[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 156 (Friday, August 11, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49202-49205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20457]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 22
[DA 00-1654]
Amendment of the Geographic Channel Block Layout for Commercial
Aviation Air-Ground Systems in the Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document amends the geographical channel block layout for
commercial aviation air-ground systems licensed in the Air-Ground
Radiotelephone Service. These systems provide telephone service over a
wireless air-ground link to the telephones that are installed in
commercial airliners for use by passengers during flights. The purpose
of this action is to update the geographic channel block layout set
forth in the Commission's rules such that it correctly lists the
reference locations and channel block allotments for currently
operating ground stations in this service.
DATES: Effective September 11, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: B.C. ``Jay'' Jackson, Jr., Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-1309.
[[Page 49203]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The action amends the geographical channel
block layout for commercial aviation air-ground systems licensed in the
Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service (47 CFR Part 22, Subpart G). These
systems provide telephone service to the seat-back and bulkhead
telephones installed in commercial airliners for use by passengers
during flights. The wireless link between public telephone networks on
the ground and an airborne aircraft so equipped is established by these
systems. Each system comprises 50 or more full-power ground stations.
Rule 47 CFR 22.859 requires, among other things, that each full-power
ground station must (1) be located within 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of
one of the locations (defined by the geographic coordinates--latitude
and longitude) listed in the geographic channel block layout set forth
in that rule section, and (2) operate only on the channel block
allotted in the geographic channel block layout for that location. As
an exception, 47 CFR 22.859(b) provides that a full-power ground
station may be established at a location that is more than 550 miles
from all other full-power ground station locations on the same channel
block. In 1993 and 1994, the commercial aviation air-ground system
licensees filed petitions for rule making requesting various minor
changes and corrections to a few of the locations and channel block
allotments listed in 47 CFR 22.859. On various occasions since then,
the licensees have requested and been granted special temporary
authorizations waiving 47 CFR 22.859, allowing them to establish ground
stations at locations that exceed, by a small margin, the 1.6 kilometer
proximity requirement, and/or to operate on channel block assignments
other than those listed in the geographic channel block layout.
However, in each case, the intent of the rule (that all operating
stations be located in close proximity in order to minimize
interference due to Doppler frequency shift) continued to be served,
and furthermore, all of the licensees concurred in the changes. Taking
into account the accumulated location and channel block changes, this
action amends 47 CFR 22.859 to conform and update it, so that the
geographic channel block layout therein will correctly list the
currently authorized locations and channel block allotments. This
action was taken by the Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, FCC, pursuant to delegated authority (47 CFR 0.331), in a
letter addressed to the commercial aviation air-ground radiotelephone
system licensees. This letter, dated July 25, 2000 and released to the
public on July 26, 2000, is available for inspection and copying during
normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 Twelfth Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. A copy of the letter may be purchased
from the Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription
Service, Inc., 1231 20th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 (202)
857-3800.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 22
Communications common carriers, Communications equipment, Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
Rule Changes
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 22 as follows:
PART 22--PUBLIC MOBILE SERVICES
1. The authority citation for part 22 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 222, 303, 309, and 332.
2. Section 22.859 is amended by revising the introductory text
including the table to read as follows:
Sec. 22.859 Geographical channel block layout.
Except as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, each
ground station location must be within 1.6 kilometers (one mile) of one
of the locations listed in this paragraph. The channel block allotted
for each location must be used to provide service to airborne mobile
stations in flight and may be used to provide service to airborne
mobile stations on the ground.
