*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 28561* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 03- 1979 June 17, 2003 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ACTION REGION 20 (WASHINGTON, MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA) 821 MHz (NPSPAC) REGIONAL PLANNING COMMITTEE RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN AMENDMENT (Gen. Docket No. 90- 7) By this Public Notice, we approve the amendment to the Region 20 (Washington, D. C. Metropolitan area) 821 MHz Radio Planning Committee that proposes to revise the current channel allotments to reflect the following changes: (a) Revised Frequency Assignment Table as a result of its third window (Window 3B) application process; (b) correct an assignment error made by Region 20 between Fauquier County, Virginia and the Washington Metropolitan Airport Authority; and (c) to provide evidence of the required adjacent regional concurrence of four channels to Charles County, Maryland. 1 In addition, Region 20 requested that its Inter-Regional Coordination Procedures Agreement, dated July 21, 1998, between Region 20 and Region 28 be formally included as part of the Region 20 Plan. The amendment included concurrences from the surrounding Regions 28, 36, 42 and 44. 2 In accordance with the National Public Safety Plan, each region is responsible for planning its use of public safety radio frequency spectrum in the 821- 824/ 866- 869 MHz bands. 3 The Region 20 Plan was adopted by the Commission on March 26, 1990, and was subsequently amended in 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2001. 4 1 See Letter to Secretary, FCC, from Alan T. Kealey, Chairman, Region 20 – 821 MHz Regional Planning Committee, Revised Frequency Assignment Table (Window 3B) and Plan Amendment, GN Docket No. 90- 7 (filed Jan. 30, 2003). 2 Region 28 includes eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and the state of Delaware; Region 36 includes western Pennsylvania; Region 42 includes the Commonwealth of Virginia, except Northern Virginia; and Region 44 is comprised of the state of West Virginia. 3 See Development and Implementation of a Public Safety National Plan and Amendment to Part 90 to Establish Service Rules and Technical Standards for Use of the 821- 824/ 866- 869 MHz Bands by the Public Safety Services, Report and Order, GN Docket No. 87- 112, 3 FCC Rcd 905 (1987). 4 Washington , D. C. Metropolitan Area Public Safety Plan, Order, GN Docket 90- 7, 5 FCC Rcd 1984 (1990); Washington, D. C. Metropolitan Area Public Safety Plan, Order, GN Docket 90- 7, 9 FCC Rcd 703 (1994); Washington, D. C. Metropolitan Area Public Safety Plan, Order, GN Docket 90- 7, 11 FCC Rcd 21520 (1996); Washington, D. C. Metropolitan Area Public Safety Plan, Order, GN Docket 90- 7, 14 FCC Rcd 17712 (1999); Washington, D. C. Metropolitan Area Public Safety Plan, Public Notice, GN Docket 90- 7, 16 FCC Rcd 21763 (2001). 1 On March 14, 2003, we issued a Public Notice (DA 03- 753) inviting interested parties to file comments regarding a proposed amendment to the Region 20 Plan. 5 We received no comments on the proposed amendment. We have reviewed the Region 20 request and we find that the amendment furthers the Region’s spectrum planning and management capability. The amendment is, therefore, accepted and approved as submitted. The Secretary’s office will place the amended Region 20 Plan in the official docket file where it will remain available to the public. We wish to provide additional flexibility concerning frequency coordination. We note that the Region 20 plan amendment contains a license limitation that states that Harford County, Maryland is to include a copy of its July 11, 2000, letter to Region 28, which contains provisions relating to criteria to be used in resolution of possible harmful interference to the State of Delaware, with its “APCO/ FCC submittal.” 6 In 2001, we determined that it was in the public interest to expand competition among frequency coordinators in the 800 MHz public safety frequencies. 7 Thus, now frequency coordination for the NPSAC channels is available through any of four Commission certified coordinators. 8 Action by the Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC - 5 See Comments Invited on Region 20 (Washington, Maryland and Northern Virginia) 821 MHz (NPSPAC) Regional Planning Committee Proposed Public Safety Plan Amendment, Public Notice, GN Docket 90- 7, 18 FCC Rcd 4496 (WTB PSPWD 2003). Comments were due April 14, 2003 and reply comment were due on April 29, 2003. 6 See Plan Amendment at footnote 3. 7 See International Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc., and International Municipal Signal Association, Informal Request for Certification for PLMR 800 MHz and 900 MHz Public Safety Frequencies and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Informal Request for Certification as a Frequency Coordinator for PLMR 800 MHz Public Safety Frequencies, Order, 16 FCC Rcd 14530, 14533- 34, ¶¶ 5- 6 (WTB PSPWD 2001); Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces that Forestry Conservation Communications Association, Inc., is Certified as a Frequency Coordinator for 800 MHz Public Safety Frequencies, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 16401 (WTB PSPWD 2001). 8 The International Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc., the International Municipal Signal Association (IAFC/ IMSA), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); the Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA), and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International, Inc. (APCO) are certified to coordinate frequencies in the 800 MHz public safety band. 2