[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59746-59750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23517]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

[Docket No. 140925800-4800-01]
RIN 0660-XC013


Telecommunications Assessment of the Arctic Region

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of Inquiry.

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SUMMARY: Consistent with the Implementation Plan for the National 
Strategy for the Arctic Region, the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration (NTIA) issues this Notice of Inquiry 
(Notice) to seek public comment on the current and potential 
availability of communications services in the Arctic region.

DATES: Comments must be received no later than November 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by email to

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arcticnoi@ntia.doc.gov. Comments also may be submitted by mail to: 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4898, Attn: 
Arctic NOI, Washington, DC 20230. Responders should include the name of 
the person or the organization, as well as a page number on each page 
of their submissions. Paper submissions should also include a CD or DVD 
with an electronic version of the document, which should be labeled 
with the name and organization of the filer. All email messages and 
comments received are a part of the public record and will generally be 
posted without change to the NTIA Web site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/2014/comments-arctic-noi. All personal 
identifying information (e.g., name, address) voluntarily submitted by 
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Please do not submit any 
confidential or business sensitive information. NTIA intends to use the 
information provided in response to this Notice about potential future 
plans for communications networks in Arctic Alaska only in the 
aggregate, excluding companies' names and customer information. 
Additionally, this information will be used to describe potential 
future communications developments to fill the gaps where services are 
not currently provided.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helen Shaw, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Room 4874, Washington, DC 
20230; telephone: (202) 482-1157; email ntia.doc.gov">hshaw@ntia.doc.gov. Please 
direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-
7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On May 10, 2013, President Obama issued the National Strategy for 
the Arctic Region (National Strategy) to articulate strategic 
priorities to enable the United States to ``respond effectively to 
challenges and emerging opportunities arising from significant 
increases in Arctic activity due to the diminishment of sea ice and the 
emergence of a new Arctic environment.'' \1\ The National Strategy 
includes: (1) Advancing U.S. security interests; (2) pursuing 
responsible Arctic Region stewardship; and (3) strengthening 
international cooperation. The National Strategy states that these 
efforts will be guided by: ``Providing for the security of the United 
States; protecting the free flow of resources and commerce; protecting 
the environment; addressing the needs of indigenous communities; and 
enabling scientific research.'' \2\ The United States is a member of an 
eight nation Arctic Council, also consisting of Canada, the Russian 
Federation, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, and Norway.\3\
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    \1\ National Strategy for the Arctic Region, The White House 
(May 10, 2013), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/nat_arctic_strategy.pdf. For purposes of this 
Notice, the Arctic Region is defined as the geographic region north 
of the Arctic Circle, which is at 66[deg] 33' 39'' North latitude. 
The area includes offshore areas such as the Chukchi Sea and the 
Beaufort Sea.
    \2\ Id. at 4.
    \3\ For purposes of this Notice, the ``pan Arctic'' region is 
defined as the region above the Arctic Circle that includes the 
areas of all eight Arctic Council member nations.
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    The White House issued the Implementation Plan for the National 
Strategy for the Arctic Region (Implementation Plan) in January 2014, 
setting forth the methodology, process, and approach for executing the 
National Strategy.\4\ The Implementation Plan provides four guiding 
principles: (1) Safeguard peace and stability; (2) make decisions using 
the best available information; (3) pursue innovative arrangements; and 
(4) consult and coordinate with Alaska Natives.\5\ Furthermore, the 
Implementation Plan emphasizes that the successful implementation of 
the National Strategy will depend upon the active engagement and 
coordination with Alaska Natives and the State of Alaska.\6\
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    \4\ Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for the Arctic 
Region, The White House, January 2014, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/implementation_plan_for_the_national_strategy_for_the_arctic_region_-_fi....pdf.
    \5\ Id. at 4.
    \6\ Press Release, White House Releases Implementation Plan for 
the National Strategy for the Arctic Region, National Security 
Council (Jan. 30, 2014), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2014/01/30/white-house-releases-implementation-plan-national-strategy-arctic-region.
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    The Implementation Plan calls on NTIA, with support from the 
Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast 
Guard), Department of Transportation, and the Federal Communications 
Commission (FCC), to ``assess the telecommunication infrastructure in 
the Arctic and use new technology to support improved communications in 
the region, including in areas of sparse population to facilitate 
emergency response.'' \7\ The Implementation Plan outlines three 
distinct deliverables: (1) ``[a]ssess current and potential 
availability of telecommunications services in the Arctic region, 
including local and long-distance terrestrial, commercial mobile 
cellular, public safety services, emergency services, navigational 
safety and satellite voice, and broadband channel availability by the 
end of 2014;'' (2) ``[d]evelop a framework that lists and prioritizes 
opportunities for investment in telecom capacity and capability, with a 
strong emphasis on innovative technologies with Federal, State, and 
international public-private partnerships by the end of 2015;'' and (3) 
``[i]n collaboration with the Arctic Council, evaluate feasibility of 
an Arctic-wide telecommunications network and radio frequency spectrum 
management with the goals of compatible interference-free operations 
and Arctic-wide communications by end of the U.S. Chairmanship of the 
Arctic Council.'' \8\
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    \7\ Implementation Plan at 6.
    \8\ Id. at 6-7.
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    The Implementation Plan states further that ``[s]uccess of this 
initiative will be the development of a framework, in coordination with 
Federal, State, local, tribal, native governments and the commercial 
enterprise, to prioritize investments in new facility and equipment 
installations such as high-powered high frequency radio stations, 
satellite ground stations, fixed microwave radio stations, public 
safety radio facilities, mobile cellular base stations, and fiber optic 
cable installations that enhance security and safety in the Arctic.'' 
\9\
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    \9\ Id. at 7.
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    NTIA and its Federal partners will leverage information currently 
available from government, commercial, non-profit, and academic 
entities. For example, NTIA's State Broadband Initiative funded a 
comprehensive assessment of broadband infrastructure across Alaska, 
which resulted in an August 2013 report entitled A Blueprint for 
Alaska's Broadband Future (Blueprint Report).\10\ We will also utilize 
data from the National Broadband Map and the Alaska Emergency Response 
Guide for Small Communities.\11\
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    \10\ A Blueprint for Alaska's Broadband Future, Statewide 
Broadband Task Force (August 2013), available at http://www.alaska.edu/files/oit/bbtaskforce/2013-08-AK-Broadband-Task-Force-Report%7CA-Blueprint-for-Alaska's-Broadband-Future.pdf.
    \11\ Alaska Emergency Response Guide for Small Communities, 
State of Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and 
Homeland Security & Emergency Management (March 2013), available at 
http://ready.alaska.gov.
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II. Objectives of This Notice

