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 Federal  Communications  Commission  DA  01-  2314 
 Before  the 
 Federal  Communications  Commission 
 Washington,  D.  C.  20554 


 In  the  Matter  of 
 Flexibility  for  Delivery 
 of  Communications  by 
 Mobile  Satellite  Service  Providers 
 in  the  2  GHz  Band,  the  L-  Band,  and  the 
 1.6/  2.4  GHz  Band 


 Amendment  of  Section  2.106  of  the 
 Commission’s  Rules  to  Allocate  Spectrum  at  2 
 GHz  for  Use  by  the  Mobile  Satellite  Service 


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 IB  Docket  No.  01-  185 
 ET  Docket  No.  95-  18 
 ORDER  EXTENDING  COMMENT  PERIOD 
 Adopted:  October  4,  2001  Released:  October  4,  2001 
 Comment  Date:  October  19,  2001  Reply  Comment  Date:  November  5,  2001 


 By  the  Chief,  Planning  &  Negotiations  Division,  International  Bureau: 
 1.  On  September  25,  2001,  Cellular  Telephone  &  Internet  Association  (CTIA)  filed  a 
 motion,  pursuant  to  Section  1.  46  of  the  Commission's  rules,  to  extend  the  period  for  filing 
 comments  and  reply  comments  to  the  Notice  of  Proposed  Rule  Making  in  the  above-  captioned 
 proceeding.  1  The  motion  requests  a  two-  week  extension  of  time  –  from  October  11,  2001,  to 
 October  25,  2001  –  in  which  to  submit  comments  in  the  above-  captioned  proceeding.  2  For  the 
 reasons  discussed  below,  we  grant  CTIA’s  request  and  extend  the  comment  period  to  October  19, 
 2001.  In  addition,  we  extend  the  reply  comment  period  from  October  25,  2001  to  November  5, 
 2001. 


 1  Flexibility  for  Delivery  of  Communications  by  Mobile  Satellite  Service  Providers  in  the  2  GHz  band,  the  L-Band, 
 and  the  1.6/  2.4  GHz  Band,  IB  Docket  No.  01-  185,  Notice  of  Proposed  Rule  Making,  FCC  01-  225  (rel. 
 Aug.  20,  2001).  CTIA  concurrently  requested  a  ten-  day  extension  of  time  to  file  comments  in  another 
 proceeding,  the  due  date  of  which  currently  is  also  October  11,  2001.  Amendment  of  Part  2  of  the  Commission’s 
 Rules  to  Allocate  Spectrum  Below  3  GHz  for  Mobile  and  Fixed  Services  to  Support  the  Introduction  of  New 
 Advanced  Wireless  Services,  including  Third  Generation  Wireless  Systems,  ET  Docket  No.  00-  258, 
 Memorandum  Opinion  and  Order  and  Further  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking,  FCC  01-  224  (rel.  Aug.  20, 
 2001). 


 2  See  CTIA,  Request  for  Extension  of  Time,  filed  September  25,  2001. 
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 Federal  Communications  Commission  DA  01-  2314 
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 2.  CTIA  requests  an  extension  of  time  to  allow  its  member  wireless  carriers  more  time  to 
 address  the  issues  raised  in  this  docket  following  the  terrorist  attacks  of  September  11,  2001. 
 CTIA  contends  that  wireless  carriers  across  the  nation  were  forced  to  reorder  their  priorities  in 
 order  to  respond  to  the  terrorist  attacks  of  September  11.  According  to  CTIA,  these  activities 
 have  made  it  difficult  for  its  members  to  devote  the  time  and  personnel  required  to  prepare 
 comments  in  this  proceeding.  Finally,  CTIA  states  that  grant  of  its  request  would  be  in  the  public 
 interest  because  it  would  give  commenters  sufficient  time  in  which  to  address  the  important  issues 
 raised  in  the  rulemaking  proceeding  and  would  provide  the  Commission  with  a  more  complete 
 record  on  which  to  base  its  decision. 


 3.  The  Commission's  general  policy  is  that  extensions  of  time  are  not  routinely  granted. 
 Nevertheless,  we  still  consider  and,  in  certain  instances,  grant  limited  requests  for  extensions  of 
 time  when  we  find  that  the  public  interest  would  be  best  served,  particularly  when  such  an 
 extension  is  likely  to  result  in  a  more  complete  discussion  of  the  matters  pending  before  the 
 Commission. 


 4.  Given  the  extraordinary  circumstances  of  the  events  of  September  11  and  CTIA’s 
 representations  regarding  the  effects  of  these  events  on  parties  ability  to  draft  comments  and 
 develop  positions,  we  find  that  a  moderate  extension  of  time  is  appropriate.  However,  we  are  not 
 persuaded  that  the  full  extension  requested  is  necessary  to  address  CTIA’s  concerns. 
 Accordingly,  we  find  that  a  more  moderate  extension  of  time  appropriately  balances  the  interests 
 of  the  Commission  in  obtaining  adequate  comment  while  not  unnecessarily  delaying  the  resolution 
 of  the  proceeding.  Therefore,  we  will  extend  the  comment  date  from  October  11,  2001,  to 
 October  19,  2001,  and  the  reply  comment  date  from  October  25,  2001,  to  November  5,  2001. 


 5.  IT  IS  HEREBY  ORDERED  that  pursuant  to  Section  1.  46  of  the  Commission's  Rules, 
 47  C.  F.  R.  §  1.46,  the  request  of  Cellular  Telephone  &  Internet  Association  to  extend  the  deadline 
 for  filing  comments  and  reply  comments  in  this  proceeding,  filed  September  25,  2001,  is 
 GRANTED  to  the  extent  indicated. 


 6.  This  actions  is  taken  under  delegated  authority  pursuant  to  Sections  0.51  and  0.261 
 of  the  Commission's  Rules,  47  C.  F.  R  .  §§  0.51,  0.261. 


 FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION 
 Richard  B.  Engelman 
 Chief,  Planning  &  Negotiations  Division 
 International  Bureau 
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