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 11-175 Released: January 28, 2011 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON RAPIDLY DEPLOYABLE AERIAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS ARCHITECTURE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING IMMEDIATE COMMUNICATIONS TO DISASTER AREAS PS Docket No. 11-15 Comments Due: February 28, 2011 An important mission of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau’s (Bureau) is to support and advance state-of-the-art communications initiatives and strategies that further strengthen and enhance the security and reliability of the nation's communications.1 In order to advance this important mission, the Bureau seeks comment on current and future technologies, specifically aerial telecommunications architecture, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or balloon mounted or unmounted systems, that can be rapidly deployed to an area within the first few hours after major natural disasters or terrorist attacks. The Bureau seeks comment regarding low-altitude aerial telecommunications architecture solutions that are accessible, reliable, resilient, cost-effective and secure, and which are capable of providing public safety and emergency response personnel the capability to communicate during the critical restoration period after a major disaster over a multitude of communications platforms (e.g., HF, UHF, VHF, cellular, Internet, and satellite). We recognize that authorization of any particular aerial telecommunications architecture for public safety use will depend on various characteristics of that solution, such as the spectrum band in which the equipment operates, but we are seeking comment here only to better understand the available technologies as well as the associated technical issues. The Bureau seeks comment on the means of coordinating and managing such solutions before and during deployment, what public safety agencies may be involved in the operations of such systems or those who own communications operations may be adversely impacted by such systems, specific classes of such systems that might be involved in such operations with their capacity and bandwidth requirements, the costs associated with their design, implementation and deployment and maintenance of such packages. Specifically, the Bureau seeks comment on how to best ensure spectrum coordination of these systems with terrestrial and satellite infrastructure in the affected area or adjacent areas, interference mitigation techniques to ensure that terrestrial and satellite communications are not negatively impacted and network management. Further, the Bureau seeks comment on how to ensure that communications that are provided via aerial communications systems for emergency preparedness are secure. Interested parties may file comments on or before February 28, 2010. Comments may be filed 1 47 C.F.R. § 0.191(a). 2 using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies.2 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 PS Docket No. 11-15. 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 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 PS Docket No. 11-15 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 2 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, GC Docket No. 97-113, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 3 Commission's ex parte rules.3 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.4 Other requirements pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.5 For further information regarding this public notice, contact Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Bureau Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202)418-3619 or Richard Lee, Associate Bureau Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-1104. – FCC – 3 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200 et seq. 4 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). 5 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b).