[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 11194]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5985]


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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 second set of Joint Draft 
Preliminary Proposals for WRC-97. The public is provided a 30-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.

DATE: Comments must be submitted on or before March 25, 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: 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 February 25, 1997, their approval of a second 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.
    The joint preliminary draft proposals seek to:
    (10) Propose 3 levels of priority above routine priority, to 
protect maritime safety telecommunications: distress, urgency and 
safety. (Agenda Item 1.6.3)
    (11) Provide for the common worldwide primary allocation of space-
based active sensors in the bands 13.25-13.4 GHz and 13.4-13.75 GHz 
(Agenda Item 1.9.2)
    (12) Realign allocations between 50.2-71 GHz to not only protect 
passive systems operating in the unique oxygen absorption frequency 
range, but also those of the inter-satellite service and the fixed and 
mobile services. Provide for changes to the allocations for the inter-
satellite service to preclude interference to passive sensors. Provide 
for the allocation of the inter-satellite service in the band 65-71 
GHz. (Agenda Item 1.9.4.3)
    (13) Provide for the common worldwide primary allocation of space-
based active sensors in the band 9500-9800 MHz. (Agenda Item 1.9.2)
    (14) Upgrade the secondary allocation to provide for frequency 
spectrum at 35.5-36 GHz and 94-94.1 GHz for use by space-based active 
earth sensors. Add a footnote to limit the use of the 94-94.1 GHz band 
to spaceborne cloud radars. (Agenda Item 1.9.2)
    (15) Provide for the common worldwide primary allocation of space-
based active sensors in the band 17.2-17.3 GHz. (Agenda Item 1.9.2)
    (16) Modify the simplified Radio Regulations developed at WRC-95. 
Modifications are presented in three parts. Part One, Chapter N-IX, 
Distress and Safety Communications for the Global Maritime Distress and 
Safety System; Part Two, Modifications to Article S18 (Articles 24 
Licenses): Article S47 Operators Certificates (Article 55, Certificates 
for Personnel of Ship Stations and Ship Earth Stations,); Article S48 
Personnel (Article 56, Personnel of Stations in the Maritime Mobile and 
the Maritime Mobile Satellite Service); and Part Three, Suppress 
Resolutions 200, 210 and 330 and No Change to Resoluation 331. (Agenda 
Item 1.6.1)
    (17) Modify notification and registration of frequency assignments 
under Article S11. (Agenda Item 1)
    (18) Modify Appendix S18 [18], Table of Transmitting Frequencies of 
the band 156-174 MHz for stations in the maritime mobile services; 
propose NOC for S5.287[669], propose a new resolution to review 
efficiency of use of the 156-174 MHz Band by the Maritime Mobile 
service,and modify Resolution 310 (Rev Mob.-87). (Agenda Item 1.6.2)
    (19) Modify provisions of Articles S13 and S14. (Agenda Item 1)
    (20) Revise Article S12/17 of the Radio Regulations. (Agenda Item 
1.4)
    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 second set of joint preliminary draft proposals is 
March 25, 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, N.W., 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 then 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 ``Second 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, N.W., 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. 97-5985 Filed 3-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P