Full Service FCC Licensing for Public Safety
Before an application for a license can be coordinated, it needs to be filled out completely and accurately. The APCO Licensing Service offers full-service licensing preparation with staff experienced in:
- Application preparation and processing
- FCC Universal Licensing policies and procedures
- FCC licensing
- Knowledge of FCC Rules and Regulations
- The coordination process
AFC is now accepting 4.9 GHz applications. The FCC has lifted the 4.9 GHz licensing freeze for “certain” incumbents and APCO can now process your application at minimal cost.
Licensing Services Forms
To have the APCO Licensing Service provide any of the following services, please fill out the corresponding form. Fees for these services can be found in our Licensing Fee Schedule. If your agency requires a fee quote, please enter your information in the comments field of your correlating form.
Renewal Request Form
The Federal Communications Commission will allow a licensee to renew their license within 90 days of the expiration date. If your license has not yet expired and is within 90 days of the expiration date, you can complete the interactive form below and submit it to APCO. APCO can prepare your renewal and submit it to the FCC for you.
If your license has been expired less than 30 days, the following form can be used for the license information; however, you will also need to attach a waiver letter for the FCC. The letter for the FCC must be on agency letterhead, dated and signed. Address the letter to the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. The subject should include the licensee name, state, call sign and “Waiver Request”. The content of the letter must include a statement that your agency is requesting a waiver per FCC rule 1.949(a), the reason why the license was not renewed before the expiration date, and how the system is used and for what purpose.
Request for Buildout Notification
APCO can prepare and submit your FCC buildout/first use notification (Schedule K) without needing a ULS password for Part 90 and 101 licenses.
The Federal Communications Commission typically allows a licensee one year from the date of grant of frequencies/sites to submit a notification (Schedule K) that the frequencies/sites are fully constructed and operational. If your license shows a “Construct Deadline Date”, your agency must notify the FCC by that date.
If the buildout deadline has passed, but is within 15 days, the licensee can fill out the form below; however, your agency will need to attach a waiver letter for the FCC. The letter for the FCC must be on agency letterhead, dated and signed. Address the letter to the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. The subject should include the licensee name, state, call sign and “Waiver Request”. The content of the letter must include the following:
- A statement that your agency is requesting a waiver per FCC rule 1.946(d)
- The reason why the notification was not submitted by the Construct Deadline Date
- How the system is used and for what purpose
- The date the frequencies/sites were fully operational (The date cannot be before the “first use (grant)” date, and cannot be after the buildout deadline date.)
Termination Pending – Pleading
If your agency did not submit a buildout notification to the Federal Communications Commission by the deadline shown on the license, the FCC will eventually send your agency a notice that the license, or part of the license, has been placed in a Termination Pending status. The FCC will also generate a Public Notice showing that your license has been placed into termination pending status for failure to satisfy the buildout/construction requirement by the deadline date. You will then have 30 days from the date of that Public Notice to bring the license back to an active status by filing a petition for reconsideration (PFR).”
If a petition for reconsideration is not submitted to the FCC, the license will be terminated. To have APCO submit a petition for reconsideration to the FCC for your agency, please complete the following form, attach the letter for the FCC, and submit to APCO.
The petition for reconsideration letter for the FCC must be on agency letterhead, dated and signed. Address the letter to the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. The subject should include the licensee name, state, call sign and “Petition for Reconsideration”. The content of the letter must include the following:
- A statement that your agency is requesting a petition for reconsideration because your buildout notification was not submitted to the FCC by the deadline
- The reason why the buildout notification was not submitted before the deadline date
- How the system is used and for what purpose
- The actual date the frequencies/sites were fully operational (The date cannot be before the “first use (grant)” date or after the “buildout deadline” date shown on the license in the FCC’s ULS system.)
- Request that the Commission return the license to active status
Licensing Service Worksheet
Need to file a modification or request a new FCC license? APCO-AFC’s online licensing service worksheet makes it easy and convenient. We offer tips for each section in the form and our licensing specialist is available to walk you through the entire process. Once you submit the worksheet, we receive immediate notification and begin processing your application right away.
Prefer to fill out a PDF version? Complete and email this PDF worksheet to [email protected].
Please contact the AFC licensing department by email or at (386) 322-2500 with any questions.
Procedures for Antenna Structure Registrations (ASR)
You can file the Antenna Structure Registration on the FCC ULS system yourself or the APCO Licensing Service can prepare and submit the Antenna Structure Registration for you.
Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) is a two-step process that includes notifications.
- First, you need to go through an Environmental Notification Process, which includes posting specific tower information in your local newspaper.
- Once you have placed the notice in the newspaper, that date (Local Notice Date) must be entered FCC Form 854 before submitting to the FCC.
- After the 854 form is submitted with the Local Notification Date, the FCC will provide national notice on their web site.
- If the FCC receives no objections and determines that further environmental processing is not required, the FCC will continue to process the application.
- On the 41st day after the Local Notice Date, Part 2 needs to be completed.
- The application will be listed as “Ready for Certification” when the application can be completed, and an ASR number can be assigned.
Read AFC’s further guidelines for filing Part Two of the ASR application
To have APCO prepare and submit your Antenna Structure Registration, contact us by email or call (386) 322-2500 for more information and the fees associated with this service.
The ASR program requires owners of antenna structures to register with the FCC any antenna structure that requires notice of proposed construction to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to a physical obstruction.The following FCC documents explain the process in more depth:
Services Included with New Station Application or Modification of a License
The APCO Licensing Service includes the following with your application for a new station license or modification of a license
- Wideband Removal
Unless your agency has a current FCC approved waiver to operate on wideband emissions below 470 MHz, your license must show narrowband emission designators. If your license currently shows wideband emission designators, APCO can remove them and add the narrowband equivalent so that you are in compliance with the narrowbanding mandate. This service is included with your application if AFC prepares your FCC Form 601 for a modification. - Administrative Updates
Updates such as changes to the mailing address, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, contact information, and Control Point information are included with modifications of licenses when prepared by the APCO Licensing Service.
Email AFC or call (386) 322-2500 for more information about any AFC services.
We are devoted to providing full-service licensing, coordination and engineering services and will follow through on your requests from beginning to end, keeping you informed all along the way.
