Title 47 published on 2012-10-01
The following are only the Rules published in the Federal Register after the published date of Title 47.
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In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) eliminates unnecessary information, streamlines the filing of annual international traffic and revenue and circuit status reports, and modernizes the types of information it collects. The Commission found that the burdens of filing this information outweigh any benefit from the information. To simplify the collection of data on international telecommunications services, the Commission consolidated the traffic and revenue and circuit status reports into one rule and mandated a consolidated Filing Manual that will ensure that future changes to the reports will be coordinated. These actions are part of the Commission's review of its reporting requirements and are intended to remove unnecessary information collections and tailor its information collections to the current state of the international telecommunications market.
This document announces the approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on July 22, 1998 of the information collection requirements in an added section. These requirements were contained in the Commission's Report and Order in CS Docket No. 97-151 that was released on February 6, 1998 and published in the Federal Register on March 12, 1998. The Report and Order describes rules and policies concerning a methodology for just and reasonable rates for pole attachments, conduits, and rights-of-way for telecommunications carriers. A section was added as part of the Report and Order at and sets forth the allocation of unusable space costs in the pole attachment rate formula for any telecommunications carrier or cable operator providing telecommunications services.
In this Report and Order, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) provides for the efficient licensing of two-way in-flight broadband services, including Internet access, to passengers and flight crews aboard commercial airliners and private aircraft. Specifically, the Report and Order establishes technical and licensing rules for Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAA), i.e., earth stations on aircraft communicating with Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) geostationary-orbit (GSO) space stations operating in the 10.95-11.2 GHz, 11.45-11.7 GHz, 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth or downlink) and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space or uplink) frequency bands.
In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of six months, the information collection associated with the Commission's Misuse of Internet Protocol (IP) Captioned Telephone Service; Telecommunications Relay Services and Speech-to-Speech Services for Individuals with Hearing and Speech Disabilities, Order ( Order ). This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the requirements.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission reforms its universal service support program for health care, transitioning its existing Internet Access and Rural Health Care Pilot programs into a new, efficient Healthcare Connect Fund. This Fund will expand health care provider access to broadband, especially in rural areas, and encourage the creation of state and regional broadband health care networks. Access to broadband for medical providers saves lives while lowering health care costs and improving patient experiences.
This document announces the effective date of rules published in the Federal Register on January 3, 2005. The final rules revised the obligation of television broadcasters to protect and serve children in their audience.
The Federal Communications Commission published requirements related to Establishment of Class A TV Service and Cable Television Rate Regulation; Cost of Service Rules, which were determined to contain information collection requirements that were subject to OMB review. After further review, we have found OMB approval is not required. This document intends to provide clarification that these rules are effective and that it has been determined that these provisions are not subject to OMB review.
In this document the Audio Division, at the request of Word Power, Inc., allots a first local service to Greenup, Illinois, and reserves Channel *230A at Greenup for noncommercial educational use. A staff engineering analysis confirms that Channel *230A at Greenup would provide a first and/or second NCE radio service to 67.5 percent (21,149 persons) of the total population of 31,338 persons. Channel *230A can be allotted to Greenup consistent with the distance separation requirements of Section 73.207 of the Commission's rules with a site restriction 4.6 kilometers (2.9 miles) southwest of the community. The reference coordinates for Channel *230A are 39-12-38 NL and 88-11-15 WL.
This document announces the effective date of rules published in the Federal Register on November 20, 2002. The final rules modified the TV Table of Allotments.
This document announces the effective date of rules published in the Federal Register on December 6, 1994. The final rules revised to provide cable operators with additional incentives to expand their facilities and services in a way that both ensures that cable rates are reasonable and expands the opportunities for cable programmers to reach viewers.
This document announces the effective date of rules publishedin the Federal Register on October 5, 1995. The Commission simplified rules affecting cable operators' rates and provided cable operators with an additional option for adjusting their rates.
This document announces the effective date of rules published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2004. The final rules revised broadcast and multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) equal employment opportunity (EEO) requirements.
This document announces the effective date of rules published in the Federal Register , 61 FR 43160, August 21, 1996. The final rules modified rules and policies concerning Open Video Systems.
The Commission eliminates the International Settlements Policy (ISP) and applies a modified version to Cuba. The Commission amends its rules and procedures to enhance its ability to respond to foreign carriers' anticompetitive behavior in and timely and effective manner. Eliminating the ISP will enable more market-based arrangements between U.S. and foreign carriers on all U.S.-international routes giving U.S. consumers competitive pricing when they make international calls. The Commission also adopts certain limited measures to improve the Commission's ability to protect U.S. consumers from the effects of anticompetitive conduct by foreign carriers.
This document contains a correction to the final regulations of the Commission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2012, 77 FR 71131. The final regulations establish a do-not-call registry for public safety answering points (PSAP) and prohibit the use of automatic dialing equipment to contact those registered numbers.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, until July 31, 2013, the information collection associated with the Commission's Connect America Fund; High-Cost Universal Service Support, Report and Order, ( Order ), released on November 6, 2012. The Commission submitted a request for approval of a new collection under control number 3060-1181 to the OMB for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). This notice is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules once it receives OMB approval.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) modifies its rules for Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (VMES) in order to promote greater flexibility for VMES operators, which, in turn, should enable the VMES industry to create more spectrally-efficient broadband solutions in the Ku-band without causing harmful interference to Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) providers and without exposing the general public to harmful radiofrequency radiation.
