[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8341-8342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3575]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 90
[PR Docket No. 93-144 and PP Docket No. 93-253; DA 95-67]
Facilitation of Future Development of SMR Systems in the 800 MHz
Frequency Band; Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications
Act--Competitive Bidding, 800 MHz SMR
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time.
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SUMMARY: On November 4, 1994, the Commission released a Further Notice
of Proposed Rule Making, FCC 94-271, concerning establishment of a
flexible regulatory scheme and competitive bidding procedures for
Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) systems in the 800 MHz band.
Based on the number of initial comments received and the variety of
views expressed in this proceeding, this Order extends the deadline for
reply comments from January 20 to March 1, 1995. The intended effect of
this action is to provide members of the SMR industry with an
opportunity to further evaluate, discuss, and attempt to reach
consensus regarding the proposals presented and issues addressed both
in the Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making and the initial comments
submitted in this proceeding.
DATES: Reply comments must be filed on or before March 1, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Federal Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC
20554.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
D'wana R. Speight, Legal Branch, Commercial Radio Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-0620.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Order Extending Reply Comment Period
Adopted: January 18, 1995
Released: January 18, 1995
By the Acting Chief, Commercial Radio Division:
1. We have received requests from the American Mobile
Telecommunications Association, Inc. (``AMTA''), Personal
Communications Industry Association (``PCIA''), and SMR WON for an
extension of time for filing Reply Comments in response to the Further
Notice of Proposed Rule Making on this [[Page 8342]] proceeding.\1\
AMTA's and SMR WON's motions, both filed on January 11, 1995, request
that the Commission extend the deadline for filing reply comments
(currently January 20, 1995) by 60 days. PCIA's motion, also filed on
January 11, 1995, requests that the deadline be extended by 30 days. To
date, no opposition to these requests has been filed.
\1\Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, Amendment of Part 90
of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate Future Development of SMR
Systems in the 800 MHz Frequency Band and Implementation of Section
309(j) of the Communications Act--Competitive Bidding, 800 MHz SMR,
PR Docket No. 93-144 and PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-271, adopted
October 20, 1994, released November 4, 1994, 59 FR 60111, published
November 22, 1994 (Further Notice).
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2. AMTA seeks an extension in order to ``facilitate continued
industry efforts to resolve certain of the matters on which no
consensus has yet been achieved.'' In its motion, SMR WON notes that
additional time is necessary to ``work out a consensus acceptable to
all major interested parties, even though SMR WON and other trade
associations held weekly meetings and conference calls throughout
November and December.'' In addition, PCIA observes that ``the number
of Comments, the controversial issues discussed, and the complexity of
the proceeding dictate that careful consideration be given to the
Comments filed by all parties.'' As a result, AMTA, SMR WON and PCIA
agree that an extension of time would allow interested and affected
parties to submit well-reasoned options and comments on the complex
issues addressed in this proceeding.
3. Based on the number of comments received and the variety of
views expressed in this proceeding, it appears that an extension of the
reply comment period is warranted. We agree with both AMTA and SMR WON
that the public interest would be served by granting an extension so
that members of the SMR industry can further evaluate, discuss, and
attempt to reach consensus regarding the proposals presented and issues
addressed both in the Further Notice and the initial comments submitted
in this proceeding. Both parties indicate that discussions among
industry members have been ongoing and that the members are continuing
their efforts towards developing consensus positions. We believe that
additional time is needed to allow this process to continue. We also
agree with PCIA that additional time is needed to enable industry
members to review the extensive comment record filed in this proceeding
(over 80 comments have been filed) and to submit thorough and well-
reasoned reply comments. We nevertheless remain concerned about
avoiding a substantial delay in the resolution of issues presented in
this proceeding. Thus, we believe that a 40-day extension of the reply
comment period is appropriate. We emphasize that in granting this
extension, we expect SMR industry representatives to use the additional
time productively by continuing their efforts to find solutions to the
issues presented in this proceeding that will be broadly supported by
industry members.
4. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the Motions of Extension
of Time filed by the American Mobile Telecommunications Association,
the Personal Communications Industry Association, and SMR WON are
hereby GRANTED to the extent stated herein.
5. It is further ordered, pursuant to Sec. 1.46 of the Commission's
Rules, 47 CFR 1.46, that the deadline for filing reply comments in this
proceeding is extended from January 20, 1995 to March 1, 1995.
Federal Communications Commission.
Rosalind K. Allen,
Acting Chief, Commercial Radio Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau.
[FR Doc. 95-3575 Filed 2-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