    Effective communications services are critical to accommodate the 
increase in commercial, residential, governmental, and other critical 
economic and social activities across Arctic Alaskan

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communities, as well as the pan-Arctic region in general. A robust 
communications infrastructure is a critical tool in economic 
development, and it is expected that communications networks will 
contribute to small business development, economic growth, and 
corresponding employment increases. Accurate and reliable networks and 
services, such as radionavigation, are critical to the safety and 
security of the region.
    This Notice offers an opportunity for all interested parties to 
provide information regarding existing and potential communications 
technologies, services and applications for the Arctic region. We 
invite input from communication service providers that currently serve, 
or plan to serve, Arctic Alaska and the pan-Arctic region. We also seek 
comment from subject matter experts on the questions below. We further 
invite feedback from all user segments (e.g., residential, business, 
government, or community organizations) residing within the Alaskan 
portion of the Arctic and all users whose activities may require 
communications access across any portion of the Arctic.
    For purposes of this Notice, the Arctic Region of Alaska is defined 
as the geographic region north of the Arctic Circle, which is at 
66[deg] 33' 39'' North latitude. The area includes offshore areas such 
as the Chukchi Sea and the Beaufort Sea. However, parties may submit 
information and data outside of this geographic area if its inclusion 
is relevant to the questions that follow.

