Federal Register: FCC (Personal Radio & Amateur)

In this document, the Commission amends its Amateur Radio Service rules to revise the frequency segments of the 80 meter and 40 meter amateur service High Frequency (HF) bands on which amateur stations are authorized to transmit voice communications; authorize amateur stations to transmit certain emission types on additional amateur service bands or frequency segments; revise the procedures for the amateur service vanity call sign system; eliminate unnecessary restrictions imposed on manufacturers of certain types of equipment that may be used at amateur stations; and make other conforming amendments to the amateur service rules.

On August 10, 2006, the Federal Communications Commission released a document in WT Docket No. 06-150, CC Docket No. 94-102, and WT Docket No. 01-309, respectively, seeking comment on the possibility of revising a variety of licensing and service rules affecting both auctioned and unauctioned spectrum in the 698-746, 747-762, and 777-792 MHz bands. In this action, the Federal Communications Commission denies in part requests to extend the deadline for filing comments and reply comments in this rulemaking proceeding. Nevertheless, the Federal Communications Commission finds that a limited extension of time is warranted and grants the requests in part by adopting a nine-day extension of time for filing comments in WT Docket No. 06-150, CC Docket No. 94-102, and WT Docket No. 01-309.

In this document the Commission takes certain actions in response to four petitions for reconsideration filed by 3M Company, ARINC Incorporated, Intelligent Transportation Society of America and John Hopkins University of Applied Physics Laboratory. Each petitioner seeks reconsideration of the Commission's Report and Order, which adopted licensing and service rules for the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Service in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Radio Service, located in the 5.850-5.925 GHz band (5.9 GHz band) licensing and service rules for the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) Service in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Radio Service located in the 5.850-5.925 GHz band (5.9 GHz band).

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) undertakes an examination of possible changes to service rules that primarily govern wireless licenses in the 698-746, 747-762, and 777-792 MHz bands (700 MHz Band) currently occupied by television (TV) broadcasters and being made available for new services as a result of the digital television (DTV) transition. Because of statutory changes, industry developments, and the fact more than four years have passed since the Commission adopted its initial band plans and service rules governing these licenses, the Commission is revisiting various of its earlier rule decisions regarding these 700 MHz Band licenses. The Commission also is requesting comment on: the tentative conclusion that services provided by licensees in the 700 MHz Band, and in other bands subject to Miscellaneous Wireless Communications Services rules including the Advanced Wireless Services in the 1710-1755 MHz and 2110- 2155 MHz bands (AWS-1), should be subject to 911 and enhanced 911 (911/ E911) and hearing aid-compatibility requirements to the same extent that such services would be covered if provided in other bands; and how to modify Commission rules to ensure that they include all similar wireless services.

This document focuses on ways to better accommodate the operation of implanted and body-worn medical transmitters in the 400 MHz band. These devices use wireless technologies for increasingly sophisticated and beneficial health care applications. Such applications currently include cardiac defibrillators for heart patients and real-time blood sugar monitoring devices for diabetics, and may, in the future, include applications as diverse as brain, muscle and nerve stimulation techniques for treating an array of conditions from Parkinson's disease to severe chronic depression. The Commission tentatively concludes that modifying its current rules and designating an additional two megahertz of spectrum in the adjacent 401-402 MHz and 405-406 MHz bands) would appropriately provide needed capacity and more flexible operating rules for beneficial medical radio communication devices and thereby serve the public interest.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) reminds parties about the comment cycle applicable to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeking comment on the recommendations of the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks (Independent Panel). In addition, the Commission requests that, in addressing the issues raised in the NPRM, parties address the applicability of the Panel's recommendations to all types of natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, forest fires) as well as other types of incidents (e.g., terrorist attacks, flu pandemic, industrial accidents, etc.). Parties should also discuss whether the Panel's recommendations are broad enough to take into account the diverse topography of our Nation, the susceptibility of a region to a particular type of disaster, and the multitude of communications capabilities a region may possess.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) initiates a comprehensive rulemaking to address and implement the recommendations presented by the Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks (Independent Panel). The Independent Panel's report described the impact of the worst natural disaster in the Nation's history as well as the overall public and private response efforts. In addition, the report included recommendations which relate to: pre-positioning the communications industry and the government for disasters in order to achieve greater network reliability and resiliency; improving recovery coordination to address existing shortcomings and to maximize the use of existing resources; improving the operability and interoperability of public safety and 911 communications in times of crisis; and improving communication of emergency information to the public. The Commission, in this proceeding, is to take the lessons learned from this disaster and build upon them to promote more effective, efficient response and recovery efforts as well as heightened readiness and preparedness in the future. To accomplish this goal, the Commission invites comment on what actions the Commission can take to address the Independent Panel's recommendations.

