Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 82 / Friday, April 26, 1996 / Proposed Rules 18539

Summary of NCS Petition

The NCS contends in its petition for

rulemaking that cellular usage by the

general public in emergency situations

leads to congestion in the cellular

network, causing usage by those with

NS/EP responsibilities to be severely

curtailed or made impossible. Without

‘‘priority access’’ to cellular spectrum,

the NCS argues, rescue workers are

impaired by recurring surges in cellular

usage associated with emergency

situations. The NCS cites the bombing

of a Federal office building in Oklahoma

City, Oklahoma, as a recent example.

The NCS argues that ‘‘priority access’’ to

cellular spectrum is essential in

conducting response and recovery

efforts. The NCS also maintains that

action at the national level is necessary

to ensure there is one uniform,

nationwide cellular priority access

scheme.

The term ‘‘priority access,’’ as used by

the NCS, means that in emergencies,

when cellular spectrum is congested,

authorized priority users would gain

access to the cellular radio spectrum

before cellular telephone users not

engaged in NS/EP functions. Approval

of the proposed rules would (1)

authorize cellular service providers to

provide priority access; (2) ensure that

such service providers, when doing so,

are not in violation of Communications

Act provisions barring unlawful

discrimination or undue preference; and

(3) override any existing contractual

provisions inconsistent with the rules

adopted.

The NCS requests that the

Commission establish the Cellular

Priority Access Service (CPAS) by

amending Part 64 of the Commission’s

Rules. Under the proposed CPAS rules,

authorized NS/EP users would be

permitted to obtain access to cellular

radio channels ahead of non-NS/EP

users when cellular network congestion

is blocking NS/EP call attempts. In order

to obtain priority access, the authorized

user would dial a feature code such as

‘‘*XX.’’ The service would require no

special activation; CPAS calls would not

preempt calls in progress.

Public Safety Rulemaking

In a rulemaking proceeding recently

initiated by the Commission, comment

has been sought regarding present

deficiencies in public safety wireless

communications, and spectrum needs

for public safety purposes. See The

Development of Operational, Technical,

and Spectrum Requirements for Meeting

Federal, State and Local Public Safety

Agency Communication Requirements

Through the Year 2010, WT Docket No.

96–86, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,

FCC 96–115, released April 10, 1996.

The Commission stated that the goal of

the proceeding is:

To develop the data necessary to evaluate

the spectrum needs of public safety agencies,

to solicit comment on how best to meet these

needs, and to facilitate a transition to a

communications environment in which

public safety agencies have access to higher

quality transmission, emerging technologies,

and broader services, including the ability to

communicate readily with one another

(interoperability).

Id. at para. 3.

In addition to commenting on the

merits of the NCS petition, interested

parties are asked to address whether and

to what extent the issues raised in the

NCS petition are related to the pending

public safety rulemaking proceeding,

WT Docket No. 96–86. Interested parties

may file comments no later than June 3,

1996. Reply comments must be filed by

July 2, 1996. All comments should be

filed with the Office of the Secretary,

Federal Communications Commission,

1919 M Street, NW., Room 222,

Washington, DC 20554, referencing WT

Docket No. 96–86 and the petition for

rulemaking filed by the NCS. The full

text of the petition, the comments, and

reply comments are available for

inspection and duplication during

regular business hours in the FCC

Reference Center, Federal

Communications Commission, 1919 M

Street, NW., Room 239, Washington, DC

20554. Copies may also be obtained

from International Transcription

Service, Inc. (ITS), 2100 M Street, NW.,

Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037, (202)

857–3800.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 64

Civil defense.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 96–10344 Filed 4–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–P

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96–88; RM–8760]

Radio Broadcasting Services;

Manitowoc and Two Rivers, WI

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: This document requests

comments on a petition filed by Lyle

Robert Evans d/b/a High Mark Radio

Company, proposing the allotment of

Channel 255A to Two Rivers,

Wisconsin, as that community’s first

local FM service. Channel 255A can be

allotted to Two Rivers with a site

restriction 12.1 kilometers (7.5 miles)

southwest of the community. The

coordinates for Channel 255A are 44–

03–57 and 87–39–44. We shall also

make an editorial correction to the FM

Table of Allotments showing the actual

allotment of Channel 272A at

Manitowoc, Wisconsin, rather than Two

Rivers, Wisconsin.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before June 10, 1996, and reply

comments on or before June 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the

petitioner, as follows: Lyle Robert Evans

d/b/a High Mark Radio Company, 1296

Marian Lane, Green Bay, Wisconsin

54304.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathleen Scheuerle, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No.