In this document, the Commission affirms, modifies, and clarifies its actions in response to various petitions for reconsideration and/or clarification. The revised rules are intended to enable Wireless Communications Service (WCS) licensees to deploy broadband services in the 2305-2320 MHz and 2345-2360 MHz (2.3 GHz) WCS bands while continuing to protect Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) operator Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Sirius XM) and aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) operations in adjacent bands and the deep space network (DSN) earth station in Goldstone, California from harmful interference. In addition, the revised rules will facilitate the flexible deployment and operation of SDARS terrestrial repeaters in the 2320-2345 MHz SDARS band, while protecting adjacent bands WCS licensees from harmful interference.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission amends various provisions of the Commission's rules pertaining to licensing and operation of satellite service radio stations. With two exceptions, the amendments are non-substantive; that is, they neither impose new requirements nor eliminate or alter existing requirements. The two substantive amendments adopted in this Report and Order amend the rules in minor ways by eliminating requirements to identify a radio service and station location in correspondence and codifying an established practice of allowing applicants to cross-reference, rather than re-submit, previously filed information regarding non-U.S.-licensed satellites. Collectively, the changes adopted in this Report and Order will facilitate preparation of earth and space station applications, promote compliance with the Commission's operating rules, and ease administrative burdens for applicants, licensees, and the Commission.
In this document, the Commission adopts a final interpretive rule modification to clarify its Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) payment rule to explicitly provide that the Interstate TRS Fund (Fund or TRS Fund) administrator shall not be obligated to pay any request for compensation until it has been established as compensable. The Commission's action is intended preserve the integrity and viability of the TRS Fund by ensuring that obligations are not incurred prior to the Fund administrator or the Commission has determined that requests for payment are compensable. Because this is an interpretive rule modification, it is not subject to notice and comment procedures.
In this document, the Commission adopts interim rules prohibiting all referrals for rewards programs (as described in the synopsis below) and any other form of direct or indirect inducements, financial or otherwise, to subscribe to or use, or encourage subscription to or use of, Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS); requiring each IP CTS provider, as a precondition to providing service to new IP CTS users, to register each new IP CTS user, to obtain from the user, as part of the registration process, self-certification that the user has a hearing loss that necessitates IP CTS to communicate in a manner that is functionally equivalent to communication by conventional voice telephone users, and where the consumer accepts IP CTS equipment at a price below $75 from any source other than a governmental program, to also obtain from the user a certification from an independent, third party professional attesting to the same; and requiring IP CTS providers to ensure that equipment and software used in conjunction with their service have a default setting of captions off at the beginning of each call, so that the consumer must take an affirmative step to turn on the captions each time the consumer wishes to use IP CTS. The Commission's action is intended to address certain practices related to the provision and marketing of IP CTS that appear to be contributing to a recent and dramatic spike in reimbursement requests to the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service Fund (TRS Fund or Fund), of sufficient magnitude to constitute a serious threat to the Fund if not promptly and decisively addressed.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) increases the Nation's supply of spectrum for mobile broadband by adopting flexible use rules for up to 40 megahertz of spectrum in the 2 GHz band (2000-2020 MHz and 2180-2200 MHz), which we term the AWS-4 band. In so doing, we carry out a recommendation in the National Broadband Plan that the Commission enable the provision of stand-alone terrestrial services in the 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) spectrum band. Specifically, we remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to mobile broadband use of this spectrum, and adopt service, technical, and licensing rules that will encourage innovation and investment in mobile broadband and provide a stable regulatory regime in which broadband deployment can develop.
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 Wireless Backhaul Second Report and Order ( R&O ), Facilitating the Use of Microwave for Wireless Backhaul and Other Uses and Providing Additional Flexibility to Broadcast Auxiliary Service and Operational Fixed Microwave Licensees. This notice is consistent with the R&O, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the Rural Microwave Flexibility Policy.
This document contains a correction to text in the Report and Order, FCC 12-22, adopted on February 15, 2012 and released on February 21, 2012, in PS Docket No. 11-82. The Report and Order was published in the Federal Register on Friday, April 27, 2012. This document also contains a related correction to text in the Federal Register but makes no changes to the final 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 Report and Order (Order), Facilitating the use of Microwave for Wireless Backhaul and Other Uses and Providing Additional Flexibility To Broadcast Auxiliary Service and Operational Fixed Microwave Licensees. This notice is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.
The Federal Communications Commission published in the Federal Register of November 16, 2011, a document amending § 1.229(b). Inadvertently, this rule was amended incorrectly. This document makes correcting amendments.
This document makes a number of nonsubstantive, editorial or conforming revisions to the Commission's rules. These revisions are made to delete certain rule provisions that are without current legal effect or are otherwise obsolete. They are also made to clarify, simplify, and harmonize Commission rules, making the rules more readily accessible to the public and avoiding potential confusion for interested parties and Commission staff alike. In addition to deleting balance sheet account instructions that are now obsolete, as well as references to rules that have previously been deleted, this document deletes and amends rules that refer to unbundled network elements that are no longer subject to unbundling as a result of decisions in the Triennial Review proceedings or expired transition periods.
