Federal Communications Commission DA 18-767 Before the FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of Petition for Rulemaking of The Elefante Group, Inc. to Enable Fixed Stratospheric-Based Communications Services in the 21.5-23.6, 25.25-27.5, 71-76, and 81-86 GHz Bands ) ) ) ) ) ) ) RM-11809 ORDER Adopted: July 24, 2018 Released: July 25, 2018 By the Chief, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and Chief, Policy and Rules Division, Office of Engineering and Technology: 1. By this Order, we grant a request to extend the deadline for replies to comments in the above-captioned rulemaking proceeding to August 15, 2018. Motion of Elefante Group, Inc. for Extension of Time (filed July 17, 2018) (Extension Request). 2. On May 31, 2018, Elefante Group, Inc. (Elefante) filed the above-captioned petition for rulemaking. Petition for Rulemaking, The Elefante Group, RM-11809 (filed May 31, 2018) (Petition). On June 11, 2018, the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau released a public notice inviting comments on the Petition. Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau Reference Information Center Petitions for Rulemaking Filed, Report No. 3093, Public Notice (CGB June 11, 2018) (Public Notice). The Public Notice established July 11, 2018 as the date for comments and July 26, 2018 as the deadline for replies to comments. See 47 CFR §§ 1.405(a), (b). Comments and oppositions to the Petition were filed by Aeronet Global Communications Inc., Audacy Corporation, CTIA, Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition, Loon LLC, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, SES Americom and O3b Limited (jointly), SRS Technical Consulting LLC, and T-Mobile USA, Inc. Comments of Aeronet Global Communications, Inc. (filed July 11, 2018); Comments of Audacy Corporation (filed July 11, 2018); Opposition of CTIA (filed July 11, 2018); Comments of the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition (filed July 11, 2018); Comments of Loon LLC (filed July 11, 2018); Opposition and Comments of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (filed June 25, 2018); Comments of SES Americom, Inc. and O3b Limited (filed July 11, 2018); Comments of SRS Technical Consulting LLC (filed July 11, 2018); Opposition of T-Mobile USA, Inc. (filed July 11, 2018). 3. Elefante now requests an extension from July 26, 2018 to August 15, 2018 to file a reply to the filed comments. Extension Request. According to Elefante, the comments raise a number of distinct spectrum compatibility issues with respect to the different bands raised in the Petition, and it sees the need to conduct multiple technical studies to address issues raised by commenters. Id. at 1-2. 4. 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 and scope of the questions raised in comments on the Petition warrant a 20-day extension of the deadline for replies. In particular, we note that the comments raise a series of distinct technical and sharing issues involving multiple bands. An extension of 20 days will adequately serve the public interest by providing Elefante and other interested parties additional time to prepare technical studies and develop more full and complete responses to the filed comments, without resulting in undue delay. Thus, replies to comments are now due August 15, 2018. 5. 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 Sections 1.46 and 1.405(b) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.46, 1.405(b), the motion for extension of time filed by Elefante Group, Inc. IS GRANTED. The deadline for filing replies to comments in this proceeding is extended to August 15, 2018. 6. This action is taken pursuant to the authority delegated by Sections 0.31, 0.131, 0.241, and 0.331 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.31, 0.131, 0.241, 0.331. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Blaise A. Scinto Chief, Broadband Division Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Jamison Prime Chief, Policy and Rules Division Office of Engineering and Technology 2