Note: All geographic coordinates are referenced to North
American Datum 1983 (NAD83).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Channel
Location N. latitude W. longitude block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALASKA:
Anchorage............................ 61 deg.11'04"............... 149 deg.54'50".............. 8
Cordova.............................. 60 deg.29'38"............... 145 deg.28'17".............. 5
Ketchikan............................ 55 deg.21'10"............... 131 deg.42'20".............. 5
Juneau............................... 58 deg.21'17"............... 134 deg.34'36".............. 4
Sitka................................ 57 deg.03'03"............... 135 deg.20'23".............. 7
Yakutat.............................. 59 deg.32'22"............... 139 deg.44'10".............. 2
ALABAMA:
Birmingham........................... 33 deg.23'24"............... 86 deg.39'59"............... 2
ARIZONA:
Phoenix.............................. 33 deg.35'39"............... 112 deg.05'15".............. 4
Winslow.............................. 35 deg.01'17"............... 110 deg.43'04".............. 6
ARKANSAS:
Pine Bluff........................... 34 deg.10'56"............... 91 deg.56'18"............... 8
CALIFORNIA:
Burbank.............................. 34 deg.11'44"............... 118 deg.21'31".............. 4
Blythe............................... 33 deg.36'39"............... 114 deg.42'27".............. 10
Los Angeles.......................... 33 deg.56'45"............... 118 deg.23'06".............. 3
Oakland.............................. 37 deg.51'54"............... 122 deg.13'15".............. 1
Red Bluff............................ 40 deg.04'34"............... 122 deg.10'38".............. 8
San Francisco........................ 37 deg.41'15"............... 122 deg.26'05".............. 6
San Jose............................. 37 deg.20'56"............... 121 deg.54'01".............. 5
Visalia.............................. 36 deg.19'36"............... 119 deg.23'25".............. 7
COLORADO:
Colorado Springs..................... 38 deg.44'39"............... 104 deg.51'48".............. 8
Bennet............................... 39 deg.51'24"............... 104 deg.35'53".............. 1
Hayden............................... 40 deg.29'04"............... 107 deg.13'10".............. 6
FLORIDA:
[[Page 49204]]
Miami................................ 25 deg.48'28"............... 80 deg.16'29"............... 4
Orlando.............................. 28 deg.26'54"............... 81 deg.21'59"............... 2
Tallahassee.......................... 30 deg.24'03"............... 84 deg.21'18"............... 7
GEORGIA:
Atlanta.............................. 33 deg.39'05"............... 84 deg.25'54"............... 5
St Simons Island..................... 31 deg.09'23"............... 81 deg.23'13"............... 6
HAWAII:
Mauna Kapu........................... 21 deg.24'13"............... 158 deg.05'52".............. 5
IDAHO:
Blackfoot............................ 43 deg.11'34"............... 112 deg.21'00".............. 8
Caldwell............................. 43 deg.38'45"............... 116 deg.38'47".............. 10
ILLINOIS:
Chicago.............................. 41 deg.46'49"............... 87 deg.45'20"............... 3
Kewanee.............................. 41 deg.12'05"............... 89 deg.57'33"............... 5
Schiller Park........................ 41 deg.57'18"............... 87 deg.52'57"............... 2
INDIANA:
Fort Wayne........................... 40 deg.59'16"............... 85 deg.11'31"............... 7
IOWA:
Des Moines........................... 41 deg.31'58"............... 93 deg.38'55"............... 1
KANSAS:
Garden City.......................... 37 deg.59'35"............... 100 deg.54'06".............. 3
Wichita.............................. 37 deg.37'24"............... 97 deg.27'16"............... 7
KENTUCKY:
Fairdale............................. 38 deg.04'48"............... 85 deg.47'33"............... 6
LOUISIANA:
Kenner............................... 30 deg.00'28"............... 90 deg.13'49"............... 3
Shreveport........................... 32 deg.27'10"............... 93 deg.49'39"............... 5
MASSACHUSETTS:
Boston............................... 42 deg.23'15"............... 71 deg.01'01"............... 7
MICHIGAN:
Bellville............................ 42 deg.12'17"............... 83 deg.29'09"............... 8
Flint................................ 42 deg.58'21"............... 83 deg.44'22"............... 9
Sault Saint Marie.................... 46 deg.28'45"............... 84 deg.21'31"............... 6
MINNESOTA:
Bloomington.......................... 44 deg.51'30"............... 93 deg.13'20"............... 9
MISSISSIPPI:
Meridian............................. 32 deg.19'11"............... 88 deg.41'33"............... 9
MISSOURI:
Kansas City.......................... 39 deg.18'13"............... 94 deg.41'05"............... 6
St. Louis............................ 38 deg.42'45"............... 90 deg.19'19"............... 4
Springfield.......................... 37 deg.14'28"............... 93 deg.22'55"............... 9
MONTANA:
