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 14-1632 November 10, 2014 WIRELESS TELECOMUNICATIONS BUREAU OPENS FILING WINDOW FOR REQUESTS TO BE THE FREQUENCY COORDINATOR FOR MEDICAL BODY AREA NETWORKS ET Docket No. 08-59 This Public Notice establishes a filing window for requests to be designated as the frequency coordinator for Medical Body Area Network (MBAN) operations in the 2360-2390 MHz band. The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) will accept such requests beginning November 17, 2014, and ending January 2, 2015. Requests received before or after these dates will not be considered. On May 24, 2012, the Commission adopted a First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking amending its Part 95 Rules to authorize the operation of new MBAN devices in the 2360-2400 MHz band. 1 MBAN technology will provide a flexible platform for the wireless networking of multiple body transmitters used for the purpose of measuring and recording physiological parameters and other patient information or for performing diagnostic or therapeutic functions, primarily in health care facilities. MBAN devices will be licensed by rule on a secondary basis, and may not cause interference to (and must accept interference from) the primary Aeronautical Mobile Telemetry (AMT) operations. The Commission concluded that it is necessary to designate a frequency coordinator to ensure interference-free sharing of the band. On August 20, 2014, it adopted an Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order addressing a number of issues related to MBAN coordination. 2 The Commission delegated authority to WTB to select the MBAN coordinator. A health care facility that intends to operate an MBAN device capable of operating in the 2360- 2390 MHz band is required to register the device with the MBAN coordinator in a database to be maintained by the coordinator. The MBAN coordinator will determine whether a proposed MBAN location in the 2360-2390 MHz band will be within line-of-sight of an AMT receiver, and, if so, will work in cooperation with the AMT frequency coordinator and the affected health care facility to mitigate 1 First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, ET Docket 08-59, 27 FCC Rcd 6422 (2012). 2 Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order, ET Docket 08-59, 29 FCC Rcd 10662 (2014) (Second Report and Order). The Commission also addressed petitions for reconsideration of the First Report and Order. 2interference risk. 3 The designated MBAN frequency coordinator will be required to make its services available to all eligible parties nationwide on a non-discriminatory basis. It must be willing to serve a ten-year term, after which the coordinator will serve until it either elects not to continue as coordinator or is removed by the Commission. The MBAN coordinator’s fee structure must be reasonable and reflect only the actual costs of providing the coordination and registration functions on a not-for-profit basis. Interested parties are encouraged to review the rulemaking orders in ET Docket No. 08-59. MBAN Coordinator Qualifying Criteria. In order to ensure that the designated coordinator can successfully accomplish the required functions, the Commission set forth minimum qualifying criteria for parties interested in being designated as MBAN coordinator: (1) Ability to register and maintain a database of MBAN transmitter locations and operational parameters; (2) Knowledge of or experience with medical wireless systems in health care facilities (e.g., Wireless Medical Telemetry Service); (3) Knowledge of or experience with AMT operations; (4) Ability to calculate and measure interference potential between MBAN and AMT operations and to enter into mutually satisfactory coordination agreements with the AMT coordinator based on the requirements in Section 95.1223(c) of the Commission’s Rules; and (5) Ability to develop procedures to ensure that registered health care facilities operate an MBAN consistent with the requirements in Section 95.1223. 4 Applicants that intend to rely on a third-party consultant’s technical expertise to demonstrate compliance with these criteria must provide the identity and qualifications of the third-party consultant, the length of time that the contract between the MBAN coordinator and the third-party consultant would be in effect, and under what circumstances that contract could terminate. Each request for designation as MBAN frequency coordinator must be signed and indicate the name and telephone number of a contact person familiar with the request. Each request must include (1) a description of the entity requesting to be an MBAN frequency coordinator and its qualifications, as set forth above; (2) how it will prevent any conflicts of interest; (3) length of time before the applicant will be able to begin its duties as MBAN frequency coordinator; and (4) a statement that the applicant will be able and willing to work with other MBAN frequency coordinators should WTB subsequently decide to designate one or more additional frequency coordinator(s). 3 Specific duties of the MBAN coordinator are set forth in Section 95.1225 of the Commission’s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 95.1225. 4 See Second Report and Order, 29 FCC Rcd at 10683 ¶ 64. 3Procedural Matters Interested parties may file requests to be designated as the MBAN frequency coordinator during the dates set forth on the first page of this Public Notice. All requests must reference WT Docket No. 08- 59. Parties may file using (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. 5 ? Electronic Filers: File comments 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. ? In completing the transmittal screen, filers 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, filers should send an e-mail 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 two copies of each filing. Send filings by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. Address filings to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. ? Deliver hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings to FCC Headquarters at 445 12 th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554 between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM. Use rubber bands or fasteners to hold deliveries together. Dispose of all envelopes before entering the building. ? Send commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. ? Send U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail to 445 12 th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. The requests filed in response to this Public Notice are available for viewing via the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) by entering the docket number, WT 08-59. The documents also 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. They may also be purchased from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., telephone (800) 378-3160, facsimile (202) 488-5563, TTY (202) 488-5562, 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. Questions regarding this Public Notice may be directed to Luis Zambrano Ramos, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (202) 418-7952, TTY (888) 835-5322. 5 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, Report and Order, GC Docket No. 97- 113, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 4By the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. -FCC-