PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 08-1300 June 2, 2008 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU APPROVES REGION 43 (WASHINGTON) 700 MHZ REGIONAL PLAN AMENDMENT PS Docket No. 06-229 and WT Docket No. 02-378 By this Public Notice, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) approves the amended 700 MHz regional plan submitted by the Region 43 (Washington)1 700 MHz Regional Planning Committee (RPC) for General Use2 spectrum in the 769-775/799-805 MHz band.3 Region 43’s original Plan was approved in June 2006.4 On July 31, 2007, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Second Report and Order revising the rules governing wireless licenses in the 700 MHz band.5 The Commission adopted a plan for the 700 MHz band to establish a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband communications network for the benefit of state and local public safety users. The Commission designated the lower half of the 700 MHz public safety band for broadband communications (763- 768/793-798 MHz) and consolidated existing narrowband allocations in the upper half of the public safety 700 MHz band (769-775/799-805 MHz). In revising the band plan for the public safety 700 MHz band, the Commission noted that consolidating the narrowband channels in the upper part of the band will impact approved and pending 700 MHz RPC plans. Accordingly, the Commission required RPCs with approved plans or plans on file to submit amended plans consistent with the decisions adopted in the Second Report and Order by 1 The Region 43 (Washington) 700 MHz regional planning area encompasses the entire state of Washington, consisting of 39 counties, and shares its northernmost border with Canada at the Counties of Whatcom, Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille. In addition, there are 39 federally recognized Tribes in Washington State. 2 The General Use spectrum is administered by RPCs and licensed for public safety services on a site-by-site basis in accordance with the relevant Commission-approved regional plan and frequency coordination. 3 See Letter from Jon Wiswell, Region 43 700 MHz Regional Planning Committee, to Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, WT Docket No. 02-378, PS Docket No. 06-229 (filed Jan. 30, 2008) (Plan Amendment). 4 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Approves Region 43 (Washington) 700 MHz Regional Plan, WT Docket No. 02-378, Public Notice, 21 FCC Rcd 6926 (2006). 5 Implementing a Nationwide, Broadband, Interoperable Public Safety Network in the 700 MHz Band; Development of Operational, Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal, State and Local Public Safety Communications Requirements Through the Year 2010, PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket No. 96-86, Second Report and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 15289 (2007) (Second Report and Order). 2 November 23, 2007.6 On November 9, 2007, the Bureau extended the deadline for RPCs to submit amended plans, consistent with the decisions adopted in the Second Report and Order, to January 31, 2008, and provided additional guidance for the development of plan amendments.7 On January 30, 2008, Region 43 RPC filed an amendment to: § Change frequencies for individual channels.8 § Remove references, throughout the Plan, to the former wideband spectrum segment. § Change tables and charts to reflect the new channel frequencies.9 § Update the email list from the Region 43 listserver.10 The Region 43 RPC coordinated the Plan Amendment and obtained letters of concurrence from the two regions adjacent to Region 43: Region 12 (Idaho) and Region 35 (Oregon).11 On March 11, 2008, the Bureau solicited public comment on the Region 43 Plan Amendment.12 We received no comments. We have reviewed the Region 43 Plan Amendment, and conclude, based on the information before us, that it complies with FCC rules and policies. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Section 1.102(b) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.102(b), the Region 43 (Washington) 700 MHz Public Safety Plan Amendment is APPROVED. 6 As of the adoption date of the Second Report and Order, the following regional plans had been approved: Region 5 (Southern California), Region 19 (New England), Region 24 (Missouri), Region 22 (Minnesota), Region 12 (Idaho), Region 39 (Tennessee), Region 43 (Washington), Region 41 (Utah), Region 3 (Arizona), and Region 40 (Northern Texas). The following regional plans were pending as of the adoption date of the Second Report and Order: Region 1 (Alabama), Region 27 (Nevada), Region 45 (Wisconsin), Region 7 (Colorado), Region 9 (Florida), Region 16 (Kansas), and Region 20 (Northern Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia). 7 See Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces an Extension of the Deadline for 700 MHz Regional Planning Committees to Amend 700 MHz Narrowband Plans from November 23, 2007 to January 31, 2008, PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket No. 96-86, Public Notice, 22 FCC Rcd 19461 (PSHSB 2007). 8 See Plan Amendment Appendix F – FCC Channel Plan for Public Safety 700 MHz Band. 9 See Plan Amendment Appendix G – Channel Block Assignments by County. 10 See Plan Amendment Appendix E – Region 43 Listserver Subscribers and Outreach Tracking Forms. 11 See Plan Amendment Appendix H – Consent Letters from Region 12 (Idaho) and Region 35 (Oregon); see also 47 C.F.R. § 90.527(a)(5) (requiring a regional planning committee to provide an explanation of how its plan has been coordinated with adjacent regions). 12 See Comments Invited on Region 43 (Washington) 700 MHz Plan Amendment, PS Docket No. 06-229; WT Docket No. 02-378, Public Notice, 23 FCC Rcd 3966 (PSHSB 2008). Comments were due April 1, 2008, and reply comments were due April 11, 2008. 3 This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.191 and 0.392 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.191, 0.392. Action by the Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. - FCC -