[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51877-51878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25235]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 90

[WT Docket No. 96-199; FCC 96-383]


Finder's Preference Program in the 220-222 MHz Band for Private 
Land Mobile Radio Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This action proposes to amend the Commission's Rules regarding 
the land mobile radio service to eliminate the finder's preference 
program in the 220-222 MHz band in light of our proposals to implement 
a new licensing approach for this band. It is necessary because pending 
proposals for geographic area licensing in this band appear 
incompatible with the approach of the finder's preference program. The 
effect of the action will be to determine the usefulness and benefits 
of continuing the finder's preference program.

DATES: Comment are to be filed on or before November 18, 1996; reply 
comment are to be filed on or before December 3, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Borkowski, Federal Communications 
Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Washington, D. C. 
20554, (202) 418-0626.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making, adopted September 17, 1996, and released 
September 27, 1996. The complete text of this Commission action is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, 
D. C., 20554. The complete text of this Notice of Proposed Rule Making 
may also be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, 
International Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 2100 Street, N. 
W., Suite 140, Washington, D. C. 20037, Telephone number (202) 857-
3800.

SUMMARY OF NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING:

    1. This Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) proposes to amend 
Part

[[Page 51878]]

90 of our Rules to eliminate the finder's preference program in the 
220-222 MHz band in light of our proposals to implement a new licensing 
approach for this band. The NPRM also seeks comment on the utility of 
the finder's preference program for private land mobile radio (PLMR) 
services authorized for the 470-512 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz bands.
    2. Under Section 90.173(k) of our Rules, persons may apply for a 
finder's preference for channels assigned on an exclusive basis in the 
220-222 MHz, 470-512 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz frequency bands by 
submitting information that leads to the Commission's recovery of 
unused channels in these bands. The NPRM proposes to eliminate the 
finder's preference program in the 220-222 MHz band in light of our 
proposals in PR Docket No. 89-552 to implement geographic area 
licensing and use competitive bidding to choose among mutually 
exclusive initial applications. This is consistent with our decision to 
eliminate the finder's preference program in the 800 MHz and 900 MHz 
Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) services when we adopted a geographic 
area licensing approach and competitive bidding procedures for those 
services. The NPRM also seeks comment on the usefulness and benefits of 
continuing the finder's preference program for the PLMR services in the 
470-512 MHz, 800 MHz, and 900 MHz bands.
    3. In order to avoid undermining the regulatory framework that we 
may adopt for the 220-222 MHz band, we have decided to delay processing 
any finder's preference requests that may be filed in this band pending 
final action in this proceeding. Continued processing of site-based 
requests could frustrate the intent of our geographic area licensing 
proposal by increasing the encumbrances on this spectrum with site-
based licensees, thus reducing the flexibility of the geographic-based 
licensees and thereby impairing their ability to best serve the public. 
Accordingly, our decision to delay processing of these requests serves 
the public interest. Moreover, this decision is procedural in nature, 
and thus not subject to the notice and comment and effective date 
requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A), (d). We also observe that our ongoing compliance review 
procedures will ensure that this decision does not compromise the 
public interest in any way.
    4. This Notice of Proposed Rule Making is issued under the 
authority contained in 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 303(r). Pursuant to 
applicable procedures set forth in Sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the 
Commission's Rules, 47 CFR 1.415 and 1.419, interested parties may file 
comments on or before November 18, 1996, and reply comments on or 
before December 3, 1996. To file formally in this proceeding, you must 
file an original and four copies of all comments, reply comments, and 
supporting comments. If you want each Commissioner to receive a 
personal copy of your comments, you must file an original plus nine 
copies. You must send comments and reply comments to the Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C. 20554. 
You may also file informal comments by electronic mail. You should 
address informal comments to [email protected]. You must put the docket 
number of this proceeding on the subject line (see the caption at the 
beginning of this NPRM). You must also include your full name and 
Postal Service mailing address in the text of the message. Formal and 
informal comments and reply comments will be available for public 
inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Room 239, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., 
Washington D.C. 20554.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 90

    Finder's preference, Radio

Federal Communications Commission.
Shirley S. Suggs,
Chief, Publications Branch.

Proposed Rules

    Part 90 of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed 
to be amended as follows:

PART 90--PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for Part 90 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 4, 303, and 332, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as 
amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303, and 332, unless otherwise noted.


Sec. 90.173  [Amended]

    Section 90.173 is amended by removing the words ``220-222 MHz,'' in 
the paragraph (k) introductory text.

[FR Doc. 96-25235 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P