PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202 / 418-2830 TTY 202 / 418-2555 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 14-500 Released: April 15, 2014 PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON APPLICATIONS AND WAIVER REQUEST FILED BY THE MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE, ALASKA FOR 50 KHZ WIDEBAND OPERATION ON 700 MHZ NARROWBAND GENERAL USE CHANNELS ULS File Numbers 0006112495 and 0006112498 Comment Date: May 15, 2014 Reply Comment Date: May 30, 2014 The Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska (Anchorage or Municipality) has filed two applications seeking authority to operate a new IP-based private land mobile data system on General Use channels in the portion of the 700 MHz band designated for public safety narrowband use. 1 In connection with these applications, Anchorage seeks waiver of Section 90.531(d)(1) of the Commission’s rules 2 so that it may operate its mobile data system on a wideband basis using 50 kHz bandwidth channels. 3 We seek comment on Anchorage’s waiver request. In its waiver request, Anchorage states that it currently operates a 14-year old mobile data system on 25 kHz bandwidth channels in the 800 MHz band, which serves over 350 of its police patrol units. Anchorage states that its mobile data system is “outdated” and “difficult to maintain and repair.” 4 Because of increased demands, Anchorage states that congestion on its mobile data system “adversely affects the Municipality’s ability to transmit critical public safety information.” 5 It also argues that enhancements to its current system to accommodate its expanding need for mobile data are difficult to implement because the underlying technology is “relatively obsolete.” 6 Consequently, Anchorage states that it seeks to build and implement a new 700 MHz wideband IP-based private land mobile data system that can be integrated into the Anchorage Wide Area Radio 1 See ULS application numbers 0006112495 and 0006112498, filed Jan. 22, 2014. 2 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(d)(1). 3 See Description of Filings and Request for Waiver attached to ULS application numbers 0006112495 and 0006112498 (Wideband Waiver Request). 4 Wideband Waiver Request at 2. 5 Id. 6 Id. 2Network (AWARN). 7 AWARN is an existing 700 MHz narrowband digital IP-based public safety voice radio system that is used by almost all public safety agencies and emergency responders in the Municipality. 8 At the present time AWARN is a voice-only system, but Anchorage, through its pending applications, seeks to add a mobile data component to the network. 9 Anchorage states that its new IP-based mobile data system will initially serve 400 or more of its police department’s “crime scene investigators, traffic enforcement personnel, and major incident managers” but will expand to include other users of the AWARN system, possibly including users from the Kenai Peninsula and the Matanuska-Susitna Boroughs. 10 Anchorage claims its proposed mobile data system will also be “technologically compatible” with the Wasilla Police Department’s existing wideband mobile data system, encouraging roaming and regional interoperability between the Anchorage Police Department and the Wasilla Police Department. 11 Anchorage explains that its proposed IP-based mobile data system will combine 700 MHz channel pairs to form 50 kHz bandwidth channel blocks in order to offer end users a data throughput rate of 128 kbps. 12 It indicates that it intends to operate two distinct 50 kHz bandwidth channel blocks at each of eight existing transmitter locations within the AWARN system. 13 Anchorage therefore seeks waiver of Section 90.531(d)(1) of the Commission’s rules, which limits the maximum combined channel bandwidth on 700 MHz narrowband spectrum to 25 kHz. 14 Anchorage seeks waiver so that it may obtain a license to operate its proposed IP-based mobile data system using 50 kHz bandwidth channels. 15 It also seeks waiver so that its equipment vendor may modify its equipment certification in order to market equipment to Anchorage capable of operating with a channel bandwidth of 50 kHz. 16 In support of its waiver request, Anchorage argues that the public interest is served by allowing it to implement “much needed improvements to an aging public safety radio system that no longer meets 7 Id. at 3-4. 8 Id. at 3. 9 Id. at 4. 10 Id. 11 Id. The City of Wasilla Police Department operates a mobile data system on 700 MHz narrowband spectrum using 50 kHz bandwidth channels under STA call sign WQIW915. The STA is authorized until September 10, 2014. 12 Anchorage seeks to form 50 kHz bandwidth channel pairs (50 kHz base transmit, 50 kHz mobile transmit) by aggregating eight contiguous 6.25 kHz bandwidth channels for base transmit paired with eight contiguous 6.25 kHz bandwidth channels for mobile transmit. Wideband Waiver Request at 4, 12. 13 Id. at 5. 14 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(d)(1). 15 Wideband Waiver Request at 7. 16 Id. Anchorage states it will use equipment manufactured by CalAmp Wireless Networks, Inc. which is currently certified under FCC ID Nos. EOTGPD7 and EOTBDP3-CRE700. CalAmp seeks a Class II permissive change to add emission designators 28K0F1D or 25K3F1D. Id. at 12. 3communications needs.” 17 It claims that its proposed wideband operations will cause no harmful interference to other users in the band because “there currently are no licensees on the co-channels or adjacent channels it has proposed in its applications.” 18 It also claims its proposed mobile data system will meet the Commission’s spectrum efficiency requirements, and that once implemented the IP-based mobile data system will occupy “only about 13 percent” of the 700 MHz narrowband channels available in Alaska. 19 Anchorage includes with its applications a concurrence letter from the Regional Planning Committee (RPC) for Region 2 – Alaska. 