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 13-519 Released: March 21, 2013 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU FURTHER EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD RE: AT&T REQUESTS FOR WAIVER OF CELLULAR LICENSE APPLICATION RULES CONCERNING SERVICE AREA BOUNDARY EXTENSIONS WT Docket No. 13-10 On February 5, 2013, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“Bureau”) released a Public Notice1 seeking comment on multiple requests for waiver of Sections 1.923(a) and 22.911(d)2 of the Commission’s Rules, filed by AT&T Mobility, LLC, a subsidiary of AT&T, Inc. (“AT&T”). On February 20, 2013, the Bureau granted a request jointly filed by AT&T and Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon”) to extend the comment deadline for 12 applications to March 22, 2013, and extended the reply comment deadline for those applications to April 5, 2013 (“February 20 Public Notice”).3 In a jointly filed “Request for Further Extension of Time” dated March 20, 2013, AT&T and Verizon ask pursuant to Section 1.46 of the Commission’s Rules4 that the comment deadline for five applications be extended by an additional 30 days.5 By today’s Public Notice, we further extend the comment and reply comment filing deadlines as described below solely with regard to the applications listed in the attached Appendix. AT&T and Verizon report significant progress toward negotiating SAB extension agreements, stating that AT&T has received all extension agreements needed to resolve seven of the 12 applications listed in an appendix to the February 20 Public Notice.6 The parties further report that negotiations are nearing successful conclusion for the other five applications. While it is the Commission's policy under Section 1.46(a) that extensions of time not be routinely granted, we find that extending the comment and reply comment periods for the five applications will serve the public interest. AT&T and Verizon have 1 See “Comment Sought on AT&T Requests for Waiver of Cellular License Application Rules Concerning Service Area Boundary Extensions,” Public Notice, WT Docket No. 13-10, DA 13-44 (rel. Feb. 5, 2013). 2 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.923(a), 22.911(d). 3 See "Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Extends Comment Period re: AT&T Requests for Waiver of Cellular License Application Rules Concerning Service Area Boundary Extensions," Public Notice, WT Docket No. 13-10, DA 13-243 (rel. Feb. 20, 2013) (attaching an Appendix listing the FCC file numbers for the 12 applications). 4 47 C.F.R. § 1.46. 5 See “Request for Extension of Time” dated March 20, 2013, jointly filed by AT&T Mobility, LLC and Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, as filed in WT Docket No. 13-10 (“AT&T/Verizon Comment Period Further Extension Request”). 6 See AT&T/Verizon Comment Period Further Extension Request at 2 (listing the relevant 7 FCC file numbers). 2demonstrated their commitment to good faith negotiations,7 and a limited further extension will allow them to continue their efforts concerning the remaining five applications. Accordingly, solely for the applications listed in the attached Appendix, we hereby grant the request and extend the deadline for filing comments to April 22, 2013. We also hereby extend the deadline for filing reply comments to May 6, 2013, for the applications listed in the Appendix. We expect the parties to complete their negotiations within the next 30 days. This action is taken pursuant to authority found in Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Sections 0.131, 0.331, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331, and 1.46. For further information, contact Ms. Nina Shafran of the Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-2781 or via e-mail at nina.shafran@fcc.gov. Action by the Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC - 7 AT&T states it will soon file amendments to the 7 applications to reflect receipt of the requisite SAB extension agreements. Id. note 2. We urge prompt filing of the appropriate amendments for those applications. 3Appendix8 App. No. AT&TCall Sign AT&T CMA No. Block AT&T CMA Name Neighbor Call Sign Neighbor CMA No. Neighbor CMA Name Neighbor 4973763 KNKA472 CMA096 A Fort Wayne, IN KNKA707 KNKN852 CMA158 CMA588 Lima, OH OH 4-Mercer Verizon Wireless 5029109 KNKA605 CMA285 A Las Cruces, NM KNKA321 WQGM465 CMA081 CMA555 El Paso, TX NM 3-Catron Verizon Wireless 4952600 KNKN283 CMA530 A MT 8- Beaverhead KNKR311 CMA720 WY 3-Lincoln Verizon Wireless 4930384 KNKN312 CMA718 A WY 1-Park KNKR311 CMA720 WY 3-Lincoln Verizon Wireless 4957751 KNKN432 CMA526 A MT 4-Daniels KNKR256 CMA525 MT 3 - Phillips Verizon Wireless 8 See AT&T/Verizon Comment Period Further Extension Request, Exhibit A.