[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 188 (Wednesday, September 28, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66538-66544]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23206]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 90

[PS Docket No. 15-199; FCC 16-113]


Railroad Police Officers To Access Public Safety Interoperability 
and Mutual Aid Channels

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) provides railroad police officers access to the public 
safety interoperability channels. In this document, we amend our rules 
to permit railroad police officers to use public safety 
interoperability channels to communicate with public safety entities 
already authorized to use those channels. Specifically, we permit 
railroad police officers empowered to carry out law enforcement 
functions to use public safety interoperability channels in the VHF 
(150-174 MHz, and 220-222 MHz, UHF (450-470 MHz), 700 MHz narrowband 
(769-775/799-805 MHz)5 and 800 MHz National Public Safety Planning 
Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) bands (806-809/851-854 MHz). Allowing 
railroad police officers to use these channels will promote 
interoperability, facilitate improved emergency response in railroad-
related emergencies, and streamline access to these channels for 
emergency public safety communications.

DATES: Effective October 28, 2016, except for section 90.20(a)(2)(xiv) 
which contain new or modified information collection requirements that 
require approval by the Office of Management and Budget under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The Federal Communications Commission 
will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing such 
approval and effective date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Evanoff, Policy and Licensing 
Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0848 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report 
and Order in PS Docket No. 15-199, FCC 16-113, released on August 23, 
2016. The document is available for download at http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/. The complete text of this document is 
also available for inspection and copying during normal business hours 
in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street 
SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. To request materials in 
accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or 
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 
(voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).
    In the Report and Order we amend the Commission's rules to permit 
railroad police officers to use public safety interoperability channels 
to communicate with public safety entities already authorized to use 
those channels. Specifically, we permit railroad police officers 
empowered to carry out law enforcement functions to use public safety 
interoperability channels in the VHF (150-174 MHz, and 220-222 MHz, UHF 
(450-470 MHz), 700 MHz narrowband (769-775/799-805 MHz) and 800 MHz 
National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) bands (806-
809/851-854 MHz). Allowing railroad police officers to use these 
channels will promote interoperability, facilitate improved emergency 
response in railroad-related emergencies, and streamline access to 
these channels for emergency public safety communications.

Procedural Matters

A. Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended 
(RFA) the Commission prepared this Final Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis (FRFA) of the possible significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities by the policies and rules adopted 
in this Report and Order. The Commission will send a copy of the Report 
and Order, including this FRFA, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration (SBA). In addition, the

[[Page 66539]]

Report and Order and FRFA (or summaries thereof) will be published in 
the Federal Register.

B. Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules

    The Report and Order amends the Part 90 rules to facilitate 
railroad police access to public safety interoperability channels. 
Specifically, in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by the 
National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), the 
Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comment on 
expanding eligibility to allow railroad police officers as defined by 
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to operate on public safety 
interoperability channels in the VHF, (including 220-222 MHz), UHF, 700 
MHz narrowband and 800 MHz bands. Commenters were supportive of the 
NPRM proposals. Therefore, in light of the record, the Report and Order 
amends the Part 90 eligibility and licensing rules applicable to public 
safety interoperability spectrum.
    As discussed in Sections D and E of this FRFA, the Commission has 
endeavored to keep the burdens associated with these rule changes as 
simple and minimal as possible. The Report and Order requires employers 
of railroad police officers to obtain authorization to operate on the 
700 MHz interoperability channels as required by sections 90.523 and 
90.525 of the Commission's rules and section 337(f)(1) of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. Further, the Report and Order, 
requires employers of railroad police officers seeking to license the 
interoperability channels to obtain frequency coordination and submit a 
license application in order to operate base and control stations on 
interoperability channels. Additionally, the Report and Order adopts 
several alternatives to licensing fixed infrastructure on the 
interoperability channels in order to minimize the burden on railroad 
police and provide flexibility in achieving interoperability with 
public safety, as discussed in Section E of the FRFA. Finally, we 
update section 90.20 of the Commission's rules to explicitly identify 
the nationwide interoperability channels to facilitate interoperability 
among Federal, State, Local, Tribal and Railroad Police entities.

