[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 67 (Monday, April 8, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16652-16653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7726]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 74 and 90

[ET Docket No. 02-16; FCC 02-27]


WRC Frequency Bands Below 28000 kHz

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; clarification.

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SUMMARY: This document prevents the licensing of Public Safety; 
Industrial/Business Pool, excluding Travelers' Information Stations 
(TIS); and remote pick up stations in the AM Expanded Band during the 
pendency of ET Docket No. 02-16. We take this action to permit the 
orderly and effective resolution of the issue of mobiles services 
(excluding TIS) operating in the AM Expanded Band. This action will 
have minimal impact because very few such applications are received 
from those eligible to operate in this band and because alternative 
land mobile spectrum is available for their use.

DATES: Effective April 8, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Mooring, Office of Engineering and 
Technology, (202) 418-2450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order, 
ET Docket No. 02-16, FCC 02-27, adopted January 30, 2002, and released 
February 7, 2002. The full text of this Commission decision is 
available on the Commission's Internet site at www.fcc.gov. It is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CY-A257, 445 12th Street, 
SW., Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the Commission's 
duplication contractor, Qualex International, (202) 863-2893, Room CY-
B402, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.

Summary of the Order

    1. In 1983, the Commission began a process to improve and 
revitalize the AM broadcast service that included the expansion of its 
available frequencies to include the band 1605-1705 kHz (``AM Expanded 
Band''). At that time, the primary fixed, land mobile, maritime mobile, 
aeronautical radionavigation, and radiolocation allocations were 
removed from the band 1605-1705 kHz. As licensees have recently begun 
service using the AM Expanded Band, we are finding that several issues 
affecting this spectrum need to be addressed.
    2. When the land mobile allocation was removed from the band 1605-
1705 kHz in 1983, frequencies within this band were inadvertently not 
removed from Parts 74 and 90 of our Rules. Accordingly, in the 
associated Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket No. 02-16, we 
proposed to remove these frequencies from Parts 74 and 90 of our Rules.
    3. To prevent the licensing of Public Safety, Industrial/Business 
Pool, and remote pickup stations in the AM Expanded Band during the 
pendency of this proceeding, such applications will no longer be 
granted. We will no longer accept applications for new licenses or 
modifications or renewals of existing licenses for frequencies within 
the band 1605-1705 kHz as of the date of Federal Register Publications 
of this Order. Any such applications received on or after that date 
will be returned as unacceptable for filing. Pending applications will 
be dismissed, unless they are modified to specify alternative 
frequencies. We take this action to permit the orderly and effective 
resolution of the issue of mobile services (excluding TIS) operating in 
the AM Expanded Band. We anticipate this action will have minimal 
impact because very few such applications are received from Public 
Safety, Industrial/Business Pool, and remote pickup eligibles to 
operate in this band and because alternative land mobile spectrum is 
available.

Ordering Clause

    4. Public Safety, Industrial/Business Pool, and remote pickup 
applications for frequencies within the band 1605-1705 kHz shall not be 
granted. The Commission shall not accept said applications for new 
licenses or modifications or renewals of existing licenses for 
frequencies within the band 1605-1705 kHz as of the April 8, 2002 of 
this Order. Any such applications received on or after that date shall 
be returned as unacceptable for filing. Pending applications shall be 
dismissed, unless they are modified to specify alternative frequencies.


[[Page 16653]]


    Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-7726 Filed 4-5-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P