[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23412-23413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10787]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 2
[GN Docket No. 18-122; DA 18-446]
Office of Engineering and Technology, International, and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureaus Seek Comment for Report on the Feasibility
of Allowing Commercial Wireless Services, Licensed or Unlicensed, To
Use or Share Use of the Frequencies Between 3.7-4.2 GHz
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: In this document, and pursuant to the Making Opportunities for
Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to
Wireless Act (MOBILE NOW Act), the Office of Engineering and Technology
and the International and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus (Bureaus)
seek comment for an upcoming Commission report that will address the
feasibility of allowing commercial wireless services to use or share
use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum band.
DATES: Comments are due on or before May 31, 2018. Reply comments are
due on or before June 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: To the extent commenters wish to submit materials in the
current docket (GN Docket No. 18-122) that are substantially similar to
materials filed in other potentially related Commission proceedings
(such as GN Docket No. 17-183, RM-11778, and RM-11791), the Commission
asks commenters to submit an abbreviated filing that incorporates by
reference the relevant arguments
[[Page 23413]]
from any previously filed material by identifying (a) the previously
filed document (with the docket number of the proceeding in which it
was filed and the date filed), and (b) the specific arguments in that
previously filed document that the commenter is submitting for
consideration in the current proceeding. You may submit comments,
identified by [GN Docket No. 18-122], by any of the following methods:
[ssquf] Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website
for submitting comments. In completing the transmittal screen, filers
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address,
and the applicable docket number, GN Docket No. 18-122.
[ssquf] Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file
an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or
rulemaking number appears in the captions of this proceeding, filers
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or
rulemaking number. Filings in response to this document can be sent by
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission.
[ssquf] All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for
the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445
12th St. SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours are
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All hand deliveries must be held
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must
be disposed of before entering the building.
[ssquf] Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive,
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
[ssquf] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail
must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202)
418-0432 (TTY).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariel Diamond, (202) 418-2803,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 23, 2018, Congress passed the FY
2018 omnibus spending bill into law, which includes the MOBILE NOW Act
under Title VI of RAY BAUM'S Act.\1\ Section 605(b) of the MOBILE NOW
Act requires the Commission to submit a report (3.7-4.2 GHz Report), to
appropriate committees of Congress \2\ and to the Secretary of Commerce
no later than September 23, 2019, ``evaluating the feasibility of
allowing commercial wireless services, licensed or unlicensed, to use
or share use of the frequencies between 3700 megahertz and 4200
megahertz.'' \3\
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\1\ See Section 601 of the Act. We note that the Act refers to
the 3.7-4.2 GHz band as the frequencies between 3700 megahertz and
4200 megahertz.
\2\ Section 602 of the Act defines the appropriate committees of
Congress.
\3\ See Section 605(b) of the Act.
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The Commission notes that there is currently no federal allocation
for the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Nonetheless, we seek comment on the following
questions:
How should we assess the operations and possible impacts
of sharing on Federal and non-Federal users already operating in this
band?
How might sharing be accomplished, with licensed and/or
unlicensed operations, without causing harmful interference to Federal
and non-Federal users already operating in this band, and in which
parts of the band would such sharing be feasible?
What other considerations should the Commission take into
account in preparing the 3.7-4.2 GHz Report?
The Act further provides that the report should include an
assessment of the operations of Federal entities that operate Federal
Government stations authorized to use the 3.7-4.2 GHz band.\4\ The
Commission intends to consult with National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) and the heads of each affected
Federal agency regarding the Federal entities, stations, and operations
in the band, and the required issues and assessments. This document
does not contain proposed information collection(s) subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. In addition,
therefore, it does not contain any new or modified information
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25
employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002,
Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
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\4\ See Section 605(c) of the Act.
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Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
This document does not contain proposed information collection(s)
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-
13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act
of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
Ex Parte Rules
This proceeding has been designated as a ``permit-but-disclose''
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.\5\
Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written
presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within
two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline
applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex
parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the
presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise
participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was
made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during
the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of
the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the
presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the
proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or
arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data
or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b).
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\5\ See 47 CFR 1.1200(a), 1.1206.
Federal Communications Commission.
John Schauble,
Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2018-10787 Filed 5-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P