C. Estimate of the Number of Small Entities to Which the Proposed Rules 
Will Apply

    The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of and, where 
feasible, an estimate of the number of small entities that may be 
affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. The RFA generally defines 
the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms 
``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental 
jurisdiction.'' ``Small governmental jurisdiction'' generally means 
``governments of cities, counties, towns, townships, villages, school 
districts, or special districts, with a population of less than 
50,000.'' The official count of local governments in the United States 
for 2012 was 90,056, comprising 38,910 general-purpose governments and 
51,146 special-purpose governments. General purpose governments include 
those classified as counties, municipalities, and townships. For this 
category, census data for 2012 show that there were approximately 
37,132 counties, cities and towns that have populations of fewer than 
50,000. In addition, the term ``small business'' has the same meaning 
as the term ``small business concern'' under the Small Business Act. A 
small business concern is one which: (1) Is independently owned and 
operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) 
satisfies any additional criteria established by the SBA. Below, we 
describe and estimate the number of small entities that may be affected 
by the rules changes adopted in this Report and Order.
    Private Land Mobile Radio Licensees. PLMR systems serve an 
essential role in a range of industrial, business, land transportation, 
and public safety activities. These radios are used by companies of all 
sizes operating in all U.S. business categories, and are often used in 
support of the licensee's primary (non-telecommunications) business 
operations. Because of the vast array of PLMR users, which includes 
railroads, the Commission has not developed a small business size 
standard specifically applicable to PLMR users. The SBA rules, however, 
contain a definition for Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except 
Satellite) which encompasses business entities engaged in 
radiotelephone communications employing no more than 1,500 persons. For 
this category, census data for 2007 show that there were 11,163 
establishments that operated for the entire year. Of this total, 10,791 
establishments had employment of 999 or fewer employees and 372 had 
employment of 1000 employees or more. Under this category and the 
associated small business size standard, the Commission estimates that 
the majority of wireless telecommunications carriers (except satellite) 
are small entities. The Commission, however, does not require PLMR 
licensees to disclose information about number of employees, so the 
Commission does not have information that could be used to determine 
how many PLMR licensees constitute small entities under this 
definition. We note that PLMR licensees generally use the licensed 
facilities in support of other business activities, and therefore, it 
would also be helpful to assess PLMR licensees under the standards 
applied to the particular industry subsector to which the licensee 
belongs.
    Public Safety Radio Pool Licensees. As a general matter, Public 
Safety Radio Pool licensees include police, fire, local government, 
forestry conservation, highway maintenance, and emergency medical 
services. Spectrum in the 700 MHz band for public safety services is 
governed by 47 U.S.C. 337. Non-Federal governmental entities may be 
eligible licensees for these services. All governmental entities with 
populations of less than 50,000 fall within the definition of a small 
entity. According to the Commission's records, there were (1) 1,318 
public safety licensees licensed on at least one of the VHF and UHF 
public safety interoperability channels; (2) 59 public safety licensees 
licensed on at least one of the narrowband interoperability channels in 
the public safety band between 764-776 MHz/794-806 MHz; and (3) 4,715 
public safety licensees operating in the public safety band between 
806-809/851-854 MHz (NPSPAC band). In total there are 6,092 public 
safety entities, including small governmental jurisdictions, licensed 
to operate on at least one of the interoperability channels.
    Class I, Class II, and Class III Railroads. The Report and Order 
expands eligibility to operate on the interoperability channels to 
include railroad police employed by a Class I, II, or III railroad, 
Amtrak, the Alaska Railroad and passenger transit lines as defined by 
the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The SBA stipulates ``size 
standards'' for small entities. It provides that the largest a for-
profit railroad business firm may be and still be classified as a 
``small entity'' is 1,500 employees for ``Line-Haul'' railroads, and 
500 employees for ``Short-Line'' railroads. SBA size standards may be 
altered by Federal agencies in consultation with SBA, and in 
conjunction with public comment. Pursuant to the authority provided to 
it by SBA, the FRA has published a final policy, which formally 
establishes small entities as railroads that meet the line haulage 
revenue requirements of a ``Class III railroad.'' This threshold is

