Federal Communications Comm'ission 
Washington, D.C. 
OFFICE OF 
THE CHAIRMAN 
The Honorable Sean Patrick Maloney 
U.S. House of Representatives 
1529 Longworth House Office Building 
Washington, D.C. 20515 
Dear Congressman Maloney: 
January 17,2014 
Thank you for your letter regarding spectrum issues related to Positive Train Control 
(PTC) implementation. I share your sense of urgency, particularly given the recent Spuyten 
Duyvil Metro-North tragedy, and recognize the vital importance ofPTC. The Commission has 
done, and will continue to do, everything within its power to facilitate PTC implementation by 
the December 31,2015, statutory deadline. These efforts include helping commuter railroads 
acquire spectrum, and expediting licensing review. 
Since 2009, the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has worked closely 
with railroads concerned about licensing and spectrum issues related to PTC, and has approved 
many spectrum transactions. Of particular note to you, in 2012, the Commission approved an 
acquisition of spectrum by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which covers all 
Long Island Railroad territory, and all but four counties in the MetroNorth operating area, 
including the area where the recent derailment occurred. The Bureau is working with MTA 
representatives now to help MTA obtain spectrum to complete MetroNorth's PTC spectrum 
footprint. The Bureau also is engaged with numerous other commuter rails to facilitate their 
acquisition of spectrum to deploy PTC. 
We will continue working closely with the commuter railroad industry and other Federal 
agencies to provide guidance about spectrum and related issues, and to facilitate the expeditious 
deployment of PTC. I appreciate your interest and concern about this issue. Please let me know 
if you have any additional questions. 
Sincerely,