Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band Supplemental Requests for Waiver of June 26, 2008 Rebanding Deadline ) ) ) ) ) ) ) WT Docket No. 02-55 ORDER Adopted: October 3, 2011 Released: October 3, 2011 By the Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau: I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1. On December 30, 2010, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) released an order (December 2010 Order) addressing requests for further extension of the June 26, 2008 deadline to complete 800 MHz rebanding.1 In that order, we: · Granted waivers to public safety licensees with executed Frequency Reconfiguration Agreements (FRA) with Sprint seeking extensions to complete rebanding on or before March 31, 2011. · Granted partial waivers to public safety licensees with executed FRAs seeking extensions beyond March 31, 2011, granting them extensions either to complete rebanding by that date or to submit, by that date, a detailed further request for additional time to complete rebanding. · Directed each licensee with an executed FRA that either had not submitted an extension request or had submitted a request with an extension date that had passed to submit, within 30 days of release of the December 2010 Order, documentation to the TA that it had completed reconfiguration, or to file by that date a supplemental waiver request with the Bureau requesting additional time for such completion in accordance with the Waiver Guidance Notice.2 · Held in abeyance requests from licensees that had submitted cost estimates but had not executed FRAs. We directed such licensees either to execute an FRA within 75 days of release of the December 2010 Order or submit to the TA a report regarding the status of FRA 1 See Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, WT Docket 02-55, Order, 25 FCC Rcd 17776 (PSHSB 2010) (December 2010 Order). 2 See Federal Communications Commission Provides Guidance for Submission of Requests for Waiver of June 26, 2008 Deadline for Completion of 800 MHz Rebanding, Public Notice, 23 FCC Rcd 664 (2008) (Waiver Guidance Notice). Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 2 negotiations, together with a schedule detailing when they anticipated that FRA negotiations would be complete and a brief summary of the issues in dispute. · Held in abeyance requests from licensees that had not yet submitted cost estimates. We directed such licensees either to submit a cost estimate to Sprint within 60 days of release of the December 2010 Order or to provide the Bureau with a report explaining why they could not provide a cost estimate by that date, together with a schedule detailing when they anticipated submitting a cost estimate. In this Order, we address supplemental waiver requests filed pursuant to the December 2010 Order. 2. Licensees affected by or located in the Canadian and Mexico border regions that did not receive frequency assignments from the TA prior to June 26, 2008, are not subject to the June 26, 2008 deadline and are not subject to the requirements of this Order. The Bureau has established a separate rebanding timeline for the Canadian border region3 and will establish a rebanding timeline for the Mexican border at a later date. II. DISCUSSION 3. The Commission has stated that requests for waiver to extend the June 26, 2008 rebanding deadline are “subject to a high level of scrutiny.”4 With some licensees continuing to submit requests for further extensions of time well after the deadline, even greater scrutiny is now appropriate to ensure that “the amount of additional time requested is no more than is reasonably necessary to complete the rebanding process.”5 Accordingly, as discussed in greater detail below, we grant further extensions at this time only to licensees that have executed FRAs with Sprint Nextel, and we hold in abeyance requests from licensees that do not yet have executed FRAs. A. Licensees With Executed FRAs 4. Licensees Requesting Extensions to Complete Rebanding on or Before January 17, 2012. We first address waiver requests of those non-border licensees that have executed FRAs and propose to complete their rebanding on or before January 17, 2012.6 After reviewing these requests, we find that each of these licensees has made substantial progress toward completing rebanding and has demonstrated a level of diligence and good faith sufficient to warrant the requested extension. We thus grant the waiver dates requested by these licensees. 