[[Page 66540]]

based on the s STB's threshold for a Class III railroad carrier, which 
is adjusted by applying the railroad revenue deflator adjustment. 
Consistent with FRA's approach, we are using this definition in this 
Report and Order. Approximately 700 railroads meet the criteria for 
small entity. We are using this as our estimate of the universe of 
small entities that could be directly impacted by the rule.
    The Report and Order expands eligibility to permit railroad police 
officers as defined by the FRA to operate on the interoperability 
channels. The primary beneficiaries of this increased flexibility would 
be railroads, including small railroads, and PLMR licensees, including 
small governmental jurisdictions, that have a need to interoperate with 
each other. The FCC notes that the requirement that railroads obtain 
governmental authorization to operate on the 700 MHz interoperability 
channels is statutorily required and the Commission is without 
authority to exempt railroads from this requirement. Additionally, 
railroad entities may be required to obtain frequency coordination and 
submit a license application on FCC Form 601 in order to license, 
construct and operate base and control stations on the interoperability 
channels. The Report and Order provides additional flexibility that may 
reduce the impact on railroad police officers operating on the 
interoperability channels. Those alternatives are discussed in Section 
E.

D. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements

    This Report and Order contains modified information collection 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13. It will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review under Section 3507(d) of the PRA. The Report 
and Order provides that railroad police officers who are certified and/
or commissioned as a police officer under the laws of any state, in 
accordance with the regulations issued by the Secretary of the U.S. 
Department of Transportation and recognized by the Federal Railroad 
Administration (FRA) should be eligible to operate on the nationwide 
interoperability channels.
    The Report and Order requires employers of railroad police officers 
to obtain governmental authorization to operate on the 700 MHz 
interoperability channels as required by sections 90.523 and 90.525 of 
the Commission's rules and section 337(f)(1) of the Communications Act 
of 1934, as amended. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has already approved the 
collection of state and local government certifications from non-
governmental organizations that seek to operate on the 700 MHz 
narrowband channels. See ICR Reference Number: 201403-3060-018, OMB 
Control No. 3060-0805. We do not change the wording of the OMB-approved 
collection in any material or substantive manner. Only the number of 
respondents would change as we would expect that employers of railroad 
police officers will comply with these existing statutory requirements 
and regulations, which are the minimum necessary to ensure effective 
use of the spectrum and to minimize interference potential to public 
safety entities, including State, local and tribal governments. Thus, 
requiring railroad police to obtain governmental authorization in order 
to operate on the 700 MHz interoperability channels would increase the 
number of respondents by approximately 763 entities. See ICR Reference 
Number: 201308-2130-009, OMB Control No. 2130-0537.
    The Report and Order permits the licensing of base and control 
stations on the interoperability channels. The licensing of base and 
control stations requires frequency coordination (i.e.), employers of 
railroad police would be required to submit a license application on 
Form 601 demonstrating evidence of frequency coordination). Similarly, 
mobile-only authorizations require frequency coordination and 
submission of FCC form 601. Railroad entities seeking licenses in the 
Industrial Land Transportation and Business Pool are required to obtain 
coordination from certain frequency coordinators specified in section 
90.35 of the Commission's rules. However, the interoperability channels 
are subject to frequency coordination from the four certified public 
safety frequency coordinators specified in section 90.20(c). OMB has 
already approved the information collection requirements, including the 
frequency coordination requirement, associated with Form 601. See ICR 
Reference Number: 201311-3060-018, OMB Control No. 3060-0798. We do not 
make any substantive or material changes to the wording of the existing 
information collection. Instead, we amend the Part 90 eligibility rules 
to allow employers of railroad police officers to license the 
interoperability channels, thus increasing the number of respondents 
subject to the existing information collections by approximately 763 
entities.
    Additionally, the 700 MHz interoperability channels are 
administered by State entities and/or regional planning committees 
(RPC). OMB has already approved the information collections associated 
with obtaining State/RPC concurrence to operate on the 700 MHz 
interoperability channels. See ICR Reference Number: 201404-3060-023, 
OMB Control No. 3060-1198. We do not make any substantive or material 
changes to the wording of this existing information collection but we 
allow railroad police to operate on these interoperability channels, 
thus increasing the number of respondents subject to the existing 
information collections by approximately 763 entities.
    The Report and Order adopts less burdensome alternatives to 
licensing, constructing and operating base stations and control 
stations on the interoperability channels. Specifically, the Report and 
Order allows railroad police officers to (1) operate mobile and 
portable stations on these channels under a ``blanket'' licensing 
approach; (2) allows public safety licensees to share their facilities 
with railroad police pursuant to a sharing agreement under section 
90.179 of the Commission's Rules; and (3) permits railroad police 
officers to operate mobile stations under a public safety licensee's 
authorization pursuant to section 90.421, and therefore would not 
impose any new or modified information collections requirements. 
However, allowing public safety entities to ``share'' their facilities 
with railroad police would require reducing such an arrangement into 
writing as required by section 90.179. OMB has already approved the 
information collection requirements in section 90.179 and we do not 
make any substantive or material changes to the wording of the existing 
information collection. See ICR Reference Number: 200111-3060-016, OMB 
Control No. 3060-0262. Thus, the number of respondents would increase 
by approximately 763 entities.
    The Commission believes that applying the same information 
collection rules equally to public safety and railroad police entities 
in this context will promote interoperability and advance Congressional 
objectives. The Commission does not believe that the costs and/or 
administrative burdens associated with the rules will unduly burden 
small entities. The rule revisions the Commission adopts benefit public 
safety and railroad police entities by giving them more flexibility, 
and more options for gaining access to interoperability spectrum.

