> **DA 05-2515**
>
> September 23, 2005

**The International Bureau Reissues Procedures to Provide Emergency
Communications in Areas Affected by**

**Hurricanes Katrina and Rita**

The International Bureau previously announced procedures to help
emergency communications services initiate, resume, and maintain
operations in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. This public
notice expands those procedures to include communications in areas
affected by Hurricane Rita. For additional information, applicants
should contact the International Bureau (IB) staff specified below.

**Special Temporary Authority (Satellite Earth and Space Stations):**
Emergency requests for special temporary authority (STA) related to
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may be submitted by letter, e-mail or, if
necessary, by telephone. Applicants also may file requests
electronically through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) at
<http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/myibfs/welcome.do>\>. All requests should
provide the technical parameters of the proposed operation and a contact
point. The Bureau will handle all STA requests on an expedited basis.
Consistent with Section 309(c)(2)(G) of the Communications Act, 47
U.S.C. § 309(c)(2)(G), the Bureau may grant STAs for up to 30 days.

To ensure that the Bureau has a complete record of the action,
applicants who do not file through the IBFS should follow-up the initial
request with an electronic version submitted through the IBFS as soon as
possible. In this filing, operators should note in the first description
field on the electronic STA form that this is a \"Hurricane Katrina-
and/or Hurricane Rita-related STA request\" and the date the initial
request was granted.

Satellite earth and space station operators who were previously granted
Katrina-related STAs are encouraged to evaluate whether they will need
to continue operations beyond the term of the initial STA granted. If
such additional authority is required, the operator is strongly
encouraged to contact the International Bureau as soon as possible to
initiate such a request for additional authority. As with the initial
STA request, an extension may also be submitted through the IBFS system,
by letter, e-mail, or, if necessary, by telephone.

*Ex Parte Rules*. The International Bureau views presentations relating
to pending Hurricane related STAs as falling under the Section
1.1204(a)(3) exemption from the prohibitions in restricted proceedings.
*See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(a)(3).[^1] Accordingly, pursuant to Section
1.1204(a)(3) and 1.1200(a) of the Commission's rules, Hurricane related
STAs will be subject to the "permit-but-disclose" procedures once a
third party makes a presentation on a Hurricane related STA.[^2]

**Special Temporary Authority (Submarine Cables and International
214s):** Emergency requests for special temporary authority (STA)
related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita may be submitted by letter,
e-mail or, if necessary, telephone. Applicants also may file requests
electronically through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) at
<http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/myibfs/welcome.do>\>. The Bureau will handle
all STA requests as expeditiously as possible.

To ensure that the Bureau has a complete record of the action,
applicants who do not file through the IBFS should follow-up the initial
request with an electronic version submitted through the IBFS as soon as
possible. In this filing, operators should note in the first description
field on the electronic STA form that this is a \"Hurricane Katrina-
and/or Hurricane Rita-related STA request\" and the date the initial
request was granted.

**IB Contacts During Business Hours:**

**Satellite Space Stations and Earth Stations**:

-   Cassandra Thomas, 202-418-0734, Cassandra.Thomas@fcc.gov

-   Fern Jarmulnek, 202-418-0751, Fern.Jarmulnek@fcc.gov

-   Karl Kensinger, 202-418-0773, Karl.Kensinger@fcc.gov

-   Andrea Kelly, 202-418-7877, Andrea.Kelly@fcc.gov

-   Robert Nelson, 202-418-2341, Robert.Nelson@fcc.gov

-   Scott Kotler, 202-418-0596, Scott.Kotler@fcc.gov

**Submarine Cables and International 214s**:

-   James Ball, 202-418-0427, James.Ball@fcc.gov

-   Claudia Fox, 202-418-1527, Claudia.Fox@fcc.gov

-   George Li, 202-418-1462, George.Li@fcc.gov

**IB Contacts During Non-Business Hours:**

-   IB Situation Room: 202-418-2368

**-FCC-**

[^1]: Section 1.1204(a)(3) provides, in pertitinent part, that the
    following types of presentations are exempt from the prohibitions in
    restricted proceedings: "The presentation directly relates to an
    emergency in which safety of life is endangered or substantial loss
    of property is threatened..." *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(a)(3).
    Section 1.1200(a) of the Commission's rules also provides, in
    pertinent part, that "\[w\]here the public interest so requires in a
    particular proceeding, the Commission and its staff retain the
    discretion to modify the applicable *ex parte* rules by order,
    letter or public notice." 47 C.F.R. § 1.1204(a)(3).

[^2]: As explained in note 1 to Section 1.1208 of the Commission's
    rules, if an application is uncontested, the party and the
    Commission may freely make presentations. Once additional "parties"
    as defined by Section 1.1202(d) are involved in the proceeding,
    however, then pursuant to Section 1.1208 of the Commission's rules
    the proceeding is treated as restricted and *ex parte* presentations
    are prohibited. 47 C.F.R. § 1.1208.