[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 8341-8342]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3575]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 90

[PR Docket No. 93-144 and PP Docket No. 93-253; DA 95-67]


Facilitation of Future Development of SMR Systems in the 800 MHz 
Frequency Band; Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications 
Act--Competitive Bidding, 800 MHz SMR

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of time.

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SUMMARY: On November 4, 1994, the Commission released a Further Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making, FCC 94-271, concerning establishment of a 
flexible regulatory scheme and competitive bidding procedures for 
Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) systems in the 800 MHz band.
    Based on the number of initial comments received and the variety of 
views expressed in this proceeding, this Order extends the deadline for 
reply comments from January 20 to March 1, 1995. The intended effect of 
this action is to provide members of the SMR industry with an 
opportunity to further evaluate, discuss, and attempt to reach 
consensus regarding the proposals presented and issues addressed both 
in the Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making and the initial comments 
submitted in this proceeding.

DATES: Reply comments must be filed on or before March 1, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Federal Commission, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
D'wana R. Speight, Legal Branch, Commercial Radio Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-0620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Order Extending Reply Comment Period

Adopted: January 18, 1995
Released: January 18, 1995

    By the Acting Chief, Commercial Radio Division:

    1. We have received requests from the American Mobile 
Telecommunications Association, Inc. (``AMTA''), Personal 
Communications Industry Association (``PCIA''), and SMR WON for an 
extension of time for filing Reply Comments in response to the Further 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making on this [[Page 8342]] proceeding.\1\ 
AMTA's and SMR WON's motions, both filed on January 11, 1995, request 
that the Commission extend the deadline for filing reply comments 
(currently January 20, 1995) by 60 days. PCIA's motion, also filed on 
January 11, 1995, requests that the deadline be extended by 30 days. To 
date, no opposition to these requests has been filed.

    \1\Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, Amendment of Part 90 
of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate Future Development of SMR 
Systems in the 800 MHz Frequency Band and Implementation of Section 
309(j) of the Communications Act--Competitive Bidding, 800 MHz SMR, 
PR Docket No. 93-144 and PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-271, adopted 
October 20, 1994, released November 4, 1994, 59 FR 60111, published 
November 22, 1994 (Further Notice).
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    2. AMTA seeks an extension in order to ``facilitate continued 
industry efforts to resolve certain of the matters on which no 
consensus has yet been achieved.'' In its motion, SMR WON notes that 
additional time is necessary to ``work out a consensus acceptable to 
all major interested parties, even though SMR WON and other trade 
associations held weekly meetings and conference calls throughout 
November and December.'' In addition, PCIA observes that ``the number 
of Comments, the controversial issues discussed, and the complexity of 
the proceeding dictate that careful consideration be given to the 
Comments filed by all parties.'' As a result, AMTA, SMR WON and PCIA 
agree that an extension of time would allow interested and affected 
parties to submit well-reasoned options and comments on the complex 
issues addressed in this proceeding.
    3. Based on the number of comments received and the variety of 
views expressed in this proceeding, it appears that an extension of the 
reply comment period is warranted. We agree with both AMTA and SMR WON 
that the public interest would be served by granting an extension so 
that members of the SMR industry can further evaluate, discuss, and 
attempt to reach consensus regarding the proposals presented and issues 
addressed both in the Further Notice and the initial comments submitted 
in this proceeding. Both parties indicate that discussions among 
industry members have been ongoing and that the members are continuing 
their efforts towards developing consensus positions. We believe that 
additional time is needed to allow this process to continue. We also 
agree with PCIA that additional time is needed to enable industry 
members to review the extensive comment record filed in this proceeding 
(over 80 comments have been filed) and to submit thorough and well-
reasoned reply comments. We nevertheless remain concerned about 
avoiding a substantial delay in the resolution of issues presented in 
this proceeding. Thus, we believe that a 40-day extension of the reply 
comment period is appropriate. We emphasize that in granting this 
extension, we expect SMR industry representatives to use the additional 
time productively by continuing their efforts to find solutions to the 
issues presented in this proceeding that will be broadly supported by 
industry members.
    4. Accordingly, it is hereby ordered that the Motions of Extension 
of Time filed by the American Mobile Telecommunications Association, 
the Personal Communications Industry Association, and SMR WON are 
hereby GRANTED to the extent stated herein.
    5. It is further ordered, pursuant to Sec. 1.46 of the Commission's 
Rules, 47 CFR 1.46, that the deadline for filing reply comments in this 
proceeding is extended from January 20, 1995 to March 1, 1995.

Federal Communications Commission.
Rosalind K. Allen,
Acting Chief, Commercial Radio Division, Wireless Telecommunications 
Bureau.
[FR Doc. 95-3575 Filed 2-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M