Recently, an online seminar on narrowbanding was put on by Mark Crosby, the president and CEO of Enterprise Wireless Alliance, according to School Transportation News. The webinar, entitled "The FCC's Narrowbanding Mandate: Why, When and How," explained the consequences that the educational transportation industry faces by not upgrading outdated two-way radio technology.

The problem is that many school bus operators have licenses that allow them to communicate on a secure, private frequency. But after January 1, 2013, civilians will have access to these channels, which will render any radio operating above 12.5 kHz vulnerable to public chatter. When trying to coordinate the daily function of a large fleet of buses, this could become a real problem for dispatchers.

According to the Courier-Journal, the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), which takes care of the greater Louisville, Kentucky, metro area, recently installed two-way radios on their buses that allow dispatchers to pinpoint the real-time location of any bus, as well as link communications with the MetroSafe emergency communications system. More recently, the New York Post reported that the MTA unveiled a proposed $8.6 million initiative that will supply 2,700 Motorola two-way radios to local transit authorities.

The Mag One BPR40 portable two-way radio is just one example of a device that can assist transportation officials. The unit has features like repeater talkaround that can allow users like bus drivers to bypass the dispatcher and talk to one another if the need arises. The BPR40 is just one of many quality models that transit authorities can choose from.

For example, a rescuer might consider the Motorola XPR 6350 when facing a unique dilemma. Extreme conditions that have flammable gas and dust will not have any effect, which would be good for firefighters. The radio will function even if submerged in water, perfect for an aquatic environment like the ocean or a lake. Aid workers can even attach the unit to a K9 team, allowing missing people to use integrated features like the MOTOTRBO Location Services application to send their location to nearby rescue teams.

The list of technology that comes with the Motorola XPR 6350 are even more applicable. The IMPRES Li-ion 1500 mAh Submersible battery is waterproof and holds a charge for an impressive amount of time, which is good for cold-weather rescues that would otherwise drain battery life. The belt clip also allows for easy attachment to anything from webbing in a helicopter to a K9 dog collar.

The DTR650 is a new digital two-way radio for on-site use. It is perfect for industrial applications, as it has coverage of up to 350,000 square feet or over 30 floors of a building when using the long whip antenna. Furthermore, because it is a digital radio it features its own 11-digit identification and a variety of calling options.

Digital one-to-one calling allows users to talk privately to a specific radio. When you use this feature to call another user's radio, they will be alerted with a signal or vibration and their unit will display your information, much like caller ID on a cell phone. The DTR650 can also make digital one-to-many calls,which allow employees to take part in a public group call or a private group call. With this feature, your staff can have a quick meeting or managers can offer instructions and information.

Short message service (SMS) text messaging is available on the Motorola DTR650 and includes ten preset messages. This radio is perfect for the company that wants increased productivity, management and convenience at a competitive price.

Many churches put on spectacular musical performances every Sunday. The musicians, band or audio operators must be able to coordinate with the choir in order to begin a musical number at the appropriate time. The children and youth departments at a church could also use an efficient means of communication to provide security in day care or watch over potentially rowdy students. 

Parking can also be a concern at churches so staff may want to consider asking members to volunteer to direct traffic using two-way radios to communication with one another.

A radio such as the Motorola BPR40 could be perfect for these applications. This radio is compact and lightweight so that it can be slipped into a pocket or clipped on a belt during a service or church performance. Furthermore, its easy to use so volunteers can pick up on its capabilities quickly. The Motorola BPR40 is very affordable, perfect for a church's tight budget.

Northern Virginia schools have recently found traffic to be a growing problem with safety and security, according to Northern Virginia Daily. The Warren County School Board is working to solve parking and traffic problems at the schools. The board's first priority is an especially problematic school that is located at the end of a dead end street, making it impossible for emergency vehicles to enter during high volume periods.

"Traffic flow at this time is a safety concern. There are [more than 580] students trying to get to school at the same time with cars and buses all the time in front of the school," explained the school's principal Brenda Ring to the news outlet.

Some schools in the county have recently enlisted the help of staff and parent volunteers to direct traffic using two-way radios. This may be a helpful solution for schools facing similar problems and there are a wide array of two-way radios perfect for this application.

The department store is hoping that this new pricing structure will help to expand the size of its purchasing target market, says Forbes Magazine, because anyone that wants a good deal of department store products will shop at JCPenny's instead of hold out for sales at other stores.

This added consumer base may certainly translate into greater profit, but may also mean a greater risk of theft and security risks. Department stores and other retailers may want to consider equipping employees with two-way radios in order to manage the crowds an announcement like this can bring.

Two-way radios like those in the Motorola CP line offer superior capabilities at an affordable price. They are appropriate for retail applications and can improve security when carried by staff members on the sales floors and stock rooms.

However, traditional means of security required a staff member to sit at a desk, keeping a constant watch on monitors displaying video from security cameras. While this still may be one favorable method for some companies, others do not want to pay an employee for this task and prefer a more active form of security.

Two-way radios can provide the sense of security that your business needs without causing an employee to be constricted to a desk. If all staff members are equipped with a portable radio, they can go about their work and responsibilities while still being able to alert mangers or emergency responders in the case of a security breach. Furthermore, two-way radios can allow security guards to have a means of communication while standing guard at a location.

A radio like the Motorola CP185 may be perfect in this application and is well suited for a variety of industries from retail to manufacturing. The Spring Action Belt Clip (HLN9844) allows the radio to be comfortably attached to an employee's uniform and the digital display makes it easy to operate.

This lack of communication can potentially lead to dangerous misconceptions or shortcuts that can be harmful to the patient or even the physician or nurse. When a person's life is in your hands, there's no room for error and two-way radios can help eliminate potential tragedies.

A two-way radio like the Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR 6350 can be a great healthcare application. This digital radio integrates voice and data applications to make your operation run efficiently.

The XPR 6350 digital portable radio delivers exceptional voice quality and a long lasting battery life. Consider how two-way radios like the XPR 6350 could help your hospital and protect your patients.

The narrowbanding regulations are meant to make the available radio space more efficient for all users. Companies that do not meet the deadline may face legal action including fines and loss of licensure, explains the FCC.

You may be worried that updating your company's radio equipment will cost more than you have budgeted. However, there are a variety of two-way radios and mobile radios that are affordable and meet FCC standards. The Motorola BPR40, for instance, is lightweight and priced competitively. The Motorola CP line of portable radios, including the bestselling Motorola CP200, are also very cost effective and durable.

The Motorola CM200 is one mobile radio compatible with the CP200 that is rugged, reliable and fairly inexpensive. By implementing the CP200 and CM200 in your business, you can customize a communication system to fit all of your company's needs and FCC regulations, without breaking the bank.