> **DA 08-1422**
>
> **Released: June 16, 2008**

**PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION
FOR RULEMAKING OF THE NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL
CONCERNING THE 700 MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY NARROWBAND CHANNELS**

**RM-11433**

**Comment Date: July 16, 2008**

**Reply Comment Date: July 31, 2008**

The Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau seeks comment on a
Petition for Rulemaking filed by the National Public Safety
Telecommunications Council (NPSTC),[^1] which requests that the
Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the following
rule changes:

-   Amend Section 90.531(b)(1)(i) of the Commission's rules[^2] to allow
    tactical voice communications on a secondary basis on the 921/1881
    and 922/1882 channels currently designated for nationwide narrowband
    data interoperability.[^3]

-   Amend Section 90.531(b)(1)(ii)[^4] to redesignate the 681/1641 and
    682/1642 channels, which currently are designated as Nationwide
    Interoperability Calling Channels, for use as "Nationwide
    Interoperability Travel Channels."[^5]

-   Amend Section 90.531(b)(2)[^6] to designate twenty-four of the 700
    MHz narrowband reserve channels as Interoperability Channels for use
    in deployable infrastructure.[^7]

-   Amend Sections 90.531(b)(3) and 90.531(b)(4)[^8] to permit analog
    (11K3F3E) operations at power levels of 20 watts ERP on channels
    1--8/961--968 (narrowband low power channels subject to regional
    planning), and 9--12/969--972 (narrowband low power itinerant
    channels) for on-scene incident response purposes using mobiles and
    portables only (no base/fixed stations).[^9]

We seek comment on whether to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to
consider the above-listed rule changes, as requested in the Petition for
Rulemaking of the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.

Pursuant to Section 1.405, 47 C.F.R. § 1.405, interested parties may
file statements in support of or in opposition to the Petition's request
to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the above-listed rule
changes on or before **July 16, 2008**. Parties interested in submitting
replies to such statements must do so on or before **July 31, 2008**.
All statements in support of or in opposition to the Petition and
replies to such statements should reference the Petition and RM-11433,
and may be filed using: (1) the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing
System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government's eRulemaking Portal, or (3)
by filing paper copies. *See Electronic Filing of Documents in
Rulemaking Proceedings*, 63 FR 24121 (1998).

-   Electronic Filers: Statements in support of or in opposition to the
    Petition and replies to such statements may be filed electronically
    using the Internet by accessing the ECFS:
    http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs or the Federal eRulemaking Portal:
    http://www.regulations.gov. Filers should follow the instructions
    provided on the website for submitting comments.

-   For ECFS filers, in completing the transmittal screen, filers should
    include their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and
    the rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic
    statement in support of or in opposition to the Petition and/or
    replies thereto by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions,
    filers should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov and include the
    following words in the body of the message: "get form." A sample
    form and directions will be sent in response.

-   Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an
    original and four copies of each filing.

Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service
mail (although the Commission continues to experience delays in
receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to:
Marlene H. Dortch, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554. Parties must
also serve one copy with the Commission's copy contractor, Best Copy and
Printing, Inc. (BCPI), Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402,
Washington, D.C. 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail to
fcc@bcpiweb.com.

-   The Commission's contractor will receive hand-delivered or
    messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at
    236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, Washington, D.C. 20002. The
    filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand
    deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
    envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.

-   Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express
    Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive,
    Capitol Heights, M.D. 20743.

-   U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should
    be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20554.

-   People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats
    for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic
    files, audio format), send an e-mail to [fcc504@fcc.gov]{.underline}
    or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530
    (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).

Documents submitted in RM-11433**,** including the Petition, will be
accessible via the Commission's ECFS (at: <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs>)
by listing RM-11433 in the "Proceeding" search field. These documents
also will be available for public inspection and copying during business
hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St.
SW, Room CY‑A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. The documents may also be
purchased from BCPI, telephone (202) 488-5300, facsimile (202) 488-5563,
TTY (202) 488-5562, e-mail fcc@bcpiweb.com.

For further information regarding this proceeding, contact David Munson,
Policy Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202)
418-2921.

\-- FCC \--

[^1]: Petition for Rulemaking of the National Public Safety
    Telecommunications Council (filed Feb. 8, 2008) (Petition).

[^2]: 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(b)(1)(i).

[^3]: *See* Petition at 7.

[^4]: 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(b)(1)(ii).

[^5]: *See* Petition at 6-7.

[^6]: 47 C.F.R. § 90.531(b)(2).

[^7]: *See* Petition at 7-10.

[^8]: 47 C.F.R. §§ 90.531(b)(3) and 90.531(b)(4).

[^9]: *See* Petition at 10-11.