7362 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 33 / Wednesday, February 19, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 90

[General Docket Nos. 89–573 and 90–7; DA

96–2066]

Addressing Amendments for the 821–

824/866–869 MHz Bands as Submitted

by the Regional Planning Committees

of the Washington, DC and

Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Areas

SUMMARY: This action addresses

amendments for the 821–824/866–869

MHz bands as submitted by the regional

planning committees of the Washington,

DC Metropolitan Area (‘‘Region 20’’)

and the Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan

Area (‘‘Region 28’’). Such action is

required by procedures established by

the Commission for the development of

regional plans under the Public Safety

National Plan (National Plan) for the

public safety radio services. The

National Plan was developed to ensure

that channels allocated in the 821–824/

866–869 MHz bands were used

effectively and efficiently for important

public safety functions such as crime

control, fire fighting, and emergency

medical services. This decision furthers

the Commission’s goal of promoting

efficient and effective public safety

communications. The effect of the

action conditionally accepts the Region

20 amendment to modify its respective

regional plan subject to the finding of

additional information and to return the

Region 28 amendment for further

coordination with adjacent regions as

provided by the National Plan.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William Cross of the Commission’s

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at

(202) 418–0680 or wcross@fcc.gov

(Internet).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

summary of the Commission’s Order,

DA 96–2066, adopted and released

December 9, 1996. The complete text

may be purchased from the

Commission’s copy contractor, ITS, Inc.,

2100 M Street NW., Suite 140,

Washington, DC 20037, telephone (202)

857–3800. The unofficial text of this

Order is available on the Internet at:

http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/

Orders/da962066.txt. This Order is also

available for inspection and copying

during normal business hours in the

FCC Reference Center (Room 239), 1919

M Street, NW., Washington, D C 20554.

SUMMARY OF THE ORDER:

1. This Order addresses amendments

submitted by the regional planning

committees of the Washington, DC

Metropolitan Area (‘‘Region 20’’) and

the Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Area

(‘‘Region 28’’). In separate amendments,

each committee proposes to modify

their respective regional plans for the

821–824/866–869 MHz bands as

provided by the Public Safety National

Plan (‘‘National Plan’’). See Report and

Order, 3 FCC Rcd 905; 53 FR 1022

(January 15, 1988).

2. Oppositions have been filed against

both amendments. Both amendments

concern the manner in which public

safety spectrum governed by the

National Plan is allocated among

adjacent regions to meet the mobile

communications requirements of public

safety and special emergency entities.

3. In reviewing Region 20, the

Commission noted that there are three

elements of the Region 20 amendment

that cause concern: (1) The lack of

coordination with adjacent regions, (2)

the licensing of stations prior to plan

approval, and (3) a channel designation

to an individual. Although the

Commission has clearly stated that

inter-regional coordination is

mandatory, the lack of consensus

between the parties appears to have

inhibited the expansion of public safety

telecommunications in these bands for

these critical metropolitan areas. Region

20 points out that a review of the record

affirms that the channel assignments

cited by Region 28 and other parties as

potential problems all pertain to

channels contained in plans previously

approved by the Commission. The

Commission also found that the

channels under consideration at this

time have already been licensed by the

Commission.

4. For these reasons, Region 20’s

amendment is accepted subject to the

following conditions: (a) A detailed

statement that establishes satisfactory

inter-regional coordination procedures

(See paragraph 11 of Order)—to be filed

with Acting Secretary of the

Commission and with copies to the

Private Wireless Division of the

Commission’s Wireless

Telecommuncations Bureau by March

30, 1997; (b) a list denoting the current

status of construction and operation of

stations licensed on the new channels

set forth in the Region 20 amendment

(See paragraph 15 of Order)—to be

similarly filed by January 30, 1997; and

(c) a change from ‘‘MCT Medical

Services’’ to an appropriate channel

designation (See paragraph 18 of

Order)—to be similarly filed by January

30, 1997.

5. Regarding Region 28, the

Commission found that Region 28 had

not coordinated its amendment in

advance as required; and has not yet

obtained concurrence from the adjacent

regions. Consequently, Region 28’s

amendment is returned for further

coordination so that discussions can

commence between the interested

parties.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 90

Public safety, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–4028 Filed 2–18–97; 8:45 am]

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