2011-22437. Programmatic Environmental Assessment

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on a draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) of the Antenna Structure Registration (ASR) program. The purpose of the PEA is to evaluate the potential environmental effects of the Commission's ASR program. Owners of structures that are taller than 200 feet above ground level or that may interfere with the flight path of a nearby airport must register those structures with the FCC. The antenna structure owner must obtain painting and lighting specifications from the Federal Aviation Administration and include those specifications in its registration prior to construction.

DATES:

There will be a public meeting in the Federal Communications Commission's Meeting Room, 445 12th St., SW., Washington, DC on September 20, 2011, from 2:30 p.m. until 5 p.m., Eastern Time. Interested parties may file comments no later than October 3, 2011.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by WT Docket No. 08-61; WT Docket No. 03-187, by any of the following methods:

• Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (“ECFS”): http://www.fcc.gov/​cgb/​ecfs/​, through a link on the PEA Web site, http://www.fcc.gov/​pea, or via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
• Paper Filers: 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, filers 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. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.

○ All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

○ 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, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.

Availability of Documents. Comments and ex parte submissions will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS. Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe Acrobat.

Accessibility Information. To request information in accessible formats (computer diskettes, large print, audio recording, and Braille), send an e-mail to [e-mail] or call the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at [phone] (voice), [phone] (TTY). This document can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at: http://www.fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Aaron Goldschmidt, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, [phone], or e-mail [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The FCC has established a Web site, http://www.fcc.gov/​pea, which contains information and downloadable documents relating to the PEA process, including the Draft PEA. The Web site also allows individuals to contact the Commission.

Audio/video coverage of the September 20 public meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's Web page at http://www.fcc.gov/​live. The FCC's Web cast is free to the public. Those who watch the live video stream of the event may e-mail event-related questions to [e-mail]. Depending on the volume of questions and time constraints, FCC representatives will respond to as many questions as possible during the workshop.

Federal Communications Commission.

Matthew Nodine,

Chief of Staff, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.