Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 25, 2001 / Rules and Regulations 20751

EPA APPROVED NONREGULATORY PROVISIONS AND QUASI-REGULATORY MEASURES IN THE TEXAS SIP—Continued

Name of SIP provision Applicable geographic or

nonattainment area

State

submittal

date/effective

date

EPA approval date Comments

Contingency Measures .............. Houston, Texas .............. 5/19/98 4/25/01 66 FR 20751 ................ Originally submitted 11/9/94

and revised 8/9/96.

3. Section 52.2309 is amended by

adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:

§ 52.2309 Emissions inventories.

* * * * *

(f) The Texas Natural Resource

Conservation Commission submitted a

revision to the State Implementation

Plan (SIP) on May 19, 2000. This

revision was submitted for the purpose

of satisfying the 9 percent Rate-ofProgress requirements of the Clean Air

Act, which will aid in ensuring the

attainment of the National Ambient Air

Quality Standards for ozone. This

submission also contained revisions to

the 1990 base year emissions inventory

for the Houston/Galveston areas.

[FR Doc. 01–10117 Filed 4–24–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 13 and 97

[WT Docket No. 98–143, RM–9148, RM–

9150, RM–9196; FCC 01–108]

Amateur Service Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; petition for

reconsideration.

SUMMARY: This document denies in part

and grants in part various petitions for

reconsideration of the Report and Order

in this proceeding. It also revises part 13

of the rules to ensure the telegraphy

requirements for commercial radio

operator licenses remain unchanged and

it makes minor editorial changes to

certain part 97 rules. This action will

allow current Amateur Radio Service

licensees to contribute more to the

advancement of the radio art; reduce the

administrative costs that the

Commission incurs in regulating this

service and streamline our licensing

processes; and promote efficient use of

spectrum allocated to the Amateur

Radio Service.

DATES: Effective July 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William T. Cross, Public Safety and

Private Wireless Division, Wireless

Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418–

0680, TTY (202) 418–7233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

summary of the Commission’s

Memorandum Opinion and Order, WT

Docket No. 98–143, FCC 99–412,

adopted March 27, 2001, and released

April 6, 2001. The complete text of this

document is available for inspection

and copying during normal business

hours in the FCC’s Reference

Information Center, 445 12th Street SW.,

Room CY–A257, Washington, DC. The

complete text of this document may also

be obtained from the Commission’s

copy contractor, International

Transcription Services, Inc., 1231 20th

St., NW., Washington, DC 20036,

telephone (202) 857–3800. Alternative

formats (computer diskette, large print,

audio cassette, and Braille) are available

to persons with disabilities by

contacting Martha Contee at (202) 418–

0620 (voice) or (202) 418–2555 (TTY), or

at mcontee@fcc.gov. The complete (but

unofficial) text is also available on the

Commission’s Internet site at http://

www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/

2001.

Summary of Memorandum Opinion

and Order

1. In the Notice of Proposed Rule

Making (NPRM) (63 FR 49059,

September 14, 1998) in WT Docket No.

98–143, the Commission initiated the

instant proceeding to examine the

Amateur Radio Service rules in an effort

to streamline its licensing processes and

eliminate unnecessary and duplicative

rules.

2. By its Report and Order, (65 FR

6548, February 10, 2000) the

Commission substantially revised the

amateur service license structure by

streamlining our licensing processes

and eliminating unnecessary and

duplicative rules. This Memorandum

Opinion and Order addresses pending

petitions for reconsideration of the

Report and Order. Because the

petitioners’ suggested clarifications

generally already were considered and

rejected, or because they are beyond the

scope of the proceeding, the

Commission has not modified any part

97 provisions based on the petitions.

The Commission granted the request of

petitioners that the amateur service

database distinguish between

Technician and Technician Plus Class

licensees, however, to the extent that

these database changes already have

been implemented. Additionally, on its

own motion, the Commission adopted

changes to its part 13 rules to ensure the

telegraphy requirements for commercial

radio operator licenses remain

unchanged and the Commission made

minor editorial changes to certain part

97 rules.

3. The Regulatory Flexibility Act

(RFA) requires that an agency prepare a

regulatory flexibility analysis for noticeand-comment rulemaking proceedings,

unless the agency certifies that ‘‘the rule

will not, if promulgated, have a

significant economic impact on a

substantial number of small entities.’’ 5

U.S.C. 605(b). In the NPRM, the

Commission certified that the proposed

rule amendments, if promulgated,

would not have a significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small

business entities, as defined in section

601(3) of the RFA because the rule

amendments do not apply to small

business entities. Rather, these rules

apply to individuals who are interested

in radio technique solely with a

personal aim and without pecuniary

interest. No comments were received

concerning this certification. The

Commission now affirms this

certification with respect to the rules

adopted in this Memorandum Opinion

and Order. Accordingly, because small

business entities, as defined in section

601(3) of the RFA, are not eligible to

make an application for an amateur

service license or be a licensee in the

amateur service, the Commission

certifies, pursuant to section 605(b) of

the RFA, that the rules adopted herein

will not have a significant economic

impact on a substantial number of small

entities, as defined in the RFA.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 13

Radio.

47 CFR Part 97

Radio, Volunteers.

