Federal Communications Commission DA 18-647 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band ) ) ) ) WT Docket No. 18-120 ORDER Adopted: June 21, 2018 Released: June 21, 2018 By the Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau: 1. By this Order, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau grants, in part, two separate requests to extend the deadlines for comments and reply comments in the above-captioned rulemaking proceeding. Joint Motion for Extension of Time, National EBS Association and Catholic Technology Network, (filed June 15, 2018) (NEBSA/CTN Extension Request) and Joint Motion for Extension of Comment Cycle, The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition; the North American Catholic Educational Programing Foundation; EBS Support Services, LLC dba Voqal; Educators and Broadband Providers for American Rural Communities; Broward Education Communications Network/the School Board of Broward County, Florida; Florida Gateway College; Florida Atlantic University; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Public Knowledge; and the Open Technology Institute at New America (filed June 18, 2018) (Joint Stakeholders Extension Request). 2. On May 10, 2018, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to allow more efficient and effective use of the 2.5 GHz band by providing greater flexibility to current Educational Broadband Service (EBS) licensees as well as providing new opportunities for additional entities to obtain unused 2.5 GHz spectrum to facilitate improved access to next generation wireless broadband, including 5G. Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 18-59 (rel. May 10, 2018) (2.5 GHz NPRM). On June 7, 2018, the summary of the 2.5 GHz NPRM was published in the Federal Register, which established a comment deadline of July 9, 2018, and a reply comment deadline of August 6, 2018. Federal Communications Commission, Transforming the 2.5 GHz Band, 83 Fed. Reg. 26396 (June 7, 2018). 3. The National EBS Association and the Catholic Technology Network (NEBSA/CTN) have jointly requested an extension of time for the filing of comments in the proceeding. NEBSA/CTN Extension Request at 1. They request that the filing dates in this proceeding be extended to August 23, 2018, for comments, and September 20, 2018, for reply comments. Id. NEBSA and CTN welcome the Commission’s decision to open the proceeding to license unassigned spectrum and note that the 2.5 GHz NPRM also “raises a host of other very significant issues about nearly all aspects of the EBS band.” Id. at 2. They argue, “By extending the comment cycle for an additional 45 days, the Commission can ensure that the EBS community has an adequate opportunity to evaluate and respond to the important issues raised in the” 2.5 GHz NPRM. Id. 4. The Joint Stakeholders have also requested an extension of time for the filing of comments in the proceeding. Joint Stakeholders Extension Request at 1. They request that the filing dates in this proceeding be extended for 60 days. Id. The Joint Stakeholders welcome the “Commission’s decision to initiate this rulemaking, which has the potential to (1) expand educational broadband benefits to more students, schools, and families; (2) foster broadband deployment in rural areas, including on tribal lands, many of which have limited or no service today; and (3) accelerate the deployment of 5G wireless networks to more Americans. Id. They argue that the “issues raised by the NPRM are as complex as they are important” and that “complex geospatial analysis is required…” Id. at 2. In addition, they allege that this proceeding is not routine, and that the current timing falls during the summer which is particularly difficult for schools and educators. Id. at 3. 5. As set forth in section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46(a). the Commission’s policy is that extensions of time for filing comments in rulemaking proceedings shall not be routinely granted. In this case, however, we find that the number, scope, and importance of the questions asked in the 2.5 GHz NPRM warrant a partial extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines. While NEBSA and CTN seek an extension of 45 days, and the Joint Stakeholders seek an extension of 60 days, we believe that an extension of 30 days will adequately serve the public interest by providing interested parties additional time to develop more full and complete responses to the 2.5 GHz NPRM and promote a more comprehensive record, without resulting in undue delay. Thus, comments are now due August 8, 2018 and reply comments due by September 7, 2018. 6. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 154(i), and Section 1.46 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.46, the motions for extension of time filed NEBSA/CTN and the Joint Stakeholders are GRANTED IN PART, and otherwise DENIED. The deadline for filing comments in this proceeding is extended to August 8, 2018, and the deadline for filing reply comments is extended to September 7, 2018. 7. This action is taken pursuant to the authority delegated by Sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Donald K. Stockdale, Jr. Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 2