900 MHz private radio communication system - A proposed solution for consumer communication needs

After a study of communications requirements for consumers, the General Electric Company has petitioned the FCC to establish a new personal radio service that is tailored to meet the consumer\´s desire for low cost mobile radiotelephone service. It would provide local area coverage and complements existing or planned communication services. Based on U.S. Dept. of Transportation studies of consumer driving habits, the proposed Private Radio Communication System (PRCS) is a 150 channel, trunked mobile radiotelephone system that will allow voice communications on an addressed basis over either direct or repeatered communication channels. Voice channel selection is transparent to the consumer as a result of the distributed control function which uses five dedicated control channels and an ALOHA access strategy to exchange command data packets during the channel selection process. Because of the distributed control function, a mobile unit and a base station can operate either as a stand-alone "system" or as part of a multi-channel repeater system. The design of the command message allows a telephone number to be included in the message so that telephone calls may be made on the public switched telephone network through the consumer\´s base station. Provisions are made for call length limitation as system loading exceeds 70%, disconnect signalling and time-out due to loss of carrier. This paper describes the basic system design objectives, system concept, and command message format.