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 09-901 Released: April 23, 2009 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON THE PETITION FOR RULEMAKING OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS RM-11531 Comment Date: May 26, 2009 Reply Comment Date: June 8, 2009 The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) seeks public comment on a petition that addresses various aspects of the Federal Communications Commission’s (Commission) regulation of Travelers’ Information Station (TIS) operations.1 On March 16, 2009, the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) filed a petition for rulemaking (AASHTO Petition) requesting the Commission to amend certain TIS rules.2 Specifically, AASHTO asks the Commission “to modify Section 90.242(b)(7) to clarify that Travelers’ Information Station … facilities may be used to: (1) broadcast advisories regarding missing children, known as America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response Alerts (“AMBER Alerts”); and (2) transmit information regarding the availability of 511 services.”3 The Bureau seeks comment on whether to grant AASHTO’s request to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the above-listed rule changes. Pursuant to Section 1.405, 47 C.F.R. § 1.405, interested parties may file statements in support of or in opposition to the AASHTO Petition on or before May 26, 2009. Parties interested in submitting replies to such statements must do so on or before June 8, 2009. All statements in support of or in opposition to the AASHTO Petition and replies to such statements should reference that petition and RM-11531. 1 See 47 C.F.R. § 90.242. 2 Petition for Rule Making of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (filed March 16, 2009) (AASHTO Petition). 3 Id. at 1. 2 All statements in support of or in opposition to the AASHTO Petition 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. § 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). 3 Documents submitted in RM-11531, including the AASHTO Petition, will be accessible via the Commission’s ECFS (at: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs) by listing RM-11531 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. This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.4 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing such presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments presented generally is required.5 Other requirements pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.6 For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Thomas J. Beers, Chief, Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0952. -- FCC -- 4 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200 et seq. 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 6 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).