5. Licensees Requesting Extensions or Proposing Milestone Dates to Complete Rebanding after January 17, 2012. With respect to those non-border licensees that have executed FRAs but have filed requests for extension to complete their rebanding projects after January 17, 2012, we grant partial waivers until January 17, 2012, to either complete rebanding or submit a further request for waiver seeking additional time.7 Any further request for waiver must detail the licensee’s progress to date and propose milestone dates for each major rebanding step, e.g., subscriber unit deployment, system cut-over, 3 See Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, WT Docket 02-55, Second Report and Order, 23 FCC Rcd 7605 (PSHSB 2008) (800 MHz Second Report and Order). 4 FCC Announces Supplemental Procedures and Provides Guidance for Completion of 800 MHz Rebanding, WT Docket 02-55, Public Notice, 22 FCC Rcd 17227, 17232 (2007). 5 Id. 6 We list these licensees in Appendix A-1 of this Order. 7 We list these licensees in Appendix A-2 of this Order. Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 3 and post-cutover modifications,8 that has not yet been completed. In addition, licensees with timetables that are dependent on rebanding by adjacent or overlapping systems must identify such interdependencies. 6. Licensees With FRAs That Have Not Requested Extensions or Have Requested Extension Dates That Have Passed. We next address those licensees that have not yet completed physical reconfiguration of their systems and have either not filed an extension request,9 or have filed a request in which the requested extension date has passed.10 We direct each such licensee, within 30 days of release of this Order, to provide the TA with documentation showing it has completed reconfiguration or to file a supplemental waiver request with the Bureau requesting additional time for such completion in accordance with the Waiver Guidance Notice.11 B. Licensees Without Executed FRAs 7. Licensees That Have Submitted Cost Estimates But Have Yet to Execute a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA). We hold in abeyance the extension requests received from those non- border licensees that have submitted a cost estimate but have not yet executed a FRA with Sprint.12 We direct each non-border licensee without an FRA to either execute an FRA within 75 days of release of this order or submit to the TA a report (which the TA shall summarize and provide to the Bureau) regarding the status of FRA negotiations, together with a schedule detailing when it anticipates that FRA negotiations will be complete and a brief summary of the issues in dispute. The TA will establish and submit to the Bureau a proposed schedule for completion of FRA negotiations. After executing its FRA, each licensee covered by this section must submit to the Bureau, within 30 days of the execution of the FRA, an updated request for additional time to complete rebanding. 8. Licensees That Have Yet to Submit a Cost Estimate. We also hold in abeyance the extension requests received from non-border licensees that have yet to submit a cost estimate to Sprint.13 We direct each such licensee to either submit a cost estimate to Sprint within 60 days of release of this Order or to provide the TA with a report (which the TA shall summarize and provide to the Bureau) explaining why it cannot provide a cost estimate by this date, together with a schedule detailing when it anticipates submitting a cost estimate. Each licensee must file an additional report every 30 days thereafter until it submits its cost estimate, unless the TA deems such updates to be unnecessary.14 Upon submission of the cost estimate, the TA will establish and submit to the Bureau a proposed schedule for expedited FRA negotiations between the licensee and Sprint. 9. Eligibility to Apply for Vacated Interleaved Band Channels. As we decided in the December 2010 Order, we continue to limit eligibility to apply for vacated Interleaved Band (809- 8 As defined in prior orders, subscriber unit deployment involves retuning, reflashing, and/or replacing subscriber equipment. The second milestone, system cutover, involves retuning the base stations to the licensee’s new channel assignments and beginning system operations on the new channels. Finally, post-cutover system modifications include disposing of temporary or legacy equipment and, in the proper case, removing pre-rebanding channels from subscriber units. See December 2010 Order, 25 FCC Rcd at 17778 n.8. 9 We list these licensees in Appendix A-3 of this Order. 10 We list these licensees in Appendix A-4 of this Order. 11 Licensees are directed to the TA’s website for the template form and instructions for filing the supplemental waiver requests: http://www.800ta.org/content/resources/nonborder.asp#supplementalwaiver. 12 We list these licensees in Appendix A-5 of this Order. 13 We list these licensees in Appendix A-6 of this Order. 