This document amends the Amateur Radio Service rules to conform with the international Radio Regulations adopted at the International Telecommunications Union World Radiocommunication Conference Final Acts (Geneva, 2003) (WRC-03 Final Acts). The WRC-03 Final Acts revised the international regulations that apply to the amateur service and the amateur satellite service and became effective on July 5, 2003. These amendments ensure that the Commission's amateur service rules reflect the international regulations.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Federal Communications Commission received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of orbital debris mitigation plans under 47 CFR 5.63(e), 25.114(d)(14), and 97.207(g) of the Commission's rules. Mitigation of Orbital Debris, IB Docket No. 02-54, OMB Control Number 3060-1013. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

On August 10, 2005, (70 FR 46576) the Commission published final rules in a Report and Order, which implemented allocation changes to the frequency range between 5900 kHz and 27.5 GHz in furtherance of decisions that were made at the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva 2003) (WRC-03). This document contains corrections to 47 CFR 2.101 and 2.106.

This document proposes to amend the amateur radio service rules to eliminate the requirement that individuals pass a telegraphy examination in order to qualify for any amateur radio operator license.

This document implements allocation changes to the frequency range between 5900 kHz and 27.5 GHz in furtherance of decisions that were made at the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2003) (WRC-03) and updates the Commission's Rules in this frequency range. The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) took this action in order to conform its Rules, to the extent practical, to the decisions that the international community made at WRC-03. This action will promote the advancement of new and expanded services and provide significant benefits to the American public.

This document amends twelve sections of the Commission's Rules by updating the postal address of the Arecibo Radio Astronomy Observatory near Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

This document facilitates the introduction of Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) in the band 1710-1755 MHz--an integral part of a 90 MHz spectrum allocation recently reallocated to allow for such new and innovative wireless services. We largely adopt the proposals set forth in our recent AWS Fourth NPRM in this proceeding that are designed to clear the 1710-1755 MHz band of incumbent Federal Government operations that would otherwise impede the development of new nationwide AWS services. These actions are consistent with previous actions in this proceeding and with the United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA") 2002 Viability Assessment, which addressed relocation and reaccommodation options for Federal Government operations in the band.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on additional policies that could facilitate the development of advanced technologies, such as cognitive radio and "opportunistic use" devices. In particular, we request comment on whether additional revisions should be made to the spectrum leasing and private commons regulatory models, or whether other types of arrangements can better enable more users to gain spectrum access.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts a Second Report and Order that amends the Commission's rules to minimize the amount of orbital debris created by satellite systems and to mitigate the effects of orbital debris on operational spacecraft. Orbital debris consists of man-made objects that are not functioning spacecraft. Although orbital debris currently poses little short-term risk to operational spacecraft, an increase in orbital debris could have a significant impact in the long term on space activities, including important satellite communications. Adoption of these rules will help preserve the United States' continued affordable access to space, the continued provision of reliable U.S. space-based services-- including communications and remote sensing satellite services for U.S. commercial, government, and homeland security purposes--as well as the continued safety of persons and property in space and on the surface of the Earth. Adoption of these rules will also further the domestic policy objective of the United States to minimize the creation of orbital debris and is consistent with international policies and initiatives to achieve this goal.

This document proposes to revise operating privileges for amateur radio service licensees as well as to eliminate obsolete and duplicative rules in the Amateur Radio Service. We believe that these proposals will promote the development of the amateur radio service by providing licensees greater flexibility in the utilization of amateur service frequencies; eliminate unduly burdensome or duplicative requirements that may discourage individuals from becoming amateur radio service licensees; and promote efficient use of spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service.

In this document the Commission adopts licensing and service rules for the Dedicated Short Range Communications Service (DSRCS) in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Radio Service in the 5.850-5.925 GHz band (5.9 GHz band). This action promotes a nationwide solution to the transportation safety challenges faced by all Americans and follows the Commission's earlier allocation of this radio spectrum for DSRCS.

In this document the Commission addresses three petitions for reconsideration and two petitions for clarification of the Report and Order in this proceeding to govern the licensing of 27 MHz of electromagnetic spectrum in the 216-220 MHz, 1390-1395 MHz, 1427-1429 MHz, 1429-1432 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz, and 2385-2390 MHz bands, which were reallocated for non-Government use. The Commission also on its own motion corrects certain rules adopted in the Report and Order, and adopts further rule amendments codifying decisions made in the Report and Order.

In this document the Commission amends its rules to accommodate technological advances, facilitate operational flexibility, and promote spectral efficiency in the Aviation Radio Service. The purpose of the Report and Order is to streamline and update our rules governing the Aviation Radio Service.