[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64175-64176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-25574]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Extension of Comment Period for Telecommunications Assessment of 
the Arctic Region

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

ACTION: Notice; Extension of Comment Period.

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SUMMARY: On October 3, 2014, the National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration (NTIA) published a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) 
to seek public comment on the current and potential availability of 
communications services in the Arctic region as called for by the 
Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region. 79 
FR 59746. The NOI requests public comments no later than November 3, 
2014. Through this Notice, NTIA is extending the public comment period 
until December 3, 2014, to afford parties a full opportunity to respond 
to the important issues presented in the NOI.

DATES: Written comments are requested by December 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by email to 
[email protected]. Comments also may be submitted by fax at (202) 
501-8009 or 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-registernotice/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. Comments received will be 
posted on the NTIA Web site at http://www.ntia.doc.gov.

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: [email protected]. Please 
direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-
7002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 3, 2014, the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a 
Notice of Inquiry (NOI) to seek public comment on the current and 
potential availability of communications services in the Arctic region 
as called for by the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for 
the Arctic Region. 79 FR 59746. Effective communications services are 
critical to accommodate the increase in commercial, residential, 
governmental, and other critical economic and social activities across 
Arctic Alaskan 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. The NOI offers an opportunity for all 
interested parties to provide information regarding existing and 
potential communications

[[Page 64176]]

technologies, services and applications for the Arctic region. Through 
this Notice, NTIA is extending the comment period for the NOI from 
November 3, 2014, until December 3, 2014, to afford parties a full 
opportunity to respond to the important issues presented in the Notice.

    Dated: October 23, 2014.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2014-25574 Filed 10-27-14; 8:45 am]
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