[Federal Register: October 2, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 190)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 56015-56016]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02oc07-6]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 1, 22, 24, 27, and 90
[WT Docket No. 06-150; CC Docket No. 94-102; WT Docket No. 01-309; WT
Docket No. 03-264; WT Docket No. 06-169; PS Docket No. 06-229; WT
Docket No. 96-86; FCC No. 07-171]
Service Rules for the 698-806 MHz Band and Revision of the
Commission's Rules Regarding Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems,
Wireless Radio Services, Hearing Aid-Compatible Telephones, and Public
Safety Spectrum Requirements
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This document summarizes an Order on Reconsideration adopted
by the Commission in this proceeding. The Order on Reconsideration
announces changes to the composition of the governing board of the
Public Safety Broadband Licensee (the board) as set forth in the
Commission's 700 MHz Second Report and Order (22 FCC Rcd
[[Page 56016]]
15289 (2007)) (Second Report and Order). The National Public Safety
Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) is removed from the board. The
Forestry Conservation Communications Association (FCCA), the American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and
the International Municipal Sign Association (IMSA) are added to the
board. The board's at-large members, jointly selected on delegated
authority by the Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security
Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, are increased from two
to four. These changes increase the total number of board members from
eleven to fifteen.
DATES: Effective October 2, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol Simpson, Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-2391, or Jerry.Cowden@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background. On July 31, 2007, the Commission adopted a Second
Report and Order revising the rules governing the upper 700 MHz band.
In the Second Report and Order, the Commission redesignated ten
megahertz of public safety 700 MHz spectrum (763-768/793-798 MHz) for
the purpose of establishing a nationwide, interoperable broadband
public safety communications network. In this regard, the Commission
established a single nationwide license for this spectrum--the Public
Safety Broadband License. Further, the Commission stated that it would
assign this license to a single entity--the Public Safety Broadband
Licensee (PSBL).
The Second Report and Order established certain criteria for the
Public Safety Broadband Licensee eligibility, including that no
commercial interest may be held in the PSBL, no commercial interest may
participate in the management of the PSBL, the PSBL must be a non-
profit organization, and the PSBL must be broadly representative of the
public safety community. Further, the Second Report and Order requires
that the PSBL be governed by a voting board consisting of eleven
members, one each from the nine organizations representative of public
safety listed below, and two at-large members selected by the Public
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, jointly on delegated authority. The nine organizations that are
to be represented on the board, with each organization represented by
one voting board member, are: The Association of Public Safety
Communications Officials (APCO); the National Emergency Number
Association (NENA); the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP); the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); the
National Sheriffs' Association; the International City/County
Management Association (ICMA); the National Governor's Association
(NGA); the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC);
and the National Association of State Emergency Medical Services
Officials (NASEMSO).
On September 14, 2007, representatives of FCCA, AASHTO, and IMSA
filed a notice of ex parte presentation recommending that the
Commission, on its own motion, add FCCA, AASHTO, and IMSA as voting
members to the PSBL board of directors. For the reasons discussed
below, the Commission makes certain changes to the composition of the
PSBL board of directors on our own motion.
Discussion. As noted above, one of our main criteria for the PSBL
is that it be as broadly representative of the public safety community
as possible. While the original nine organizations the Commission named
would provide a substantial degree of such representation, the
Commission finds that making the following changes to the board of
directors would further serve this particular criterion and the public
interest. First, the Commission names FCCA, AASHTO, and IMSA as
additional organizations to be represented on the board as voting
members. FCCA was established in 1944 and coordinates frequencies
within the Forestry--Conservation spectrum. In this capacity, FCCA
provides services for forestry and conservation, police, fire, EMS and
local government agencies. AASHTO represents highway and transportation
departments in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico, including the air, highway, public transportation, rail, and
water transportation modes. IMSA dates back to 1896 and offers programs
in a variety of public safety disciplines including public safety
telecommunications, traffic control, work zone safety, and fire
detection and reporting systems. Based on the particular expertise each
of these organizations represents, the Commission finds that inclusion
of these three organizations would further help to broaden
representation of the public safety community in the PSBL board of
directors.
Second, because FCCA, AASHTO, and IMSA are members of NPSTC, the
Commission will remove NPSTC as one of the named organizations that may
be represented as a voting member of the PSBL. Finally, the Commission
finds that increasing the number of at-large members from the current
two to four would provide additional flexibility to maximize the
effectiveness of the PSBL. Accordingly, four at-large members will be
selected by the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, jointly on delegated authority.
This will bring the total number of board members to fifteen.
Ordering Clauses. Accordingly, it is ordered that pursuant to
sections 1, 2, 4(i), 5(c), 7, 10, 201, 202, 208, 301, 302, 303, 307,
308, 309, 310, 314, 316, 319, 324, 332, 333, 337 and 403 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i),
155(c), 157, 160, 201, 202, 208, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 310,
314, 316, 319, 324, 332, 333, 337 and 403, this order on
reconsideration in WT Docket No. 06-150, CC Docket No. 94-102, WT
Docket No. 01-309, WT Docket No. 03-264, WT Docket No. 06-169, PS
Docket No. 06-229, and WT Docket No. 96-86 is adopted.
It is further ordered that, that pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) and
47 CFR 1.427(b), this order on reconsideration will become effective
upon publication in the Federal Register.
It is further ordered that, pursuant to Section 5(c) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 5(c), the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security
Bureau are granted delegated authority to implement the policies set
forth in this order on reconsideration.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-19445 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P