47 CFR Part 27, Subpart E - Application, Licensing, and Processing Rules for WCS

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 rule changes for white space devices and wireless microphones in the Commission's August 11, 2015 Part 15 Report and Order, FCC 15-99. This document is consistent with the Report and 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 Commission acknowledges the publication of ANSI C63.26-2015 “American National Standard for Compliance Testing of Transmitters Used in Licensed Radio Services” and seeks comment on incorporating it into the Commission's rules by reference as part of an open rulemaking proceeding that addresses its equipment authorization (EA) rules and procedures. The standard was recently published and is now an “active standard”—that is, the standards association considers it to be valid, current, and approved.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission” or “FCC”) defines when and in what areas 600 MHz Band wireless licensees will be deemed to “commence operations” for the purpose of establishing when secondary and unlicensed users must cease operations and vacate the 600 MHz Band.

On December 10, 2015, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a summary of a Public Notice, 80 FR 76649, announcing that oppositions to Petitions for Reconsideration must be filed by December 28, 2015, and replies to an opposition must be filed by December 21, 2015. This document corrects the due date for replies to an opposition.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's proceeding by: Kathleen O'Brien Ham, on behalf of T-Mobile USA, Inc.; Caressa D. Bennet, on behalf of PBP Group, LLC, Bulloch Cellular, Inc., Pineland Cellular, Inc., and Planters Rural Cellular, Inc.; and A. Wray Fitch, III, on behalf of Walker Broadcasting Company, Inc. T-Mobile USA, Inc.'s petition requests a declaratory ruling in the alternative.

The Commission recently adopted rules to repurpose broadcast television spectrum for new wireless services via an incentive auction. This document modifies Commission rules for unlicensed wireless devices and wireless microphones in the reconstituted TV bands and the new 600 MHz band. This document modifies the Commission's rules for unlicensed operations in the frequency bands that are now and will continue to be allocated and assigned to broadcast television services (TV bands), including fixed and personal/portable white space devices and unlicensed wireless microphones. It adopts technical and operational rules for unlicensed devices and wireless microphones in the 600 MHz guard bands, including the duplex gap, and in the 600 MHz band that will be repurposed for new wireless services. It also adopts rules for fixed and personal/portable white space device operation on channel 37 and for the operation of unlicensed wireless microphones in the TV bands. This document modify the white space database rules to implement certain decisions, including protecting areas where new 600 MHz service licensees commence operation and areas used by incumbent services on channel 37.

This document resolves the remaining technical issues affecting the operation of new 600 MHz wireless licensees and broadcast television stations in areas where they operate on the same or adjacent channels in geographic proximity. Specifically, the Commission adopted the methodology and the regulatory framework for the protection of both wireless services and broadcasting in the post-auction environment that it proposed in October 2014. The Commission affirms its decision regarding the methodology to be used during the incentive auction to predict inter-service interference between broadcasting and wireless services. The Commission also affirmed its decision declining to adopt a cap on the aggregate amount of new interference a broadcast television station may receive from other television stations in the repacking process.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by: Kim M. Keenan, on behalf of the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council; Donald L. Herman, Jr., on behalf of the Rural-26 DE Coalition; and D. Cary Mitchell, on behalf of the Blooston Rural Carriers.

This document announces the final application procedures for the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction (Auction 1000), including the forward and reverse auctions (Auctions 1001 and 1002 respectively). This document also summarizes detailed information, instructions, and deadlines for filing applications, as well as certain post-auction procedures established by the Commission's prior orders.

In this document, the Commission modernizes and reforms its competitive bidding rules to provide greater flexibility to small businesses and rural service providers and bring greater choices to consumers.

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, certain information collection requirements associated with the Commission's Expanding the Economic and Innovation Opportunities of Spectrum Through Incentive Auctions Report and Order ( Incentive Auction Report and Order ), FCC 14-50. This document is consistent with the Incentive Auction Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of to the new information collection requirements.

In this document, the Commission implemented allocation changes from the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2007) (WRC-07) and updated related service rules. The Commission took this action in order to conform its rules, to the extent practical, to the decisions that the international community made at WRC-07. This action will promote the advancement of new and expanded services and provide significant benefits to the American people. In addition, the Commission revised the International Table of Frequency Allocations within its rules to generally reflect the allocation changes made at the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2012) (WRC-12).

