[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 23, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54980-54981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27073]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------


FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 90

[WT Docket No. 96-86; FCC 96-403]


Non-Accredited Standard-Setting Organizations That Develop 
Standards For Public Safety Wireless Communications Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Request for Comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This action seeks additional comment on non-accredited 
standard setting organizations that develop standards for public safety 
wireless communications equipment. It is necessary for the Commission 
to receive comment on whether the Communications Act of 1934 generally 
provides the Commission with authority to impose requirements similar 
to those identified in Section 273(d)(4) of the Act, and, if so, 
whether the Commission should exercise this authority. The effect of 
the action will be to seek additional comment on whether to require 
open and fair processes, similar to those described in the Act, in the 
development and adoption of future standards for public safety wireless 
communications equipment and systems.

DATES: Comments are to be filed on or before October 21, 1996; reply 
comments are to be filed on or before December 3, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob McNamara or John Borkowski, 
Federal Communications Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice, released October 9, 1996. The complete (but unofficial) text of 
this Commission Public Notice is available on the Internet at: http://
www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Public__Notices/fcc96403.txt and 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 Public Notice is available and may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Services, Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 
140, Washington, D.C. 20037, Telephone number (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Public Notice

    1. On April 5, 1996, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) in WT Docket No. 96-86, 61 F.R. 25185 (May 20, 1996) 
that seeks comment on the development of operational, technical, and 
spectrum requirements for meeting Federal, state, and local public 
safety agency communication requirements through the year 2010. 
Specifically, the Notice asks for comment on: (1) Methods to facilitate 
the development of interoperable equipment and technologies, including 
the development of standards to foster interoperability; (2) the 
service features and system requirements essential to the effective 
performance of public safety functions; (3) technological issues 
regarding the enhancement and improvement of public safety wireless 
communications; (4) regulatory approaches that address the problems of 
congested spectrum and fragmented public safety allocations; (5) 
measures that would foster the development of public safety wireless 
communications that are spectrally-efficient, of high quality, and 
effective; and (6) the means to promote competition in the supply of 
goods and services used by public safety agencies.
    2. Prior to the adoption of this NPRM, the Commission and the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 
established the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee (Advisory 
Committee) to address many of these same issues. In the discussions of 
the Advisory Committee's Interoperability Subcommittee, a need was 
identified to develop a baseline technology to promote interoperability 
between and among public safety entities. The Subcommittee subsequently 
recommended a baseline technology for analog applications. It further 
recommended that a group comprised of experts from government, 
industry, and users be organized, following the termination of the 
Committee's work, to examine a baseline interoperability technology 
that could be used in digital systems. The organization, membership, 
and charter of the proposed group were not further specified. The 
Advisory Committee subsequently recommended that follow-up efforts be 
continued to advise the Commission and NTIA on public safety wireless 
communications and adopted the Subcommittee's recommendation that 
future standards be developed in a fair and open process.
    3. Section 273(d)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended 
(the Act) establishes procedural and other requirements that certain 
non-accredited entities must follow if they develop industry-wide 
telecommunications standards or generic network equipment requirements. 
We believe that the requirements of Section 273(d)(4) of the Act apply 
specifically to the development of standards for telecommunications 
equipment, customer premises equipment and software used in the 
provision of wireline telephone exchange service, and are not 
applicable to non-accredited standards-setting organizations that 
develop standards for public safety wireless communications equipment. 
We seek comment, however, on whether the general principles articulated 
in Section 273(d)(4) nonetheless may be useful in the development of 
standards initiated in the future for public safety equipment. 
Accordingly, we seek comment on whether the Act generally provides the 
Commission with authority to impose requirements similar to those 
identified in Section 273(d)(4), and, if so, whether the Commission 
should exercise this authority. Specifically, we seek additional 
comment on whether to require open and fair processes, similar to those 
described in the Act, in the development and adoption of future 
standards for public safety wireless communications equipment and 
systems.
    4. Comments and replies should be filed in accordance with the 
procedures established in WT Docket No. 96-86. Interested parties must 
file an original and four copies of their comments with the Office of 
the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments should reference WT 
Docket No. 96-86. Parties should send one copy of their comments to the 
Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Room 
140, 2100 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. Comments will be 
available for public inspection during regular business hours in the 
FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20554.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 90

    Public safety, Radio.


[[Page 54981]]


Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-27073 Filed 10-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P