SEAN PATRICK MALONEY 
18TH DISTRICT, New YORK 
COMMinEE ON AGRICULTURE 
COMMinEE ON TRANSPORTATION 
AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
Tom Wheeler 
Chairman 
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wmftusbington, 1!9<tr 20515-3218 
December 5, 2013 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street, SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Wheeler: 
1529 lONGWORTfl HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20515 
(202) 225- 5441 
123 GRAND ST., 2ND FLOOR 
NEWBURGH, NY 12550 
(845) 561 - 1259 
I write you today to express my concern over potential radio communication spectrum issues that are currently 
standing in the way of full implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) systems by railroads across the 
country. This issue is even more urgent in light of the tragic Spuyten Duyvil Metro-North derailment on 
December 1st, which killed four people, including two of my constituents and injured dozens more. Tens of 
thousands of my constituents take the commuter trains to work every day and it is critical that we provide them 
with the safest passage possible without delay. I believe that PTC is a great first step in meeting this goal, which 
is why I have introduced a bill that would allow for additional funding for PTC technology on commuter rail. 
In 2008 Congress passed a law mandating PTC systems for commuter and freight railroads. It is my 
understanding that several railroads, including the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), have expressed 
concern about accessing the required radio spectrum needed to implement PTC. In order to effectively and 
efficiently implement a comprehensive PTC system on these systems, I request that the FCC work in concert with 
the Depat1ment of Transportation to provide guidance to all commuter railroads seeking sufficient spectrum and 
address any other outstanding concerns. 
It is imperative that we address these issues before additional lives are lost. In the wake of the Spuyten Duyvil 
Metro-North derailment - a PTC-preventable tragedy - we owe it to the American travelling public to do 
everything we can to ensure the speedy and proper implementation of this life-saving technology. My office 
stands ready to assist you in any way necessary. 
Thank you for your consideration of this request Chairman Wheeler, and Jlook forward to your prompt response. 
Member of Congress 
Cc: 
Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation 
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