[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8905-8907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5185]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 87
[WT Docket No. 96-1, FCC 96-2]
Automatic Operation of Aeronautical Advisory Stations (Unicoms)
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making
(NPRM) which seeks to permit unattended, automatic operation of
aeronautical advisory stations (unicoms) to enhance service to the
general aviation community. This action stems from a Petition for Rule
Making filed by Potomac Aviation Technology Corporation (PATC). The
proposed rules would facilitate more efficient use of previously-
allocated radio spectrum, make unicom services more widely available
within the general aviation community, and increase safety in air
navigation.
DATES: Comments must be filed on or before March 29, 1996, and reply
comments must be filed on or before April 29, 1996. Written comments by
the public on the proposed and/or modified information collections are
due on or before March 29, 1996, and reply comments on or before April
29, 1996. Written comments must be submitted by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) on the proposed and/or modified information
collections on or before May 6, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing comments with the
Secretary, a copy of any comments on the information collections
contained herein should be submitted to Dorothy Conway, Federal
Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC
20554, or via the Internet to dconway@fcc.gov, and to Timothy Fain, OMB
Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB, 725--17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503
or via the Internet to fain_t@al.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Noel of the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680. For additional information
concerning the information collections contained in this NPRM contact
Dorothy
[[Page 8906]]
Conway at 202-418-0217, or via the Internet at dconway@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's NPRM,
WT Docket No. 96-1, FCC 96-2, adopted January 11, 1996, and released
January 29, 1996. The full text of this NPRM is available for
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC
Reference Center (Room 239) 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC. The
complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,
ITS, Inc., 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037,
telephone (202) 857-3800. This NPRM contains proposed or modified
information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), Pub. L. No. 104-13. It has been submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review under Section 3507(d) of the
PRA. OMB, the general public, and other Federal agencies are invited to
comment on the proposed or modified information collections contained
in this proceeding.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making
1. The unicom service was established in the 1950s to provide
weather and runway advisories, radio checks, and other services
necessary to the safe and expeditious operation of general aviation
aircraft, and is a primary source of this type of information at many
of the nation's 15,000 general aviation airfields. Many smaller
airfields, however, cannot afford personnel to operate unicom stations
full-time, nor can they afford other already-available but more complex
automated advisory systems such as automatic weather observation
stations (AWOS) or automatic terminal information stations (ATIS). The
instant proceeding was initiated by a petition for rulemaking filed by
Potomac Aviation Technology Corporation (PATC). PATC has been operating
several automatic unicom stations under a developmental license since
February, 1994.
2. The Commission proposes to expand the unicom service by
permitting unicom stations to transmit in automatic mode without a live
operator at the control point. Unicoms operating in automatic mode will
be subject to all of the rules applicable to non-automatic unicoms. In
order to reduce the potential for increased congestion on the unicom
frequencies, however, unicoms in automatic mode must be configured to
imitate basic congestion-reducing techniques employed by live
operators.
3. Specifically, unicoms in automatic mode must transmit only in
response to pilot interrogation via brief keyed RF signals from
aircraft stations (generated by briefly depressing the ``push-to-talk''
button on an aircraft's microphone), monitor the unicom frequency
before transmitting, and transmit only when the frequency has been
silent for at least three seconds.
4. Under the proposed rules, only one unicom station will be
permitted to operate in automatic mode at any airport. There will be no
special licensing requirements for automated unicom operation beyond
those applicable to a non-automatic unicom station; however, if an
automatic unicom is to operate at an airport where more than one unicom
station has been authorized, all of the unicom operators at that
airport must come to an arrangement concerning who will control the
automatic operations or how control will be shared. The Commission
seeks specific comments concerning the proposed rule amendments set
forth at the end of this document.
5. This NPRM is issued under the authority of sections 4(i), 4(j),
and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.
154(i), 154(j), and 303(r).
Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis
Reason for Action
The Commission proposes to permit Aeronautical Advisory Stations
(Unicoms) to operate in automatic mode.
Objectives
We seek to increase unicom service availability without allocating
new spectrum to the service or causing an increase in congestion on the
unicom frequencies.
Legal Basis
The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of
the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r).
Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements
Our proposed addition of 47 CFR Sec. 87.219 would require all
unicom licensees at airports having more than one unicom to jointly
sign a letter of agreement, prior to the operation of a unicom in
automatic mode at such an airport, stating the name(s) of the
licensee(s) who will control the automatic unicom and, if applicable,
how control of the automatic unicom will be divided.
Federal Rules Which Overlap, Duplicate or Conflict With These Rules
None; however, FAA Advisory Circular 150/5340, ``Air-to-Ground
Radio Control of Airport Lighting Systems'' addresses the method of
activating automated systems contained in our proposed amendments and
permitted under our current rules. Any proposed changes to 47 CFR.
Sec. 87.187(y) should be fully compatible with the FAA Advisory
Circular.
Description, Potential Impact, and Small Entities Involved
Permitting Aeronautical Advisory Stations (Unicoms) to operate in
automatic mode will make efficient use of previously-allocated spectral
resources, will make unicom services more widely available within the
general aviation community, will likely create a small number of
manufacturing jobs, and will benefit pilots who rely on unicom
information.
Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small Entities
Consistent With the Stated Objectives
None.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This NPRM contains either a proposed or modified information
collection. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the information collections
contained in this NPRM, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Pub. L. No. 104-13. Public and agency comments are due at the
same time as other comments on this NPRM; OMB comments are due 60 days
from date of publication of this NPRM in the Federal Register. Comments
should address: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
information on the respondents, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
OMB Approval Number: N/A.
Title: Proposed 87.219 Automatic operations (NPRM in WT Dck No 96-
1).
Form No.: N/A.
Type of Review: New collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
[[Page 8907]]
Number of Respondents: 50.
Estimated Time Per Response: 0.7 hour.
Total Annual Annualized Cost: $5,500.
Total Annual Burden: 35.
Needs and Uses: This rule requires that if airports have control
towers or FAA flight service stations, and more than one licensee and
want to have an automated aeronautical advisory station (unicom), they
must write an agreement outlining who will be responsible for the
unicom's operation, sign the agreement and keep a copy of the agreement
with each licensee's station authorization. The information will be
used by compliance personnel for enforcement purposes and by licensees
to clarify responsibility in operating unicom.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 87
Communications equipment, Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
Proposed Rules
Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 87,
is proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 87--AVIATION SERVICES
The authority citation for Part 87 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303,
unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-
1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-156, 301-609.
Section 87.5 is amended by revising the definition of ``automatic
weather observation station'' to read as follows:
Sec. 87.5 Definitions.
* * * * *
Automatic weather observation station (AWOS) or automatic surface
observation station (ASOS). A land station located at an airport and
used to automatically transmit weather information to aircraft.
* * * * *
3. Section 87.187 is amended by revising paragraph (y) introductory
text and the first sentence in paragraph (y)(4) to read as follows:
Sec. 87.187 Frequencies.
* * * * *
(y) Brief keyed RF signals (keying the transmitter by momentarily
depressing the microphone ``push-to-talk'' button) may be transmitted
from aircraft for the control of automated unicoms on the unicom
frequencies listed in paragraph (y)(3) of this section, or for the
control of airport lights on the following frequencies:
* * * * *
(4) Aviation support station frequencies listed in Sec. 87.323(b):
* * *
* * * * *
4. A new Section 87.219 is added to Subpart G to read as follows:
Sec. 87.219 Automatic operations.
(a) A station operator need not be present when an automated unicom
is in operation.
(b) In addition to the requirements applicable to non-automated
unicom operations, unicoms operating in an automated mode must:
(1) Monitor the unicom frequency prior to transmission, and
transmit only when no detectable signals are received for at least
three seconds;
(2) Transmit only in response to brief keyed RF signals from
aircraft stations as specified in Sec. 87.187(y);
(3) Automatically shut down after three minutes of continuous
transmission.
(c) Automated advisory transmissions must be as brief as possible,
and must include the time and date of the advisory message's last
update in each transmission.
(d) Only one automated unicom may be operated at an airport. Prior
to the operation of an automated unicom at an airport with more than
one unicom licensee, all of the licensees at that airport must sign a
letter of agreement stating which licensee(s) control the automated
unicom operations, and, if control is to be shared among several
operators, how that control will be divided or scheduled. The original
or a copy of the letter of agreement must be kept with each licensees'
station records. Within 90 days of the date upon which a new unicom
operator is licensed at an airport where more than one unicom is
authorized, and an automated unicom is being operated, an amended
letter of agreement that includes the new licensee's signature must be
signed or automated unicom operations must cease.
5. Section 87.419 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 87.419 Supplemental eligibility.
Only one control tower or RCO will be licensed at an airport.
6. Subpart S is amended by revising the heading to read as follows:
Subpart S--Automatic Weather Stations (AWOS/ASOS)
7. Section 87.525 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 87.525 Scope of service.
Automatic weather observation stations (AWOS) and automatic surface
observation stations (ASOS) must provide up-to-date weather information
including the time of the latest weather sequence, altimeter setting,
wind speed and direction, dew point, temperature, visibility and other
pertinent data needed at airports having neither a full-time control
tower nor a full-time FAA Flight Service Station. When a licensee has
entered into an agreement with the FAA, an AWOS or an ASOS may also
operate as an automatic terminal information station (ATIS) during the
control tower's operating hours.
8. Section 87.527 is amended by revising the first sentence of
paragraph (b) and paragraph (c) to read as follows:
Sec. 87.527 Supplemental eligibility.
* * * * *
(b) Eligibility for an AWOS, an ASOS, or an ATIS is limited to the
owner or operator of an airport or to a person who has entered into a
written agreement with the owner or operator for exclusive rights to
operate and maintain the station. Where applicable a copy of the
agreement between the applicant and owner or operator of the airport
must be submitted with an application. * * *
(c) Only one AWOS, ASOS, or ATIS will be licensed at an airport.
9. Section 87.529 is amended by revising the fourth and fifth
sentences to read as follows:
Sec. 87.529 Frequencies.
* * * Normally, frequencies available for air traffic control
operations set forth in subpart E will be assigned to an AWOS, ASOS, or
to an ATIS. When a licensee has entered into an agreement with the FAA
to operate the same station as both an AWOS and as an ATIS, or as an
ASOS and an ATIS, the same frequency will be used in both modes of
operation.
[FR Doc. 96-5185 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
