[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 66694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27781]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology

[Docket No. 110727437-1613-02]


Extension of the Due Date for Submitting Comments on Research and 
Development Priorities for Desirable Features of a Nationwide Public 
Safety Broadband Network

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 
Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Request for Comments; extension.

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SUMMARY: On September 12, 2011, NIST published a Request for Comment in 
the Federal Register, inviting interested parties to submit written 
comments on various possible features of a new nationwide interoperable 
public safety broadband network. The comments will be used by NIST to 
help determine research and development priorities in anticipation of 
the President's Wireless Innovation (WIN) Fund to help drive innovation 
of next-generation network technologies. NIST is publishing this notice 
to extend the deadline for the submission of comments pertaining to the 
September 12, 2011 notice until 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on Wednesday, 
October 26, 2011. No other changes are being made to the originally 
published Request for Comment.

DATES: Comments are due on or before 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on 
Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Comments received between 5 p.m. on 
October 12, 2011, and the publication date of this notice are deemed to 
be timely.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Dereck Orr, [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dereck Orr, Office of Law Enforcement 
Standards, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 
Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, telephone number (303) 497-5400. Mr. 
Orr's e-mail address is [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Obama Administration has announced its 
support for legislation that would create a not-for-profit Public 
Safety Broadband Corporation to oversee the deployment of a nationwide 
network that meets the needs of local, state, Tribal, and Federal 
public safety communities.\1\ The Administration has also proposed a $3 
billion WIN Fund to help drive innovation through research, 
experimentation, testbeds, and applied development. Of the $3 billion, 
$500 million will be devoted to research and development (R&D) for the 
new public safety broadband network.\2\ The Public Safety Innovation 
Fund (PSIF), NIST's component of the proposed WIN Fund, helps spur the 
development of cutting-edge wireless technologies.
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    \1\ Comments of the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration before the Federal Communications Commission in the 
matter of Service Rules for the 698-747, 747-762 and 777- 792 Band 
(WT Docket No. 06-150); Implementing a Nationwide, Broadband, 
Interoperable Public Safety Network in the 700 MHz Band (PS Docket 
No. 06-229); Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission's Rules (WP 
Docket No. 07-100). http://www.ntia.doc.gov/filings/2011/NTIA_Public_Safety_Network_Comments_06102011.pdf.
    \2\ President Obama Details Plan to Win the Future through 
Expanded Wireless Access. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/02/10/president-obama-details-plan-win-future-throughexpanded-wireless-access.
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    On September 12, 2011, NIST published a Request for Comment in the 
Federal Register (76 FR 56165), inviting interested parties to provide 
written comments on proposed features of a nationwide interoperable 
public safety broadband network for this R&D, which were identified by 
the NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology with the input of 
public safety and their identified operational requirements. The due 
date for the submission of comments as set forth in the original 
Request for Comment was 5 p.m., Eastern Time, on October 12, 2011. NIST 
is extending the due date for submission of comments until 5 p.m., 
Eastern Time, on Wednesday, October 26, 2011 in order to provide 
interested parties additional time to submit their comments. Comments 
received between 5 p.m. on October 12, 2011, and the publication date 
of this notice are deemed to be timely. No other changes are being made 
to the originally published Request for Comment.

    Dated: October 13, 2011.
Willie E. May,
Associate Director for Laboratory Programs.
[FR Doc. 2011-27781 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
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