Watch to see how Burlington Communications has improved Addison County's dispatch system!
The ban takes effect October 1, 2014 and covers all portable electronic devices, including, music players, laptop computers, and cellular telephones. Hands-free use is permitted under the law, and hands-free means without the use of either hand and outside the immediate proximity of the user’s ear, by employing an internal feature—such as Bluetooth, for example—or as long as the device is in a cradle or otherwise securely mounted in the vehicle. Note that the ban is lifted when the driver needs to communicate with law enforcement or emergency service personnel under emergency circumstances. Know the consequences. A person who violates this section commits a traffic violation and shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100.00 and not more than $200.00 for a first violation, and of not less than $250.00 and not more than $500.00 for a second or subsequent violation within any two-year period. A person convicted of violating this section while operating within a properly designated work zone in which construction, maintenance, or utility personnel are present shall have two points assessed against his or her driving record for a first conviction and five points assessed for a second or subsequent conviction. A person convicted of violating this section outside a work zone in which personnel are present shall not have points assessed against his or her driving record.
Did you know that the airwaves are a limited natural resource like the oil from dinosaur remnants? Airwaves are limited in a different way however. The airwaves are not going to dry up like oil but we are limited by how much we can use at once. For example; two television or radio stations cannot broadcast on the exact sa me frequency in the same geographic area or they will interfere with one another. Well, Two Way Radio is no exception. In an effort to allow more wireless spectrum sharing, the FCC has issued a mandate called “Narrowbanding.” Simply put, they are shrink ing up how much of the radio spectrum Two - Way Radio users can use so that they can squeeze more channels into the air. The airwaves are full of cellular, broadcast, 2 - way radio, amateur radio, satellite, wi - fi, blue tooth, and gps. New wireless products a re being developed all the time. This is why the FCC manages the use of this natural resource and assigns FCC licenses.
After January 1, 2013, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.
On January 1, 2013, all public safety and business industrial land mobile radio systems operating in the 150-512 MHz radio bands must cease operating using 25 kHz efficiency technology, and begin operating using at least 12.5 kHz efficiency technology. This deadline is the result of an FCC effort that began almost two decades ago to ensure more efficient use of the spectrum and greater spectrum access for public safety and non-public safety users. Migration to 12.5 kHz efficiency technology (once referred to as Refarming, but now referred to as Narrowbanding) will allow the creation of additional channel capacity within the same radio spectrum, and support more users.
After January 1, 2013, licensees not operating at 12.5 KHz efficiency will be in violation of the Commission's rules and could be subject to FCC enforcement action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines, or loss of license.