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) adopts data specifications for collecting incumbent local exchange carrier (LEC) study area boundaries. The Bureau will use the maps to analyze costs of LECs and determine which LECs are eligible for support to deliver telecommunications and information services in rural and high cost areas, and to implement certain reforms to universal service support. The data will be used as an essential input in a model that determines the level of high cost support for rate of return carriers. The Bureau will also use the data to determine whether unsubsidized competitors offer service within all or a portion of an incumbent LEC's study area, and to phase out support where unsubsidized competitors offer voice and broadband service throughout an entire study area. Commission intends to allocate support among eligible LECs in a manner that best ensures that consumers in rural and high cost area have services and rates that are reasonably comparable to those in urban areas.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) adopts regulations governing the Technical Panel and dispute resolution process established by Congress to facilitate the relocation of, and spectrum sharing with, U.S. Government stations in spectrum bands reallocated from Federal use to non-Federal use or to shared use. This action is necessary to ensure the timely relocation of Federal entities' spectrum-related operations and, where applicable, the timely implementation of arrangements for the sharing of radio frequencies. Specifically, this action implements certain additions and modifications to the NTIA Organization Act as amended by the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (the Tax Relief Act). As required by the Tax Relief Act, this rule has been reviewed and approved by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
The Audio Division, at the request of Charles Crawford, substitutes Channel 282A for vacant Channel 232A at Hebbronville, Texas. The purpose of the proposed channel substitution at Hebbronville is to accommodate the hybrid application, File No. BNPH-20070502ADP, which requests the substitution of Channel 232A for Channel 282A at Benavides, Texas, and modification of the new FM station. Channel 282A can be allotted to Hebbronville consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Rules with a site restriction 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) northwest of the community. The reference coordinates for Channel 282A are 27-23-18 NL and 98-44-26 WL. Channel 282A at Hebbronville is located 320 kilometers from the Mexican Border. Although Mexican concurrence has been requested, notification has not been received. If a construction permit for Channel 282A at Hebbronville, Texas is granted prior to receipt of formal concurrence by the Mexican government, the authorization will include the following condition: “Operation with the facilities specified herein for Hebbronville, Texas, is subject to modification, suspension, or termination without right to hearing, if found by the Commission to be necessary in order to conform to the Mexico-United States FM Broadcast Agreement, or if specifically objected to by the Government of Mexico.”
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) reconsiders and clarifies certain aspects of the USF/ICC Transformation Order, in response to various petitions for reconsideration and/or clarification. We grant in part petitions related to the financial reporting obligations of eligible telecommunications carriers (ETCs) that are privately held rate of return companies. This Order also provides additional guidance and clarifications regarding the standard and process for requests for waiver of our universal service reforms.
In this document, the Commission continues the process of reviewing its special access rules to ensure that they reflect the state of competition today and promote competition, investment, and access to dedicated communications services businesses across the country rely on every day to deliver their products and services to American consumers. The Report and Order initiates a comprehensive data collection and specifies the nature of the data to be collected and the scope of respondents. An initial version of the data collection is attached to the Report and Order as an appendix; the Report and Order delegates authority to the Commission's Wireline Competition Bureau to review and modify the collection to implement the requirements of the Report and Order.
In this document, the Commission modifies its rules in order to implement provisions of the Local Community Radio Act of 2010 (“LCRA”). It also proposes changes to its rules intended to promote the low power FM service's localism and diversity goals, reduce the potential for licensing abuses, and clarify certain rules.
The Audio Division, at the request of Appalachian Broadcasting Company, Inc., allots Channel 265A at Maysville, Georgia, as the community's second local service. A staff engineering analysis confirms that Channel 265A can be allotted to Maysville consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Rules with a site restriction 13.4 kilometers (8.3 miles) northwest of the community. The reference coordinates for Channel 265A at Maysville are 34-20-16 NL and 83-39-52 WL.
This document grants the Petitions for Reconsideration filed separately by Modesto Peace/Life Center (“MPLC”) and Calvary Chapel of Turlock, Inc. (“CCT”), reinstates the applications, File Nos. BNPED-20100224ABX and BNPED-20100226AGO, respectively, nunc pro tunc, and re-reserves Channel 238A at Westley, California for noncommercial educational use.
The Audio Division, at the request of Georgia-Carolina Radiocasting Company, LLC, allots FM Channel 287A and deletes FM Channel 244A at Tignall, Georgia. The allotment change is part of a hybrid rule making and FM application proposal. Channel 287A can be allotted at Tignall, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, at coordinates 33-45-22 NL and 82-42-56 WL.
This document amends the Commission's rules to correct grammatical, typographical, and display errors in the United States Table of Frequency Allocations (U.S. Table) and also remove inconsistencies between the non-Federal Table of Frequency Allocations (non-Federal Table) and parts 15 and 90 of the Commission's rules.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) reconsiders and clarifies certain aspects of the iTRS Toll Free Order in response to a petition for reconsideration and clarification filed by Sorenson Communications, Inc. (Sorenson). The Commission grants Sorenson's Petition and clarifies certain aspects of the user notification requirements and denies the remainder of the Petition relating to the database mapping requirements and establishing a one-year end date for the customer notification requirements.
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hereby makes certain changes to its regulations, which relate to the public availability of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management (NTIA Manual). Specifically, NTIA updates the version of the Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management with which federal agencies must comply when requesting use of the radio frequency spectrum.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a document in the Federal Register of September 5, 2012. In this document, the FCC on its own motion, pursuant to § 1.108 of the Commission's rules, corrects the channel center frequencies to align the wider 60 and 80 megahertz channels with the existing 30 and 40 megahertz channels in part 101 of our rules in the Wireless Backhaul 2nd R&O and issues this limited modification of the Wireless Backhaul 2nd R&O, in order to establish more efficient channel assignments, consistent with the Commission's intent to improve spectrum utilization in these bands. In addition, the FCC corrects an entry to the table in § 101.115(b)(2).
