*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 42453* PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET, N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20554 News media information 202/ 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202/ 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Released: September 22, 2004 OFFICE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY DECLARES WAVEBOUNCE REQUEST FOR A WAIVER OF PART 15 TO BE A "PERMIT- BUT- DISCLOSE" PROCEEDING FOR EX PARTE PURPOSES ET Docket No. 04- 374 DA 04- 3039 Comments Due: October 22, 2004 Reply Comments Due: November 8, 2004 On July 6, 2004, Wavebounce filed a request for a waiver of Part 15 of the Commission’s rules to permit the higher power operation of ultra- wideband (“ UWB”) non- contact horn antenna ground penetrating radars (“ GPRs”). Such GPRs are pulled behind vehicles and are used to test broad or lengthy surfaces such as highways, railroad beds and runways to detect flaws in those structures. Wavebounce states that a waiver of the regulations is necessary to permit its GPRs, which are situated at least 12 inches above the test surface, to be pulled at highway speeds. Wavebounce believes that these GPRs must operate above 960 MHz at the levels specified in Section 15.209 of the Commission’s rules to be viable. Wavebounce agrees to limit production and sale within the U. S. of such GPRs to no greater than 25 units per year. It also agrees that the GPRs should be registered with the Commission, pursuant to Section 15.525, and that the GPRs should not be operated within 500 meters of a major airport without advance coordination. The FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) is reviewing the waiver request. OET has concluded that in order to develop a complete record on the complex issues presented by this request, this proceeding will be treated, for ex parte purposes, as a "permit- but- disclose" proceeding, in accordance with Section 1.1200( a) of the Commission's rules, and is subject to the requirements under Section 1.1206( b) of the rules. Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on or before October 22, 2004, and reply comments on or before November 8, 2004. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents 1 2 in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ e- file/ ecfs. html. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U. S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket [ET Docket No. 04- 374] . Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form