Federal Register: FCC (Personal Radio & Amateur)

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on proposed amendments regarding technical standards applicable to data communications that may be transmitted in the Amateur Radio Service. Specifically, we propose to remove limitations on the symbol rate (also known as the baud rate) applicable to data emissions in certain amateur bands. We believe that this rule change will allow amateur service licensees to use modern digital emissions, thereby better fulfilling the purposes of the amateur service and enhancing its usefulness.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission addresses eight petitions for reconsideration on certain rules adopted in the Report and Order (Report and Order) in this proceeding governing the Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3.5 GHz band. The Commission also finalizes the regulatory scheme established in the Report and Order to make this spectrum available for wireless broadband through dynamic sharing among three tiers of users.

In this document, the Commission acknowledges the publication of ANSI C63.26-2015 "American National Standard for Compliance Testing of Transmitters Used in Licensed Radio Services" and seeks comment on incorporating it into the Commission's rules by reference as part of an open rulemaking proceeding that addresses its equipment authorization (EA) rules and procedures. The standard was recently published and is now an "active standard"--that is, the standards association considers it to be valid, current, and approved.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection requirements associated with the Commission's Report and Order, GN Docket No. 12-354, FCC 15-47. This document is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the requirements.

The Commission recently adopted rules to repurpose broadcast television spectrum for new wireless services via an incentive auction. This document modifies Commission rules for unlicensed wireless devices and wireless microphones in the reconstituted TV bands and the new 600 MHz band. This document modifies the Commission's rules for unlicensed operations in the frequency bands that are now and will continue to be allocated and assigned to broadcast television services (TV bands), including fixed and personal/portable white space devices and unlicensed wireless microphones. It adopts technical and operational rules for unlicensed devices and wireless microphones in the 600 MHz guard bands, including the duplex gap, and in the 600 MHz band that will be repurposed for new wireless services. It also adopts rules for fixed and personal/portable white space device operation on channel 37 and for the operation of unlicensed wireless microphones in the TV bands. This document modify the white space database rules to implement certain decisions, including protecting areas where new 600 MHz service licensees commence operation and areas used by incumbent services on channel 37.

The Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) acts to improve the Commission's efficiency, effectively manage Commission resources, and align the Commission's field enforcement activities with contemporary needs for a field enforcement presence. The Commission, the Office of Managing Director and the Enforcement Bureau will take several actions to realign the mission and resources of its 24 field offices. The Bureau's field offices will primarily support the enforcement of the Commission's radio frequency spectrum rules and other key regulations in a manner likely to have the greatest impact, in the most cost effective way possible.

In this document, the Commission implemented allocation changes from the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2007) (WRC-07) and updated related service rules. The Commission took this action in order to conform its rules, to the extent practical, to the decisions that the international community made at WRC-07. This action will promote the advancement of new and expanded services and provide significant benefits to the American people. In addition, the Commission revised the International Table of Frequency Allocations within its rules to generally reflect the allocation changes made at the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2012) (WRC-12).

In this document, the Commission proposes to implement certain allocation changes from the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2012) (WRC-12) and to update related service rules. The Commission took this action in order to conform its rules, to the extent practical, to the decisions that the international community made at WRC-12. This action will promote the advancement of new and expanded services and provide significant benefits to the American people. In addition, the Commission proposes to address several matters that pertain to unresolved issues from a previous Conference.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to establish a new Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3550--3700 MHz band. This document implements a three- tiered spectrum authorization framework in the 3550-3700 MHz band to facilitate a variety of small cell and other broadband uses of the band on a shared basis with incumbent federal and non-federal users.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on three specific issues related to the establishment of a new Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3550-3700 MHz band (3.5 GHz Band). These issues are: Defining "use" of Priority Access License frequencies; implementing secondary markets in Priority Access Licenses; and optimizing protections for Fixed Satellite Services.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to authorize radar applications in the 76-81 GHz band. The Commission seeks to develop a flexible and streamlined regulatory framework that will encourage efficient, innovative uses of the spectrum and to allow various services to operate on an interference-protected basis. In doing so, it further seeks to adopt service rules that will allow for the deployment of the various radar applications in this band, both within and outside the U.S. The Commission takes this action in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Robert Bosch, LLC (Bosch) and two petitions for reconsideration of the 2012 Vehicular Radar R&O.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revises certain mailing addresses pertaining to satellite emergency radiobeacons which are used to facilitate search and rescue of persons in distress. We update the rules to include the correct mailing addresses for the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Beacon Registration Database, the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM), the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA), and the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard). This Order updates the mailing addresses provided in our rules for NOAA, RTCM, RTCA and the Coast Guard.

This document addresses an Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order in which the Commission takes further actions to foster the development and deployment of new and innovative Medical Body Area Network (MBAN) devices. In addressing petitions for reconsideration of the First Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission provides MBAN users with additional flexibility to enable the implementation of technical standards being developed for MBAN devices, and clarify and modify portions of its rules to facilitate the coordination, deployment, and use of MBAN systems. In the Second Report and Order portion in this proceeding, the Commission finalizes the process for selecting a MBAN Coordinator. This coordinator will facilitate use of the MBAN frequencies, which operate in shared-use bands. Collectively, our actions will allow the development of new and innovative health care applications.

This document contains a correction to the final regulations of the Commission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 20, 2014, 79 FR 35290. The final regulations address the rules for the Amateur Radio Service.

In this document the Federal Communications Commission extends the deadline for filing reply comments on its Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in this proceeding, which was previously published in the Federal Register.

This document amends the rules for the Amateur Radio Service by modifying the qualifying examination system to grant partial examination credit for certain expired amateur operator licenses, permits examinations to be administered remotely, and allows amateur stations to transmit certain additional emission types. The rule amendments are necessary to implement these changes. Additionally, this document amends certain rules to conform them to prior Commission decisions. The effect of this action is to enhance the usefulness of the amateur service rules by making the amateur service more accessible to former licensees and to allow amateur stations to transmit certain additional emission types.

In this further notice of proposed rulemaking, the Commission seeks comment on specific rule proposals for the establishment of a new Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3550-3650 MHz band (3.5 GHz Band).

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) invites comment on issues regarding updating rules and requirements for technologies used to locate and rescue distressed ships and individuals in distress at sea or on land to provide better and more accurate data to rescue personnel. The Commission also invites comments on rules regarding radar equipment, the use of portable marine Very High Frequency (VHF) transmitters by persons on shore; permitting VHF digital small message service (VDSMS); and allowing assignment or transfer of control of ship station licenses. These rules will enable the maritime radio services to better protect lives and property at sea, as well as support improved day-to- day operations. New technologies will be used to locate and rescue distressed ships and individuals in distress at sea or on land to provide better and more accurate data to rescue personnel.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) corrects a document published December 27, 2013. The DATES and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION sections contain an incorrect Federal Register citation.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") announces that certain rules revised in the "Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Provide Spectrum for the Operation of Medical Body Area Networks" adopted in a First Report and Order, ET Docket No. 08-59 (FCC 12-54), to the extent it contained information collection requirements that required approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was approved on October 26, 2013. This document is consistent with the First Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.