The Incentive Auction Task Force provides the results of several staff simulations of the initial clearing target optimization procedure proposed in the Auction 1000 Comment PN and/or Comment PN as discussed further in this under the Supplementary Information. In this document, the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) Incentive Auction Task Force seeks comment on the data and analyses released in this document and the attached Appendix.

In this Updating Part 1 Competitive Bidding Rules Additional Request for Comment, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks additional comment on changes to the Commission's Competitive Bidding rules suggested by commenters in response to the questions and proposals set forth in the Updating Part 1 Competitive Bidding Rules Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Part 1 NPRM ). This Updating Part 1 Competitive Bidding Rules Additional Request for Comment will be referred to as the Part 1 Request for Comment.

The Auction 1000 Request for Comment initiates the pre-auction process by which the Federal Communications Commission will develop detailed procedures for the broadcast television spectrum incentive auction, taking into account public comment received in response to its proposals. The Auction 1000 Request for Comment includes specific proposals, including on determination of the initial broadcast television spectrum clearing target, opening bid prices, benchmarks for the final stage rule, and the final television channel assignment process, and seeks comment on those proposed procedures.

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 the Commission's Report and Order for Commercial Operations in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz Bands (Service Rules for Advance Wireless Service (AWS)), FCC 14-31. This notice is consistent with the Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the new or modified information collection requirements.

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) further extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on its Competitive Bidding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Competitive Bidding NPRM ), which sought comment on the revision of certain part 1 competitive bidding rules and provided notice of the Commission's intention to resolve longstanding petitions for reconsideration.

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.

This document seeks comment on proposed rules to govern the interference relationship between broadcast television and wireless service in the 600 MHz Band following the incentive auction. The Commission anticipates that after the auction some broadcast television stations may operate on channels in the 600 MHz Band as a result of market variation. The Commission proposes to allow no harmful interference from wireless operations to reception of television service; the Commission proposes to require wireless licensees to use proposed OET Bulletin No. 74 (OET-74) before deploying base stations; and seeks comment on how the ISIX Methodology and inputs adopted in the companion Second Report & Order can be adapted to predict inter-service interference between wireless services and analog television stations in Canada and Mexico, for purposes of identifying license impairments during the auction. In addition, the Commission proposes not to permit broadcast licensees who operate in the 600 MHz Band to expand their noise-limited or protected contours if doing so would increase the potential for interference to a wireless licensee's service area.

The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau extends the deadline for filing comments and reply comments on its Competitive Bidding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ( Competitive Bidding NPRM ), which sought comment on the revision of certain part 1 competitive bidding rules and provided notice of the Commission's intention to resolve longstanding petitions for reconsideration.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) seeks comment on the revision of certain competitive bidding rules and provides notice of the Commission's intention to resolve longstanding petitions for reconsideration.

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, 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.

The Federal Communications Commission published a rule document in the Federal Register on June 4, 2014, revising Commission rules. That document inadvertently removed certain paragraphs. This document corrects the final regulations by restoring the paragraphs.

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.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Jim Kirkland, on behalf of Trimble Navigation Limited, and Catherine Wang, on behalf of Deer & Company (jointly filed) and by Dane E. Ericksen, on behalf Engineers for the Integrity of Broadcast Auxiliary Services Spectrum.

In this document, the Commission adopted rules that relax the out-of-band emissions (OOBE) limits for Broadband Radio Service (BRS) and Educational Broadband Service (EBS) digital mobile stations (broadband mobile devices) operating in the 2496-2690 MHz radio frequency (RF) band (2.5 GHz band). These changes will enable operators to use BRS and EBS spectrum more efficiently and provide higher data rates to consumers. These changes will also promote greater consistency between the Commission's BRS/EBS technical rules and global standards for broadband mobile devices in the 2.5 GHz band, potentially making equipment more affordable and furthering the proliferation of broadband mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets that operate in the 2.5 GHz band.

This document adopts minor changes to the rules governing the 700 MHz public safety narrowband spectrum (769-775/799-805 MHz). The rule changes eliminate or update outdated technical requirements and offer public safety licensees additional flexibility to operate their 700 MHz narrowband land mobile radio systems. This document also adopts a corresponding change to the emission limits of commercial transmitters operating in the Guard Band B Block spectrum (775-776/805-806 MHz) and addresses recommendations from the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for changes to the 700 MHz narrowband rules.

The FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force (IATF) seeks comment on the results of a staff analysis on the potential for new aggregate interference in the repacking process and seeks comment on newly released repacking constraint data that uses actual channels.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts rules governing use of spectrum in the 1695-1710 MHz, 1755-1780 MHz, and 2155-2180 MHz bands that will make available significantly more commercial spectrum for Advanced Wireless Services. This additional 65 megahertz of spectrum for commercial use will help ensure that the speed, capacity, and ubiquity of the nation's wireless networks keeps pace with industry demands for wireless service. This is another step in implementing the Congressional directive in Title VI of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 to make more spectrum available for flexible uses.

The Federal Communications 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 Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Interested parties now will have until May 16, 2014, to file reply comments, as opposed to the March 17, 2014, deadline set forth in the NPRM.

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 Third Report and Order; An Inquiry Into the Commission's Policies and Rules Regarding AM Radio Service Directional Antenna Performance Verification. This document is consistent with the Third Report and Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing OMB approval and the effective date of the requirements.

The Commission published a document in the Federal Register of January 17, 2014, announcing 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 ( R&O ), §§ 1.946, 27.10, 27.12, and 27.17, Service Rules for the Advanced Wireless Services H Block—Implementing Section 6401 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 related to the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz Bands. Additionally, the Commission announced that OMB approved, for a period of three years, the revisions to the existing collection on FCC Form 601, which are also associated with the Commission's R&O, and that those revisions are also effective with publication of this document. This document corrects the erroneously listing of the subsections of two rules that were approved by OMB.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years revisions to FCC Form 603, OMB Control Number 3060-0800, and FCC Form 608, OMB Control Number 3060-1058, associated with the Commission's Report and Order ( R&O ), Service Rules for the Advanced Wireless Services H Block-Implementing Section 6401 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 Related to the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz Bands. A notice announcing the effective date of the service rules and revisions to the FCC Form 601 was published on January 17, 2014 in the Federal Register .

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 ( R&O ) Service Rules for the Advanced Wireless Services H Block—Implementing Section 6401 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 related to the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz Bands. This document is consistent with the R&O, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules. Additionally, the Commission announces that OMB approved, for a period of three years, the revisions to the existing collection on FCC Form 601, which are also associated with the Commission's R&O, and that those revisions are also effective with publication of this document.

In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Commission proposes to revise outdated rules and adopt consistent new rules governing mobile communications services aboard airborne aircraft. These rule changes would give airlines, subject to applicable Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Transportation (DoT) rules, the choice of whether to enable mobile communications services using an Airborne Access System and, if so, which specific services to enable. The proposed rules would also replace an existing patchwork of regulatory prohibitions on airborne use of mobile services in some, but not all, of the heavily used mobile wireless bands with a consistent regulatory framework that explicitly forbids airborne use of mobile services in those bands unless they are operating on an aircraft equipped with an Airborne Access System.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts a Second Report and Order that establishes consolidated service rules for the 758-769 and 788-799 MHz bands, the 700 MHz spectrum licensed to the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) for purposes of establishing a nationwide public safety broadband network. The Second Report and Order also lifts the suspension on the certification of equipment for operation in this band and directs the Office of Engineering and Technology to commence such certification, consistent with the service rules adopted therein.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on an alternative proposal submitted by the Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), to adopt a new geographic area size called Partial Economic Areas to license the 600 MHz Band and seeks comment on the specific boundaries proposed by CCA, which would enable smaller and rural carriers to bid on portions of Economic areas to obtain more efficiently sized spectrum licenses.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is correcting final rules that appeared in the Federal Register of 78 FR 66288, November 5, 2013. The document issued final rules that establish a single protection scheme for tower construction and modification near AM tower arrays and designate “moment method” computer modeling as the principal means of determining whether a nearby tower affects an AM radiation pattern. This correction makes no change to the substance of the rules.

In this document, the Commission announces that certain rules revised in the Amendment of part 27 of its rules to Govern the Operation of Wireless Communications Services in the 2.3 GHz Band, WT Docket No. 07-293; establishment of rules and policies for the Digital Audio Radio Satellite Service in the 2310-2360 MHz Frequency Band (WCS and SDARS) proceeding in IB Docket No. 95-91, GEN Docket No. 90-357, RM-8610; FCC 12-130, to the extent it contained information collection requirements that required approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) was approved on October 31, 2013. This notice is consistent with the Order on Reconsideration, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

In this document, a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Donald J. Evans on behalf of NTCH, Inc.

In this document, a Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking proceeding by Caressa D. Bennet on behalf of Rural Wireless Association, Inc.