[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7431-7432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4029]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 95

[GEN Docket No. 91-2, DA 97-308]


Interactive Video and Data Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Request for comments on waiver request.

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SUMMARY: This action seeks additional comment on waiver of the three 
year construction benchmark that IVDS lottery license winners must meet 
by March 29, 1997. It is necessary for the Commission to receive 
comment on the waiver request in order to determine if the waiver 
should be granted. The effect of the action will be to seek comment on 
the requested rule waiver.

DATES: Comments are due February 25, 1997; reply comments are due March 
3, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments and reply comments should be sent or delivered to: 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M 
Street, N.W., Room 222, Washington, D.C. 20554, Att'n Private Wireless 
Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William T. Cross of the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Public 
Notice released February 10, 1997. The full text of this action is 
available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in 
the FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC. 
The complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, ITS, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Summary of Public Notice

    1. In the Report and Order in GEN Docket No. 91-2, the Commission 
concluded that a major concern of potential users of this service was 
that an applicant who obtained a license through the lottery process 
may not actually build the IVDS system. The IVDS rules require, 
therefore, that licensees must construct a sufficient

[[Page 7432]]

number of stations in three years to cover 30 percent of the population 
or land area, and in five years to cover 50 percent of the population 
or land area (see 47 CFR 95.833).
    2. Maritime Communications Corporation, an IVDS licensee in the 
Dallas, TX MSA, recently filed a request for waiver of the rule 
requiring IVDS licensees to use type accepted equipment or 
alternatively, a waiver of the three year construction requirement for 
its IVDS system. Bay Interactive Ventures Ltd., and IVDS licensee in 
the Los Angeles, CA MSA, also filed a request for waiver of the three 
year construction requirement for its IVDS system. Both licensees cite 
the pendency of a petition for rule making, RM-8951, the lack of 
commercially available equipment and the lack of service applications 
they could deploy over their systems as reasons that we should waive 
the three year construction benchmark.
    3. Interested parties may file comments concerning these waiver 
requests on or before February 25, 1997. Reply comments are due on or 
before March 3, 1997. Comments and reply comments should be sent or 
delivered to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications 
Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 222, Washington, D.C. 20554, 
Att'n Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. A 
copy should also be sent or delivered to: Private Wireless Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Room 8010, Stop Code 2000-F, 
Federal Communications Commission, 2025 M Street, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20554. Finally, a copy should be sent or delivered to the 
Commission's duplicating contractor: International Transcription 
Services, Inc. (ITS), 2100 M Street, N.W., Suite 140, Washington, D.C. 
20037 (telephone number (202) 857-3800). Copies of the filings may be 
obtained from ITS.
    4. A copy is also available for public inspection during regular 
business hours in the Private Wireless Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Room 8010, 2025 M Street, N.W., Washington, 
D.C. 20554.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR 95

    Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-4029 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M