[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 174 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 48219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24083]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 98-1705]


Dispatch Interactive Television Request

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: On August 25, 1998, the Public Safety and Private Wireless 
Division released a public notice seeking comments on a request made by 
Dispatch Interactive Television, Inc. (DITV), for a declaratory ruling 
and waiver of the Commission's IVDS service rules. The waiver was 
requested to permit DITV to provide one-way voice or data transmission 
services, including paging services, over an interactive video and data 
service (IVDS) system it proposes to build in Indianapolis, Indiana.

DATES: Comments are due September 15, 1998 and reply comments are due 
September 30, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M St., 
N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Moskowitz, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety & Private Wireless Division, 
(202) 418-0680, or via E-mail to ``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. On June 9, 1998, Dispatch Interactive Television, Inc. (DITV), 
filed a Request for Waiver and Declaratory Ruling of Secs. 95.855 and 
95.859(a) of the Commission's Rules (Waiver Request). DITV seeks to 
provide one-way voice or data transmission services, including paging 
services, over an interactive video and data service (IVDS) system it 
proposes to build in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Commission now invites 
comment on this request.
    2. DITV holds the B Block IVDS license in the Indianapolis 
Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), call sign KIVD0037. DITV is a 
wholly owned subsidiary of the Dispatch Printing Company, which in turn 
holds the license for television Channel 13 in Indianapolis, call sign 
WTHR. The system outlined by DITV in its Wavier Request contains a 
single cell transmitter station (CTS) co-located upon the antenna used 
by WTHR. DITV seeks permission to operate this CTS at up to 250 watts 
effective radiated power (ERP). Section 95.855 of the Commission's 
Rules, 47 CFR 95.855, limits the ERP of CTSs to 20 Watts ERP and 
Section 95.859(a), 47 CFR 95.859(a), further limits the ERP of CTS 
units to below 20 Watts if their antenna height above average terrain 
(HAAT) exceeds 36.6 meters. DITV's IVDS transmitter will be placed 
212.2 meters HAAT.
    3. DITV argues that its Waiver Request should be granted because 
the rules at issue were intended to ensure that IVDS signals would not 
interfere with TV Channel 13. DITV maintains that the design of its 
system eliminates this concern because co-locating the IVDS 
transmitting antenna with the TV Channel 13 antenna will ensure that 
the transmitting power disparity between WTHR and the IVDS signal will 
be maintained throughout WTHR's service area at approximately 10,000 to 
1. This, DITV states, will ensure that the IVDS transmissions from the 
CTS will not interfere with the TV Channel 13 signal.
    4. DITV further argues that granting its Waiver Request will serve 
the public interest by facilitating its efforts to obtain the equipment 
necessary to build and operate its IVDS system. DITV states that it 
cannot proceed with the development, manufacture, and purchase of 
equipment until it determines that the proposed system will be allowed 
to operate.
    5. Interested parties may file comments on DITV's Waiver Request no 
later than September 15, 1998. Parties interested in submitting reply 
comments must do so no later than September 30, 1998. All comments 
should reference DITV's Waiver Request, and File No., DA 98-1705, and 
should be filed with the Office of Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 222, Washington, D.C. 20554. A 
copy of each filing should be sent to International Transcription 
Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20th Street, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20036, 
(202) 857-3800 and to James Moskowitz, Federal Communications 
Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and 
Private Wireless Division, 2025 M Street, N.W., Room 8010, Washington, 
D.C. 20554.
    6. The full text of the petition, comments, and reply comments are 
available for inspection and duplication during regular business hours 
in the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division of the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 2025 M 
Street, N.W., Room 8010, Washington, D.C. 20554. Copies may also be 
obtained from International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 
20th Street, N.W.,Washington, DC 20036, (202) 857-3800.
    7. For further information, contact James Moskowitz of the Public 
Safety and Private Wireless Division at (202) 418-0680 or via E-Mail at 
[email protected].

Federal Communications Commission.
D'wana R. Terry,
Division Chief, Public Safety & Private Wireless Division.
[FR Doc. 98-24083 Filed 9-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P