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 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DA No. 10-95 January 15, 2010 The International Bureau Issues Procedures to Provide Emergency Communications in Areas Affected by the Earthquake in Haiti The International Bureau announces procedures to help emergency communications services initiate, resume, and maintain operations in the areas affected by the earthquake in Haiti. For additional information, applicants should contact the International Bureau (IB) staff specified below. Special Temporary Authority (Satellite Earth and Space Stations): Emergency requests for special temporary authority (STA) related to the earthquake may be submitted by letter, e-mail or, if necessary, by telephone. Applicants also may file requests electronically through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) at http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/myibfs/welcome.do>. All requests should provide the technical parameters of the proposed operation and a contact point. The Bureau will handle all STA requests on an expedited basis. Consistent with Section 309(c)(2)(G) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 309(c)(2)(G), the Bureau may grant STAs for up to 30 days. To ensure that the Bureau has a complete record of the action, applicants who do not file through the IBFS should follow-up the initial request with an electronic version submitted through the IBFS as soon as possible. In this filing, operators should note in the first description field on the electronic STA form that this is an "earthquake-related STA request" and the date the initial request was granted. Ex Parte Rules. The International Bureau views presentations relating to pending earthquake related STAs as falling under the Section 1.1204(a)(3) exemption from the prohibitions in restricted proceedings. See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(a)(3).1 Accordingly, pursuant to Section 1.1204(a)(3) and 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules, earthquake related STAs will be subject to the “permit-but-disclose” procedures once a third party makes a presentation on an earthquake related STA.2 Special Temporary Authority (International 214s): Emergency requests for special temporary authority (STA) related to the earthquake may be submitted by letter, e-mail or, if necessary, telephone. 1 Section 1.1204(a)(3) provides, in pertitinent part, that the following types of presentations are exempt from the prohibitions in restricted proceedings: “The presentation directly relates to an emergency in which safety of life is endangered or substantial loss of property is threatened…” See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(a)(3). Section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules also provides, in pertinent part, that “[w]here the public interest so requires in a particular proceeding, the Commission and its staff retain the discretion to modify the applicable ex parte rules by order, letter or public notice.” 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(a)(3). 2 As explained in note 1 to Section 1.1208 of the Commission’s rules, if an application is uncontested, the party and the Commission may freely make presentations. Once additional “parties” as defined by Section 1.1202(d) are involved in the proceeding, however, then pursuant to Section 1.1208 of the Commission’s rules the proceeding is treated as restricted and ex parte presentations are prohibited. 47 C.F.R. § 1.1208. Applicants also may file requests electronically through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) at http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/myibfs/welcome.do>. The Bureau will handle all STA requests as expeditiously as possible. To ensure that the Bureau has a complete record of the action, applicants who do not file through the IBFS should follow-up the initial request with an electronic version submitted through the IBFS as soon as possible. In this filing, operators should note in the first description field on the electronic STA form that this is an "earthquake related STA request" and the date the initial request was granted. IB Contacts: Satellite Space Stations and Earth Stations: § Robert Nelson, 202-418-2341, Robert.Nelson@fcc.gov § Kathyrn Medley, 202-418-1211, Kathyrn.Medley@fcc.gov International 214s: § James Ball, 202-418-0427, James.Ball@fcc.gov § George Li, 202-418-1462, George.Li@fcc.gov -FCC-