96-27073. Non-Accredited Standard-Setting Organizations That Develop Standards For Public Safety Wireless Communications Equipment  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 54980-54981]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-27073]
    
    
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    FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
    47 CFR Part 90
    
    [WT Docket No. 96-86; FCC 96-403]
    
    
    Non-Accredited Standard-Setting Organizations That Develop 
    Standards For Public Safety Wireless Communications Equipment
    
    AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
    
    ACTION: Request for Comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: This action seeks additional comment on non-accredited 
    standard setting organizations that develop standards for public safety 
    wireless communications equipment. It is necessary for the Commission 
    to receive comment on whether the Communications Act of 1934 generally 
    provides the Commission with authority to impose requirements similar 
    to those identified in Section 273(d)(4) of the Act, and, if so, 
    whether the Commission should exercise this authority. The effect of 
    the action will be to seek additional comment on whether to require 
    open and fair processes, similar to those described in the Act, in the 
    development and adoption of future standards for public safety wireless 
    communications equipment and systems.
    
    DATES: Comments are to be filed on or before October 21, 1996; reply 
    comments are to be filed on or before December 3, 1996.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob McNamara or John Borkowski, 
    Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
    Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0680.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
    Notice, released October 9, 1996. The complete (but unofficial) text of 
    this Commission Public Notice is available on the Internet at: http://
    www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Public__Notices/fcc96403.txt and for 
    inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
    Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 
    20554. The complete text of this Public Notice is available and may be 
    purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
    Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 
    140, Washington, D.C. 20037, Telephone number (202) 857-3800.
    
    Summary of Public Notice
    
        1. On April 5, 1996, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed 
    Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket No. 96-86, 61 F.R. 25185 (May 20, 1996) 
    that seeks comment on the development of operational, technical, and 
    spectrum requirements for meeting Federal, state, and local public 
    safety agency communication requirements through the year 2010. 
    Specifically, the Notice asks for comment on: (1) Methods to facilitate 
    the development of interoperable equipment and technologies, including 
    the development of standards to foster interoperability; (2) the 
    service features and system requirements essential to the effective 
    performance of public safety functions; (3) technological issues 
    regarding the enhancement and improvement of public safety wireless 
    communications; (4) regulatory approaches that address the problems of 
    congested spectrum and fragmented public safety allocations; (5) 
    measures that would foster the development of public safety wireless 
    communications that are spectrally-efficient, of high quality, and 
    effective; and (6) the means to promote competition in the supply of 
    goods and services used by public safety agencies.
        2. Prior to the adoption of this NPRM, the Commission and the 
    National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 
    established the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (Advisory 
    Committee) to address many of these same issues. In the discussions of 
    the Advisory Committee's Interoperability Subcommittee, a need was 
    identified to develop a baseline technology to promote interoperability 
    between and among public safety entities. The Subcommittee subsequently 
    recommended a baseline technology for analog applications. It further 
    recommended that a group comprised of experts from government, 
    industry, and users be organized, following the termination of the 
    Committee's work, to examine a baseline interoperability technology 
    that could be used in digital systems. The organization, membership, 
    and charter of the proposed group were not further specified. The 
    Advisory Committee subsequently recommended that follow-up efforts be 
    continued to advise the Commission and NTIA on public safety wireless 
    communications and adopted the Subcommittee's recommendation that 
    future standards be developed in a fair and open process.
        3. Section 273(d)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended 
    (the Act) establishes procedural and other requirements that certain 
    non-accredited entities must follow if they develop industry-wide 
    telecommunications standards or generic network equipment requirements. 
    We believe that the requirements of Section 273(d)(4) of the Act apply 
    specifically to the development of standards for telecommunications 
    equipment, customer premises equipment and software used in the 
    provision of wireline telephone exchange service, and are not 
    applicable to non-accredited standards-setting organizations that 
    develop standards for public safety wireless communications equipment. 
    We seek comment, however, on whether the general principles articulated 
    in Section 273(d)(4) nonetheless may be useful in the development of 
    standards initiated in the future for public safety equipment. 
    Accordingly, we seek comment on whether the Act generally provides the 
    Commission with authority to impose requirements similar to those 
    identified in Section 273(d)(4), and, if so, whether the Commission 
    should exercise this authority. Specifically, we seek additional 
    comment on whether to require open and fair processes, similar to those 
    described in the Act, in the development and adoption of future 
    standards for public safety wireless communications equipment and 
    systems.
        4. Comments and replies should be filed in accordance with the 
    procedures established in WT Docket No. 96-86. Interested parties must 
    file an original and four copies of their comments with the Office of 
    the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M 
    Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments should reference WT 
    Docket No. 96-86. Parties should send one copy of their comments to the 
    Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Room 
    140, 2100 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. Comments will be 
    available for public inspection during regular business hours in the 
    FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
    20554.
    
    List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 90
    
        Public safety, Radio.
    
    
    [[Page 54981]]
    
    
    Federal Communications Commission.
    William F. Caton,
    Acting Secretary.
    [FR Doc. 96-27073 Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
10/23/1996
Department:
Federal Communications Commission
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Request for Comments.
Document Number:
96-27073
Dates:
Comments are to be filed on or before October 21, 1996; reply comments are to be filed on or before December 3, 1996.
Pages:
54980-54981 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
WT Docket No. 96-86, FCC 96-403
PDF File:
96-27073.pdf
CFR: (1)
47 CFR 90