FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION August 29. 2012 ,JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN The Honorable Chcllie Pingree U.S. 1louse of Rcpresentativcs 1318 Longworth Iiousc Officc l3uilding Washington. D.C. 20515 DcaI' Congrcssman Pingrec: Thank you for your Ictter regarding Mainc's waiver request. I apprcciate your bringing this matter to my attcntion and havc directcd the Chief ofthc FCC's Public Saki! and Ilomeland Security Bureau 10 respond. I am pleased to 1)("0\ ide the enclosed letter addressing! our concerns. If you have any addilional qucstions or need an! further assislance. please do not hesitate to contact me. Julius Genachowski Enclosure 44512TH5TREETSW WASHINGTON,D.C 20554.202-418-1000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20S54 August 29. 2012 The Honorable Chellie Pingree United States House of Representatives 1318 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Re: File Nos. 0004980650, et al. Dear Congresswoman Pingree: In Reply Refer To: 1200721 Thank you for your letter supporting a request by the State of Maine for a waiver of Federal Communications Conmlission ("Commission") rules to enable Maine to use additional spectrum for the operation of a new state-wide public safety radio conmlunications system. I appreciate your concern that the Commission act promptly on Maine's request. I am pleased to inform you that on July 31,2012, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued an order granting the majority of pending applications filed by Maine and the waiver requests associated with these applications. have attached a copy of the order. In addition to the applications granted by our July 31 order, Maine has also filed applications for frequencies that are designated for railroad use. As you may be aware, these applications have been opposed by the American Association of Railroads (AAR) on behalf of railroads operating in the state, and there are a number of contested issues. My staff has met with representatives from both the State and AAR to explore resolution of these contested issues. We have also encouraged the parties to seek a mutually agreeable solution, and the parties report to us that discussions are ongoing. We will continue to work with both the State and AAR to reach a satisfactory resolution or we will decide the disputed issues if the parties are unable to resolve them. Your views are very important to me and they will be considered as part of the Commission's review of the record of this proceeding. I can assure you that Maine's request is receiving a full, complete, and fair review and we will do whatever is needed to get to a timely result. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. ely, {";da:,"~~fs~ Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Augusl 29. 2012 JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN rhe Iionurable Olympia.l. Snu\\e nited States Scnatc 15-1 Russell Senate Ortice Building Washington. D.C. 20510 Thank you for your Ictter rcgarding Mainc's waivcr rcqucst. I appreciate your bringing this mattcr 10 m) attentiun and have dirccted the Chiefufthe FCes Public Sakt) and Ilomeland Security Bureau to rcspond. I am pleased [0 provide the encloscd Ieuer addressing) our concerns. If you have any additional qucstions or need any further assistance. please do not hesitate to contact mc. Julius Genacho\\ski Enclosure 445 12TH STREET S.W WASHINGTON, D.C 20554 • 202-4 I 8-1 000 Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C 20554 August 29, 2012 The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe United States Senate 154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-1903 Re: File Nos. 0004980650, et al. Dear Senator Snowe: In Reply Refer To: 1200721 Thank you for your leller supporting a request by the State of Maine for a waiver of Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") rules to enable Maine to use additional spectrum for the operation of a new state-wide public safety radio communications system. I appreciate your concern that the Commission act promptly on Maine's request. I am pleased to inform you that on July 31,2012, the Public Safely and Homeland Security Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued an order granting the majority of pending applications filed by Maine and the waiver requests associated with these applications. have allached a copy of the order. In addition to the applications granted by our July 31 order, Maine has also filed applications for frequencies that are designated for railroad use. As you may be aware, these applications have been opposed by the American Association of Railroads (AAR) on behalf of railroads operating in the state, and there are a number of contested issues. My staff has met with representatives from both the State and AAR to explore resolution of these contested issues. We have also encouraged the parties to seek a mutually agreeable solution, and the parties report to us that discussions are ongoing. We will continue to work with both the State and AAR to reach a satisfactory resolution or we will decide the disputed issues if the parties are unable to resolve them. Your views are very important to me and they will be considered as part of the Commission's review of the record of this proceeding. I can assure you that Maine's request is receiving a full, complete, and fair review and we will do whatever is needed to get to a timely result. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. I l'IJ~1!~ avid S. Turetsky Chief, Public Safely and Homeland Security Bureau FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION August 29. 2012 ,JULIUS GENACHOWSKI CHAIRMAN "I he Iionorabk Su,an M. Collin, United Slates Scnate 413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington. D.C. 205 I0 Dear enator Collins: Thank you for your leller regarding Maine's waiver request. I appn.:ciatc your bringing this Illaller to Illy attention and have directed the Chief of the FCC's Public Safel) and Ilollleland Security Bureau to respond. I alll pleased to provide the enclosed letter addressing your concerns. If you have any additional queslions or need any further assistance. pk