PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, 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 08-1422 Released: June 16, 2008 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR RULEMAKING OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL CONCERNING THE 700 MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY NARROWBAND CHANNELS RM-11433 Comment Date: July 16, 2008 Reply Comment Date: July 31, 2008 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks comment on a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC),1 which requests that the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the following rule changes: · Amend Section 90.531(b)(1)(i) of the Commission’s rules2 to allow tactical voice communications on a secondary basis on the 921/1881 and 922/1882 channels currently designated for nationwide narrowband data interoperability.3 · Amend Section 90.531(b)(1)(ii)4 to redesignate the 681/1641 and 682/1642 channels, which currently are designated as Nationwide Interoperability Calling Channels, for use as “Nationwide Interoperability Travel Channels.”5 · Amend Section 90.531(b)(2)6 to designate twenty-four of the 700 MHz narrowband reserve channels as Interoperability Channels for use in deployable infrastructure.7 1 Petition for Rulemaking of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (filed Feb. 8, 2008) (Petition). 2 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(b)(1)(i). 3 See Petition at 7. 4 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(b)(1)(ii). 5 See Petition at 6-7. 6 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(b)(2). 7 See Petition at 7-10. 2 · Amend Sections 90.531(b)(3) and 90.531(b)(4)8 to permit analog (11K3F3E) operations at power levels of 20 watts ERP on channels 1–8/961–968 (narrowband low power channels subject to regional planning), and 9–12/969–972 (narrowband low power itinerant channels) for on-scene incident response purposes using mobiles and portables only (no base/fixed stations).9 We seek comment on whether to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the above-listed rule changes, as requested in the Petition for Rulemaking of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council. Pursuant to Section 1.405, 47 C.F.R. § 1.405, interested parties may file statements in support of or in opposition to the Petition’s request to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the above-listed rule changes on or before July 16, 2008. Parties interested in submitting replies to such statements must do so on or before July 31, 2008. All statements in support of or in opposition to the Petition and replies to such statements should reference the Petition and RM-11433, and may be filed using: (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). § Electronic Filers: Statements in support of or in opposition to the Petition and replies to such statements may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. § For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic statement in support of or in opposition to the Petition and/or replies thereto by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov and include the following words in the body of the message: “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to: Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties must also serve one copy with the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com. 8 47 C.F.R. §§ 90.531(b)(3) and 90.531(b)(4). 9 See Petition at 10-11. 3 § The Commission’s contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. § Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, M.D. 20743. § U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. § People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Documents submitted in RM-11433, including the Petition, will be accessible via the Commission’s ECFS (at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs) by listing RM-11433 in the “Proceeding” search field. These documents also will be available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. The documents may also be purchased from BCPI, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, e-mail fcc@bcpiweb.com. For further information regarding this proceeding, contact David Munson, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-2921. -- FCC --