*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 11947.doc* News media information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 01- 2308 October 5, 2001 Alaska Power & Telephone Company, Inc., Files Request for Waiver of Sections 15.319 and 15.321 On August 16, 2001, Alaska Power & Telephone Company, Inc., (AP& T) requested a waiver of Sections 15.319 and 15.321 of the Commissions rules to allow AP& T to operate isochronous (voice) devices in the unlicensed PCS (1910- 1920 MHz) band thereby allowing it to provide fixed and mobile wireless telephone service in rural Alaska. Unlicensed PCS operation is permitted in the 1910- 1930 MHz band under Part 15 of the Commission’s regulations. Operation in the 1910- 1920 MHz band is limited to use by asynchronous devices, and operation in the 1920- 1930 MHz band is limited to isochronous devices. Asynchronous devices transmit at irregular intervals, as is typical of packet data applications, while isochronous devices typically have a fixed frame structure and transmit regular, periodic signals, such as time-division voice systems. AP& T requests a waiver of this spectrum etiquette in order to provide voice transmissions in the band reserved for high speed data transmissions. AP& T contends that a grant of the requested waiver would result in the timely provision of fixed and mobile wireless voice services and moderate- speed Internet service to unserved and underserved communities in rural Alaska. The Office of Engineering and Technology is reviewing the request to determine whether a waiver of the rules should be granted and seeks comments from interested parties concerning this matter. Interested parties may file comments or oppositions to this waiver request on or before November 5, 2001. Parties interested in submitting reply comments must do so on or before November 20, 2001. All comments should reference the subject Waiver Request by Alaska Power & Telephone Company, Inc., DA 01- 2308, and should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. A copy of each filing should be sent to Qualex International, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554. In addition, courtesy copies of each filing should be sent to Anh Wride, Policy and Rules Division, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room 7- B144, Washington, D. C. 20554. 1 2 The full text of the Waiver Request, comments and reply comments will be available for public inspection and duplication during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CY- A257, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Washington, D. C. 20554. Copies may also be obtained from Qualex International, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, (202) 863- 2893. This matter shall be treated as a “permit- but- disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200 and 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries or the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required. See 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex parte presentations in permit- but-disclose proceedings are set forth in 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b). For further information concerning this proceeding, please contact Anh Wride at (202) 418- 0577, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission. -FCC- 2