PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 08-2502
Released:   November 13, 2008        
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON PETITION FOR 
RULEMAKING BY THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION 
ADMINISTRATION TO ALLOW AERONAUTICAL UTILITY MOBILE STATIONS TO USE 
1090 MHZ FOR RUNWAY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION AND COLLISION AVOIDANCE
RM-11503
Comment Date:   December 15, 2008 Reply Date:  December 30, 2008
On July 29, 2008, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) 
filed a petition for rulemaking requesting amendments to Part 87 of the Commission's Rules1 to allow use 
of the frequency 1090 MHz for runway vehicle identification and collision avoidance.  Specifically, the 
petition requests amendment of Sections 87.131 (power and emissions), 87.133(a)(7) (frequency 
stability), 87.137(a) (types of emissions), 87.173(b) (frequencies), 87.345 (aeronautical utility mobile 
station scope of service), and 87.349 (aeronautical utility mobile station frequencies) to designate the 
frequency 1090 MHz for use by aeronautical utility mobile stations, with limitations on, and technical 
requirements for, such use.  We seek comment on whether to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider 
the rule changes requested by NTIA.
To address growing concerns about the potential for airplane and service vehicle collisions on 
airport runways, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has introduced the use of airport surface 
detection equipment.  While air traffic controllers are currently utilizing this technology to manage the 
movement of aircraft on the airport surface, other vehicles such as snowplows, emergency vehicles and 
maintenance vehicles that routinely operate on the runway movement area are not currently monitored in 
the same manner, and therefore are not as quickly identified by air traffic control (ATC).  NTIA states the 
proposal would allow ATC to identify service vehicles transiting within the runway movement area and 
enhance ATCs ability to control both aircraft and vehicle movement, thereby reducing the risk of aircraft 
colliding with vehicles on the airport surface.     
Frequency 1090 MHz is currently used for, among other things, the following applications:  air-
to-ground communications in the Air Traffic Control Radar Beacon System, a system of ground-based 
transmitters that interrogate airborne transponders for secondary air traffic control surveillance; and air-
to-air communications in the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems, an airborne warning system 
designed to avert mid-air collisions.2 NTIA states that use of this frequency would expedite the 
  
1 47 C.F.R. Part 87.
2 The frequency band 960-1215 MHz is for the use of airborne electronic aids to navigation and directly associated 
land stations.  See 47 C.F.R.  87.187(n), 87.475(b)(6).
development and deployment of vehicle identification capabilities because aircraft are already equipped 
to transmit on 1090 MHz, so ATC facilities already are equipped to receive the signals.3 The petition also 
states that an FAA analysis shows that the use of the frequency by vehicles would not degrade the 
performance of the existing systems, provided that certain limitations are imposed on vehicle use.4  
Pursuant to Section 1.405, 47 C.F.R.  1.405, interested parties may file statements in support of 
or in opposition to the petitions request to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider the above-
described rule changes on or before December 15, 2008.  Parties interested in submitting replies to such 
statements must do so on or before December 30, 2008.  All statements in support of or in opposition to 
the petition and replies to such statements should reference the petition and RM-11503, and may be filed 
using:  (1) the Commissions Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Governments 
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, DC 20554.  Parties 
must also serve one copy with the Commissions copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), 
Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, (202) 488-5300, or via e-mail 
to fcc@bcpiweb.com.
 The Commissions contractor will receive hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper 
filings for the Commissions Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Suite 110, 
Washington, DC 20002.  The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  All 
  
3 While the frequency 978 MHz is currently permitted for use by aeronautical utility mobile stations, NTIA states 
that the development of equipment to receive 978 MHz and integrate it into the proposed system is not mature.  See
47 C.F.R.  87.349(e).
4 The FAA analysis shows that there would be no adverse impact on the performance of existing systems if the 
number of vehicles transmitting on 1090 MHz is limited to two hundred units and the transmit power is limited to 
twenty watts.   NTIA also proposes that frequency 1090 MHz be licensed for aeronautical utility mobile station use 
only by airport authorities or entities certified by the FAA, and that each application be coordinated with NTIA 
through the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee.
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, MD 20743.
 U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554.
Documents submitted in RM-11503, including the petition, will be accessible via the Commissions
ECFS (at:  http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs) by listing RM-11503 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, DC 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.
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 or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
For further information, please contact Tim Maguire of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
Mobility Division, at (202) 418-2155, tim.maguire@fcc.gov.
- FCC -