*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 23286.doc* 1 PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 12 th Street, S. W., TW- A325 WASHINGTON, DC 20554 FCC 02- 322 News media information 202/ 418- 0500 Fax- On Demand 202/ 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Released: November 25, 2002 COMMISSION SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON SPECTRUM POLICY TASK FORCE REPORT ET Docket No. 02- 135 Comments Due: January 9, 2003 Reply Comments Due: February 10, 2003 On November 15, 2002, the Commission’s Spectrum Policy Task Force released its Report to the Commission containing its findings and recommendations. The Commission hereby seeks comment on the Spectrum Policy Task Force Report. We request that interested parties submit written comments on the specific findings and recommendations in the Report and we welcome comments from all interested parties, including, but not limited to, academia, private industry, consumers, and all levels of government. The Spectrum Policy Task Force Report was drafted by FCC staff and was not voted on or approved by the Commission. Accordingly, neither the Report nor any of the recommendations contained therein necessarily reflect the views of the Commission. The text of the Report and other Task Force documents may be downloaded from the Task Force’s web site at http:// www. fcc. gov/ sptf/ or may be obtained from the Commission’s copy contractor, Qualex (see contact information below). Interested parties may file comments no later than January 9, 2003. Reply comments are due February 10, 2003. All filings should refer to ET Docket No. 02- 135. Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U. S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U. S. Postal Service mail). The Commission’s contractor, Vistronix, Inc., will receive hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00 p. m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 1 2 Commission. A copy should also be sent to Peter Tenhula, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Room 2- C343, Washington, D. C. 20554. The Task Force Report and copies of the comments and reply comments filed in this matter may be obtained from Qualex, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, telephone (202) 863- 2893. The documents are also available for public inspection and copying during normal reference room hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY- A257, Washington, D. C. 20554. Instead of filing paper comments, parties are encouraged to file comments using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998). Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc. gov/ e- file/ ecfs. html. Only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, and should include the following words in the body of the message, “get form .” A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Commenters also may obtain a copy of the ASCII Electronic Transmittal Form (FORM- ET) at http:// www. fcc. gov/ e- file/ email. html. Regardless of whether parties choose to file electronically or by paper, parties should also file one copy of any documents filed in this docket with the Commission’s copy contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 12 th Street S. W., CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554 (telephone 202- 863- 2893; facsimile 202- 863- 2898) or via e- mail at qualexint@ aol. com. Documents filed in this proceeding will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the Commission’s Reference Information Center, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554, and will be placed on the Commission’s Internet site. For further information, contact Peter Tenhula, at 202- 418- 2229 or SPTFINFO@ FCC. GOV. Action by the Commission: Commissioner Copps issuing a separate statement. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Marlene H. Dortch Secretary 2 3 STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MICHAEL J. COPPS RE: Public Notice – “Commission Seeks Public Comment on Spectrum Policy Task Force Report” I want to congratulate the Spectrum Task Force for their extremely hard work in conducting hearings and drafting this report. They’ve spent long, long hours, and have gone beyond the call of duty. I look forward to public comments on the ideas contained in this report. Many of the topics contained in it are critically important. The report addresses two spectrum policy issues on which I have been pressing for action throughout my term, namely improving the Commission’s understanding and treatment of “harmful interference” and promoting unlicensed spectrum technologies such as Wi- Fi and other innovative services. Addressing harmful interference and supporting unlicensed spectrum should top our spectrum- reform priority list. I think that action on these two issues is important for the country and also for the credibility of the Commission. I also wish to note that the Commission has not endorsed any part of this report. There may be vigorous debate ahead on some of the ideas in the report. For example, I am concerned about the legalization of spectrum swaps and spectrum trading without strong protections, oversight and planning. As we consider these “secondary markets” we should ensure that the Commission does not abdicate its congressionally mandated responsibility to manage the spectrum. Overall, however, this Report is extremely useful in adding to the debate, and I congratulate the Task Force for its completion. 3