[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]
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