[[Page 66541]]

    However, in the interest of ensuring railroad police coordinate 
with state and local public safety entities, we require railroad police 
to obtain concurrence from the relevant state or state-designated 
interoperability coordinator before operating mobiles or portables on 
the VHF, (including 220-222 MHz), UHF, 700 MHz narrowband 
interoperability and 800 MHz mutual aid channels. Employers of railroad 
police officers shall execute a memorandum of understanding with the 
state interoperability coordinator. Similarly, we require employers of 
railroad police officers seeking to license the below-470 MHz 
interoperability channels to obtain concurrence from the relevant state 
interoperability coordinator. To facilitate interoperability 
coordination in the bands below 470 MHz, we provide states the option 
of administering the below-470 MHz interoperability channels. States 
may delegate the administration of the below-470 MHz interoperability 
channels to the existing 700 MHz and 800 MHz Regional Planning 
Committees.
    Finally, the rule amendment proposed relative to section 90.20(i) 
has been analyzed with respect to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 
and found to contain no new or modified form, information collection 
and/or record keeping, labeling, disclosure, or record retention 
requirements; and will not increase burden hours imposed on the public.

E. Steps Taken To Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small 
Entities, and Significant Alternatives Considered

    The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant, 
specifically small business, alternatives that it has considered in 
reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four 
alternatives (among others): (1) The establishment of differing 
compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into 
account the resources available to small entities; (2) the 
clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance and 
reporting requirements under the rule for small entities; (3) the use 
of performance rather than design standards; and (4) an exemption from 
coverage of the rule, or any part thereof for small entities. We have 
evaluated our rule changes in this Report and Order in the context of 
small business entities and find no alternatives, to the benefit of 
small entities, that would achieve our goals of facilitating 
interoperability between public safety entities and railroad police 
officers and efficient use of nationwide interoperability spectrum. 
Additionally, the rules adopted in this Report and Order are 
deregulatory in nature and consistent with Federal railroad 
interoperability mandates. Accordingly, the rule changes minimize any 
significant economic impact on small entities.
    The Report and Order provides railroad police four alternatives 
that minimize the impact on small entities, including small railroads. 
First, the Report and Order permits ``blanket licensing'', an approach 
that allows railroad police officers to operate on the interoperability 
channels provided their railroad employer already holds a license for 
PLMR spectrum and subject to coordination with the relevant state 
interoperability coordinator. Second, the Report and Order permits 
issuing mobile-only licenses that allow railroad police officers to 
operate mobiles on the interoperability channels without having to 
construct and operate base and control stations. Third, the Report and 
Order clarifies that section 90.421 of the Commission's rules allows 
railroad police officers to operate mobiles under the license of public 
safety licensees. Fourth, the Report and Order clarifies that section 
90.179 of the Commission's rules permits public safety entities to 
``share'' their facilities with railroad police. No significant 
alternative was presented in the comments.
    Finally, the Report and Order amends section 90.20 of the 
Commission's rules to explicitly identify the nationwide 
interoperability channels i.e. the VHF (including 220-222 MHz), UHF and 
700 MHz narrowband, and on the 800 MHz mutual aid channels. We believe 
that flexible licensing policies are necessary to encourage the use of 
the most spectrally efficient technology to meet user-defined needs. 
Recognizing the budgetary constraints that small public safety entities 
face, we provide railroad police officers and public safety a flexible 
licensing approach to facilitate interoperability.

F. Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the Proposed 
Rules

    None.

G. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    This document contains new and modified information collection 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 
Public Law 104-13. It will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review under section 3507(d) of the PRA. OMB, the 
general public, and other Federal agencies will be invited to comment 
on the new or modified information collection requirements contained in 
this proceeding. In addition, we note that pursuant to the Small 
Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 
U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), we previously sought specific comment on how the 
Commission might further reduce the information collection burden for 
small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
    In this present document, we have assessed the effects of expanding 
railroad police eligibility to access the interoperability channels 
(i.e. (1) revising the number of respondents subject to certain 
existing information collection requirements and (2) requiring 
employers of railroad police officers to enter into memorandum of 
understanding with state interoperability coordinators), and find that 
businesses with fewer than 25 employees will not be unduly burdened.

H. Congressional Review Act

    The Commission will send a copy of this Order on Reconsideration to 
Congress and the Government Accountability Office pursuant to the 
Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

Ordering Clauses

    Accordingly, it is ordered, pursuant to sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 
301, 303, 316, and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 
47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 154(j), 301, 303, 316, and 337, that this 
Report and Order is hereby adopted.
    It is further ordered that part 90 of the Commission's rules, 47 
CFR part 90, is amended, effective October 28, 2016, except that those 
amendments which contain new or modified information collection 
requirements that require approval by the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act will become effective after 
the Commission publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing 
such approval and the relevant effective date.
    It is further ordered that the Final Regulatory Flexibility 
Analysis is adopted.
    It is further ordered that the Commission's Consumer and 
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center, shall send a 
copy of this Report and Order, including the Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 
Business Administration.

[[Page 66542]]

List of Subjects in 47 CFR part 90

    Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Final Rules

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 90 as follows:

PART 90--PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES

0
1. The authority citation for part 90 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  Sections 4(i), 11, 303(g), 303(r), and 332(c)(7) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 161, 
303(g), 303(r), 332(c)(7).


0
2. Section 90.20 is amended by adding paragraphs (a)(2)(xiv) and (i) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  90.20  Public Safety Pool.

* * * * *
    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (xiv)(A) Railroad police officers are a class of users eligible to 
operate on the nationwide interoperability and mutual aid channels 
listed in 90.20(i) provided their employer holds a Private Land Mobile 
Radio (PLMR) license of any radio category, including Industrial/
Business (I/B). Eligible users include full and part time railroad 
police officers, Amtrak employees who qualify as railroad police 
officers under this subsection, Alaska Railroad employees who qualify 
as railroad police officers under this subsection, freight railroad 
employees who qualify as railroad police officers under this 
subsection, and passenger transit lines police officers who qualify as 
railroad police officers under this subsection. Railroads and railroad 
police departments may obtain licenses for the nationwide 
interoperability and mutual aid channels on behalf of railroad police 
officers in their employ. Employers of railroad police officers must 
obtain concurrence from the relevant state interoperability coordinator 
or regional planning committee before applying for a license to the 
Federal Communications Commission or operating on the interoperability 
and mutual aid channels.
    (1) Railroad police officer means a peace officer who is 
commissioned in his or her state of legal residence or state of primary 
employment and employed, full or part time, by a railroad to enforce 
state laws for the protection of railroad property, personnel, 
passengers, and/or cargo.
    (2) Commissioned means that a state official has certified or 
otherwise designated a railroad employee as qualified under the 
licensing requirements of that state to act as a railroad police 
officer in that state.
    (3) Property means rights-of-way, easements, appurtenant property, 
equipment, cargo, facilities, and buildings and other structures owned, 
leased, operated, maintained, or transported by a railroad.
    (4) Railroad means each class of freight railroad (i.e. Class I, 
II, III); Amtrak, Alaska Railroad, commuter railroads and passenger 
transit lines.
    (5) The word state, as used herein, encompasses states, territories 
and the District of Columbia.
    (B) Eligibility for licensing on the 700 MHz narrowband 
interoperability channels is restricted to entities that have as their 
sole or principal purpose the provision of public safety services.
* * * * *
    (i) Nationwide interoperability channels. The nationwide 
interoperability and mutual aid channels are listed below for the VHF, 
(including 220-222 MHz), UHF, 700 MHz and 800 MHz bands. (See 
Sec. Sec.  90.20(d)(80), 90.531(b)(1), 90.617(a)(1) and 90.720). Any 
Part 90 public safety eligible entity holding a Part 90 license may 
operate hand-held and vehicular mobile units on these channels without 
needing a separate authorization. Base stations or control stations 
operating on these channels must be licensed separately: Encryption may 
not be used on any of the interoperability or mutual aid calling 
channels.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
     VHF interoperability channel (MHz)                Purpose
------------------------------------------------------------------------
151.1375 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
154.4525 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
155.7525 MHz (base/mobile).................  Calling.
158.7375 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
159.4725 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
        VHF mutual aid channel (MHz)                   Purpose
------------------------------------------------------------------------
220.8025 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8075 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8175 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8225 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8275 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8325 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8375 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8425 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
220.8475 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
     UHF interoperability channel (MHz)                Purpose
------------------------------------------------------------------------
453.2125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Calling.
458.2125 MHz (mobile)......................
453.4625 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
458.4625 MHz (mobile)......................
453.7125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
458.7125 MHz (mobile)......................