In this document, the Commission acts on six petitions for reconsideration of the Fourth Report and Order, challenging the per-market and/or the national caps adopted in the Fourth Report and Order in this proceeding. In response to the petitions for reconsideration, the Commission modifies the national cap to allow each applicant to pursue up to 70 applications, so long as no more than 50 of them are in the spectrum-limited radio markets identified in the Fourth Report and Order; increases the per-market cap for spectrum-limited markets to allow up to three applications per applicant for each market, subject to certain conditions; and clarifies the application of the per-market cap in “embedded” markets.
In this document, the Commission denied four of six Petitions for Reconsideration, Petitions for Partial Reconsideration, and Petitions for Clarification of the Second Report and Order (Second R&O) in this proceeding, granting in part and denying in part two of the petitions. The Commission clarified some of the methodology to be used in applying the new rules and procedures in the Second R&O, in particular the method of counting reception services in service gain and loss areas, to assist applicants and allotment proponents in accurately applying the new rules and procedures. The Commission also further restricted the categories of applicants and allotment proponents to whom the new rules and procedures apply, finding that equitable considerations supported such restrictions. In addition to restrictions set forth in the Second R&O, the new rules will not apply to applications and allotment proposals filed before the new rules were proposed, or to those applications and proposals that have already been subject to Commission decisions, but that remain pending due to subsequent legal challenges.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) amends its rules to reassign to the Office of Managing Director (OMD) certain audit activities formerly assigned to the Office of Inspector General (OIG). The activities concern oversight of the annual audit of the Universal Service Administrative Corporation (USAC) required by the Commission's rules. In addition, the Commission delegates of authority to OMD, in consultation with the Office of General Counsel, to issue subpoenas concerning matters within its jurisdiction.
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 certain of the provisions of the rules adopted as part of the Commission's Lifeline and Link Up Reform and Modernization Report and Order ( Order ). The Commission submitted revisions to those information collection requirements under control number 3060-0819 to OMB for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), 77 FR 52718, August 30, 2012. The revisions as updated were approved by OMB on November 7, 2012.
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 requirements (form revisions) associated with the Commission's rules contained in the Third Report and Order, FCC 11-190, pertaining to the policies to promote rural radio service and to streamline allotment and assignment procedures. This notice is consistent with the Third Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of these information collection requirements (form changes).
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of October 26, 2012. The document announces the effective date of rules containing information collection requirements approved by the Office of Management and Budget that were adopted to help consumers prevent and detect the placement of unauthorized charges on their telephone bills, an unlawful and fraudulent practice commonly referred to as “cramming.”
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of May 24, 2012. This document corrects rules adopted to help consumers prevent and detect the placement of unauthorized charges on their telephone bills, an unlawful and fraudulent practice commonly referred to as “cramming.”
In this document, the Commission adopts rules to create a Do-Not-Call registry for public safety answering points (PSAPs) as required by the “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012” (Tax Relief Act). Specifically, section 6507 of the Tax Relief Act requires the Commission, among other things, to establish a registry that allows PSAPs to register telephone numbers on a Do-Not-Call list and prohibit the use of automatic dialing equipment to contact those numbers. Therefore, the Commission adopts rules necessary for the creation and ongoing management of the Do-Not-Call registry, including requirements for adding PSAP telephone numbers, granting and tracking access by operators of automatic dialing equipment, and protecting the registry from unauthorized disclosure or dissemination of registered numbers. In addition, the Commission adopts specific monetary penalties for unauthorized disclosure or contact of any numbers on the PSAP registry. These provisions are designed to address concerns about the use automatic dialing equipment which can generate large numbers of phone calls in a short period of time, tie up public safety lines, divert critical responder resources away from emergency services, and impede access by the public to emergency lines.
On October 15, 2012, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Commission published a document announcing that a Report and Order implementing public safety broadband provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, adopted as DA 12-1462, would become effective November 14, 2012, except for the removal of certain sections. The Bureau explained that it would publish a separate document in the Federal Register announcing the subsequent effective date of the removal of these two rule provisions. In this document we announce the effective date of the removal of these two rule provisions.
In this document, the Commission adopts new rules to allow cable operators to encrypt the basic service tier in all-digital systems, provided that those cable operators undertake certain consumer protection measures for a limited period of time in order to minimize any potential subscriber disruption.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of October 16, 2012. The document announces the effective date of rules containing information collection requirements approved by the Office of the Management and Budget that were adopted to address unwanted telemarketing calls.
The Audio Division modified the FM Table of Allotments by substituting Channel 293A for vacant Channel 291A at Knox City, Texas; Channel 288C2 for vacant Channel 239C2 at Rule, Texas; Channel 255C3 for vacant Channel 293C3 at Crowell, Texas; and Channel 251C3 for vacant Channel 255C3 at Quanah, Texas. Channel 255C3 can be allotted to Crowell, Texas at reference coordinates 34-03-58 NL and 99-43-52 WL, at a site 9.2 km (5.7 miles) north of Crowell. Channel 293A can be allotted to Knox City, Texas at reference coordinates 33-25-55 NL and 99-47-43 WL, at a site 2.7 km (1.6 miles) northeast of Knox City. Channel 251C3 can be allotted at Quanah, Texas at reference coordinates 34-24-09 NL and 99-46-02 WL, at a site 11.9 km (7.4 miles) north of Quanah. Channel 288C2 can be allotted at Rule, Texas at reference coordinates 33-10-29 NL and 99-49-26 WL, at a site 6.6 km (4.1 miles) east of Rule. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION, supra.
In this document, the Commission declines to extend the prohibition on exclusive contracts involving satellite-delivered, cable-affiliated programming beyond its October 5, 2012 expiration date. Instead of this prohibition, the Commission will address exclusive contracts involving satellite-delivered, cable-affiliated programming on a case-by-case basis in response to program access complaints. The Commission also affirms its expanded discovery procedures for program access complaints.
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 document Empowering Consumers to Prevent and Detect Billing for Unauthorized Charges (“Cramming”); Consumer Information and Disclosure; Truth-in-Billing Format. This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective dates of those sections.
The Audio Division, at the request of Sound Enterprises, substitutes Channel 275A for vacant Channel 271A at Randsburg, California to accommodate the hybrid contingent application for Station KSSI (FM), requesting to upgrade the facilities of the FM station from Channel 274A to Channel 271B1 at China Lake, California. A staff engineering analysis determines that Channel 275A can be allotted to Randsburg consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Rules with a site restriction 0.04 kilometers (0.03 miles) southeast of the community. The reference coordinates for Channel 275A at Randsburg are 35-22-06 NL and 117-39-25 WL.
In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period that expires on September 30, 2015, the information collection associated with the Commission's rules in the Extension of the Commission's Rules Regarding Outage Reporting to Interconnected Voice Over Internet Protocol Service Providers and Broadband Internet Service Providers Report and Order ( Order ). This notice is consistent with the 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 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 document Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (Report and Order). This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those amendments.
In this document, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) of the Commission implemented certain provisions of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Public Safety Spectrum Act) governing deployment of a nationwide public safety broadband network in the 700 MHz band. Pursuant to clear statutory directives, the Bureau reallocated the D Block (758-763/788-793 MHz) for “public safety services” and delete Commission rules that are plainly inconsistent with this revised allocation; deleted the rules establishing, providing license authority with respect to, and governing operations under the Public Safety Broadband License in the existing public safety broadband spectrum; and adopted rules implementing the clear mandate of the Public Safety Spectrum Act to grant a license with respect to the public safety broadband spectrum (763-768/793-798 MHz), guard band (768-769/798-799 MHz), and the D Block to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet). By eliminating any confusion or uncertainty about the new regulatory framework applicable to the public safety broadband network, these action takes further steps necessary to facilitate the transition of this spectrum to FirstNet as required by the Act.
In this document, the Commission modifies its rules to permit the certification and use of Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) equipment. These amendments are necessary in order to permit implementation of TETRA technology in the United States.
In this document, the Commission, via the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) terminates, as dormant, certain docketed Commission proceedings. Termination of these inactive proceedings furthers the Commission's organizational goals of increasing the efficiency of its decision-making, modernizing the agency's processes in the digital age, and enhancing the openness and transparency of Commission proceedings for practitioners and the public.
This document contains a correction to the final regulations of the Commission's rules, which were published in the Federal Register on Monday, May 2, 2011, 76 FR 24393. The final regulations address fraud, waste, and abuse in the Video Relay Service (VRS) industry.
The following are ALL rules, proposed rules, and notices (chronologically) published in the Federal Register relating to Title 47 after this date.
This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( NPRM ) seeks comment on a proposal to elevate the allocation status of Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAA) in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band from secondary to primary and whether giving ESAA licensees primary status in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band would require a change to the technical rules.
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks public input on three newly added virtual workshop discussion topics and further comment on two existing topics.
In this document. Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Michael Couzens and Alan Korn Esq on behalf of Michael Couzens and Alan Korn, Brandy Doyle and Paul Bame, on behalf of Prometheus Radio Project, Don Schellhardt, Esq., on behalf of LET CITIES IN!!, Michelle Eyre, on behalf of REC Networks, and Donald E. Martin P.C., on behalf of LifeTalk Radio, Inc.
The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking filed by Western Pacific Broadcast, LLC (“Western Pacific”), the permittee of unbuilt station WMDE(TV), Channel 5, Seaford, Delaware, requesting an amendment of the DTV Table of Allotments to delete Channel 5 at Seaford and substitute Channel 5 at Dover, Delaware. Western Pacific further requests modification of WMDE(TV)'s construction permit to specify Dover, Delaware as the station's community license and seeks a waiver of the Commission's freeze on the filing of petitions for rulemaking by televisions stations seeking to change their community of license. Western Pacific asserts that its proposal to reallot Channel 5 to Dover is based on the technical specifications currently authorized for WMDE(TV), and therefore the new allotment will be mutually exclusive with the station's existing allotment. Western Pacific further states that its proposal meets the Commission's allotment priorities by providing Dover with its first local television service, and that Seaford will remain well-served after the reallotment because full-power noncommercial station WDPB(TV), Channel *44, will remain licensed to that community. Therefore, Western Pacific submits that this rulemaking will serve the public interest.
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks comment to confirm the attribution of price cap carrier operating company wire centers to particular holding companies for purposes of Connect America Phase II implementation.
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks public input on additional questions relating to modeling voice capability and Annual Charge Factors.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission seeks to further develop the record on issues relating to Connect America Phase II support for price cap carriers serving areas outside of the contiguous United States.
In this document the Commission requests comment on a petition filed by Wendolyn Tellez (“Petitioner”), licensee of FM Station KSAG, Channel 277A, Pearsall, Texas. Petitioner proposes to amend the FM Table of Allotments by substituting Channel 277A for vacant Channel 227A, at Pearsall. The proposal is part of a contingently filed “hybrid” application and rule making petition. Channel 277A can be allotted at Pearsall, Texas, in compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements 28-56-40 NL and 99-11-44 WL, at a site 11.4 km (7.1 miles) northwest of Pearsall. Concurrence by the Government of Mexico is required because Pearsall, Texas, is located within 320 kilometers (199 miles) of the U.S.-Mexican border. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION infra.
The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) announced the release of new software to perform interference analyses using the methodology described in its Bulletin No. 69 (OET-69). This software, called TVStudy, provides analysis of coverage and interference of full-service digital and Class A television stations. The Commission plans to use this new software in connection with the proposed broadcast television spectrum incentive auction (incentive auction). OET seeks comment on the software generally, as well as the identification of any errors, unexpected behaviors, or anomalous results produced in running the software. In addition, OET solicits comment on the implementation of various analytical elements in the software that are not specifically addressed in OET-69.
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau seeks further comment on specific issues relating to the implementation of the Remote Areas Fund.
In this document, the Commission seeks comment on whether to make permanent, revise or eliminate its interim rules that: prohibit all referrals for rewards programs (as described in the synopsis below) and any other form of direct or indirect inducements, financial or otherwise, to subscribe to or use, or encourage subscription to or use of, Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS); require each IP CTS provider, in order to be eligible for compensation from the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund (Fund or TRS Fund) for providing service to new IP CTS users, to register each new IP CTS user, and as part of the registration process, to obtain from the user a certification that the user has a hearing loss that necessitates IP CTS to communicate in a manner that is functionally equivalent to communication by conventional voice telephone users; and require IP CTS providers to ensure that equipment and software used in conjunction with their service have a default setting of captions off at the beginning of each call. The Commission also seeks comment on the following additional matters: the likely reasons that IP CTS has been experiencing unprecedented and unusually rapid growth; whether to prohibit all provider programs that give away or loan equipment to potential or existing IP CTS users at no cost or below some specified cost level; whether to require each IP CTS provider, as a condition of continuing to offer service to existing IP CTS users, to obtain registration and certification information from each such user; and whether to adopt any requirements for IP CTS equipment to have labels informing consumers that IP CTS may be used only by persons with hearing disabilities. The proposed rules are intended to address certain practices related to the provision and marketing of IP CTS that appear to be contributing to a recent and dramatic spike in reimbursement requests to the TRS Fund of sufficient magnitude to constitute a serious threat to the Fund if not promptly and decisively addressed.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) invites comment on issues regarding 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs), in effort to ensure that it's rules pertaining to Aviation Communications remain up-to-date and continues to further the Commission's goals of accommodating new technologies, facilitating the efficient and effective use of the aeronautical spectrum, avoiding unnecessary regulation, and, above all, enhancing the safety of flight.
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau releases for discussion a number of virtual workshop topics related to the development and adoption of the forward-looking cost model for Connect America Phase II.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on the inmate calling services industry and how to ensure just and reasonable rates for inmate calling services.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission seeks comment on procedures to determine what areas are eligible for Connect America Phase II funding and how carriers may elect to accept or decline a statewide commitment in Connect America Phase II.
This document sets forth a proposal to amend the FM Table of Allotments, § 73.202(b) of the Commission's rules. The Commission requests comment on a petition filed by the Hualapai Tribe, proposing to amend the Table of Allotments by allotting Channel 265A at Peach Springs, Arizona, as a Tribal Allotment. Channel 265A would constitute a first tribal allotment and a second potential service at Peach Springs. Channel 265A can be allotted at Peach Springs, Arizona, in compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements at 35-33-17 NL and 113-23-41 WL. See Supplementary Information infra.
The Commission seeks comment on whether to collect information from holders of equity interests in a licensee that would be attributable but for the single majority shareholder exemption and from holders of interests that would be attributable but for the higher EDP thresholds adopted in the Diversity Order, published May 16, 2008, for purposes of determining attribution of certain interests in eligible entities.
In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) extends the time within which to file comments on the Public Notice seeking updated information and comment on review of hearing aid compatibility regulations.
In this document, the Commission seeks comment on: A market analysis that the Commission intends to undertake in the coming months to assist in evaluating competition in the market for special access services; possible changes to the Commission's pricing flexibility rules after the Commission conducts its market analysis; and the reasonableness of terms and conditions offered by incumbent LECs in the special access market.
The Federal Communications Commission proposes to amend its rules by requiring all wireless carriers and providers of “interconnected” text messaging applications to support the ability of consumers to send text messages to 911 in all areas throughout the nation where 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) are also prepared to receive the texts. In addition, to inform consumers and prevent confusion, the Commission proposes to require all wireless carriers and interconnected text messaging providers to send automated “bounce back” error messages to consumers attempting to text 911 when the service is not available.
In this document, the Commission extends the deadline for filing reply comments on the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in this proceeding, which was published in the Federal Register on October 9, 2012 (77 FR 61351). The extension will facilitate the development of a full record given the importance of the issues in this proceeding.
In this document, the Commission proposes rules for the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) H Block that would make available ten megahertz of spectrum for flexible use. The proposal would extend the widely-deployed Personal Communications Services (PCS) band, which is used by the four national providers as well as regional and rural providers to offer mobile service across the nation. The additional spectrum for mobile use will help ensure that the speed, capacity, and ubiquity of the nation's wireless networks keeps pace with the skyrocketing demand for mobile service.
In this document, the Commission proposes to create a new Citizens Broadband Radio Service under part 95 of its rules for shared small cell use in the 3550-3650 MHz band (3.5 GHz Band). The Commission seeks comment on other techniques that could be used to manage access within the 3.5 GHz band as well as protections for incumbent Department of Defense (DoD) and Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) users. The Commission also seeks comment on how the unique characteristics of small cells may help reduce the need for geographic protections and enable shared access of the 3.5 GHz Band across the widest possible geographic footprint. In addition, the Commission offers a supplemental proposal to integrate the 3650-3700 MHz band within the proposed Citizens Broadband Service, thereby encompassing an additional 50 megahertz of contiguous spectrum. This approach would leverage the benefits of small cell technology to enable widespread broadband access to the 3.5 GHz Band while minimizing the possibility of harmful interference to incumbent DoD and FSS users.
In this document, the International Bureau granted a request for an extension of time to file comments in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that initiated a comprehensive review of the Commission's rules governing space stations and earth stations. The original deadline for filing comments was December 24, 2012; the original deadline for filing reply comments was January 22, 2013. The International Bureau extended the deadlines for filing both comments and reply comments by three weeks.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission seeks comment in this Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on potential modifications to the rules governing Connect America Phase I incremental support to further accelerate the deployment of broadband facilities to consumers who lack access to robust broadband.
This document proposes to amend the Commission's rules to implement allocation decisions from the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2007) (WRC-07), make other allocation changes that are not related to WRC-07, and make certain updates to its service rules. The proposed actions are designed to conform the Commission's rules to the WRC-07 Final Acts and to provide significant benefits to the American public.
This document sets forth a proposal to amend the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's rules. The Commission requests comment on a petition filed by Cochise Media Licenses, LLC, proposing to amend the Table of Allotments by allotting FM Channel 229C3 as a first local service at Dove Creek, Colorado. Channel 229C3 can be allotted at Dove Creek, Colorado, in compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements, at the proposed reference coordinates: 37-48-05 North Latitude and 108-59-33 West Longitude. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION infra.
In this document, the Commission extends the deadline for filing reply comments on the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in this proceeding, which was published in the Federal Register . The extension will facilitate the development of a full record given the importance of the issues in this proceeding.
In this document, Petition for Reconsideration and/or a Petition for Clarification (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Chuck Powers, Director, Engineering and Technology Policy, on the behalf of Motorola Solutions Inc.
The Media Bureau extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) in this proceeding which was published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2012. The extension will provide commenters with sufficient time to prepare comments and reply comments in response to the NPRM.
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Wireline Competition Bureau (collectively, the Bureaus) seek further comment on specific issues relating to the implementation of Phase II of the Mobility Fund. The Bureaus also seek to develop a more comprehensive record on certain issues relating to the award of ongoing support for advanced mobile services.
The Media Bureau extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ FNPRM” ) in this proceeding which was published in the Federal Register on October 31, 2012. The extension will provide commenters with sufficient time to prepare comments and reply comments in response to the FNPRM.
In this document, the Commission proposes rules to implement provisions of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (“CVAA”) that mandate regulations to ensure that emergency information is accessible to individuals who are blind and visually disabled and that television apparatus are able to make available video description and accessible emergency information. The Commission seeks comment on rules that would apply to the distributors, providers, and owners of television video programming, as well as the manufacturers of devices that display such programming.
In this document, the Commission is proposing to make changes to the criteria under which it considers applications and notifications from foreign carriers or affiliates of foreign carriers for entry into the U.S. market for international telecommunications services and facilities under section 214 of Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the “Act”) and section 2 of the Cable Landing License Act. By this document, the Commission seeks to eliminate outdated or unnecessary rules, simplify rules that it may retain, reduce regulatory costs and burdens imposed on applicants, and improve transparency with respect to filing requirements of the ECO Test. It also seeks to promote competition to achieve greater decisional flexibility in evaluating applications and notifications, and continue to protect important interests related to national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy.
In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) seeks updated comment on the operation and effectiveness of the Commission's rules relating to hearing aid compatibility of wireless handsets. The Bureau seeks updated comment on whether, in light of technological and market developments, the Commission's deployment benchmarks continue to ensure that hearing aid-compatible handsets are available to all consumers. Additionally, the Bureau asks for current information on whether the rules have succeeded in making hearing aid-compatible phones available to consumers with a full range of different feature sets, and whether the rules appropriately account for the challenges facing smaller service providers.
In the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, “Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions” ( NPRM ), released October 2, 2012, the Commission considers matters related to the implementation of Congress's mandate to conduct an incentive auction of broadcast television spectrum as set forth in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act).
In this document, a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Michael Mulcay, Chairman of Wireless Strategies, Inc., on the behalf of Wireless Strategies.
In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Dennis Farrell, International Sales Manager of Navtech Radar Ltd., on behalf of Navtech Radar Ltd. and Bruce A. Olcott, for Squire Sanders LLP, on behalf of Honeywell International, Inc.
