4	PO
2236	......do	4	PO
2244	......do	4	PO
2366	......do	2, 4	PP
2382	......do	2	PP
2390	......do	2, 4	PP
2406	......do	2	PP
2430	......do	2	PP
2442	......do	2	PP
2450	......do	2	PP
2458	......do	2	PP
2482	......do	2	PP
2490	......do	2, 3	PP
2726	......do	5	PX, PS
3201	......do		PS
2000 to 3000	Fixed	75	PS
2000 to 10,000	Fixed, base, or mobile	6, 89	PX.
Megahertz
30.86	Base or mobile	7	PO
30.90	......do	7	PO
30.94	......do	7	PO
30.98	......do	7	PO
31.02	......do	7	PO
31.06	......do	7, 8, 9	PO
31.10	......do	7, 8, 9	PO
31.14	......do	7, 8, 9	PO
31.18	......do	8, 9	PO
31.22	......do	8, 9	PO
31.26	......do	8, 9	PO
31.30	......do	8, 9	PO
31.34	......do	8, 9	PO
31.38	......do	8, 9	PO
31.42	......do	8, 9	PO
31.46	......do	8, 9	PO
31.50	......do	8, 9	PO
31.54	......do	8, 9	PO
31.58	......do	8, 9	PO
31.62	......do	8, 9	PO
31.66	......do	8, 9	PO
31.70	......do	8, 9	PO
31.74	......do	8, 9	PO
31.78	......do	8, 9	PO
31.82	......do	8, 9	PO
31.86	......do	8, 9	PO
31.90	......do	8, 9	PO
31.94	......do	8, 9	PO
31.98	......do	8, 9	PO
33.02	......do	10	PH, PS
33.04	......do		PS
33.06	......do	10	PH, PS
33.08	......do		PS
33.10	......do	10	PH, PS
33.42	Mobile or fixed	11	PF
33.44	Base or mobile		PF
33.46	Mobile		PF
33.48	Base or mobile		PF
33.50	Mobile		PF
33.52	Base or mobile		PF
33.54	Mobile		PF
33.56	Base or mobile		PF
33.58	Mobile		PF
33.60	Base or mobile		PF
33.62	Mobile		PF
33.64	Base or mobile		PF
33.66	Mobile		PF
33.68	Base or mobile		PF
33.70	......do		PF
33.72	......do		PF
33.74	......do		PF
33.76	......do		PF
33.78	......do		PF
33.80	......do		PF
33.82	......do		PF
33.84	......do		PF
33.86	......do		PF
33.88	......do		PF
33.90	......do		PF
33.92	......do		PF
33.94	......do		PF
33.96	......do		PF
33.98	......do		PF
35.02	Mobile	12, 78	PS
35.64	Base	13	PS
35.68	......do	13	PS
37.02	Mobile		PP
37.04	Base or mobile		PP
37.06	......do		PP
37.08	......do		PP
37.10	......do		PX
37.12	......do		PP
37.14	......do		PP
37.16	......do		PP
Code of Federal Regulations 255
37.18	......do		PX
37.20	......do		PP
37.22	......do		PP
37.24	......do		PP
37.26	......do		PX
37.28	......do		PP
37.30	......do		PP
37.32	......do		PP
37.34	Mobile		PP
37.36	Base or mobile		PP
37.38	Mobile		PP
37.40	Base or mobile		PP
37.42	Mobile		PP
37.90	Base or mobile	10	PH, PS
37.92	......do		PH
37.94	......do	10	PH, PS
37.96	......do		PH
37.98	......do	10	PH, PS
39.02	......do		PP
39.04	......do		PP
39.06	......do	14	PX
39.08	......do		PP
39.10	......do		PX
39.12	......do		PP
39.14	......do		PP
39.16	......do		PP
39.18	......do		PX
39.20	......do		PP
39.22	......do		PP
39.24	......do		PP
39.26	Mobile		PP
39.28	Base or mobile		PP
39.30	Mobile		PP
39.32	Base or mobile		PP
39.34	Mobile		PP
39.36	Base or mobile		PP
39.38	Mobile		PP
39.40	Base or mobile		PP
39.42	......do		PP
39.44	......do		PP
39.46	......do	15	PP
39.48	......do		PP
39.50	......do		PX
39.52	......do		PP
39.54	......do		PP
39.56	......do		PP
39.58	......do		PX
39.60	......do		PP
39.62	......do		PP
39.64	......do		PP
39.66	Mobile		PP
39.68	Base or mobile		PP
39.70	Mobile		PP
39.72	Base or mobile		PP
39.74	Mobile		PP
39.76	Base or mobile		PP
39.78	Mobile		PP
39.80	Base or mobile		PP
39.82	......do		PX
39.84	......do		PP
39.86	......do		PP
39.88	......do		PP
39.90	......do		PX
39.92	......do		PP
39.94	......do		PP
39.96	......do		PP
39.98	......do		PX
42.02	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.04	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.06	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.08	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.10	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.12	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.14	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.16	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.18	Mobile	2, 16	PP
42.20	......do	2, 16	PP
42.22	......do	2, 16	PP
42.24	......do	2, 16	PP
42.26	......do	2, 16	PP
42.28	......do	2, 16	PP
42.30	......do	2, 16	PP
42.32	Base or mobile	2, 3, 16	PP
42.34	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.36	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.38	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.40	......do	2, 3, 16, 17	PP
42.42	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.44	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.46	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.48	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.50	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.52	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.54	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.56	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.58	......do	2, 3, 16	PP
42.60	......do	2, 3, 16	PP

CFR

90.20—Public Safety Pool.