47 CFR 1 - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's rules contained in the Second Report and Order, FCC 11-119, pertaining to carriage of video programming vendors by multichannel video programming distributors (program carriage rules). This notice is consistent with the Secord Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts a rule that affects the process of tower construction by instituting a pre-application notification process so that members of the public will have a meaningful opportunity to comment on the environmental effects of proposed antenna structures that require registration with the Commission. As an interim measure pending completion of a programmatic environmental analysis and subsequent rulemaking proceeding, the Commission also requires that an EA be prepared for any proposed tower over 450 feet in height.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that comprehensively reform and modernize the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation.

In this document, the Commission adopts rules that implement provisions of section 104 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), Public Law 111-260, the most significant accessibility legislation since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. A Proposed Rule relating to implementation of section 718 of the Communications Act of 1934, as enacted by the CVAA, is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register . This proceeding amends the Commission's rules to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the incredible and innovative communications technologies of the 21st-century. These rules are significant and necessary steps towards ensuring that the 54 million Americans with disabilities are able to fully utilize and benefit from advanced communications services (ACS). People with disabilities often have not shared in the benefits of this rapid technological advancement. The CVAA implements steps in addressing this inequity by advancing the accessibility of ACS in a manner that is consistent with our objectives of promoting investment and innovation. This is consistent with the Commission's commitment to promote rapid deployment of and universal access to broadband services for all Americans.

In a rule published November 29, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) comprehensively reformed and modernized the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation. The Commission adopted fiscally responsible, accountable, incentive-based policies to transition these outdated systems to the Connect America Fund, ensuring fairness for consumers and addressing the communications infrastructure challenges of today and tomorrow. The Commission uses measured but firm glide paths to provide industry with certainty and sufficient time to adapt to a changed regulatory landscape, and establish a framework to distribute universal service funding in the most efficient and technologically neutral manner possible, through market-based mechanisms such as competitive bidding. This document provides additional information to the final rule document published on November 29, 2011.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) comprehensively reforms and modernizes the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation. The Commission adopts fiscally responsible, accountable, incentive-based policies to transition these outdated systems to the Connect America Fund, ensuring fairness for consumers and addressing the communications infrastructure challenges of today and tomorrow. The Commission uses measured but firm glide paths to provide industry with certainty and sufficient time to adapt to a changed regulatory landscape, and establish a framework to distribute universal service funding in the most efficient and technologically neutral manner possible, through market-based mechanisms such as competitive bidding.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) is making a number of nonsubstantive, editorial revisions to the Commission's rules. These revisions remove certain rule provisions that are without current legal effect and therefore are obsolete, amend rules that contain references to obsolete rules or statutory provisions, and correct rules that contain outdated terminology or typographical errors. These nonsubstantive revisions are part of the Commission's ongoing examination and improvement of FCC processes and procedures. The revisions clarify, simplify, and harmonize our rules, making the rules more readily accessible to the public and avoiding potential confusion for interested parties and Commission staff alike.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register that contained new information collection requirements. This document announces that, on January 30, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) gave approval for these information requirements contained in the Commission's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as well as the Order on Reconsideration, Development of Nationwide Broadband Data To Evaluate Reasonable and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to All Americans, Improvement of Wireless Broadband Subscribership Data, and Development of Data on Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Subscribership.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to implement a provision of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), which requires each provider of interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service or non-interconnected VoIP service to begin participating in and contributing to the interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund in a manner prescribed by regulation that is consistent with and comparable to the obligations of other TRS Fund contributors.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to amend the rules governing the 800 MHz Cellular Radiotelephone Service (Cellular Service). In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( NPRM ), the Commission proposes to transition the Cellular Service from a site-based licensing model to a geographic-based model by offering an “overlay” license for every Cellular Market Area (CMA) and corresponding channel block (Block A or Block B), in two stages, via auction. The Overlay Licensees would be obligated to protect existing licensees' Cellular operations from harmful interference. The NPRM also includes proposals to update various other Cellular Service rules. The Commission seeks comment on all its proposals as well as on alternative proposals. The companion Order imposes certain interim procedures, including a freeze on the filing of certain Cellular applications in certain markets and other interim procedures regarding currently pending applications to help ensure an orderly and efficient rulemaking proceeding while the Commission considers changes to the Cellular Service rules.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's rules contained in the Second Report and Order, FCC 11-119, pertaining to carriage of video programming vendors by multichannel video programming distributors (program carriage rules). This notice is consistent with the Secord Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts a rule that affects the process of tower construction by instituting a pre-application notification process so that members of the public will have a meaningful opportunity to comment on the environmental effects of proposed antenna structures that require registration with the Commission. As an interim measure pending completion of a programmatic environmental analysis and subsequent rulemaking proceeding, the Commission also requires that an EA be prepared for any proposed tower over 450 feet in height.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that comprehensively reform and modernize the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation.

In this document, the Commission adopts rules that implement provisions of section 104 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), Public Law 111-260, the most significant accessibility legislation since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. A Proposed Rule relating to implementation of section 718 of the Communications Act of 1934, as enacted by the CVAA, is published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register . This proceeding amends the Commission's rules to ensure that people with disabilities have access to the incredible and innovative communications technologies of the 21st-century. These rules are significant and necessary steps towards ensuring that the 54 million Americans with disabilities are able to fully utilize and benefit from advanced communications services (ACS). People with disabilities often have not shared in the benefits of this rapid technological advancement. The CVAA implements steps in addressing this inequity by advancing the accessibility of ACS in a manner that is consistent with our objectives of promoting investment and innovation. This is consistent with the Commission's commitment to promote rapid deployment of and universal access to broadband services for all Americans.

In a rule published November 29, 2011, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) comprehensively reformed and modernized the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation. The Commission adopted fiscally responsible, accountable, incentive-based policies to transition these outdated systems to the Connect America Fund, ensuring fairness for consumers and addressing the communications infrastructure challenges of today and tomorrow. The Commission uses measured but firm glide paths to provide industry with certainty and sufficient time to adapt to a changed regulatory landscape, and establish a framework to distribute universal service funding in the most efficient and technologically neutral manner possible, through market-based mechanisms such as competitive bidding. This document provides additional information to the final rule document published on November 29, 2011.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) comprehensively reforms and modernizes the universal service and intercarrier compensation systems to ensure that robust, affordable voice and broadband service, both fixed and mobile, are available to Americans throughout the nation. The Commission adopts fiscally responsible, accountable, incentive-based policies to transition these outdated systems to the Connect America Fund, ensuring fairness for consumers and addressing the communications infrastructure challenges of today and tomorrow. The Commission uses measured but firm glide paths to provide industry with certainty and sufficient time to adapt to a changed regulatory landscape, and establish a framework to distribute universal service funding in the most efficient and technologically neutral manner possible, through market-based mechanisms such as competitive bidding.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) is making a number of nonsubstantive, editorial revisions to the Commission's rules. These revisions remove certain rule provisions that are without current legal effect and therefore are obsolete, amend rules that contain references to obsolete rules or statutory provisions, and correct rules that contain outdated terminology or typographical errors. These nonsubstantive revisions are part of the Commission's ongoing examination and improvement of FCC processes and procedures. The revisions clarify, simplify, and harmonize our rules, making the rules more readily accessible to the public and avoiding potential confusion for interested parties and Commission staff alike.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register that contained new information collection requirements. This document announces that, on January 30, 2009, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) gave approval for these information requirements contained in the Commission's Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, as well as the Order on Reconsideration, Development of Nationwide Broadband Data To Evaluate Reasonable and Timely Deployment of Advanced Services to All Americans, Improvement of Wireless Broadband Subscribership Data, and Development of Data on Interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Subscribership.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to implement a provision of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), which requires each provider of interconnected voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service or non-interconnected VoIP service to begin participating in and contributing to the interstate Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) Fund in a manner prescribed by regulation that is consistent with and comparable to the obligations of other TRS Fund contributors.

In this document, the Commission is initiating a review of its policies and procedures that apply to foreign ownership of common carrier, aeronautical en route and aeronautical fixed radio station licensees. The Commission seeks to reduce to the extent possible the regulatory costs and burdens imposed on common carrier, aeronautical en route and aeronautical fixed radio station applicants, licensees, and spectrum lessees; provide greater transparency and more predictability with respect to the Commission's foreign ownership filing requirements and review process; and facilitate investment from new sources of capital, while continuing to protect important interests related to national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy.

In this document, the Commission seeks to accelerate the development and deployment of Next Generation 911 (NG911) technology that will enable the public to send emergency communications to 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) via text, photos, videos, and data and enhance the information available to PSAPs and first responders for assessing and responding to emergencies. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on a variety of issues related to the short-term and long-term transition to NG911.

This document grants a motion requesting an extension of time to file comments in response to 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.

In 1993, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted rules pertaining to carriage of video programming vendors by multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”), known as the “program carriage rules.” The rules are intended to benefit consumers by promoting competition and diversity in the video programming and video distribution markets. In this document, the FCC amends its rules to improve the procedures for addressing complaints alleging violations of the program carriage rules.

In this document, the Commission makes several nonsubstantive, editorial revisions to parts 1, 73 and 76 of the Commission's rules. The Commission removes rules that are without current legal effect and are obsolete. The deleted rules include the fairness doctrine, broadcast flag rules and cable programming services complaint rules.

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.

In this Report and Order (Order), the Commission adopts rules to implement the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009 (Truth in Caller ID Act, or Act). The Truth in Caller ID Act, and the Commission's implementing rules, prohibit any person or entity from knowingly altering or manipulating caller identification information with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register that contained new information collection requirements. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) gave approval for these information requirements contained in the Commission's Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, Implementation of Section 224 of the Act; A National Broadband Plan for Our Future.

In this document, the Commission amends its rules to clarify that winning bidders in auctions of commercial broadcast spectrum are required to submit an application filing fee with their post-auction long-form applications. This clarification is intended to rectify a possible inconsistency throughout the Commission's rules, and in an earlier Commission Order.

The Federal Communications Commission extends the deadlines for filing comments and reply comments on the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( NPRM ), in this proceeding, which was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, May 10, 2011.

This document contains a corrected mailing address for the Defense Information Systems Agency in the regulations that we published in the Federal Register of January 14, 2002, 67 FR 1615.

In this document, the Commission amends its rules to make additional spectrum available for new investment in mobile broadband networks while also ensuring that the United States maintains robust mobile satellite service capabilities. First, this document adds co-primary Fixed and Mobile allocations to the Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) 2 GHz band, consistent with the International Table of Allocations, allowing more flexible use of the band, including for terrestrial broadband services, in the future. Second, to create greater predictability and regulatory parity with the bands licensed for terrestrial mobile broadband service, the document extends the Commission's existing secondary market spectrum manager spectrum leasing policies, procedures, and rules that currently apply to wireless terrestrial services to terrestrial services provided using the Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) of an MSS system.

In this document, the Commission amends its rules to revise its Schedule of Application Fees per Section 8(b)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934. The Commission is required to revise its application fee rates every two years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. For FY 2011, calculated from October 2007 and October 2009, the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (“CPI-U”) increased 3.5 percent. The attached Schedule of Application Fees reflects revised fee rates based on a CPI-U rate increase of 3.5 percent.

In this document the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on revisions to its rules to help fill gaps in wireless coverage and expand broadband in rural and difficult-to-serve areas, and protect wireless networks from harm. The development and deployment of well-designed signal boosters holds great potential to empower consumers in rural and underserved areas to improve their wireless coverage in their homes, at their jobs, and when they travel by car, recreational vehicle, or boat.

In this document, the Commission revises its pole attachment rules to promote competition and to reduce the potentially excessive costs of deploying telecommunications, cable, and broadband networks. The Commission also revises the telecommunications rate formula for pole attachments consistent with the statutory framework, reinterprets the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to allow incumbent LECs to file complaints before the Commission if they believe a pole attachment rate, term, or condition is unjust and unreasonable, and confirms wireless providers are entitled to the same rate as other telecommunications carriers. In addition, the Commission resolves multiple petitions for reconsideration and addresses various points regarding the nondiscriminatory use of attachment techniques.

This document seeks comment on particular issues for consideration by the Federal Communication Commission in connection with the proposed creation of a new Mobility Fund to make available one-time support to significantly improve coverage of current-generation or better mobile voice and Internet service for consumers in areas where such coverage is currently missing. Specifically, comment is sought on developing a more tailored approach that provides at least some Mobility Fund support for Tribal lands.

In this document, the Commission extends the comment and reply comment period deadlines. This action is taken in order to provide a limited extension to serve the public interest by allowing parties additional time to fully and carefully analyze the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to adopt rules that implement provisions in section 104 of the “Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010.”

In this document, the Bureau invites comment, pursuant to the rules of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), on draft rules and interim procedures designed to ensure that the environmental effects of proposed communications towers, including their effects on migratory birds, are fully considered prior to construction.

In this document, the Commission seeks comments to clarify the rules on the payment of filing fees by winning bidders in auctions of construction permits in the broadcast services in conjunction with their long-form applications.

The Federal Communications Commission has published a number of requirements related to practice and procedure before the Commission. This document announces the approval of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for information collection requirements contained in the sections outlined in the DATES section.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) addresses a number of important issues pertaining to the Aviation Radio Services, amending its rules in the interest of accommodating the communications needs of the aviation community to the greatest possible extent, and ensuring that aeronautical spectrum is used efficiently to enhance the safety of flight.

On August 6, 2009, the Commission published a final rule adopting procedural rules to govern petitions for forbearance filed pursuant to section 10 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. One section within that document could not take effect until the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had approved the associated information collection requirements. OMB approved those information collection requirements on April 5, 2010, under OMB Control Number 3060-1138. This document confirms the effective date of that rule.

In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Commission proposes rules to implement the Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009. The proposed rules prohibit caller ID spoofing done with the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value. The Commission also seeks comments that will assist the Commission in preparing a statutorily required report to Congress on whether additional legislation is necessary to prohibit the provision of inaccurate caller identification information in technologies that are successor or replacement technologies to telecommunications services or IP-enabled voice services.

In this document, the Commission proposes to adopt rules that implement provisions in section 104 of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), the most significant piece of accessibility legislation since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. This proceeding would update and amend the Commission's rules to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to fully utilize advanced communications services (ACS) and equipment and networks used for such services. Specifically, we seek comment on ways to implement the CVAA's requirements on providers of ACS and manufacturers of equipment used for ACS to make their services and products accessible to people with disabilities. The intended effect is to promote rapid deployment of and universal access to broadband services for all Americans across the country, because broadband technology can stimulate economic growth and provide opportunity for all Americans.

The Federal Communications Commission published in the Federal Register of February 28, 2011, a document concerning modernization of the FCC Form 477. Inadvertently the Comment Filing Procedures section of the February 28, 2011 publication mistakenly references WC Docket No. 10-191. This document removes that incorrect reference and replaces it with the correct docket number in this proceeding, WC Docket No. 11-10.

In this document, the Commission considers whether and how to reform the Form 477 data program, which serves as the Commission's primary tool for collecting broadband and local telephone data. The Commission believes it is time to consider whether modifying the Form 477 will improve the Commission's ability to carry out its duties under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act), and is an important part of the Commission's larger initiative to modernize and streamline how the Commission collects, uses, and disseminates data.

In this document, the Commission seeks to promote innovation and efficiency in spectrum use in the Experimental Radio Service (ERS). For many years, the ERS has provided fertile ground for testing innovative ideas that have led to new services and new devices for all sectors of the economy. The Commission proposes to leverage the power of experimental radio licensing to accelerate the rate at which these ideas transform from prototypes to consumer devices and services. Its goal is to inspire researchers to dream, discover and deliver the innovations that push the boundaries of the broadband ecosystem. The resulting advancements in devices and services available to the American public and greater spectrum efficiency over the long term will promote economic growth, global competitiveness, and a better way of life for all Americans.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposes revisions to the Commission's Registration System (CORES), which is used by individuals and entities doing business with the FCC to obtain a unique identifying number called an FCC Registration Number, or “FRN.” The proposed modifications to CORES include: Requiring entities and individuals to rely primarily upon a single FRN that may, at their discretion, be linked to subsidiary or associated accounts; allowing entities to identify multiple points of contact; eliminating some of our exceptions to the requirement that entities and individuals provide their Taxpayer Identification Number (“TIN”) at the time of registration; requiring FRN holders to provide their e-mail addresses; modifying CORES log-in procedures; adding attention flags and automated notices that would inform FRN holders of their financial standing before the Commission; and adding data fields to enable FRN holders to indicate their tax-exempt status and notify the Commission of pending bankruptcy proceedings. These modifications, if implemented, will make CORES more feature-friendly and improve the Commission's ability to comply with various statutes that govern debt collection and the collection of personal information by the Federal government.