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 11-821 Released: May 4, 2011 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON AMOCO CHEMICAL COMPANY REQUEST FOR WAIVER TO USE 900 MHZ BAND ITINERANT USE CHANNELS FOR A PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SYSTEM WT Docket No. 11-77 Comment Date: May 25, 2011 Reply Comment Date: May 31, 2011 On June 9, 2010, Amoco Chemical Company (Amoco) submitted a request for waiver to permit it to utilize 896-901/935-940 MHz (900 MHz) band itinerant use channels in the private land mobile radio system for its plant in Texas City, Texas.1 Four 900 MHz band frequency pairs have been designated for operations at unspecified locations for varying periods of time (itinerant use).2 Amoco seeks to add three of those frequency pairs to its license for 900 MHz Industrial/Land Transportation Station WPAH364.3 Amoco is engaged in the processing and creation of chemical products from petroleum products. It states that the purpose of the proposed channel expansion is to eliminate channel congestion and provide more reliable communications on the existing system for the chemical plant, adjoining refinery, and waterways that serve as Amoco’s terminal port.4 Amoco’s frequency coordinator states that no other 900 MHz band frequencies are available in the vicinity.5 We seek comment on the waiver request. Procedural matters Comments on the request are due no later than May 25, 2011. Reply comments are due no later than May 31, 2011. All filings should reference the docket number of this proceeding WT 11-77. This proceeding has been designated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the 1 See File No. 0004276640 (filed June 9, 2010, amended June 21, 2010, November 1, 2010), Request for Waiver of Public Notice DA 01-1847 (filed June 9, 2010) (Waiver Request), Supplemental Information (filed November 1, 2010) (Supplement), Return Response to Waiver Request (filed November 1, 2010). 2 See Private Land Mobile Radio Services – 900 MHz Band Itinerant Use Channels, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 14871 (WTB PSPWD 2001). 3 Specifically, frequency pairs 897/936.6625 MHz, 900/939.9750 MHz, and 900/939.9875 MHz. Amoco notes that it already is authorized to use frequency pair 897/936.6625 MHz at the Texas City facility under Call Sign WPLV745. See Waiver Request at 1. We note that the present application seeks authorization to operate on that frequency pair with much higher power. 4 Id. Amoco contends that “the recent expansions of operations at Texas City as well as scheduled construction and maintenance activities have increased the system load to a burdensome extent necessitating this system upgrade and expansion.” Id. 5 See Supplement at 1. 2 Commission's ex parte rules.6 Parties making oral ex parte presentations in this proceeding are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain the presentation’s substance and not merely list the subjects discussed.7 More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required.8 The application and waiver request can be accessed electronically via the Commission’s Universal Licensing System, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls. The request, and comments and reply comments filed in response to this Public Notice, will be available for public inspection and copying in the Commission's Reference Center, Room CY-A257, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554, and via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) by entering the docket number, WT 11-77. Copies of the request are also available from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (301) 816-0169, e-mail FCC@BCPIWEB.com. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24121 (1998). 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 this proceeding, however, 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 number. 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. 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, as follows: -Effective December 28, 2009, all hand-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., S.W., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. PLEASE NOTE: This is the ONLY location where hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary will be accepted. The Commission’s former filing location at 236 Massachusetts Ave., N.E., 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. 6 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.1200(a), 1.1206. 7 See Commission Emphasizes the Public’s Responsibilities in Permit-But-Disclose Proceedings, Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 19945 (2000). 8 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(2). Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are also set forth in Section 1.1206(b). See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). 3 -U.S. Postal Service first-class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. -All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. Parties shall send one copy of their comments and reply comments to Best Copy and Printing, Inc., Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, (800) 378-3160, e-mail FCC@BCPIWEB.com. Comments filed in response to this Public Notice will be available for public inspection and copying during business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554, and via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) by entering the docket number, WT 11-77. The comments may also be purchased from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (301) 816-0169, e-mail FCC@BCPIWEB.com. Alternate formats of this Public Notice (computer diskette, large print, audio recording, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY), or send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov. For further information, contact Mr. Melvin Spann of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-1333 (voice), (202) 418-7233 (TTY), or via e-mail to Melvin.Spann@fcc.gov. By the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC -