47 CFR Part 0, Subpart E - Privacy Act Regulations

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission amends its rules to update various sections implementing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to reflect changes in the law made by the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, to making conforming edits to reflect existing Commission FOIA practice, to streamline the Commission's FOIA procedures, and to provide for clerical corrections.

The Federal Communications Commission comprehensively streamlines its rules governing licensing and operation of satellites and earth stations to foster more rapid deployment of services, greater investment, and new innovation.

In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes changes to our rules and procedures related to certain applications and petitions for declaratory ruling involving foreign ownership (together, “applications”). The Commission refers certain applications to the relevant Executive Branch agencies for their input on any national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy concerns that may arise from the foreign ownership interests held in the applicants and petitioners (together, “applicants”). As part of our effort to reform the Commission's processes, we seek to improve the timeliness and transparency of this referral process. More specifically, our goals here are to identify ways in which both the Commission and the agencies might streamline and facilitate the process for obtaining information necessary for Executive Branch review and identify expected time frames, while ensuring that we continue to take Executive Branch concerns into consideration as part of our public interest review.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by: Chuck Powers, on behalf of Motorola Solutions, Inc., and Brian Scarpelli, on behalf of Telecommunications Industry Association.

The Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) acts to improve the Commission's efficiency, effectively manage Commission resources, and align the Commission's field enforcement activities with contemporary needs for a field enforcement presence. The Commission, the Office of Managing Director and the Enforcement Bureau will take several actions to realign the mission and resources of its 24 field offices. The Bureau's field offices will primarily support the enforcement of the Commission's radio frequency spectrum rules and other key regulations in a manner likely to have the greatest impact, in the most cost effective way possible.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission's) Office of Engineering and Technology Bureau (Bureau) extends the deadlines for interested parties to submit comments and reply comments in response to the Equipment Authorization and Electronic Labeling for Wireless Devices.

This document proposes updates to the rules that govern the evaluation and approval of RF devices. The Commission last comprehensively reviewed its equipment authorization procedures more than fifteen years ago. The RF equipment ecosystem has significantly expanded in that time, and the manner in which today's RF equipment is now designed, manufactured, and marketed—as well as the sheer number of devices subject to authorization—warrant the proposed rule modifications.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to establish a new Citizens Broadband Radio Service in the 3550—3700 MHz band. This document implements a three-tiered spectrum authorization framework in the 3550-3700 MHz band to facilitate a variety of small cell and other broadband uses of the band on a shared basis with incumbent federal and non-federal users.

This document updates the Federal Communications Commission's (the Commission) radiofrequency (RF) equipment authorization program. The rules adopted by the Commission build on the success realized by our use of Commission-recognized Telecommunication Certification Bodies (TCBs) and will facilitate the continued rapid introduction of new and innovative products to the market while ensuring that these products do not cause harmful interference to each other or to other communication devices and services.

This document proposes to amend the Commission's Rules to specify that historical amateur radio licensee address information will not be routinely available for public inspection.

This document contains corrections to the final regulations to the Commission's rules which were published in the Federal Register on Thursday, November 6, 2014 (79 FR 65906). The Commission published a clarification in the Declaratory Ruling, which clarifies how the Commission intends to preserve the “coverage area” of eligible broadcasters in the repacking process associated with the broadcast television spectrum incentive auctions. This document contains corrections to the adopted date.

In this document, the Commission proposes and seeks comment on reforms of its rules governing the 800 MHz Cellular (“Cellular”) Service. The proposals include a geographic-based discontinuance of operations rule to replace the current site-based approach, and the establishment of frequency coordinators to review certain applications prior to their submission to the Commission. In addition, the Commission proposes revised Cellular radiated power provisions and related technical rules, including use of a power spectral density (“PSD”) model. The goals of the proposed reforms are to provide licensees with increased flexibility, achieve greater efficiency in the provision of new service to consumers, and facilitate deployment of next-generation wireless broadband networks that use advanced technologies.

This document clarifies how the Commission intends to preserve the “coverage area” as well as the “population served” of eligible broadcasters in the repacking process associated with the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction. This action is taken in order to remove any uncertainty regarding the repacking approach the Commission adopted in the Incentive Auction R&O.

The Federal Communications Commission published a document in the Federal Register of October 27, 2014 (79 FR 63883), regarding Petitions for Reconsideration filed of Action in a rulemaking proceeding. The document contained the incorrect deadline for filing replies to an opposition to the Petition. This document revises the deadline for replies to an opposition to the Petition.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to amend its rules for licensing and operation of space stations and earth stations for communication by radio. The proposed changes would, among other things, facilitate international coordination of proposed satellite networks; eliminate the need to assess compliance with interim milestone requirements; revise bond requirements to more effectively deter spectrum warehousing; clarify requirements for routine earth station licensing; and expand applicability of routine licensing standards.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Benjamin Perez, on behalf of Abacus Television, Stephen G. Perlman, on behalf of Artemis Networks, LLC, Ari Q. Fitzgerald, Esq., on behalf of GE Healthcare, Steven K. Berry, on behalf of Competitive Carriers Association, Louis Libin, on behalf of Advanced Television Broadcasting Alliance, Andrew W. Levin, on behalf of T-Mobile USA, Inc., Melodie A. Virtue, Esq., and Garvey Schubert Barer, on behalf of Beach TV Properties, Inc., and Free Access & Broadcast Telemedia, LLC, Jennifer Johnson, Esq., on behalf of Bonton Media Group, Inc., and Raycom Media, Inc., John R. Feore, Esq., on behalf of Block Communications, Inc. and FBC Television Affiliates Association, Eve Pogoriler, Esq., on behalf of Gannett Co., Inc., Graham Media Group, ICA Broadcasting, and the Dispatching Printing Company, Dean R. Brenner, on behalf of Qualicomm Incorporated, Gerard J. Waldron, Esq., on behalf of CBS Television Network Affiliates Association, and NBC Television Affiliates, Wade H. Hargrove, Esq., on behalf ABC Television Affiliates Associates Association, Donald G. Everist, on behalf of Cohen, Dippell and Everist, P.C., Dale Woodin, on behalf of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association, Sally A. Buckman, Esq., on behalf Journal Broadcast Corporation, Margaret L. Tobey, on behalf NBC Telemundo License LLC, Mike Cavender, on behalf of Radio Television Digital News Association, Michael Gravino, on behalf of LPTV Spectrum Rights Coalition, Mitchell Lazarus, Esq., on behalf of Sennheiser Electronic Corporation, M. Anne Swanson, Esq., on behalf of Media General, Inc., Mace Rosenstein, Esq., on behalf of the Videohouse and Public Broadcasting Service, Inc., Lonna Thompson, on behalf of Association of Public Television Stations, J. Westwood Smithers, on behalf of Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Katherine Lauderdale, on behalf Public Broadcasting Service, A. Wray Fitch III, Esq., on behalf of American Legacy Foundation and Signal Above, LLC, Tom W. Davidson, Esq., on behalf of the Walt Disney Company, Paul J. Broyles, on behalf of International Broadcasting Network, Dean M. Mosely, on behalf U.S. Television, LLC, William H. Shawn, Esq., on behalf of Mako Communications, LLC., and Preston Padden, on behalf of Expanding Opportunities for Broadcasters Coalition.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) streamlines and eliminates outdated provisions of the Commission's rules governing the construction, marking, and lighting of antenna structures.

In this document the Commission adopts rules to implement the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction. Our central objective in designing this incentive auction is to harness the economics of demand for spectrum in order to allow market forces to determine its highest and best use, which will benefit consumers of telecommunications services.

In this document, a Motion for Clarification or, In the Alternative, Petition for Partial Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Intrado, Inc., on behalf of itself and its affiliate, Intrado Communications, Inc.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to improve the reliability and resiliency of 911 communications networks nationwide by requiring that 911 service providers take “reasonable measures” to provide reliable 911 service. Providers subject to the rule can comply with the reasonable measures requirement by either implementing certain industry-backed “best practices” the Commission adopted, or by implementing alternative measures that are reasonably sufficient to ensure reliable 911 service. The FCC also requires 911 service providers to provide public safety answering points (PSAPs) with timely and actionable notification of 911 outages.

The Report and Order revises the Federal Communications Commission's Form 477 collection to include data on deployment of fixed and mobile broadband networks and mobile voice networks, as well as company identification and emergency contact information. The Report and Order also makes a number of targeted changes to the collection of subscription data to reduce reporting burdens and improve the quality and usefulness of data collected through the Form 477.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of April 18, 2013. The document amended the FCC rules concerning radio operator licenses for maritime and aviation in order to reduce administrative burden in the public's interest.

This document proposes certain changes to the Commission's equipment authorization processes to ensure that they continue to operate efficiently and effectively. In particular, it addresses the role of TCBs in certifying RF equipment and post-market surveillance, as well as the Commission's role in assessing TCB performance. It also addresses the role of test laboratories in the RF equipment approval process, including accreditation of test labs and the Commission's recognition of laboratory accreditation bodies, and measurement procedures used to determine RF equipment compliance. The Commission believes that the changes proposed will enable new and innovative products to be brought to market as quickly as possible, thus promoting competition in the provision of RF equipment, while at the same time protecting against interference among radio services and devices using the RF spectrum.

This document revises and streamlines the Commission rules to modernize the Experimental Radio Service (ERS). The rules adopted in the Report and Order updates the ERS to a more flexible framework to keep pace with the speed of modern technological change while continuing to provide an environment where creativity can thrive. To accomplish this transition, the Commission created three new types of ERS licenses—the program license, the medical testing license, and the compliance testing license—to benefit the development of new technologies, expedite their introduction to the marketplace, and unleash the full power of innovators to keep the United States at the forefront of the communications industry. The Commission's actions also modify the market trial rules to eliminate confusion and more clearly articulate its policies with respect to marketing products prior to equipment certification. The Commission believes that these actions will remove regulatory barriers to experimentation, thereby permitting institutions to move from concept to experimentation to finished product more rapidly and to more quickly implement creative problem-solving methodologies.

This document amends our rules concerning commercial radio operator licenses for maritime and aviation radio stations in order to reduce administrative burdens in the public's interest.

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.

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 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, 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 revises the Commission's list of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved public information collection requirements with their associated OMB expiration dates. This list will provide the public with a current list of public information collection requirements approved by OMB and their associated control numbers and expiration date as of June 30, 2012.

In this document, Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding concerning rules that comprehensively reform and modernize the Lifeline program to strengthen protections against waste, fraud and abuse; improve program administration and accountability; improve enrollment and consumer disclosures; initiate modernization of the program for broadband; and constrain the growth of the program.