In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding filed by Dale Woodin, Executive Director of American Society for Healthcare Engineering of American Hospital Association, on behalf of American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association, and David R. Sidall, Esq., for DS Law PLLC, on behalf of Phillips Healthcare, Ari Q. Fitzgerald, Esq., for Hogan Lovells US LLP, on behalf of GE Healthcare, and William K. Keane, Esq., for Duane Morris LLP, on behalf of AFTRCC.
In this document, the Commission initiates a comprehensive review of its rules governing licensing and operation of space stations and earth stations. The proposed amendments are designed to reflect evolving technology, eliminate unnecessary technical and information filing requirements for applicants, and reorganize and simplify existing requirements. Collectively, the changes proposed in this document will streamline our regulations, facilitating more rapid deployment of services to the public, greater investment, and new innovations in satellite services.
In this document, the Commission seeks comment on the following revisions to its program access rules: the establishment of certain rebuttable presumptions in connection with program access complaints challenging exclusive contracts involving cable-affiliated programming; and amendments to its rules to ensure that buying groups utilized by small and medium-sized multichannel video programming distributors (“MVPDs”) can avail themselves of the program access rules.
In this document, the Commission seeks comment on matters related to access technology and enhanced database operations for video relay service (VRS) raised in recent filings submitted by CSDVRS, LLC, a VRS provider. In order for the Commission to be in a position to set new rates as it moves forward with the next phase of VRS reform, it also seeks comment on a proposal by the Fund administrator, Rolka Loube Saltzer Associates (RLSA), to modify VRS compensation rates.
This document requests comments on a petition for rulemaking filed by Appalachian Broadcasting Company, Inc., proposing the allotment of Channel 265A at Maysville, Georgia, as the community's second local FM transmission service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 265A can be allotted to Maysville consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Rules with a site restriction 13.4 kilometers (8.3 miles) northwest of the community. The reference coordinates are 34-20-16 NL and 83-39-52 WL.
In this document, the Commission proposes to amend the amateur radio service rules to grant examination credit for expired and beyond-the-grace-period-for renewal amateur radio operator licenses; to shorten the grace period during which an expired amateur license may be renewed to 180 days; to revise the time a call sign is not available to the vanity call sign system correspondingly; and to reduce to two the number of volunteer examiners needed to administer an amateur license examination. This document also asks for comment on amending the rules to permit remote test administration, and proposes to amend the amateur radio service rules to allow amateur stations to transmit certain additional emission types.
This document requests comments on a petition for rulemaking filed by Alatron Corporation, Inc., proposing the allotment of Channel 228A at Pike Road, Alabama, as the community's second local service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 228A can be allotted to Pike Road consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Rules with a site restriction 4.8 kilometers (3.0 miles) south of the community. The reference coordinates are 32-14-29 NL and 86-06-40 WL.
In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology invite interested parties to update and refresh the record pertaining to two specific issues raised in the Commission's 2010 Wireless Microphones further notice of proposed rulemaking.
The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau on its own motion extends by one month the comment and reply deadlines to the Fifth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking of dockets WP Docket No. 07-100, PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket No. 06-150. The Bureau takes this action to allow the First Responder Network Authority, a newly formed independent authority within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, sufficient time to file comments.
This document sets forth a proposal to amend the FM Table of Allotments. The Commission requests comment on a petition filed by Navajo Technical College, proposing to amend the Table of Allotments by allotting Channel 297A at Crownpoint, New Mexico, as a Tribal Allotment. Channel 297A would constitute a first local service at Crownpoint. Channel 297A can be allotted at Crownpoint, New Mexico, in compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements with a site restriction of 0.9 km (0.58 miles) northeast of Crownpoint, at 35-41-07 North Latitude and 108-08-43 West Longitude. See Supplementary Information infra.
In this document, the Commission seeks comment on whether to retain or modify the current case-by-case analysis used to evaluate mobile spectrum holdings in the context of transactions and auctions, as well as whether to adopt bright-line limits advocated by some providers and public interest groups. In addition, the Commission seeks comment on updating the spectrum bands that should be included in any evaluation of mobile spectrum holdings and whether to make distinctions between different bands. Further, the Commission seeks comment on the appropriate product and geographic markets and other implementation issues such as attribution rules, remedies, and possible transition issues.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission proposes to update technical and operational rules related to cable television systems and other multichannel video programming distributors that operate coaxial cable systems. The Commission seeks comments on rules that would update its minimum signal quality standards and signal leakage detection and monitoring for digital transmission. Additionally, the Commission proposes numerous corrections and updates to its to its cable television technical rules.
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission), via the Office of Managing Director, seeks comment on a report released by the Government Accountability Office Report on September 12, 2012, entitled, Federal Communications Commission, Regulatory Fee Process Needs To Be Updated. In addition, this document extends the reply comment date in response to the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on proposals to reform the Commission's policies and procedures for assessing and collecting regulatory fees.
In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Kourtney Keough, President/CEO of Marketlink, Inc., on behalf of Marketlink, Inc., Michele A. Shuster, Esq. and Nicholas Whisler, Esq. for Mac Murray, Petersen & Shuster LLP, on behalf of Professional Association for Customer Engagement, and Anthony S. Mendoza, Esq. on behalf of SatCom Marketing, LLC.
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