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 11-1608 September 27, 2011 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU EXTENDS DATE TO COMMENT ON DRAFT PROGRAMMATIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE ANTENNA STRUCTURE REGISTRATION PROGRAM WT Docket No. 08-61 WT Docket No. 03-187 Comment Date: November 2, 2011 On August 26, 2011, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) released a draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) of its Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) program.1 At that time, the Bureau set the comment due date for October 3, 2011. On September 26, 2011, the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) filed a request that the Bureau extend the comment period by 30 days, and indicated that such relief was appropriate “[g]iven the need for a comprehensive analysis of the ASR program, the need for a comprehensive approach to avoiding or minimizing hazards to migratory birds from the program, and corrections to the analysis conducted to date.”2 On the same date, the American Bird Conservancy, Defenders of Wildlife, and National Audubon Society (Conservation Groups) requested an extension of “at least 30 days, preferably 45 days,” primarily so that a study by Travis Longcore et al. on the effects of communications towers on migratory birds at the species level can complete peer review and be considered by the parties and the Commission.3 For the reasons provided in the DOI request, and recognizing the complexity of the subject matter and the large volume of research and analysis presented in the draft PEA, the Bureau grants an extension of 30 days, until November 2, 2011. This extension will allow all parties, including the federal agency with expertise on migratory birds, to provide comments reflecting a fully considered analysis. The extension will also enable parties including the Conservation Groups to incorporate the analysis of additional experts into their comments.4 In the event significant new information becomes available after November 2, parties may timely supplement their comments. 1 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment And Announces Public Meeting On Its Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment Of The Antenna Structure Registration Program, Public Notice, WT Docket Nos. 08-61, 03-187 (WTB Aug. 26, 2011). 2 See Electronic Letter from David Sire, Natural Resources Management Team, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, U.S. Department of the Interior, to Aaron Goldschmidt, Assistant Chief, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, WT Docket Nos. 06-61, 03-187 (Sep. 26, 2011). 3 See Letter from Greer S. Goldman, Counsel for the Conservation Groups, to Aaron Goldschmidt, Assistant Chief, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, FCC, WT Docket Nos. 06-61, 03-187 (Sep. 26, 2011). 4 See id. at 1. 2 The FCC has established a website, http://www.fcc.gov/pea, which contains information and downloadable documents relating to the PEA process, including the Draft PEA. The website also allows individuals to contact the Commission. Interested parties may file comments no later than November 2, 2011. Comments may be filed: (1) electronically, (2) in person at the public meeting, or (3) through the use of paper copies. · Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (“ECFS”): http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, through a link on the PEA website, http://www.fcc.gov/pea, or via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. · Paper Filers: 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, filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. o 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. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. o 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. o U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. Availability of Documents. Comments and ex parte submissions will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, S.W., CY-A257, Washington, D.C., 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat. Accessibility Information. To request information in accessible formats (computer diskettes, large print, audio recording, and Braille), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the FCC’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This document can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Aaron Goldschmidt at (202) 418-7146 or by e-mail: aaron.goldschmidt@fcc.gov. -FCC- For more news and information about the Federal Communications Commission please visit: www.fcc.gov