Travis AFB Sustainability Study Report Final Background Report | Page 126
difficult to correct, efforts of proactive community outreach and
coordination with manufacturers has helped to resolve complaints.
Land mobile radios can interfere with Part 15 devices
ISSUE
MINOR‐3
Frequencies used by Travis AFB operations may interfere
with Part 15 devices in the local communities, such as
garage door openers.
A new land mobile radio system at Travis AFB was launched in 2013, which
operates on the 380‐399.9 MHz frequency. The installation was able to
replace components in these openers to operate at a different frequency.
There have been instances of the radio interfering with garage door openers
in the housing area on‐base, which operate at a 390 MHz frequency. There
have been no reports of garage door interference outside of the Base, so at
this time there is no compatibility issue. If future development moves closer
to the Base, it could be impacted, and Part 15 devices may experience
problems.
Compatibility Assessment
Radio frequency (RF) is a valuable resource requiring its use to be regulated
by the government; however, not all equipment that uses RF energy is
required to have a license. Part 15 is the portion of the FCC rules that
regulates unlicensed RF devices, referred to as “Part 15 devices”. Because
of their limited, ultra‐low power outputs, they are conditionally permitted to
operate in almost all RF bands, including those heavily utilized by the DOD.
This issue is managed adequately and does not require any strategies to
address.
Part 15 devices include common commercial items such as baby monitors,
cordless telephones, laptop computers, wireless computer mice, remote
keys, wireless headsets, garage door openers, low‐powered walkie‐talkies,
and wireless modems. Part 15 devices use the same RF resources as the
licensed users of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the DOD, fire
stations, hospitals, and police forces. As such, civilian use of Part 15 devices
can interfere with military equipment and military equipment can interfere
with Part 15 devices owned by private individuals.
Finding