[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3701-3703]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-2072]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

First Meeting of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee; Notice

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this 
notice advises interested persons that the first meeting of the WRC-97 
Advisory Committee will be held on February 6, 1996 at the Federal 
Communications Commission. The purpose of the meeting is to begin 
preparations for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference.

DATE: February 6, 1996; 2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 
856, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cecily C. Holiday, FCC International 
Bureau, Satellite and Radiocommunication Division, at (202) 418-0719.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of its preparation for the 1997 
World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-97), the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) has amended the charter of its Advisory 
Committee for the 1995 World Radio Conference. The Advisory Committee 
will now be called the Advisory Committee for the 1997 World 
Radiocommunication Conference and its scope of activities will be to 
address the issues contained in the agenda for WRC-97. A copy of the 
WRC-97 Agenda is attached. The FCC established the Advisory Committee 
to provide advice, technical support and recommendations relating to 
the preparation of U.S. proposals and positions for World 
Radiocommunication Conferences.
    In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 
92-463, as amended, this notice advises interested persons of the first 
meeting of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee. Due to the severe time 
constraints resulting from the recent government office closures and 
the scheduling of a series of international meetings to consider 
preparations for WRC-97, this agency has concluded that exceptional 
circumstances warrant holding the Advisory Committee's first meeting on 
February 6, 1996. Public Notice of this meeting has also been published 
by the FCC. 

[[Page 3702]]

    The WRC-97 Advisory Committee will continue to have an open 
membership. All interested parties are invited to participate and to 
attend the meeting.
    The proposed agenda for the first meeting is as follows:

Agenda

First Meeting of the WRC-97 Advisory Committee, Federal Communications 
Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Room 856, Washington, DC 20036, 
February 6, 1996; 2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

    1. Opening Remarks.
    2. Approval of Agenda.
    3. Review of Results of WRC-95.
    4. Review of U.S. Preparatory Process for WRC-97 (FCC-NTIA-
State).
    5. Structure of WRC-97 Advisory Committee.
    6. Other Business.
Resolution GT PLEN-3

