[Federal Register: July 27, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 143)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 44608-44609]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jy04-17]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 101
[DA 04-1588; WT Docket No. 99-327; FCC 00-272]
Amendment of the Commission's Rules To License Fixed Services at
24 GHz
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; correcting amendment.
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SUMMARY: In a rule published October 5, 2000, the Commission added and
amended regulations governing the licensing and operation of the 24.25-
24.45 GHz and 25.05-25.25 GHz bands to promote the effective use of the
24 GHz band and to accommodate deployment of point-to-point, point-to-
multipoint fixed wireless technology at 24 GHz. In addition, the
Commission adopted competitive bidding rules to select among mutually
exclusive applicants for licenses in these bands. The FCC determined
that the 24.25-24.45 GHz and 25.05-25.25 GHz bands (24 GHz band) would
be made available for licensing throughout the United States by
Economic Areas (EAs). In this connection, the Commission decided to use
a total of 176 service areas--the 172 EAs specified by the Department
of Commerce and four Commission-created EA-like areas for Guam and the
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, and the Gulf of Mexico. This document contains
editorial corrections to the final rules document.
DATES: Effective on July 27, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Zaczek at (202) 418-2487.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 5, 2000, (65 FR 59350), the
Federal Register published a final rule in the above captioned
proceeding. The Commission reached this decision in paragraph 18 of the
Report and Order, which did not include a reference to the perimeter of
the FCC-created EA-like area, Gulf of Mexico (EA 176). This document
corrects paragraph 18 of the Report and Order, published on October 5,
2000, (FR 65 59350).
18. For these reasons, we determine that EAs constitute the most
appropriate geographic area licensing for the 24 GHz band. EAs will
provide ample population coverage and allow 24 GHz band licensees the
flexibility to provide a multitude of service offerings. Thus, we
determine to use a total of 176 service areas--the 172 EAs specified by
the Department of Commerce and four EA-like areas for Guam and the
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin
Islands, American Samoa, and the Gulf of Mexico. In defining the
perimeter of the Gulf of Mexico (EA 176), the Commission has stated
that:
land-based license regions abutting the Gulf of Mexico will extend
to the limit of the territorial waters of the United States in the
Gulf, which is the maritime zone that extends approximately twelve
nautical miles from the U.S. baseline.
Beyond that line of demarcation, we will create the Gulf of
Mexico [service area], which will extend from that line outward to
the broadest geographic limits consistent with international
agreements.\*\
\*\ Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Establish part 27,
The Wireless Communications Service, GN Docket No. 96-228, Report
and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 10,785, 10,816 paragraph 59 (1997) (internal
cross-reference omitted).
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Appendix C of the Report and Order contained Final Rules including
47 CFR 101.523, which establishes the service areas for the 24 GHz
band. As adopted, the rule states that there are ``three EA-like
areas''; however, four EA-like areas are listed by name. Additionally,
as adopted, the rule states that a ``total of 176 authorizations will
be issued for the 24 GHz Service by the FCC,'' which is inaccurate
given that, for the 24 GHz band, each EA has five channel pairs (each
of which is licensed separately) for a total of 880 authorizations. See
47 CFR 101.505 citing 47 CFR 101.147(m), (n), and (r)(9). This
correction is issued pursuant to Sec. 0.331 of the Commission's rules
on delegated authority, 47 CFR 0.331.
Need for Correction
As published, the final regulations contain errors which may prove
to be misleading and need to be clarified.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 101
Communications equipment, Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Federal Communications Commission.
Joel Taubenblatt,
Chief, Broadband Division.
0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications
Commission amends 47 CFR part 101 as follows:
PART 101--FIXED MICROWAVE SERVICES
0
1. The authority for part 101 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154 and 303.
0
2. Section 101.523 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as
follows:
Sec. 101.523 Service areas.
(a) The service areas for 24 GHz are Economic Areas (EAs) as
defined in this paragraph (a). The Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S.
Department of Commerce, organized the 50 States and the District of
Columbia into 172 EAs. See 60 FR 13114 (March 10, 1995). Additionally,
there are four FCC-created EA-like areas:
(1) Guam and Northern Mariana Islands;
(2) Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands;
(3) American Samoa, and
(4) the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico EA extends from 12
nautical miles off the U.S. Gulf coast outward into the Gulf. See 62 FR
9636 (March 3, 1997), in which the Commission created an additional
four economic area-like areas for a total of 176 EA service areas. Maps
of the EAs and the Federal Register Notice that established the 172
Economic Areas (EAs) are available for public inspection and copying at
the FCC Reference Center, Room CY A-257, 445 12th St., SW., Washington,
DC 20554. These maps and data are also
[[Page 44609]]
available on the FCC Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/maps/areas/.
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[FR Doc. 04-16956 Filed 7-26-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P