14 Licensees who have not completed their cost estimates must submit the initial report and updated reports to the TA. The cost to the licensee of preparing and submitting these reports is presumptively not recoverable from Sprint. Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 4 815/854-860 MHz) channels15 to (1) public safety licensees that have fully executed FRAs at the time they apply for interleaved channels, and (2) public safety licensees that are either not required to reband or have completed the rebanding process.16 III. CONCLUSION AND ORDERING CLAUSE 10. We note that failure to comply with the requirements of this Order, including, but not limited to, the requirement to file timely extension requests, without good cause shown, may result in further action by the Commission, including consideration of whether the licensee’s continued rebanding costs should be deemed not recoverable from Sprint. 11. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Sections 0.191, 0.392, and 1.925 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.191, 0.392, 1.925, IT IS ORDERED that the requests for waiver of the June 26, 2008, deadline submitted by the licensees listed in Appendix A of this order are GRANTED, GRANTED IN PART, OR HELD IN ABEYANCE, to the extent discussed herein. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (Ret.) Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau 15 The 800 MHz Report and Order provided that Interleaved Band channels vacated by Sprint are to be made exclusively available for new licensing to public safety for a three-year period. 800 MHz Report and Order, 19 FCC Rcd at 15052 ¶ 152 (800 MHz Report and Order). The Bureau has previously released some of these channels and will make additional interleaved channels available in the future as rebanding in each region progresses. See, e.g., Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, Relinquishment by Sprint Nextel of Channels in the Interleaved, Expansion, and Guard Bands, WT Docket No. 02-55, Order, 25 FCC Rcd 3270 (PSHSB 2010). 16 See December 2010 Order, 25 FCC Rcd at 17778-79 ¶ 9. Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 5 Appendix A Appendix A-1 – Licensees Requesting Extensions to Complete Rebanding on or Before January 17, 2012. Relief Granted: Extension to Complete Rebanding on or Before the Date Requested (indicated in parentheses). Region 6 (Northern California) Livermore, CA (Sept. 30, 2011) Oakland, CA (Oct. 31, 2011) Richmond, CA (Dec. 31, 2011) Regents of the University of California, Davis (Sep. 30, 2011) Region 9 (Florida) Collier Co., FL (Dec. 31, 2011) Manatee Co., FL (Oct. 30, 2011) Orange Co., FL (Oct. 31, 2011) Winter Park, FL (Dec. 31, 2011) Lake Co., FL (Dec. 31, 2011) Volusia Co., FL (Oct. 1, 2011) Greater Orlando Public Safety Cooperative, FL (Oct. 31, 2011) Miramar, FL (Sep. 30, 2011) Martin Co., FL (Sep. 30, 2011) Osceola Co., FL (Sep. 30, 2011) Seminole Co., FL (Sep. 30, 2011) Tallahassee Co., FL (Sep. 30, 2011) West Palm Beach Phase II, FL (Dec. 15, 2011) Region 10 (Georgia) Athens-Clarke Co., GA (Nov. 30, 2011) Cobb Co., GA (Dec. 31, 2011) Henry Co., GA (Dec. 31, 2011) Fayette Co., GA (Sep. 30, 2011) Region 16 (Kansas) Ellis Co., KS (Oct. 31, 2011) Ellsworth Co., KS (Dec. 31, 2011) Lincoln Co., KS (Dec. 31, 2011) Overland Park, KS (Dec. 31, 2011) Region 17 (Kentucky) Paducah, KY (Oct. 31, 2011) Region 18 (Louisiana) Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, LA (Dec. 31, 2011) Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 6 Lafayette Parish Communications District, LA (Dec. 31, 2011) Lake Charles, LA (Dec. 31, 2011) State of Louisiana (Sep. 30, 2011) St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, LA (Dec. 31, 2011) Opelousas, LA (Oct. 1, 2011) West Baton Rouge Parish, LA (Dec. 31, 2011) Region 19 (New England) Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, MA (Jan. 1, 2012) Middlesex Co., MA (Sep. 30, 2011) State of Connecticut (Aug. 15, 2011) Wethersfield, CT (Oct. 31, 2011) Region 23 (Mississippi) Harrison Co., MS (Oct. 31, 2011) Rankin Co., MS (Dec. 31, 2011) Vicksburg, MS (Jan 1, 2012) Region 25 (Montana) North Kansas City, MO (Nov. 1, 2011) Gladstone, MO (Nov. 1, 2011) Region 26 (Nebraska) Omaha Public Power District, NE (Oct. 31, 2011) Douglas Co., NE (Dec. 31, 2011) Washington Co. Sheriff’s Dep’t, NE (Nov. 21, 2011) Region 31 (North Carolina) Mint Hill, NC (Sep. 30, 2011) Mooresville, NC (Sep. 30, 2011) Region 40 (Dallas/Central & Northeast Texas) Denton Co., TX (Dec. 31, 2011) Region 42 (Virginia) Suffolk, VA (Dec. 31, 2011) Region 49 (Austin/Central Texas) Williamson Co., TX (Dec. 31, 2011) Region 63 (Guam) L.P. Ganacias Enterprises/Radio Com