[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 97 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28206-28207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-12139]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 0

[GN Docket No. 09-51; PS Docket No. 06-229; FCC 10-67]


Establishment of an Emergency Response Interoperability Center

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This Order amends Part 0 of the Commission's rules to 
establish rules governing the Emergency Response Interoperability 
Center (ERIC).

[[Page 28207]]

The Commission further delegates authority to the Chief of the Public 
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to establish advisory bodies and 
select appropriate representatives from federal agencies, the public 
safety community, and industry to advise ERIC.

DATES: Effective Date: June 21, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Manner, 
[email protected]; (202) 418-3619.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission will not send a copy of this 
Order pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 
801(a)(1)(A), because the adopted rules are rules of agency 
organization, procedure, or practice that do not substantially affect 
the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.
    On March 16, 2010, the Commission submitted a report to Congress 
entitled ``The National Broadband Plan (Plan).'' As part of its 
national broadband strategy, the Plan recommends the establishment of 
an Emergency Response Interoperability Center (ERIC) tasked with 
ensuring that the 700 MHz public safety broadband wireless network will 
be fully operable and interoperable on a nationwide basis, both day-to-
day as well as during times of emergency.
    To ensure a baseline of operability and interoperability from the 
start of the network's development, the Commission has concluded that 
the public interest will be served by establishing ERIC within the 
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB). Accordingly, the 
Commission is assigning to ERIC responsibilities consistent with those 
currently assigned to PSHSB under Sec.  0.191 of the FCC's rules. More 
specifically, ERIC will be tasked with implementing national 
interoperability standards and developing technical and operational 
procedures for the 700 MHz public safety broadband wireless network. 
The Commission also anticipates that over time, ERIC may perform 
similar functions with respect to other public safety communications 
systems.
    The Commission will not send a copy of this Order pursuant to the 
Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A), because the 
adopted rules are rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice 
that do not substantially affect the rights or obligations of non-
agency parties.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 0

    Organization and functions (Government agencies).

    Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Final Rules

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications 
Commission proposes to amend 47 part 0 as follows:

PART 0--COMMISSION ORGANIZATION

0
1. The authority citation for part 0 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sec. 5, 48 Stat. 1068, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 155, 
225, unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Section 0.191 is amended by adding paragraph (q) to read as follows:


Sec.  0.191  Functions of the Bureau.

* * * * *
    (q) Oversees the Emergency Response Interoperability Center, 
establishes the intergovernmental advisory committees described under 
Sec.  0.192(b), and administers the agency's responsibilities in 
connection with such committees.

0
3. Add Sec.  0.192 to Subpart A to read as follows:


Sec.  0.192  Emergency Response Interoperability Center.

    (a) The Emergency Response Interoperability Center acts under the 
general direction of the Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau to develop, recommend, and administer policy goals, 
objectives, rules, regulations, programs, and plans for the Commission 
in matters pertaining to the implementation of national 
interoperability standards and the development of technical and 
operational requirements and procedures for the 700 MHz public safety 
broadband wireless network and other public safety communications 
systems. These requirements and procedures may involve such issues as 
interoperability, roaming, priority access, gateway functions and 
interfaces, interconnectivity of public safety broadband networks, 
authentication and encryption, and requirements for common public 
safety broadband applications.
    (b) To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Chief of the 
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau shall have delegated 
authority to establish one or more advisory bodies, consistent with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act or other applicable law, to advise the 
Emergency Response Interoperability Center in the performance of its 
responsibilities. Such advisory bodies may include representatives from 
relevant Federal public safety and homeland security entities, 
representatives from state and local public safety entities, industry 
representatives, and service providers.

0
4. Section 0.392 is amended by revising the introductory text to read 
as follows:


Sec.  0.392  Authority Delegated.

    The Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, is hereby 
delegated authority to perform all functions of the Bureau, described 
in Sec. Sec.  0.191 and 0.192, subject to the following exceptions and 
limitations in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2010-12139 Filed 5-19-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P