[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 173 (Tuesday, September 8, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 47460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24005]



[[Page 47460]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Ch. I

[WT Docket 98-20 and WT Docket 98-100; DA 98-1687]


Streamlining of Wireless Regulations

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In this Public Notice, DA 98-1687, the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau seeks public comment on the Personal 
Communications Industry Association's (PCIA) July 31, 1998 letter 
proposing streamlining of wireless regulations.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW, Room 
222, Washington, DC 20554.

DATES: Comments are due September 23, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW, Room 
222, Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Steinberg, Commercial Wireless 
Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-0620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Public Notice, DA 98-1687, released on 
August 21, 1998, is available for inspection and copying during normal 
business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 5608, 2025 M Street 
NW, Washington, DC. The complete text, including attachments, may also 
be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, International 
Transcription Service, Inc., 1231--20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 
20037, (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Public Notice

    1. In numerous proceedings, the Commission has emphasized its 
desire to take a ``common sense'' approach to regulation, committing to 
streamlining its regulations to the greatest extent possible in order 
to reduce unnecessary regulatory costs and burdens consistent with the 
public interest. The Commission has also encouraged and received 
industry input on these issues.
    2. On July 31, 1998, Mary McDermott, Senior Vice President & Chief 
of Staff, Public Relations, PCIA submitted a letter to Daniel B. 
Phythyon, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (PCIA Letter) 
concerning potential streamlining or elimination of certain wireless 
regulations. In the letter, PCIA identified three categories of 
regulations that it regards as administratively unnecessary: (1) 
Regulations that have been the subject of comment in the Commission's 
Universal Licensing System (ULS) rulemaking; (2) other regulations that 
PCIA contends could be eliminated or modified by the Commission without 
the need for prior notice and comment; and (3) regulations that PCIA 
believes should be eliminated or modified but that may require prior 
notice and comment.
    3. We note that many of the specific proposals in the PCIA letter 
are already the subject of ongoing Commission proceedings, including 
the ULS rulemaking and the Commission's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 
63 FR 43025 (August 11, 1998) seeking comment on additional areas where 
it could apply streamlining or forbearance to its wireless regulations 
(Wireless Forbearance). In the interest of furthering these and other 
initiatives, the Bureau believes it serves the public interest to seek 
public comment on the PCIA Letter, and on the proposals made therein 
for streamlining and elimination of Commission regulations. We note 
that this will not delay any streamlining action that the Bureau or the 
Commission may elect to take without further notice and comment. In 
addition, we will incorporate comments on the PCIA Letter into the 
record of our ULS and Wireless Forbearance proceedings, and will 
incorporate them into other proceedings as appropriate.

Federal Communications Commission.
Rosalind Allen,
Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 98-24005 Filed 9-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P