Saipan, MP, Guam (Dec. 31, 2011) Appendix A-2 – Licensees Requesting Extension Dates Beyond January 17, 2012 Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 7 Relief Granted: Extension Until January 17, 2012, to Either Complete Rebanding or Submit a Further Request for Waiver Seeking Additional Time. Region 1 (Alabama) Hartselle, AL Huntsville, AL Jefferson County Commission, AL Mobile, AL Montgomery Co., AL State of Alabama Region 4 (Arkansas) Jacksonville, AR Region 6 (Northern California) Davis, CA Roseville, CA Sacramento Co. and City, CA San Francisco Co. and City, CA State of California (Wave 4) San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, CA Region 8 (New York) Norwalk, CT Region 9 (Florida) Lee Co., FL Fort Lauderdale, FL Plantation, FL Broward Co., FL State of Florida Boca Raton, FL Phase II Miami Shores, FL Charlotte Co., FL Region 10 (Georgia) Fulton Co., GA Augusta, GA Richmond Co., GA State of Georgia, GA Region 16 (Kansas) Haysville, KS Hutchinson-Reno County Emergency Communications, KS State of Kansas Sumner Co., KS Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 8 Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, KS Johnson Co., KS Shawnee Co., KS Russell Co., KS Lake Quivira, KS Sedgwick Co., KS Region 18 (Louisiana) Calcasieu Parish Communications District, LA St. John the Baptist Parish, LA Kenner, LA Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, LA Plaquemines Parish, LA Sulphur, LA Rapides Parish, LA Region 19 (New England) Massachusetts State Police, MA Region 20 (Maryland, District of Columbia, Northern Virginia) Arlington Co., VA State of Maryland Aviation Administration, MD Wicomico Co., MD Calvert Co., MD Anne Arundel Co., MD Howard Co., MD St. Mary’s Co., MD Baltimore Co., MD Prince William Co., VA Fauquier Co., VA Fairfax Co., VA Loudoun Co., VA Warrenton Fauquier Joint Communication Center, VA Harford Co., MD District of Columbia Manassas Co., VA Charles Co., MD Alexandria, VA Frederick Co., MD Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Montgomery Co., MD Carroll Co., MD Region 23 (Mississippi) Hinds Co., MS Mississippi Dept of Public Safety, MS Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 9 Mississippi Dept of Corrections, MS Noxubee Co., MS Region 24 (Missouri) Kansas City, MO Region 25 (Montana) Billings, MT Region 28 (New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, PA Region 29 (New Mexico) Santa Fe, NM Region 31 (North Carolina) High Point, NC Durham, NC New Hanover Co., NC Wake Co., NC Winston-Salem, NC North Carolina State Highway Patrol, NC Guilford Co./Greensboro, NC Mecklenburg Co., NC Forsyth Co, NC Region 33 (Ohio) Warren Co., OH Region 34 (Oklahoma) Edmond, OK Owasso, OK Norman, OK State of Oklahoma, OK Oklahoma City, OK Tulsa, OK Region 36 (Pennsylvania) Cumberland Co., PA Westmoreland Co., PA Region 37 (South Carolina) Beaufort Co., SC Spartanburg Co. Phase II, SC State of South Carolina/Charleston Co., SC York Co., SC Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 10 City and County of Sumter, SC Region 39 (Tennessee) Obion Co., TN Memphis Police Department, TN Region 40 (Dallas/Central & Northeast Texas) Denton, TX East Texas Medical Center, TX Grand Prairie, TX Mansfield, TX Bedford, TX Arlington, TX Fort Worth, TX Collin Co., TX Region 42 (Virginia) Newport News Information Technology, VA Chesapeake, VA Hampton, VA Norfolk, VA Portsmouth, VA York Co., VA Culpepper Co., VA Virginia Dep’t of State Police, VA Region 49 (Austin/Central Texas) Austin, TX Travis Co., TX Bryan, TX Region 51 (Houston/East Texas) Harris Co., TX Appendix A-3 – Licensees That Have Not Filed an Extension Request Further Action Required: Within 30 Days, Provide the Transition Administrator (TA) with Documentation That the Licensee Has Completed Rebanding or Submit a Supplemental Waiver Request for Additional Time. Region 1 (Alabama) Center Point Fire District, AL Madison, AL Region 6 (Northern California) Alameda Co., CA Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 11 Region 8 (Metropolitan New York) Bergen Co., NJ State of New Jersey, NJ Essex Co., NJ Region 9 (Florida) Liberty Communications, Inc. Del Ray Beach, FL Hardee Co., FL Miami Beach, FL Palm Beach Gardens, FL Pensacola, FL Hollywood, FL Coral Springs, FL Miami-Dade Co., FL Region 10 Rockdale County E911/E.O.C., GA Region 13 (Illinois) Illinois Dept of Corrections, IL Region 14 (Indiana) Hamilton Co., IN State of Indiana, IN Vanderburgh Co., IN Region 18 (Louisiana) Ascension Parish, LA Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Department, LA Terrebonne Parish, LA Orleans Parish School District, LA Port of New Orleans, LA Calcasieu Parish, LA Gould Volunteer Fire Department, LA Houma