20 We seek comment on Anchorage’s waiver request. In particular, we seek comment from any parties who would be impacted by Anchorage’s proposed wideband operations. We also seek comment on the any technical, interoperability or policy considerations the Commission should evaluate with respect to Anchorage’s proposal, including whether grant of the requested waiver would have any effect on the eventual implementation in Alaska of the nationwide broadband public safety communications network by the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). 21 We also seek comment on whether other spectrum would be more appropriate for Anchorage’s proposed wideband operation. Interested parties may file comments on or before May 15, 2014. 22 Parties may file replies on or before May 30, 2014. 23 Parties may file statements and replies electronically 24 or by paper. All comments and reply comments should reference the subject Anchorage Wideband Waiver Request and the DA number indicated on this Public Notice. Comments may be filed: (1) electronically by accessing the applicant’s file number(s) in the Commission’s Universal Service Licensing System (ULS), 25 or (2) by filing paper copies. Electronic Filers: Pleadings may be submitted electronically as follows: ? From the ULS website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/, begin the process of submitting a pleading by clicking on the “ULS Pleadings” link in the menu on the lower left side of the ULS web page. The link will take you to the “Pleading Information” screen for “Non- docketed Pleadings” where you select “Reply” in the drop-down window for the type of 17 Wideband Waiver Request at 11. 18 Id. at 12. 19 Id. 20 See letter from Dean Strid, Chairman, Region 2, 700 MHz Planning Committee to Municipality of Anchorage (Nov 22, 2013)(attached to Wideband Waiver Request). 21 See Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 §§ 6001-6303, 6413 (codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 1401-1443, 1457). See also, http://www.firstnet.gov. 22 47 C.F.R. § 1.405. 23 Id. 24 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998). 25 See “Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Enhances the Commission’s Universal Licensing System to Implement Electronic Filing for Pleadings,” Public Notice, 21 FCC Rcd 424 (WTB 2006). See http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-125A1.pdf. 4pleading and then enter the pleadings filer information. Completion of the contact information is optional. Upon completion of this screen, please note the instructions for the filing: “Pleadings must be dated and must include a signature, in this instance an electronic signature, and the address and phone number of the signing party.” 26 Click on “CONTINUE.” ? The second step is to complete the File Numbers/Call Signs screen. Click if the pleading pertains to a File Number or Call Sign and enter the File Number or Call Sign. Please note that you must enter a File Number or Call Sign to continue. If the pleading pertains to multiple applications or licenses, you must enter each File Number or Call Sign as appropriate. After clicking the “SUBMIT” button, the screen will update to show all the File Numbers/Call Signs associated with the pleading. At this time, you may delete selected File Numbers/Call Signs from the page before continuing. ? The third step is to complete the Attach File screen to attach the pleading document. Use the drop down box to select Pleading or Confidential Pleading. The “BROWSE” button opens a file upload window where you will locate and select your pleading file. The Description field allows you to enter a brief description for the pleading. Click the “ADD ATTACHMENT” button to upload your pleading. You may submit up to thirty files for each pleading but each file must be smaller than 10 MB in size. You also have the opportunity to delete any selected file from the pleading. ? Finally, to complete your electronic pleading submission, click on the “SUBMIT PLEADING” button and the Confirmation screen will be displayed. The Confirmation screen will display your Confirmation Number as well as your entered pleadings information. You may print this page for your records by selecting the Print Page link at the top of the page and have the option of submitting another pleading or returning to the ULS website by selecting a link at the bottom of the page. The ULS Application and License Search results will display pleadings under the ADMIN tab when a comment or reply comment has been filed. Users can view the pleading by clicking on the link for the specific comment or reply comment in the Description field. The general public will not be able to view confidential pleadings. For additional information or assistance on how to file a comment or reply comment or other relevant pleading, you may visit the Web at http://esupport.fcc.gov. You may also call the FCC ULS Customer Support Center at (877) 480-3201 and select option 2, or (888) 225-5322 and select Option 2, or (717) 338-2888. For TTY, please call (717) 338-2824. Assistance from the FCC ULS Customer Support Center is available between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays). To provide quality service and ensure security, all telephone calls to FCC ULS Customer Support Center are recorded. Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must submit an original and four copies of each filing. 26 See 47 C.F.R. Part 1. 5? Send hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of 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, M.D. 20743. ? Send U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. The application(s), waiver request, and comments and reply comments can be accessed electronically via the Commission’s Universal Licensing System, http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls. The full text of the Anchorage Wideband Waiver Request, comments and reply comments will be available for 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. Email fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, (voice) (202) 418- 0530, (TTY) (202)-418-0432 to request materials in formats accessible to people with disabilities, e.g. Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format. For further information regarding this proceeding contact Brian Marenco, Policy and Licensing Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (voice) (202) 418-0838 or Brian.Marenco@fcc.gov. -- FCC --