III. Request for Comments on Available and Planned Communications 
Services

    The Implementation Plan specifies a number of existing and 
potential services for NTIA to assess, including: Local and long-
distance terrestrial, commercial mobile cellular, public safety 
services, emergency services, navigational safety, satellite voice, and 
broadband services. These services reflect a variety of network 
technologies. We seek comment on the availability of all network 
technologies, general communications services, and dedicated networks 
and special services targeted for specific user segments in Arctic 
Alaska. Interested parties should, therefore, provide information on 
the availability and adequacy of networks and services listed below, 
and any others that support the safety and security, economic 
development, and other objectives in Arctic Alaska that were noted in 
the National Strategy.
     General Network Technologies: Wireline networks (copper, 
cable, optical fiber, or hybrid networks), fixed wireless networks 
(point-to-point, point-to-multipoint), mobile wireless networks, Wi-Fi 
networks, fiber and microwave-based middle-mile networks, satellite 
systems, submarine cable networks, terrestrial broadcast networks, high 
frequency (HF) radio networks, very high frequency (VHF), unlicensed 
systems, and any forms of hybrid networks.
     General Communications Services: Voice, data, and video 
services that can be delivered to fixed or mobile devices.
     Dedicated Networks and/or Special Communications Services: 
Public safety, emergency, search and rescue services, radionavigation, 
aeronautical, maritime communications, weather services, or other 
categories for specific user segments.
    We seek information about the location and the adequacy of existent 
networks owned and managed by commercial service providers, government 
entities, non-profits, research and education entities, or any other 
ownership and management models. Many of these networks and services 
target terrestrial-based users (e.g., mobile cellular, terrestrial 
fiber, fixed wireless). Input should pertain to the network 
infrastructure and services within the Arctic portion of Alaska. Other 
services may address the needs of both Alaskan-based and pan-Arctic 
users (e.g., satellite, maritime communications).
    To help guide commenters, we seek information about the 
availability and adequacy of telecommunications services in the 
following Arctic Alaskan communities and key geographic locations: 
Alatna, Allakaket, Ambler, Anaktuvuk Pass, Arctic Village, Atqasuk, 
Barrow (including Point Barrow), Beaufort Sea area, Beechey Point, 
Bettles, Cape Blossom, Cape Lisburne, Chalkyitsik, Chandalar, Chuckchi 
Sea area, Coldfoot, Deadhorse, Evansville, Fort Yukon, Kaktovik, Kiana, 
Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, New Allakaket, Noatak, Northstar Island, 
Noorvik, Nuiqsut, Point Hope, Point Lay, Prudhoe Bay/Prudhoe Bay Oil 
Field, Red Dog Mine, Selawik, Sheshalik, Shungnak, Umiat, Venetie, 
Wainwright, and Wiseman. This list should not be considered all-
inclusive, and absence from the list should not preclude responses on 
other Arctic locations.
    We encourage a broad response in order to assist our efforts to 
develop a comprehensive assessment that considers all service 
providers, user segments, stakeholders, and other interested parties. 
We welcome responses and comments covering the following areas: (a) 
Available networks and services; (b) potential networks and services; 
(c) recommendations to foster the deployment of advanced communication 
networks and services; and (d) adoption barriers. Please send links to 
relevant documents, such as studies and reports.

IV. Questions About Telecommunications Services and Technologies in 
Arctic Alaskan Communities and the Pan-Arctic Region

    (1) Existing and Potential Networks and Services in Arctic Alaska: 
Which Arctic Alaskan communities have access to, or lack access to, the 
network technologies and communications services that enable local 
residents, businesses, community institutions, local authorities, and 
other user groups to effectively meet their communications 
requirements? What network technologies and services are being planned 
to address both current and emerging user needs?
    (2) Wireline-Based Broadband Services: Which Arctic Alaskan 
communities have access to fixed wireline services that offer a minimum 
broadband speed of 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload? \12\ For such 
communities, is access available to all homes, businesses, and 
community anchor institutions? For communities with fiber, what factors 
enable the business case for such deployment? For communities that have 
advanced speeds via copper-based plant, please cite the types of 
upgrades undertaken (e.g., copper-bonding, hybrid fiber systems, or 
middle-mile upgrades to central offices). For communities with 
microwave or fiber backhaul, what key enablers led to such deployment 
(e.g., federal or state subsidy, public-private partnerships, 
innovative business models)?
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    \12\ Federal Communications Commission, Tenth Broadband Progress 
Notice of Inquiry (August 2014), available at http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2014/db0805/FCC-14-113A1.pdf. The Commission applies this benchmark to assess the pace 
of broadband deployment, and has asked in the cited Notice whether 
it should modify this threshold.
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    (3) Fixed Wireless Broadband Services: Which Arctic Alaskan 
communities have access to fixed wireless broadband with minimum 
broadband speeds of 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload? What are the key 
advantages and limitations of these networks? What best practices and 
lessons can be applied to expand fixed wireless solutions to other 
underserved Arctic Alaskan communities?
    (4) Mobile Wireless: Which Arctic Alaskan communities have access 
to mobile wireless broadband services that

