*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 53238.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov DA 05- 3022 Released: November 23, 2005 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES NEW STATION CODES FOR LICENSING PRIMARY AIRPORT TERMINAL USE RADIO SYSTEMS OPERATING IN THE 450- 470 MHz BAND By this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announces new station class codes for primary Airport Terminal Use (ATU) users. The Bureau also sets forth the new licensing procedures for utilizing the new ATU station class codes. By way of background, on January 18, 2005, the Commission adopted a Report and Order (R& O) in WT Docket No. 02- 318. 1 The R& O included a modification of Section 90.35( c) of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 90.35( c), governing the operation and licensing of ATU radio systems operating in the 450- 470 MHz band. 2 The Commission, among other things, established new power limits for ATU frequency radio systems and expressed these levels in terms of effective radiated power. 3 The new rules became effective April 25, 2005. 4 In connection with these rule changes, the Commission delegated authority to the Bureau to establish new licensing station class codes for primary ATU licensees governed by this rule section, in order to distinguish between primary ATU users and secondary Industrial/ Business (I/ B) users authorized on ATU frequencies. 5 The new station class codes are achieved by adding an “A” to the end of the current station class 1 Amendment of the Commission’s Rules Concerning Airport Terminal Use Frequencies in the 450- 470 MHz Band of the Private Land Mobile Radio Services, WT Docket No. 02- 318, Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd 1966 (2005) (R& O). 2 ATU frequencies are available for assignment to entities engaged in furnishing commercial air transportation service (or entities that provide communication services to such entities) to use for ground support operations and servicing and supplying of aircraft. See 47 C. F. R. § 90.35( c)( 61)( i). 3 Stations operating on frequencies subject to 47 C. F. R. § 90. 35( c)( 69) will continue to be limited to a maximum power limit of 2 watts transmitter output power (TPO) until the lifting of the freeze on high- power land mobile radio applications in the 460- 470 MHz band. See Freeze on the Filing of High Power Applications for 12.5 kHz Offset Channels in the 450- 470 MHz Band, Public Notice, 10 FCC Rcd 9995 (WTB 1995) (indicating that maximum power limit on offset frequencies is 2 watts TPO during the freeze). The freeze has been extended to December 31, 2005. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Extends the Freeze on High Powered Use of the 460- 470 MHz Band Offset Channels Until December 31, 2005, Public Notice, 19 FCC Rcd 12414 (WTB 2004). 4 70 Fed. Reg. 15005 (2005). 5 47 C. F. R. § 90.35( c)( 61)( i) allows the authorization of ATU stations on a primary basis if they are located within 16 kilometers (10 miles) of the protected airports listed in 47 C. F. R. § 90.35( c)( 61)( iv). Secondary I/ B users are those located more than 16 km (10 miles) from the protected airports as listed in 47 C. F. R. § 90.35( c)( 61)( iv). 1 code (e. g., station class code FB becomes FBA). Under the new licensing procedures, in order for a licensee to operate as a primary ATU user, its license must specify an ATU radio class code. However, I/ B applicants who do not qualify for primary status will continue to use the existing station class codes and will remain secondary to primary ATU users. In adopting the new rules, the Commission noted that a substantial number of entities may seek modification of their authorizations to comply with the new station class codes (i. e., primary ATU users who need to modify their licenses to specify the appropriate station class codes for primary status). 6 To minimize the effect of these changes on existing licensees, the Commission stated that it would allow existing primary ATU licensees to modify their authorizations to reflect new ATU station class codes without requiring frequency coordination or payment of a fee so long as no other modifications are made to their licenses. 7 In order to qualify, such requests should be submitted in the form of a letter to the following address: FCC, Attention: ATU License Correction, 1270 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325- 7245 by January 31, 2006. Licensees may request the conversion of multiple licenses in a single request. The letter request must include the licensee’s name, contact phone number, the call sign( s) of all licenses to be converted (listed alphabetically), location( s) and frequency( ies), and the signature of the applicant as required by Section 1.917 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 1.917. We will also accept a marked- up copy of the current authorization indicating the information above along with a letter requesting the changes be made. Requests not meeting these requirements will be dismissed or granted in part as deemed appropriate. Alternatively, licensees may request to have the station class codes changed if they apply to modify their licenses in other ways. Such applications must comply with the frequency coordination requirements, be accompanied by the appropriate processing fee, and satisfy the requirements of Section 90.35( c)( 61) of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C. F. R. § 90.35( c)( 61). Requests not meeting these requirements will be dismissed or granted in part as deemed appropriate. In certain circumstances, applications with only minor problems may be returned for correction. For further information, contact Mr. Troy Sieg of the Bureau’s Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division office in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania at (717) 338- 2567, TTY (717) 338- 2683, or via e- mail to Troy. Sieg@ fcc. gov. By the Chief, Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC - 6 R& O, 20 FCC Rcd at 1979 ¶ 31. 7 Id. 2