Police Department, LA St. Charles Parish, LA St. James Parish, LA Baton Rouge, LA Lafourche Parish, LA Region 19 (New England) Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Norfolk County, MA City of Boston Public Health Commission, MA Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 12 North Providence, RI Narragansett, RI Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, RI Boston, MA Boston Police Dept, MA Barnstable Co., MA Region 20 (Maryland, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia Worcester Co., MD Ocean City, MD University of Maryland, MD Somerset Co., MD Maryland Dept of Public Safety and Corrections, MD Upper Maryland Easter Shore Consortium, MD Baltimore, MD Region 27 (Nevada) State of Nevada, NV Region 28 (Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey) Lancaster Co., PA Chester Co., PA Region 30 (New York – Albany) Rennselaer Co., NY Region 31 (North Carolina) Hickory, NC Fayetteville, NC Lenoir Co., NC New Bern, NC Salisbury, NC Pineville, NC Kernersville, NC Thomasville, NC Region 33 (Ohio) Cincinnati, OH Region 34 (Oklahoma) Bixby, OK Jenks, OK Region 37 (South Carolina) Florence Co. Phase II, SC Horry Co., SC Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 13 Myrtle Beach, SC Marion Co., SC SCANA Communications, SC Region 39 (Tennessee) Knox County Schools, TN State of Tennessee, TN Hamilton Co., TN Region 42 (Virginia) Hopewell, VA Virginia Beach, VA Region 49 (Austin/Central Texas) Burnet Co., TX Blanco Co., TX Hays Co., TX Bastrop Co., TX Llano Co., TX Bell Co., TX Region 51 (Houston/East Texas) State of Texas, TX Orange, TX Houston Independent School District, TX Region 54 (Chicago – Metropolitan) Grundy County ETSB City of Chicago Phase II Aviation, IL Elgin, IL Whitehall, MI Chicago, IL Region 63 (Guam) Choice Phone LLC, Guam Appendix A-4 – Licensees Requesting Extension Dates That Have Since Expired Further Action Required: Within 30 Days, Provide the TA with Documentation That the Licensee Has Completed Rebanding or Submit a Supplemental Waiver Request for Additional Time. Region 4 (Arkansas) Little Rock, AR State of Arkansas, AR Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 14 Region 8 (New York/Metropolitan) Union City, NJ Region 9 (Florida) Alachua Co., FL Apopka, FL, Phase II Desoto Co, FL Monroe Co., FL Pasco Co., FL Pinellas Co., FL Region 10 (Georgia) Spalding Co., GA Savannah/Chatham Co./Effingham Co./Southside Fire Protection Service, GA Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority Region 11 (Hawaii) Honolulu City and Co, HI Region 17 (Kentucky) Owensboro, KY Region 18 (Louisiana) Pointe Coupee Parish, LA Jefferson Parish, LA St. Bernard Parish Sheriff, LA Region 19 (New England) Massport (MA) Providence, RI Suffolk Co., MA Town of Greenwich, CT Region 24 (Missouri) Grandview, MO Raytown, MO Region 26 (Nebraska) Lincoln, NE Sarpy Co., NE Region 28 (New Jersey/Pennsylvania/Delaware) Philadelphia, PA Region 31 (North Carolina) Concord, NC Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 15 Region 33 (Ohio) Dayton, OH Hamilton Co., OH Region 36 (Pennsylvania) Pennsylvania State University Region 39 (Tennessee) Clarksville Co., TN Oakridge, TN Bartlett, TN Region 40 (Dallas/Central & Northeast Texas) Mesquite, TX Plano, TX Longview, TX Lewisville/Coppell Region 45 (Wisconsin) Wisconsin State Capitol Police Region 49 (Austin/Central Texas) Lee Co., TX Region 51 (Houston/East Texas) Houston Police Department Comm. Mgmt Div, TX Port Neches, TX Conroe, TX Region 53 (Texas/San Antonio) Lockhart/Caldwell Co., TX San Antonio, TX Region 54 (Chicago Metropolitan Area) Will Co., IL Ozaukee Co, WI Lake Co, IL Federal Communications Commission DA 11-1662 16 Appendix A-5 – Licensees That Have Yet to Execute a Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement (FRA) With Sprint Nextel (Sprint) Further Action Required: Within 75 Days, Execute an FRA or Submit to the TA the Required Report and Negotiation Schedule. Region 1 (Alabama) Alabama Dep’t of Public Safety, AL Mobile Co., AL Region 4 (Arkansas) Arkansas Children’s Hospital, AR Region 18 (Louisiana) New Orleans Police Dep’t, LA Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Dep’t, LA Region 19 (New England) Cambridge, MA Region 28 New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware State of Delaware Montgomery Co., PA Region 37 (South Carolina) South Carolina Dep’t of Transportation, SC Appendix A-6 – Licensees That Have Yet to Submit a Cost Estimate to Sprint Further Action Required: Within 60 Days, Submit a Cost Estimate to Sprint or Provide to the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau the Required Report and Schedule. Region 23 (Mississippi) Mississippi State University