[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21724-21725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-8411]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 0 and 1

[WT Docket No. 04-435; DA 05-1015]


Facilitating the Use of Cellular Telephones and Other Wireless 
Devices Aboard Airborne Aircraft

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) 
of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the 
periods for both the comment and reply comment deadlines established in 
the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) adopted by the Commission in 
the Airborne Cellular proceeding. The deadline to file comments is 
extended from April 11, 2005, to May 26, 2005, and the deadline to file 
reply comments is extended from May 9, 2005, to June 27, 2005. This 
action is taken to enable interested parties sufficient opportunity to 
review complex issues raised by the NPRM and to provide commenters a 
reasonable period of time to conduct the testing necessary to assess 
the potential interference issues associated with the use of pico cell 
systems and wireless devices onboard aircraft.

DATES: The agency must receive comments on or before May 26, 2005; and 
reply comments on or before June 27, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by WT Docket No. 04-435, 
by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: To receive filing instructions for e-mail comments, 
commenters should send an e-mail to [email protected], and should include 
the following words in the body of the message, ``get form .'' A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. Include 
the docket number(s) in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Appropriate addresses for submitting comments and 
reply comments may be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 
this document.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to 
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, including any personal information 
provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy N. Benson, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau at 202-418-2946, or via the Internet at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Federal 
Communications Commission's Order (Order), DA 05-1015, in WT Docket No. 
04-435, (2005 WL 771357 (F.C.C.)), adopted April 5, 2005, and released 
April 6, 2005, which extends the comment and reply comment filing 
deadlines in the Airborne Cellular proceeding. The full text of this 
document is available for public inspection and copying during regular 
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th St., 
SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be 
purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor: Best Copy & 
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC, 
20554, telephone 800-378-3160, facsimile 202-488-5563, or via e-mail at 
[email protected]. The full text may also be downloaded at: http://www.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are available to persons with 
disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 or TTY (202) 
418-7365 or at [email protected].

Synopsis of the Order

    1. On April 6, 2005, the WTB released an Order that extended the 
comment and reply comment filing deadlines established in the NPRM 
adopted by the Commission in this proceeding on December 15, 2004 in WT 
Docket No. 04-435; FCC 04-288 published at 70 FR 11916, March 10, 2005. 
In the NPRM, the Commission sought to replace or relax the prohibition 
on the airborne use of 800 MHz cellular telephones. In particular, the 
Commission proposed to allow the use of cellular telephones on 
airplanes so long as the phones are controlled by a pico cell installed 
onboard the aircraft. The Commission also sought comment on whether an 
industry-developed standard could facilitate the airborne use of 
cellular telephones while ensuring interference-free operations. 
Finally, the Commission sought comment as to whether cellular carriers 
should be allowed to provide service to airborne units on a secondary 
basis, subject to technical limitations aimed toward preventing harmful 
interference to airborne and terrestrial cellular operations.
    2. Requests for an extension of time to file comments were filed by 
the Boeing Company, Nickolaus E. Leggett, jointly by Telenor Satellite 
Services, Inc. and ARINC, and by the U.S. Department of Justice/Federal 
Bureau of Investigations/Department of Homeland Security. In addition, 
Verizon Wireless filed comments in support of Boeing's request. The 
parties argue that the current comment period does not provide 
commenters with a sufficient length of time to conduct the testing and 
technical analysis necessary to submit thorough and meaningful 
responses.

Ordering Clauses

    3. Pursuant to sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j), and Sec. Sec.  0.131, 
0.331, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.131,

[[Page 21725]]

0.331, and 1.46, the deadline for filing comments in response to the 
NPRM, published on March 10, 2005, in this proceeding, is extended to 
May 26, 2005, and the deadline for filing reply comments is extended to 
June 27, 2005.

Federal Communications Commission.
Linda Chang,
Associate Chief, Mobility Division.
[FR Doc. 05-8411 Filed 4-26-05; 8:45 am]
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