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 10-458 Released: March 17, 2010 COMMENT SOUGHT ON NPSTC BROADBAND TASK FORCE AND PUBLIC SAFETY SPECTRUM TRUST TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 700 MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND DEPLOYMENTS WT Docket No. 06-150; PS Docket No. 06-229 Comments Due: April 6, 2010 Reply Comments Due: April 16, 2010 On August 14, 2009, the Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) sought comment on petitions for waiver filed by a number of states and localities seeking to deploy public safety systems in the 700 MHz broadband spectrum.1 On December 15, 2009, the Public Safety Spectrum Trust (PSST) filed a written ex parte in response, including a report compiled by the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) Broadband Task Force (BBTF).2 The PSST stated that it was submitting these recommendations “to the FCC for the minimum requirements necessary to allow localities and regions to build out local systems as part of the 700 MHz nationwide, interoperable wireless broadband public safety network.”3 By this Public Notice, the Bureau seeks comment on both the recommendations of the PSST and the BBTF Report, and in particular those elements of the BBTF Report that address the technical aspects of the operation and interoperation of the regional networks the BBTF contemplates. In particular, the Bureau seeks comment from those entities that have filed waiver requests with the Commission seeking to deploy in the 700 MHz broadband spectrum.4 Should we condition any 1 Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comment on Petitions for Waiver to Deploy 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Networks, DA 09-1819 (rel. Aug. 14, 2009). 2 Letter from Harlin McEwan to Chairman Julius Genachowski, PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket No. 06-150 (Dec. 15, 2009). 3 Id. at 1. 4 To date, requests have been filed by: City of Boston (filed Dec. 11, 2008, amended May 28, 2009); the City and County of San Francisco, the City of Oakland and the City of San Jose (filed Mar. 24, 2009, amended May 27, 2009); the State of New Jersey (filed Apr. 3, 2009); New York City (filed June 8, 2009); the District of Columbia (filed June 26, 2009); the State of New York (filed June 30, 2009); Chesapeake, VA (filed July 8, 2009); the City of San Antonio on behalf of the San Antonio UASI Region(filed July, 10, 2009); the State of New Mexico (filed July 10, 2009); the State of North Dakota (filed July 27, 2009 and later withdrawn, re-filed on Aug. 18, 2009); the City of Charlotte, NC (filed Aug. 4, 2009); the Iowa Public Safety Broadband Coalition (filed Aug. 7, 2009 and withdrawn on Oct. 15, 2009); the County of Maui, the County of Hawaii, the County of Kauai, the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii (filed Aug. 19, 2009); the Iowa Statewide Interoperability Communications System Board (filed Oct. 15, 2009); Los Angeles RICS Joint Power Authority (filed Nov. 16, 2009); the City of Pembroke Pines, FL (filed Nov. 18, 2009); Adams County Communications Center, CO (filed Dec. 10, 2009); and the City of Seattle (filed Jan. 15, 2010). In addition, one commercial party, New EA d/b/a Flow Mobile, also filed a petition (filed July 7, 2009). 2 waiver disposition on adherence to the standards recommended by the BBTF and the PSST? Are these recommendations sufficient to ensure later compatibility with a nationwide interoperable broadband network for public safety? Does the BBTF Report provide adequate architectural details, specificity, consistency and precision to serve as the basis for conditions on waivers? If not, what modifications would serve this purpose? Could these recommendations provide a basis for evolution to new technological standards? Could these recommendations serve as an appropriate foundation for the work of the proposed Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC)?5 Additionally we seek comment on several specific aspects of the technical recommendations made by the BBTF and the PSST, including: · Recommendation 6.2 (Operations), and particularly those functions that the PSST suggests are “Requirements at Startup.”6 · Recommendation 6.3 (Technical), and particularly those addressed as “Minimum Applications” and “Security” features.7 This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to Sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331. Interested parties may file comments on or before April 6, 2010, and reply comments on or before April 16, 2010. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.8 Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. If multiple docket or rulemaking numbers appear in the caption of the proceeding, commenters must transmit one electronic copy of the comments to each docket or rulemaking number referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking numbers. All filings concerning this Public Notice should refer to WT Docket No. 06-150 and PS Docket No. 06-229. 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.” A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Paper 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 we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Parties are strongly encouraged to file comments electronically using the Commission’s ECFS. · Effective December 28, 2009, all hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW- A325, Washington, DC 20554. 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. PLEASE NOTE: The Commission’s former filing 5 Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan at 317 (Mar. 16, 2010), available at http://download.broadband.gov/plan/national-broadband-plan.pdf. 6 BBTF Report at 3-4; 13-14. 7 BBTF Report at 13-21. 8 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 3 location at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE is permanently closed. · Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. · U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. Parties shall also serve one copy with the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 488- 5300, or via e-mail to fcc@bcpiweb.com. Documents in WT Docket No. 06-150 and PS Docket No. 06-229 will be available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 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. 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). This matter shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.9 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the 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.10 Other requirements pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.11 For further information, contact Jeff Cohen of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0799 or jeff.cohen@fcc.gov. - FCC - 9 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200 et seq. 10 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 11 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).