Agenda for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference

    The World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 1995), 
considering:
    (a) That in accordance with Nos. 118 and 126 of the Convention of 
the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992), and having 
regard to Resolution 1 of the Additional Plenipotentiary Conference 
(Geneva, 1992), the general scope of the agenda for a world 
radiocommunication conference should be established four years in 
advance and a final agenda shall be established two years before the 
conference;
    (b) Resolution 3 of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994);
    (c) The relevant resolutions and recommendations of previous world 
administrative radio conferences (WARC) and world radiocommunication 
conferences (WRC), recognizing that this Conference identified a number 
of urgent issues requiring further examination by the 1997 World 
Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-97), resolves to recommend to the 
Council that a World Radiocommunication Conference be held in Geneva in 
late 1997 for a period of four weeks, with the following agenda:
    1  On the basis of proposals from administrations and the Report of 
the Conference Preparatory Meeting, and taking account of the results 
of WRC-95, to consider and take appropriate action in respect of the 
following topics:
    1.1  Requests from administrations to delete their country 
footnotes or to have their country's name deleted from footnotes, if no 
longer required, within the limits of Resolution [COM4-1];
    1.2  Issues arising from the WRC-95 consideration of the VGE Report 
taking into account the following Resolutions [COM4-3];
    1.3  Review of Appendix S7 [28] to the Radio Regulations, taking 
into account Resolution 60 (WARC-79), Resolution 712 (Rev.WRC-95) and 
Recommendation 711 (WARC-79);
    1.4  Examination of, and taking necessary decisions on, the 
question of the HF bands allocated to the broadcasting service in the 
light of developments to date and the results of the studies carried 
out by the Radiocommunication Sector, and review of Article 17 [S12] of 
the Radio Regulations in accordance with Resolution [COM4-2] and 
Resolution [GT PLEN-2];
    1.5  Based on the results of the studies to be carried out under 
Recommendation [GT PLEN-B], consider changes to the Radio Regulations, 
as appropriate;
    1.6  Matters related to the maritime mobile and maritime mobile-
satellite services:
    1.6.1  The provisions of Chapters IX [Appendix S13] and NIX 
[Chapter SVII] of the Radio Regulations, as stipulated in Resolution 
331 (Mob-87), and appropriate action in respect of the issues dealt 
with in Resolutions 200 (Mob-87), 210 (Mob-87) and 330 (Mob-87), 
including maritime certification and licensing issues related to 
Chapter [SIX] of the Radio Regulations, taking into account that the 
global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS) shall be fully 
implemented in 1999;
    1.6.2  The use of Appendix 18 [S18] to the Radio Regulations in 
respect of the VHF band for maritime mobile communications, and the use 
and extension of UHF channels contained in S5.287, taking into account 
Resolution 310 (Mob-87);
    1.6.3  Article 61 [S53] of the Radio Regulations relating to the 
order of priority of communications in the maritime mobile service and 
in the maritime mobile-satellite service;
    1.6.4  Review, and if necessary, revision of the provisions related 
to the NAVTEX coordination in order to release the ITU from the 
obligation to undertake operational coordination for this service 
operating on 490 kHz, 518 kHz and 4 209.5 kHz, in the light of the 
consultations undertaken with the International Maritime Organization 
(IMO) Resolution [COM4-7];
    1.6.5  Use of the new digital technology in the maritime 
radiotelephony channels;
    1.7  Review of Appendix 8 to the Radio Regulations taking into 
account Recommendation 66 (Rev.WARC-92);
    1.8  The possible deletion of all secondary allocations from the 
band 136-137 MHz, which is allocated to the aeronautical mobile (R) 
service on a primary basis, in accordance with Resolution 408 (Mob-87) 
and in order to meet the special needs of the aeronautical mobile (R) 
service;
    1.9  Taking into account the needs of other services to which the 
relevant frequency bands are already allocated:
    1.9.1  Pressing issues concerning existing and possible additional 
frequency allocations and regulatory aspects as related to the mobile-
satellite and fixed-satellite services including consideration of WRC-
95 Resolutions [PLEN-1], [COM5-4, COM5-6, COM5-7, COM5-8, COM5-9, COM5-
11], [GT PLEN-6] and Recommendation 717 (Rev.WRC-95);
    1.9.2  Resolutions 211 (WARC-92), 710 (WARC-92) and Resolution 712 
(Rev.WRC-95);
    1.9.3  Recommendation 621 (WARC-92);
    1.9.4  Frequency allocation issues related to the needs of the 
earth exploration-satellite service, which are not covered in the 
above-mentioned Resolutions, namely:
    1.9.4.1  Allocation of frequency bands above 50 GHz to the earth 
exploration-satellite (passive) service;
    1.9.4.2  Frequency allocations near 26 GHz to the earth 
exploration-satellite service (space-to-Earth);
    1.9.4.3  The existing frequency allocations near 60 GHz and, if 
necessary, their re-allocation, with a view to protecting the earth 
exploration-satellite (passive) service systems operating in the unique 
oxygen absorption frequency range from about 50 GHz to about 70 GHz;
    1.9.5  Allocations to the space research service (space-to-space) 
near 400 MHz;
    1.9.6  The identification of suitable frequency bands above 30 GHz 
for use by the fixed service for high density applications;
    1.10  Review of Appendices 30 [S30] and 30A [S30A] for Regions 1 
and 3 in response to Resolution 524 (WARC-92), and taking particular 
account of resolves 2 of that Resolution, in accordance with Resolution 
[GT PLEN-1] (WRC-95) and taking into account Recommendation [COM4-B];
    2  To examine the revised ITU-R Recommendations incorporated by 
reference in the Radio Regulations which have been communicated by the 
associated Radiocommunication Assembly, in accordance with Resolution 
[COM4-5]; and decide whether or not to update the corresponding 
references in the Radio Regulations, in accordance with 

[[Page 3703]]
principles contained in the Annex to Resolution [COM4-4];
    3  To consider such consequential changes and amendments to the 
Radio Regulations as may be necessitated by the decisions of the 
Conference;
    4  In accordance with Resolution 94 (WARC-92), to review those 
resolutions and recommendations of world administrative radio 
conferences and world radiocommunication conferences which are relevant 
to agenda items 1 and 2 above with a view to their possible revision, 
replacement or abrogation;
    5  To review, and take appropriate action on, the report from the 
Radiocommunication Assembly submitted in accordance with Nos. 135 and 
136 of the Convention (Geneva, 1992);
    6  To identify those items requiring urgent actions by the 
radiocommunication study groups in accordance with Resolution [GT PLEN-
BB];
    7  To consider the final report of the Director of the 
Radiocommunication Bureau on activities related to Resolution 18 
(Kyoto, 1994);
    8  In accordance with Article 7 of the Convention (Geneva, 1992):
    8.1  To consider and approve the report of the Director of the 
Radiocommunication Bureau on the activities of the Radiocommunication 
Sector since the last Conference;
    8.2  To recommend to the Council items for inclusion in the agenda 
for the 1999 World Radiocommunication Conference, and to give its views 
on the preliminary agenda for the 2001 Conference and on possible 
agenda items for future conferences, invites the Council to establish 
the agenda and make provision for WRC-97 and to initiate as soon as 
possible the necessary consultation with Members, instructs the 
Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau to make the necessary 
arrangements to convene meetings of the Conference Preparatory Meeting 
and to prepare a report to WRC-97, instructs the Secretary-General to 
communicate this Resolution to concerned international and regional 
organizations.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-2072 Filed 1-29-96; 1:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P