MACON, MO -- For Tuesdays Facebook story of the day, you wanted to know why many emergency organizations are switching to digital narrow band frequencies.
Starting January 1, 2013, emergency agencies will have to broadcast on the digital narrow band frequency.
Each agency is issued a frequency and license by the federal communications commission. The use of the digital narrowband will allow additional channels to exist in the same spectrum.
“An analogy I heard recently on it was if you had a three lane highway that was 30 feet wide and you just narrow your lanes and have six lanes but still just as wide and with the same traffic, you have more and you can put more traffic on it,” said Macon County Sheriff Robert Dawson.
If you own an old scanner you will have to purchase a new one capable of picking up the digital channel.
Dawson said the transition to new scanners isn’t cheap, but they were fortunate to get a grant to cover most of the costs.
Many organizations have begun to transmit on the new frequency but are not required to until the January first deadline.
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