[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 221 (Wednesday, November 17, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70166-70168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29005]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1 and 17

[WT Docket No. 08-61; WT Docket No. 03-187; DA 10-2178]


Federal Communications Commission Announces Public Meetings and 
Invites Comment on the Environmental Effects of Its Antenna Structure 
Registration Program

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
announces public meetings regarding the pending Programmatic 
Environmental Assessment (PEA) of its Antenna Structure Registration 
(ASR) program and invites comment on the environmental effects of its 
antenna structure registration program.

DATES: Interested parties may file comments on or before January 14, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by DA 10-2178, WT Docket 
No. 08-61 and WT Docket No. 03-187, by any of the following methods:
    [dec221] Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    [dec221] Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/ or through a link

[[Page 70167]]

on the PEA Web site, http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/index.htm?job=programmatic_environmental_assessment. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    [dec221] Mail: 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.
    [dec221] 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.

For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aaron Goldschmidt, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-7146, e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Federal 
Communications Commission's public notice released on November 12, 
2010. The full text of the public notice is available for public 
inspection and copying during business hours in the FCC Reference 
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. It may also be purchased from the Commission's 
duplicating contractor at Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554; the contractor's Web site, http://www.bcpiweb.com; or by calling (800) 378-3160, facsimile (202) 488-
5563, or e-mail [email protected]. Copies of the public notice also may 
be obtained via the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System 
(ECFS) by entering the docket number, WT Docket No. 07-250. 
Additionally, the complete public notice is available on the Federal 
Communications Commission's Web site at http://www.fcc.gov.
    To comply with its obligations under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Communications Commission is conducting 
a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) of its Antenna Structure 
Registration (ASR) program. The purpose of the PEA is to evaluate the 
potential environmental effects of the Commission's ASR program. The 
Commission is undertaking the PEA in response to the determination of 
the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in American 
Bird Conservancy v. FCC, (516 F.3d 1027 (D.C. Cir. 2008) that 
registered towers may have a significant environmental effect on 
migratory birds. In the course of the PEA, the Commission will consider 
alternatives to address potential environmental effects, and will 
determine whether a more extensive analysis, in the form of a 
programmatic Environmental Impact Statement, may be required under 
NEPA.
    Under the ASR program, owners of antenna structures that are taller 
than 200 feet above ground level or that may interfere with the flight 
path of a nearby airport must register those structures with the FCC. 
The antenna structure owner must obtain painting and lighting 
specifications from the Federal Aviation Administration and include 
those specifications in its registration prior to construction. The ASR 
program allows the FCC to fulfill its statutory responsibility to 
require painting and lighting of antenna structures that may pose a 
hazard to air navigation.
    The FCC has established a Web site, http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/index.htm?job=programmatic_environmental_assessment, which 
contains information and downloadable documents. The Web site also 
allows individuals to contact the Commission, and will be updated at 
key milestones throughout the study.
    The FCC will hold three scoping meetings for the public to provide 
input to the PEA process. The meetings will be open to the public; 
however, admittance will be limited to the seating available. Each 
scoping meeting will be comprised of an Information Session, a 
Presentation and a Formal Comment Period. Comment forms will be 
available, and may either be completed at the meeting, submitted 
through the PEA Web site, or mailed. Formal verbal comments will also 
be transcribed for public record by a stenographer at the meetings. PEA 
informational materials will be available at the meetings. Information 
gathered at the meetings will be used to prepare the PEA. The meetings 
are scheduled as follows:
     On December 6, 2010, from 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. 
Eastern Time, at the Federal Communications Commission's Meeting Room, 
445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC. Audio/video coverage of this 
meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet 
from the FCC's Web page at http://www.fcc.gov/live. The FCC's webcast 
is free to the public. Those who watch the live video stream of the 
event may email event-related questions to [email protected]. 
Depending on the volume of questions and time constraints, FCC 
representatives will respond to as many questions as possible during 
the workshop.
     On December 13, 2010, from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Pacific 
Time, at the Council Chambers, City of Chula Vista Civic Center, 276 
Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, California.
     On December 15, 2010, from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Eastern 
Time, at the John F. Germany Public Library, 900 North Ashley Drive, 
Tampa, Florida.
    Individuals requiring special assistance during a meeting should 
submit a request through the PEA Web site no later than two business 
days prior to the applicable meeting.
    In addition to the scoping meetings, the Commission seeks written 
comments to assist it in preparing the PEA. Interested parties may file 
comments on or before January 14, 2011. Comments may be filed: (1) 
Electronically, (2) in person at one of the scoping meetings, or (3) 
through the use of paper copies.
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the Commission's Electronic Comment 
Filing System (``ECFS''): http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, through a link 
on the PEA Web site, http://wireless.fcc.gov/antenna/index.htm?job=programmatic_environmental_assessment, or via the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     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. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    [cir] All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for 
the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 
12th St., SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand deliveries 
must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes 
must be disposed of before entering the building. The filing hours are 
8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

[[Page 70168]]

    [cir] 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.
    [cir] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554.
    Comments and ex parte submissions will be available for public 
inspection during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, 
Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., CY-A257, 
Washington, DC 20554. These documents will also be available via ECFS. 
Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, 
and/or Adobe Acrobat.
    To request information in accessible formats (computer diskettes, 
large print, audio recording, and Braille), send an e-mail to 
[email protected] or call the FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs 
Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). This document 
can also be downloaded in Word and Portable Document Format (PDF) at: 
http://www.fcc.gov.
    For more news and information about the Federal Communications 
Commission please visit: http://www.fcc.gov.

    Federal Communications Commission.
Jane E. Jackson,
Associate Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2010-29005 Filed 11-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P