Lewistown............................ 47 deg.02'56"............... 109 deg.27'30".............. 5
Miles City........................... 46 deg.25'30"............... 105 deg.52'32".............. 8
Missoula............................. 47 deg.01'05"............... 114 deg.00'44".............. 3
NEBRASKA:
Grand Island......................... 40 deg.58'00"............... 98 deg.19'12"............... 2
Ogallala............................. 41 deg.07'11"............... 101 deg.45'39".............. 4
NEVADA:
Las Vegas............................ 36 deg.05'35"............... 115 deg.10'28".............. 1
Reno................................. 39 deg.35'13"............... 119 deg.55'56".............. 4
Tonopah.............................. 38 deg.03'43"............... 117 deg.13'27".............. 9
Winnemucca........................... 41 deg.00'39"............... 117 deg.46'01".............. 3
NEW MEXICO:
Alamogordo........................... 32 deg.54'46"............... 105 deg.56'43".............. 8
Albuquerque.......................... 35 deg.03'05"............... 106 deg.37'15".............. 10
Aztec................................ 36 deg.48'42"............... 107 deg.53'50".............. 9
Clayton.............................. 36 deg.27'29"............... 103 deg.11'18".............. 5
NEW JERSEY:
Woodbury............................. 39 deg.50'01"............... 75 deg.09'20"............... 3
NEW YORK:
E. Elmhurst.......................... 40 deg.46'21"............... 73 deg.52'40"............... 1
Schuyler............................. 43 deg.09'09"............... 75 deg.07'49"............... 2
Staten Island........................ 40 deg.36'05"............... 74 deg.06'34"............... 9
NORTH CAROLINA:
Greensboro........................... 36 deg.05'54"............... 79 deg.56'41"............... 9
Wilmington........................... 34 deg.16'11"............... 77 deg.54'23"............... 3
NORTH DAKOTA:
Dickinson............................ 46 deg.51'05"............... 102 deg.47'37".............. 7
OHIO:
Pataskala............................ 40 deg.04'05"............... 82 deg.42'00"............... 1
OKLAHOMA:
Warner............................... 35 deg.29'31"............... 95 deg.18'26"............... 4
[[Page 49205]]
Woodward............................. 36 deg.24'42"............... 99 deg.28'51"............... 9
OREGON:
Albany............................... 44 deg.38'23"............... 123 deg.03'40".............. 5
Klamath Falls........................ 42 deg.06'30"............... 121 deg.38'04".............. 2
Pendleton............................ 45 deg.35'44"............... 118 deg.31'06".............. 7
PENNSYLVANIA:
Coraopolis........................... 40 deg.30'33"............... 80 deg.13'26"............... 4
New Cumberland....................... 40 deg.11'30"............... 76 deg.52'01"............... 8
SOUTH CAROLINA:
Charleston........................... 32 deg.54'11"............... 80 deg.01'19"............... 4
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Aberdeen............................. 45 deg.27'21"............... 98 deg.25'27"............... 6
Rapid City........................... 44 deg.02'36"............... 103 deg.03'38".............. 5
TENNESSEE:
Elizabethton......................... 36 deg.26'04"............... 82 deg.08'05"............... 7
Memphis.............................. 35 deg.01'44"............... 89 deg.56'15"............... 10
Nashville............................ 36 deg.08'07"............... 86 deg.41'39"............... 3
TEXAS:
Bedford.............................. 32 deg.'45"................. 97 deg.07'20"............... 1
Houston.............................. 29 deg.54'38"............... 95 deg.24'40"............... 2
Lubbock.............................. 33 deg.37'06"............... 101 deg.52'16".............. 7
Monahans............................. 31 deg.34'58"............... 102 deg.54'20".............. 6
UTAH:
Abajo Peak........................... 37 deg.50'21"............... 109 deg.27'44".............. 7
Delta................................ 39 deg.23"15'............... 112 deg.30'47".............. 2
Escalante............................ 37 deg.45'19"............... 111 deg.52'30".............. 5
Green River.......................... 38 deg.57'54"............... 110 deg.13'43".............. 3
Salt Lake City....................... 40 deg.39'11"............... 112 deg.12'09".............. 1
VIRGINIA:
Arlington............................ 38 deg.52'55"............... 77 deg.06'17"............... 6
WASHINGTON:
Seattle.............................. 47 deg.26'07"............... 122 deg.17'39".............. 4
Cheney............................... 47 deg.33'14"............... 117 deg.43'39".............. 1
WEST VIRGINIA:
Charleston........................... 38 deg.19'47"............... 81 deg.39'35"............... 2
WISCONSIN:
Stevens Point........................ 44 deg.33'06"............... 89 deg.25'27"............... 8
WYOMING:
Riverton............................. 43 deg.03'37"............... 108 deg.27'25".............. 9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * * * *
[FR Doc. 00-20457 Filed 8-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P