[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 214 (Monday, November 6, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64917-64919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-9102]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 27

[WT Docket Nos. 06-169, 96-86; DA 06-2116]


Upper 700 MHz Guard Band Licenses; Development of Operational, 
Technical and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting Federal, State and 
Local Public Safety Communications Requirements Through the Year 2010

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of reply comment period.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) 
of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the reply 
comment deadline in response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) in WT Docket Nos. 06-169 and 96-86. The deadline to file reply 
comments is extended from November 6, 2006 to November 13, 2006. This 
action is taken to provide interested parties sufficient time within 
which to respond meaningfully to the relevant issues raised in the 
NPRM.

DATES: The agency must receive reply comments on or before November 13, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit reply comments, identified by 
WT Docket Nos. 06-169 and 96-86, 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.
     Mail: Appropriate addresses for submitting 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]

[[Page 64918]]

or phone: 202-418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.

For detailed instructions for submitting reply comments, see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Moon, Wireless Telecommunications 
Bureau, at 202-418-1793, or via email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau's Order (Order), DA 06-2116, in WT Docket 
Nos. 06-169 and 96-86, released October 25, 2006, which extends the 
reply comments filing deadline in the 700 MHz Guard Bands proceeding. 
The full text of this document is available for inspection and copying 
during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 445 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be purchased 
from the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 
445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text 
may also be downloaded at: http://www.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are 
available to persons with disabilities by sending an e-mail to 
[email protected] or by calling the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau 
at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis of the Order

    1. On September 8, 2006, the Commission released the NPRM in WT 
Docket Nos. 06-169 and 96-86; FCC 06-133, published at 71 FR 55149, 
September 21, 2006, seeking public comment regarding, inter alia, 
proposals on possible changes to the Part 27 service rules applicable 
to existing and prospective Upper 700 MHz Guard Bands licensees as well 
as on proposals to modify the existing Upper 700 MHz band plan with 
respect to the Guard Bands. Deadlines for the filing of comments and 
reply comments were established as October 23, 2006, and November 6, 
2006, respectively.
    2. On October 20, 2006, the State of Maryland, Commonwealth of 
Virginia, Loudoun County, Virginia, and the Region 20 Regional Planning 
Committee each filed a request for extension of time to submit comments 
in response to the NPRM. The parties argue that the NPRM raised complex 
issues, and assert that any change to the existing 700 MHz Public 
Safety band plan will affect their plans for public safety 
communications. The parties state that they require additional time to 
more thoroughly analyze the complex issues raised, and request 
extensions of time ranging from ``no less than 30 days'' to 60 days in 
which to file comments.
    3. Motions for extension of time will not be granted routinely. In 
addition, the Commission's rules require that motions for extensions of 
time shall be filed 7 days before the filing date. In an emergency 
situation, the Commission may consider a late-filed motion for a brief 
extension of time related to the duration of the emergency. Pursuant to 
the Commission's rules, extension requests were due by October 16, 
2006, in this matter. The parties, however, did not submit motions for 
extension of time until October 20, 2006, nor did they provide 
sufficient information upon which the Commission may grant emergency 
relief. The Commission therefore concludes that it is unable to extend 
the comments deadline of October 23, 2006.
    4. However, in order to provide all interested parties with a full 
and fair opportunity to participate in this proceeding, the Commission 
finds that it is in the public interest to extend the reply comment 
deadline by 7 days until November 13, 2006. While the Commission finds 
that it is appropriate to provide additional time in order to build a 
more thorough and complete record, it is also cognizant of the concerns 
raised by the public safety community that the Commission address the 
issues raised in this proceeding in a prompt and timely manner. 
Accordingly, by extending the reply comments deadline by 7 days, the 
Commission strikes a balance between providing commenters with adequate 
time in which to respond to the NPRM, and ensuring that this proceeding 
is resolved expeditiously. In this regard, it should be noted that the 
Commission does not anticipate granting further extensions to the reply 
comments deadline.
    5. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's rules, 
47 CFR 1.415, and 1.419, interested parties may file reply comments on 
or before November 13, 2006. Comments may be filed using: (1) The 
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal 
Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. See 
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121, 
May 1, 1998.
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ 
or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Filers 
should follow the instructions provided on the Web site for submitting 
comments.
     For ECFS filers, if multiple docket or rulemaking numbers 
appear in the caption of this proceeding, filers must transmit one 
electronic copy of the comments for each docket or rulemaking number 
referenced in the caption. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, 
and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit 
an electronic comment by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions, 
filers should send an e-mail to [email protected], and include the following 
words in the body of the message, ``get form.'' A sample form and 
directions will be sent in response.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and four copies of each filing. If more than one 
docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, 
filers must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail (although the Commission continues to experience delays in 
receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to 
the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Communications Commission.
     The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or 
messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 
Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Suite 110, Washington, DC 20002. The filing 
hours at this location are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. All hand deliveries must be 
held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be 
disposed of before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an e-mail to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (tty).

Ordering Clause

    6. 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),

[[Page 64919]]

and Sec. Sec.  0.131, 0.331, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 
0.131, 0.331, and 1.46, the deadline for filing reply comments in 
response to the NPRM, published on September 21, 2006, in WT Docket 
Nos. 06-169 and 96-86, is extended to November 13, 2006.

Federal Communications Commission.
Catherine W. Seidel,
Acting Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 06-9102 Filed 11-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P