PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., 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 17-670 Released: July 13, 2017 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON REQUEST BY SHIPCOM, LLC, AND GLOBAL HF NET, LLC, TO ALLOW USE OF HIGH SEAS MARINE FREQUENCIES BY FIRST RESPONDERS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES DURING DISASTERS WT Docket No. 17-184 Comment Date: August 14, 2017 Reply Date: August 29, 2017 Section 80.123 of the Commission’s rules1 permits very high frequency public coast stations to provide service to units on land under certain conditions, but does not allow high frequency (HF) public coast stations to provide such service. In 2010, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s Mobility Division (Division) granted Shipcom, LLC (Shipcom), a waiver of section 80.123 to permit the use of HF public coast frequencies by first responders during catastrophic situations when normal communications systems are not available.2 The Division concluded that this limited use of HF maritime spectrum would enhance public safety during catastrophes. The waiver permits service to land-based (base and mobile) Public Safety stations3 on HF frequencies in the event of a natural or man-made disaster that renders the normal communications infrastructure inoperable, and monthly testing/training to familiarize personnel with how to operate the equipment and make sure it is operable.4 Shipcom5 and Global HF Net, LLC (GHFN), which is licensed for other HF public coast stations,6 are commonly owned. On February 28, 2017, they filed requests that the waiver be extended to GHFN as well as Shipcom, and amended to permit service to land-based Federal stations as well as Public Safety Pool eligibles. They argue that extending and amending the waiver request will further the public interest by enlarging the coverage of the current waiver, and by including Federal agencies that commonly participate in disaster communications. 1 47 CFR § 80.123. 2 See ShipCom, LLC, Order, 25 FCC Rcd 4894 (WTB MD 2010) (Order). 3 I.e., entities meeting the public safety eligibility criteria of 47 CFR § 90.20(a)(1)(i)-(v), (2)(i)-(iv), (vii), (x), (xiii). 4 See Order, 25 FCC Rcd at 4895-96, paras. 5-8. 5 Shipcom holds licenses for HF public coast stations KDD, KLB, KLK, KNN, WDA, WDI, WHD, WHU959, WLO, WRN, and WSC. Authorized transmitters are located in Alabama, Alaska, California, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington. 6 GHFN holds licenses for HF public coast stations KEJ, KEM, KFS, KHF, KLN, KPH, WCC, and WNU. Authorized transmitters are located in Alaska, California, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, and New York. 2We seek comment on the waiver request. Procedural Matters Interested parties may file comments and reply comments in response to the waiver request on or before the dates listed on the first page of this Public Notice. All pleadings must reference WT Docket No. 17-184. Parties may file comments using (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies.7 § 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 12th 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 12th Street, SW, Washington DC 20554. The request, and comments and reply comments 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 No. 17-184. 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. This proceeding has been designated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.8 Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral 7 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 11322 (1998). 8 See 47 CFR §§ 1.1200(a), 1.1206. 3ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenter’s written comments, memoranda or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. For further information, contact Mr. Scot Stone of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, at (202) 418-0638, scot.stone@fcc.gov. Action by the Deputy Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. - FCC -