[[Page 66543]]

 
453.8625 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
458.8625 MHz (mobile)......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
   700 MHz interoperability channel (MHz)              Purpose
------------------------------------------------------------------------
769.14375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
799.14375 MHz (mobile).....................
769.24375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Calling.
799.24375 MHz (mobile).....................
769.39375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
769.39375 MHz (mobile).....................
769.49375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
799.49375 MHz (mobile).....................
769.64375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
799.64375 MHz (mobile).....................
769.74375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
799.74375 MHz (mobile).....................
769.99375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
799.99375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.14375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.14375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.24375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.24375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.39375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.39375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.49375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.49375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.64375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.64375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.89375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.89375 MHz (mobile).....................
770.99375 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
800.99375 MHz (mobile).....................
773.00625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.00625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.10625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.10625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.25625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Calling.
803.25625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.35625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.35625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.50625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.50625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.60625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.60625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.75625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.75625 MHz (mobile).....................
773.85625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
803.85625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.00625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.00625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.10625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.10625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.25625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.25625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.35625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.35625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.50625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.50625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.60625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.60625 MHz (mobile).....................
774.85625 MHz (base/mobile)................  Tactical.
804.85625 MHz (mobile).....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
      800 MHz mutual aid channel (MHz)                 Purpose
------------------------------------------------------------------------
851.0125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Calling.
806.0125 MHz (mobile)......................
851.5125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
806.5125 MHz (mobile)......................

[[Page 66544]]

 
852.0125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
807.0125 MHz (mobile)......................
852.5125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
807.0125 MHz (mobile)......................
853.0125 MHz (base/mobile).................  Tactical.
808.0125 MHz (mobile)......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------


0
3. Section 90.720 is amended by revising paragraph (a) introductory 
text, and paragraphs (a)(2) and (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  90.720  Channels available for public safety/mutual aid.

    (a) Part 90 licensees who meet the eligibility criteria of 
Sec. Sec.  90.20(a)(1), 90.20(a)(2)(i), 90.20(a)(2)(ii), 
90.20(a)(2)(iii), 90.20(a)(2)(iv), 90.20(a)(2)(vii), 90.20(a)(2)(ix), 
90.20(a)(2)(xiii) or 90.20(a)(2)(xiv) are authorized by this rule to 
use mobile and/or portable units on Channels 161-170 throughout the 
United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia to 
transmit:
* * * * *
    (2) Communications to facilitate interoperability among entities 
eligible under Sec. Sec.  90.20(a)(1), 90.20(a)(2)(i), 90.20(a)(2)(ii), 
90.20(a)(2)(iii), 90.20(a)(2)(iv), 90.20(a)(2)(vii), 90.20(a)(2)(ix), 
90.20(a)(2)(xiii) and 90.20(a)(2)(xiv); or
* * * * *
    (b) Any Government entity and any non-Government entity eligible to 
obtain a license under Sec. Sec.  90.20(a)(1), 90.20(a)(2)(i), 
90.20(a)(2)(ii), 90.20(a)(2)(iii), 90.20(a)(2)(iv), 90.20(a)(2)(vii), 
90.20(a)(2)(ix), 90.20(a)(2)(xiii) or 90.20(a)(2)(xiv) is also eligible 
to obtain a license for base/mobile operations on Channels 161 through 
170. Base/mobile or base/portable communications on these channels that 
do not relate to the immediate safety of life or to communications 
interoperability among the above-specified entities, may only be 
conducted on a secondary non-interference basis to such communications.

[FR Doc. 2016-23206 Filed 9-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P