[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 98 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23412-23413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-10787]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 2

[GN Docket No. 18-122; DA 18-446]


Office of Engineering and Technology, International, and Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureaus Seek Comment for Report on the Feasibility 
of Allowing Commercial Wireless Services, Licensed or Unlicensed, To 
Use or Share Use of the Frequencies Between 3.7-4.2 GHz

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, and pursuant to the Making Opportunities for 
Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to 
Wireless Act (MOBILE NOW Act), the Office of Engineering and Technology 
and the International and Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus (Bureaus) 
seek comment for an upcoming Commission report that will address the 
feasibility of allowing commercial wireless services to use or share 
use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz spectrum band.

DATES: Comments are due on or before May 31, 2018. Reply comments are 
due on or before June 15, 2018.

ADDRESSES: To the extent commenters wish to submit materials in the 
current docket (GN Docket No. 18-122) that are substantially similar to 
materials filed in other potentially related Commission proceedings 
(such as GN Docket No. 17-183, RM-11778, and RM-11791), the Commission 
asks commenters to submit an abbreviated filing that incorporates by 
reference the relevant arguments

[[Page 23413]]

from any previously filed material by identifying (a) the previously 
filed document (with the docket number of the proceeding in which it 
was filed and the date filed), and (b) the specific arguments in that 
previously filed document that the commenter is submitting for 
consideration in the current proceeding. You may submit comments, 
identified by [GN Docket No. 18-122], by any of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings. Filers should follow the instructions provided on the website 
for submitting comments. In completing the transmittal screen, filers 
should include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, 
and the applicable docket number, GN Docket No. 18-122.
    [ssquf] Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file 
an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket or 
rulemaking number appears in the captions of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number. Filings in response to this document 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.
    [ssquf] 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. The filing hours are 
8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. All hand deliveries must be held 
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must 
be disposed of before entering the building.
    [ssquf] Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, 
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
    [ssquf] U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail 
must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
    People with Disabilities: 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).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ariel Diamond, (202) 418-2803, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 23, 2018, Congress passed the FY 
2018 omnibus spending bill into law, which includes the MOBILE NOW Act 
under Title VI of RAY BAUM'S Act.\1\ Section 605(b) of the MOBILE NOW 
Act requires the Commission to submit a report (3.7-4.2 GHz Report), to 
appropriate committees of Congress \2\ and to the Secretary of Commerce 
no later than September 23, 2019, ``evaluating the feasibility of 
allowing commercial wireless services, licensed or unlicensed, to use 
or share use of the frequencies between 3700 megahertz and 4200 
megahertz.'' \3\
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    \1\ See Section 601 of the Act. We note that the Act refers to 
the 3.7-4.2 GHz band as the frequencies between 3700 megahertz and 
4200 megahertz.
    \2\ Section 602 of the Act defines the appropriate committees of 
Congress.
    \3\ See Section 605(b) of the Act.
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    The Commission notes that there is currently no federal allocation 
for the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Nonetheless, we seek comment on the following 
questions:
     How should we assess the operations and possible impacts 
of sharing on Federal and non-Federal users already operating in this 
band?
     How might sharing be accomplished, with licensed and/or 
unlicensed operations, without causing harmful interference to Federal 
and non-Federal users already operating in this band, and in which 
parts of the band would such sharing be feasible?
     What other considerations should the Commission take into 
account in preparing the 3.7-4.2 GHz Report?
    The Act further provides that the report should include an 
assessment of the operations of Federal entities that operate Federal 
Government stations authorized to use the 3.7-4.2 GHz band.\4\ The 
Commission intends to consult with National Telecommunications and 
Information Administration (NTIA) and the heads of each affected 
Federal agency regarding the Federal entities, stations, and operations 
in the band, and the required issues and assessments. This document 
does not contain proposed information collection(s) subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. In addition, 
therefore, it does not contain any new or modified information 
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, 
Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
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    \4\ See Section 605(c) of the Act.
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Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This document does not contain proposed information collection(s) 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-
13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified 
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act 
of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

Ex Parte Rules

    This proceeding has been designated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' 
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules.\5\ 
Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written 
presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within 
two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline 
applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex 
parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the 
presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise 
participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was 
made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during 
the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of 
the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the 
presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the 
proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or 
arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings 
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data 
or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b).
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    \5\ See 47 CFR 1.1200(a), 1.1206.

Federal Communications Commission.
John Schauble,
Deputy Chief, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2018-10787 Filed 5-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P