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offer at least 4 Mbps download and 1 Mbps upload speeds? What 
percentage of households has replaced wireline services with mobile 
wireless services? Under what circumstances are mobile wireless 
services considered the most effective broadband solution for Arctic 
Alaskan communities, taking into account pricing, coverage, service 
quality, scale, and other key factors? What are the key barriers (e.g., 
economic, technology, regulatory, or spectrum availability) preventing 
wide-scale deployment of third and fourth generation (3G and 4G) 
technologies in the Arctic Alaskan region? To what extent is the lack 
of middle-mile fiber or other broadband backhaul to base stations a key 
barrier to higher speed deployments?
    (5) Public Safety Services: Which Arctic Alaskan communities have 
access to, or lack access to, wire and wireless public safety 
communications systems used by law enforcement, fire emergency, and 
emergency medical first responders? Are there plans to extend the 
Alaska Land Mobile Radio network (ALMR) and the State of Alaska 
Telecommunications System (SATS) to any Arctic Alaskan communities? 
What are the benefits and limitations of extending the ALMR and SATS 
networks to these communities and first responders and what key 
barriers may limit this extension? Which other network technologies and 
services are used by public safety professionals (e.g., dispatch land 
mobile radio systems, commercial mobile radio, mobile satellite 
services, high-frequency), and what are the key strengths and 
limitations of these networks and services? How is communications 
interoperability achieved among various first responders, and among 
federal, state, and local agencies? What network technologies and 
services are being planned for public safety communications, and what 
are the key enablers and challenges with regard to the rollout of these 
networks?
    (6) Emergency Communications and Search and Rescue: What are the 
emergency wired and wireless communications services available within 
the listed Arctic Alaska communities, and other communities and 
locations, and near and far offshore areas? How would these communities 
connect into the overall Alaskan communications backbone network in 
case of a major emergency? To what extent are there areas without any 
emergency communications services? What communications services are 
used for search and rescue operations and what is their availability 
and reliability? Are the existing communications services used for 
search and rescue operations adequate or are additional services 
necessary?
    (7) Satellite Communications Services: What specific satellite-
based services are widely used by Arctic Alaskan communities and users 
across the pan-Arctic region? What are the strengths and limitations of 
using satellites generally and for specific communications services? 
What key dependencies and factors impact the likelihood of these 
planned systems being launched in a timely manner? Which specific user 
segments are being targeted and what services will be offered? Do 
existing and planned satellite systems target the broader pan-Arctic 
footprint and provide 24/7 availability? For areas where satellites 
constitute the only form of communications, what ensures reasonable 
pricing and service quality? In regard to older satellites that were 
formerly in the geostationary orbit and are now operating in an 
inclined orbit, how many hours of operation and what quality of service 
do they offer in the Arctic Alaskan and in the pan-Arctic area?
    (8) Broadcasting and Broadcasting-Satellite Services: What methods 
are used to receive radio and television broadcast signals in Arctic 
Alaskan areas? What improvements can be made if such signals are not 
readily available? Does the Alaska Rural Communications System (ARCS) 
provide adequate broadcasting coverage in the Arctic Alaskan 
communities? To what extent do the broadband speeds of other 
terrestrial and satellite networks enable the delivery of high-quality 
video?
    (9) Submarine Cable Networks: How do existing submarine cable 
networks currently support the delivery of communications services in 
Arctic Alaskan communities and the pan-Arctic region? What are the 
advantages and limitations of these networks? How will new submarine 
cable facilities being planned for this region contribute to the 
performance, economics, and overall network access for the previously 
mentioned services? What is the timetable for building and operating 
these planned facilities and what key risks could impact their timing, 
scale, availability, and overall sustainability?
    (10) Aeronautical and Maritime Communications: What communications 
systems and technologies support aircraft and maritime voice and data 
communications? What are the key strengths and limitations of these 
networks? What new systems are being planned to address aviation and 
maritime user needs?
    (11) Aeronautical and Maritime Radionavigation: What 
radionavigation systems are currently used by commercial ships and 
aircrafts in the Arctic region? What are the key strengths and 
limitations of these systems, especially with regard to location 
reliability? What new satellite-based navigation systems are being 
planned, and what are their comparative advantages relative to current 
systems? What key dependencies and factors impact the likelihood of 
these systems being launched in a timely manner?
    (12) Weather and Other Information Services: How effectively do 
broadcast and other networks support the delivery of weather monitoring 
alerts (including warnings, watches, and forecasts) and non-weather 
hazard alerts across Arctic Alaska and the pan-Arctic region, 
especially with regard to speed of delivery and service reliability? 
How do Arctic broadcasts and other information reports for weather 
monitoring compare to those services in other parts of Alaska? What 
initiatives are underway, or can be recommended, to improve the 
delivery and receipt of weather information and other critical alerts, 
including system upgrades and/or new infrastructure deployments? What 
innovations across satellite imaging and other technology developments 
offer the greatest potential?
    (13) High Frequency Radio Communications (3-30 MHz): How do high 
frequency (HF) radio systems serve Arctic Alaskan end-users and to what 
degree are they used especially for emergency and search and rescue 
communications? What are the comparative advantages and limitations of 
HF radio relative to other technologies, especially with regard to 
reliability, privacy, and degree of availability after considering 
seasonal and temporal variances? Which frequencies are currently used 
and which ones offer the highest quality of service? What improvements 
have been made, or are planned, on HF radios to improve communications?
    (14) Very High Frequency Radio Communications (30-300 MHz): How do 
Arctic Alaskan residents use VHF radios to communicate?
    (15) Unlicensed (License-Exempt) Systems: What applications and 
services utilizing unlicensed spectrum bands are used across the Arctic 
region and to what extent? To what extent is unlicensed spectrum used 
for providing broadband for residential and business users? What speeds 
are available to these users? To what extent do power limits and other 
technical restrictions in unlicensed spectrum bands impede the

