[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 135 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37909-37910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18506]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Preparation for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference 
(WRC-97)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission and National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration.

ACTION: Notice; announcement of draft preliminary proposals to WRC-97.

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SUMMARY: The FCC and NTIA have released a fourth set of Joint Draft 
Preliminary Proposals for WRC-97. The public is provided a 14-day 
period, from the date of the release of the notice, to provide comment 
on the draft proposals. Copies of the draft proposals are available for 
inspection and photocopying at the FCC's International Reference 
Center, 2000 M Street, N.W., Room 102, Washington, D.C., and on-line at 
http://www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc97/. Final U.S. proposals will be determined 
by the Department of State based on the recommendations of the FCC and 
NTIA.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 
1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554; Director, Office of 
Spectrum Plans and Policies, National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 4099, 
Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Foster, FCC, 202-418-0749, and 
William T. Hatch, NTIA, at 202-482-1138.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FCC's WRC-97 Advisory Committee and 
NTIA, through the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee, announced 
on June 7, 1997, their approval of a fourth set of draft preliminary 
proposals for WRC-97. In accordance with the streamlined procedures 
developed to improve the United States conference preparation process, 
the agencies are providing the public with this early opportunity to 
review and comment on draft proposals before further consideration. 
Final U.S. proposals will be determined by the Department of State 
based on the recommendations of the FCC and NTIA.

[[Page 37910]]

    The joint preliminary draft proposals seek to:

JPDP 31  Defer consideration of Appendix S7 (determination of 
coordination area around an earth station) until further work is 
completed (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.3);
JPDP 32  Bring forward the date of access to bands allocated by WARC-92 
to high frequency broadcasting to 1 January 1998, on a secondary basis 
(WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.4);
JPDP 33  Propose that ITU-R monitor the status of assignment of 
maritime mobile service identities and, if exhaustion is anticipated, 
participate in urgent studies to identify alternative numbering 
resources (Agenda Item 1.6.1);
JPDP 34  Propose that WRC-99 consider giving priority to distress 
related communications originated from shore based rescue authorities 
(Agenda Item 1.6.3);
JPDP 35  Delete all secondary allocations from the 136-137 MHz band in 
order to make the existing allocation to the aeronautical mobile (R) 
service exclusive with a footnote to accommodate existing 
meteorological satellites (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.8);
JPDP 36  Allocate spectrum within the 401-406 MHz band for MSS below 1 
GHz while protecting meteorological services (WRC-97 Agenda Item 
1.9.1);
JPDP 37  Propose use of the band 14.0-14.5 GHz for provision of land 
and maritime mobile-satellite services on a secondary basis in Regions 
1, 2, and 3 (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.1);
JPDP 38  Revise footnotes to FSS allocations at 15.4-15.7 GHz for use 
by NGSO MSS feeder links (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.1);
JPDP 39  Designate the remaining 100 MHz set aside by WRC-95 for NGSO 
FSS in the bands 18.8-19.3 GHz and 28.6-29.1 GHz (Agenda Item 1.9.1);
JPDP 40  Defer to WRC-99 implementation of telecommand links in the 
space research and space operation services in 3 MHz of spectrum 
between 100 MHz and 1 GHz to allow time for completion of studies 
(Agenda Item 1.9.2);
JPDP 41  Obtain a primary worldwide allocation in the 1215-1300 MHz 
band for space-based active sensors (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.2);
JPDP 42  Incorporate by reference new ITU-R Recommendation containing 
guidelines on sharing between mobile and space services in the bands 
2025-2110 MHz and 2200-2290 MHz (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.2);
JPDP 43  Establish a common worldwide primary allocation for active 
spaceborne sensors at 3100-3300 MHz (Agenda Item 1.9.2);
JPDP 44  Provide a common worldwide primary allocation for space 
research (Earth-to-space) in the band 7145-7235 MHz (WRC-97 Agenda Item 
1.9.2.);
JPDP 45  Establish a primary worldwide allocation for passive 
spaceborne sensors at 18.6-18.8 GHz (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.2);
JPDP 46  Defer consideration of allocations above 50 GHz for Earth 
exploration-satellite (passive) service (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.4.1);
JPDP 47  Designate spectrum for stratospheric stations in the 47.2-47.5 
GHz and 47.9-48.2 GHz bands on a non-exclusive basis (WRC-97 Agenda 
Item 1.9.6); and
JPDP 48  Modify Recommendation 66 to call for continuation of studies 
on unwanted emissions (Agenda Item 4)

    Members of the public are invited to provide to the FCC and NTIA 
comments on the joint preliminary draft proposals. The deadline for 
comments on this fourth set of joint preliminary draft proposals is 
July 21, 1997. Timely comments will be considered by the FCC WRC-97 
Advisory Committee.
    Commenters should send an original plus one copy of their comment 
to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 
M Street, NW., Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments should clearly note 
``Reference No. ISP-96-005'' to ensure proper routing and should refer 
to specific proposals by their Joint Preliminary Draft Proposal number. 
Copies of the comments should also be submitted to the Director, Office 
of Spectrum Plans and Policies, National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 4099, 
Washington, D.C. 20230. Parties preferring to e-mail their comments 
should address their comments to WRC[email protected] and WRC[email protected] 
and they should reference ``Fourth Draft Proposals'' in the subject 
line.
    The draft proposals and comments received will be made available 
for public inspection at the FCC's International Reference Center, 2000 
M Street, NW., Room 102, Washington, D.C., 202-418-1492. Copies of the 
documents can also be purchased through the FCC's duplication 
contractor, ITS, Inc., 202-857-3800.
    Further information about the FCC WRC-97 Advisory Committee, 
including its schedule of meetings and the draft proposals, is 
available on the Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc97/. Meetings of 
the Advisory Committee and its Informal Working Groups are open to the 
public.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-18506 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P