20752 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 80 / Wednesday, April 25, 2001 / Rules and Regulations

Federal Communications Commission.

Magalie Roman Salas,

Secretary.

Rule Changes

For the reasons discussed in the

preamble, the Federal Communications

Commission amends 47 CFR parts 13

and 97 as follows:

PART 13—COMMERCIAL RADIO

OPERATORS

1. The authority citation for part 13

continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 4, 303, 48 Stat. 1066, 1082

as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303.

2. Section 13.9 is amended by revising

paragraph (d)(2) to read as follows:

§ 13.9 Eligibility and application for new

license or endorsement.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(2) An expired or unexpired FCCissued Amateur Extra Class operator

license grant granted before April 15,

2000: Telegraphy Elements 1 and 2.

* * * * *

3. Section 13.13 is amended by

revising paragraph (d)(2) to read as

follows:

§ 13.13 Application for a renewed or

modified license.

* * * * *

(d) * * *

(2) An expired or unexpired FCCissued Amateur Extra Class operator

license document granted before April

15, 2000: Telegraphy Elements 1 and 2.

PART 97—AMATEUR RADIO SERVICE

4. The authority citation for part 97

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as

amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303. Interpret or

apply 48 Stat. 1064–1068, 1081–1105, as

amended; 47 U.S.C. 151–155, 301–609,

unless otherwise noted.

5. Section 97.3 is amended by revising

paragraphs (a)(35) and (b) introductory

text to read as follows:

§ 97.3 Definitions.

(a) * * *

(35) Question set. A series of

examination questions on a given

examination selected from the question

pool.

* * * * *

(b) The definitions of technical

symbols used in this part are:

* * * * *

6. Section 97.119 is amended by

removing paragraph (f)(3), revising

paragraph (f)(2), and by redesignating

paragraph (f)(4) as (f)(3) and revising

newly redesignated paragraph (f)(3) to

read as follows:

§ 97.119 Station identification.

* * * * *

(f) * * *

(2) For a control operator who has

requested a license modification from

Novice, Technician, or Technician Plus

Class to General Class: AG;

(3) For a control operator who has

requested a license modification from

Novice, Technician, Technician Plus,

General, or Advanced Class to Amateur

Extra Class: AE.

* * * * *

7. Section 97.527 is revised to read as

follows:

§ 97.527 Reimbursement for expenses.

VEs and VECs may be reimbursed by

examinees for out-of-pocket expenses

incurred in preparing, processing,

administering, or coordinating an

examination for an amateur operator

license.

[FR Doc. 01–10225 Filed 4–24–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–U

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS

COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 93–177; FCC 01–60]

An Inquiry Into the Commission’s

Policies and Rules Regarding AM

Radio Service Directional Antenna

Performance Verification

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: In this proceeding the

Commission relaxes the technical

requirements for directional AM

stations. The new rules reduce the

number of measurements required as

part of directional AM license

applications and eliminate outdated

operating requirements. The changes,

consistent with the Commission’s

streamlining initiatives, reduce the

regulatory burden upon directional AM

stations to the extent possible while

maintaining the integrity of the service.

DATES: Effective May 25, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Secretary, Federal

Communications Commission, 445 12th

Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554,

http://www.fcc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter H. Doyle, Audio Services Division,

Mass Media Bureau (202) 418–2700.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

summary of the Commission’s Report

and Order in MM. Docket No. 93–177,

adopted February 14, 2001, and released

March 7, 2001. The new rules adopted

here were proposed in an earlier Notice

of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in this

proceeding [See 64 FR 40539, July 27,

1999]. The final rules incorporate

comments received in response to the

NPRM. The complete text of this Report

and Order is available for inspection

and copying during normal business

hours in the FCC Reference Center

(Room CY–A257), 445 12th Street, SW.,

Washington, DC 20554, and may also be

purchased from the Commission’s copy

contractor, International Transcription

Service, (202) 857–3800, 1231 20th

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036. The

complete text is also available on the

Internet at http://www.fcc.gov/mmb/

asd/welcome2.html#NEWBOX.

Synopsis of Report and Order

1. Introduction

This Report and Order relaxes the

Commission’s technical rules for AM

broadcasters using directional antennas.

Directional AM stations use antennas

which suppress radiated field in some

directions and enhance it in others. In

order to control interference between

stations and assure adequate community

coverage, directional AM stations must

undergo extensive ‘‘proofs of

performance’’ to demonstrate that the

antenna system operates as authorized.

This Report and Order substantially

reduces the number of measurements

required in a proof of performance, and,

consequently, reduces the cost borne by

the licensee. The Report and Order also

eliminates some equipment and

measurement requirements for

directional AM stations, and eliminates

the designation of some directional AM

stations as ‘‘critical arrays,’’ a

classification that imposed additional

operating restrictions and expenses

upon some licensees.

2. Proof of Performance Requirements

An antenna proof of performance

establishes whether the radiation

pattern of an AM station is in

compliance with the station’s

authorization. An AM station must

perform a full proof to verify the pattern

shape when a new directional antenna

system is authorized. Partial proofs,

which require fewer measurements, are

occasionally necessary to show that an

array continues to operate properly. For

both full and partial proofs, the

Commission reduced the required

number of radials and the number of

measurements per radial.