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ability to deliver services to more homes and businesses?
    (16) Existing and Potential Networks and Services Across the Pan-
Arctic Region: Which pan-Arctic regions have access to, or lack access 
to, network technologies and communications services critical to the 
safety and security of the pan-Arctic region, and the increasing 
activity across commercial, maritime, research, tourism, and other 
growing sectors? What network technologies and services are being 
planned across the pan-Arctic region to address both current and 
emerging user needs?
    (17) Fostering the Deployment of Advanced Communications Networks 
and Services in Arctic Alaskan Communities: What strategies are 
recommended to facilitate the deployment of additional communications 
capabilities across Arctic Alaska? These recommendations may involve 
commercial or public investment, new business models, policy and 
regulatory changes (federal, state, or local), public-private 
partnerships, research and innovation developments, or other 
suggestions. Please comment on best practices in other Alaskan 
communities and other rural and remote areas.
    (18) Fostering the Deployment of Advanced Communication Networks 
and Services in the Pan-Arctic Region: What would facilitate the 
deployment of advanced networks to ensure the safety, security, and the 
commercial interests of the United States and other international users 
in the pan-Arctic region? These recommendations may involve commercial 
or public investment, new business models, policy and regulatory 
changes (federal or international), international agreements, public-
private partnerships, research and innovation developments, or other 
suggestions. We seek comment on best practices from other pan-Arctic 
locations, and other rural and remote areas.
    (19) Adoption Barriers: What key barriers limit the adoption of 
existing services for users across both Arctic Alaska and the broader 
pan-Arctic region? How can these adoption barriers be addressed?

    Dated: September 29, 2014.
Lawrence E. Strickling,
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.
[FR Doc. 2014-23517 Filed 10-2-14; 8:45 am]
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