I have a Ericsson GE model number 344a4210p2 in the shop. The customer is asking if this radio will need to be pulled from service due to the upcoming narrowband regulations. I have exhausted all my resources. Does anyone know the answer to this. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
The switch to narrow band will only apply to radios manufactured/sold, it in no way will have any effect on the legality of current radios. It will take several years before the new models are even that prevalent since commercial radios seem to last a very long time. 
Once that happens, people will start to switch to be able to communicate with the new radios/frequencies.
Just to add here-
The new regulation is being implemented by license. So you could look up that company’s FCC license (search for them in the FCC’s database) and see when it expires and has to be renewed. The license should dictate the bandwidth/deviation assigned to them- this and only this dictates if they are allowed to use wideband radios. If their license is narrowband, and they are operating a wideband radio (regardless of when or where they bought it), they are in violation of their FCC license.
Starting Jan 1 2011, FCC will only allow license applications. modifications and renewals for narrowband systems. In addition, no wideband-capable radios may be imported or sold after this date.
Starting Jan 1 2013, all systems must implement narrowband transmission. In short, by Jan 1 2013 ALL your radios MUST be operating in 12.5KHz mode, regardless of where or when you bought them or what your license says.
What may be helpful to know is that all equipment certified after Feb 14 1997 must be CAPABLE of narrowband transmission. To find this out, find the unit’s FCC ID, and go to the FCC ID Lookup Page. If there is a grant after Feb 14 1997, it’s compatible with 12.5KHz spacing. You can also go to the grant (hit the check mark) and look at the emission designation- if the first few characters are something like 11k0 (11 KHz bandwidth) or 12K5 (12.5KHz bandwidth spacing) on a line that lists the frequency you use, then you’re good to go.
Note that even if your radios are capable of 12.5KHz spacing, they must be programmed to use it…
As an example I provide The Midland GXT1000’s approval, FCC ID MMAGXT950. Note the emission designator- 11K0F3E. 11K0=11KHz channel, F3E means single channel FM audio.
Links you may find helpful:
FCC Powerpoint (saved as PDF) on the narrowband switchover
IMSA/FCC brochure on the narrowband switchover, contains much info.
Hope that helps!
Narrow banding does apply to you. You will need to have your radio license updated for narrow band compliance. You will also need all of your radios to be narrow band compliant in order to program them to meet your license. Anyone who owns a wide band license will automatically expire as of January 1, 2013. You can update your license now to be narrow and wide band. If you are a governmental entity there is no cost, if not it is $50.00 per call sign to add the narrow band designator so that you don’t lose your current frequency and have to start from scratch to obtain a new one.
I am also looking for information on that model number, I will post the answer shortly.
Thanks,
Derinna
I found out that this is a Monogram, was actually made by Maxon. Unfortunately, this radio is not narrow band compliant.
DERINNA123 is correct about the radio not being narrowband compliant, however no licenses are going to expire on 1-1-2013. They will be terminated for no response. You ask what the difference is? When a license expires you have a 90 day window to file a petition of reconsideration. Under normal circumstances the FCC will renew your license for the standard renewal fee. If your license is terminated for non compliance you have to submit a new packet that then must go through coordination and most likely will result in getting a new frequency. The modification fee is $60.00 per license, Government agencies are exempt from FCC fees. Renewal fees are $260.00
The application fee is $260.00 to the FCC and $285.00-$450.00 to the frequency coordinator.