PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 14-1026 July 21, 2014 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON REGION 9 (FLORIDA) 800 MHZ NPSPAC REGIONAL PLAN AMENDMENT PR Docket No. 90-119 Comments Due: [August 11, 2014] Reply Comments Due: [August 21, 2014] Introduction. On March 7, 2014, the Region 9 (Florida) 1 800 MHz National Public Safety Plan Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) Regional Planning Committee (RPC) submitted a proposed modification (Plan Amendment) 2 to amend its 800 MHz Public Safety Plan. 3 Background. In accordance with the National Public Safety Plan, each region is responsible for planning its use of the public safety radio frequency spectrum (rebanded to the 806-809/851-854 MHz segment). 4 Review of the Region 9 Plan 800 MHz NPSPAC Plan Amendment. The Plan Amendment consists of six modifications approved by the regional membership, and coordinated with the adjacent regions, Region 1 (Alabama), Region 10 (Georgia) and Region 23 (Mississippi). 5 1 The Region 9 (Florida) 800 MHz regional planning area consists of the entire state of Florida. 2 See Letter from Ray Carlson, Chair, Region 9 (Florida) 800 MHz Regional Planning Committee, to the Federal Communications Commission, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), PR Docket No. 93-119 (filed Mar. 7, 2014) (Plan Amendment). On May 29, 2014, Region 9 emailed staff to correct a reference to Section 6.2.5 to read Section 6.2.5 (C)(D)(E). 3 The Region 9 (Florida) 800 MHz NPSPAC Plan was amended in 2009, see Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Approves Region 9 (Florida) NSPAC Regional Planning Committee Non-Streamlined Amendment to Reflect 800 MHz Band Reconfiguration in the 806-809/851-854, WT Docket No. 02-55, PR Docket No. 90-119, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 13840 (PSHSB 2009). 4 See Development and Implementation of a Public Safety National Plan and Amendment of Part 90 to Establish Service Rules and Technical Standards for Use of the 821-824/766-869 MHz Bands by the Public Safety Services, General Docket No. 87-112, Report and Order, 3 FCC Rcd 905 (1987). The band was modified by the Commission in the Rebanding proceeding, WT Docket 02-55, by shifting the NPSPAC band down by 15 megahertz to 806- 809/851-854 MHz. See Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, WT Docket No. 02-55, Report and Order, Fifth Report and Order, Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order, and Order, 19 FCC Rcd 14969 (2004). 5 Plan Amendment, Appendix F – Adjacent Region Concurrence with the Florida Plan at 80-82. ? Section 3.5(A)(5) – Relationship with Other Organizations - adds Region 23 (Mississippi) to the list of adjacent regions for liaison and coordination of frequency use. 6 ? Section 3.5(C) –The Adjacent Regions of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi – explains that two northern Florida counties are located less than 70 miles from Region 23 (Mississippi). Florida thus considers Region 23 as an adjacent region for adjacent region coordination purposes. Florida also expects adjacent regions to respond to concurrence requests within 45 calendar days. 7 ? Sections 5.1.8 (B) and (D)(a) – Channel Loading Requirements – clarifies loading requirements for County/Municipality Systems and Trunked Systems to include loading criteria for systems requesting new or expansion frequencies that are utilizing multiple slot Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), or Frequency-Division Multiple Access (FDMA) trunking. Specifically, Region 9 proposes that loading shall be calculated using the number of time slots versus the number of 25 kHz frequencies (e.g. 400 mobiles qualify for one 25 kHz frequency when the applicant is using 4-slot modulation technology). 8 ? Section 6.1 (A) – Mutual Aid Calling Channel – clarifies that use of 8CALL90 channel may aid the Incident Command System (ICS) process as a coordination channel during emergencies. 9 ? Section 6.2.5 (D)(E)(F) – Mutual Aid Channel Equipment Requirements - is modified by adding three new subsections: o D. Repeat disable default upon power up shall be programmed in each mobile relay station (repeater). o E. Repeater inactivity timer of 180 minutes (maximum) shall be programmed in each mobile relay station (repeater). o F. Repeater hang-time of 2 seconds shall be programmed in each mobile relay station (repeater). 10 ? Section 8.3 – Applications for Special Temporary Authority - notes that the table in new Appendix G identifies the Region 9 submittal requirements for STAs in contrast to regular applications for permanent authority. 11 ? Appendix G – Region 9 Application(s) Submittal Requirements - identifies the documentation required for Region 9 review of proposed STA and permanent applications as well as cross references to the applicable sections in the Region 9 Plan. 12 6 Plan Amendment at 10. 7 Id. at 10. 8 Id. at 59. 9 Id. at 62. 10 Id. at 65-66. 11 Id. at 77. 12 Id. at Appendix G. ? All other changes were to update membership names or addresses. We have reviewed the Region 9 Plan Amendment and find it to be compliant with the applicable Commission rules and policies, and tentatively accept the Plan Amendment. Request for Comments on the Region 9 Plan Amendment. Prior to taking further action on the Plan Amendment, by this Public Notice we solicit comments on the Region 9 Plan Amendment. Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments on the plan amendment on or before [August 11, 2014]. Parties interested in submitting reply comments must do so on or before [August 21, 2014]. All comments and reply comments should reference the subject plan amendment and PR Docket No. 90-119. Parties may file comments and reply comments by using (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). ? Electronic Filers: Comments and reply comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website for submitting comments. ? For ECFS Filers: In completing the transmittal screen, filers should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, filers should send an email to ecfs@fcc.gov and include the following words in the body of the message: “get form.” A sample form and directions will be sent in response. ? Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. Commenters may send filings by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). Commenters must address all filings to: Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. ? Effective December 28, 2009, commenters must submit all hand-delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary to FCC Headquarters at 445 12 th Street, 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. 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, D.C. 20554. ? People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (tty). Commenters must address all filings to the Commission’s Secretary, Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties must also serve one copy with the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via email to fcc@bcpiweb.com. The Plan Amendment is available through ECFS at ecfs@fcc.gov. Region 9 Plan documents in PR Docket No. 90-119 are available for public inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. The documents may also be purchased from BCPI, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, email fcc@bcpiweb.com. For further information regarding this matter, contact Jeannie Benfaida, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau at (202) 418-2313 or Jeannie.Benfaida@fcc.gov. - FCC –