96–88, adopted April 3, 1996, and

released April 18, 1996. The full text of

this Commission decision is available

for inspection and copying during

normal business hours in the

Commission’s Reference Center (Room

239), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington,

DC. The complete text of this decision

may also be purchased from the

Commission’s copy contractors,

International Transcription Services,

Inc., 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140,

Washington, DC 20037, (202) 857–3800.

Provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act of l980 do not apply to

this proceeding.

Members of the public should note

that from the time a Notice of Proposed

Rule Making is issued until the matter

is no longer subject to Commission

consideration or court review, all ex

parte contacts are prohibited in

Commission proceedings, such as this

one, which involve channel allotments.

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules

governing permissible ex parte contact.

For information regarding proper

filing procedures for comments, see 47

CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 96–10295 Filed 4–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–F
18540 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 82 / Friday, April 26, 1996 / Proposed Rules

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96–87; RM–8782]

Radio Broadcasting Services;

Macomb, IL

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission requests

comments on a petition filed by WMS1,

Inc., proposing the allotment of Channel

240A at Macomb, Illinois, as the

community’s third local commercial FM

transmission service. Channel 240A can

be allotted to Macomb in compliance

with the Commission’s minimum

distance separation requirements with a

site restriction of 0.5 kilometers (0.3

miles) south to a void a short-spacing to

the licensed site of Station KMXG(FM),

Channel 241C1, Clinton, Iowa. The

coordinates for Channel 240A at

Macomb are North Latitude 40–27–09

and West Longitude 90–40–12.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before June 10, 1996 and reply

comments on or before June 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the

petitioner, or its counsel or consultant,

as follows: Larry Williams, WMS1, Inc.,

2901 S. Holmes Ave., Springfield,

Illinois 62704 (Petitioner).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon P. McDonald, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No.

96–87, adopted April 3, 1996, and

released April 18, 1996. The full text of

this Commission decision 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 of this decision may also

be purchased from the Commission’s

copy contractor, International

Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857–

3800, 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140,

Washington, DC 20037.

Provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act of 1980 do not apply to

this proceeding.

Members of the public should note

that from the time a Notice of Proposed

Rule Making is issued until the matter

is no longer subject to Commission

consideration or court review, all ex

parte contacts are prohibited in

Commission proceedings, such as this

one, which involve channel allotments.

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules

governing permissible ex parte contacts.

For information regarding proper

filing procedures for comments, see 47

CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 96–10294 Filed 4–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–F

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96–80; RM–8758]

Radio Broadcasting Services;

Deerfield, MO

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: This document requests

comments on a petition filed by Dale

Hendrix proposing the allotment of

Channel 261C3 to Deerfield, Missouri,

as that community’s first local service.

The coordinates for Channel 261C3 are

37–49–41 and 94–29–32. There is a site

restriction 1.8 kilometers (1.1 mile)

southeast of Deerfield.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before June 10, 1996, and reply

comments on or before June 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the

petitioner, as follows: Dale Hendrix, 872

Allen Road, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

37129.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathleen Scheuerle, Mass Media

Bureau, (202) 418–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a

synopsis of the Commission’s Notice of

Proposed Rule Making, MM Docket No.

96–80, adopted March 27, 1996, and

released April 18, 1996. The full text of

this Commission decision is available

for inspection and copying during

normal business hours in the

Commission’s Reference Center (Room

239), 1919 M Street, NW., Washington,

DC. The complete text of this decision

may also be purchased from the

Commission’s copy contractors,

International Transcription Services,

Inc., 2100 M Street, NW., Suite 140,

Washington, DC 20037, (202) 857–3800.

Provisions of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act of l980 do not apply to

this proceeding.

Members of the public should note

that from the time a Notice of Proposed

Rule Making is issued until the matter

is no longer subject to Commission

consideration or court review, all ex

parte contacts are prohibited in

Commission proceedings, such as this

one, which involve channel allotments.

See 47 CFR 1.1204(b) for rules

governing permissible ex parte contact.

For information regarding proper

filing procedures for comments, see 47

CFR 1.415 and 1.420.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 73

Radio broadcasting.

Federal Communications Commission.

John A. Karousos,

Chief, Allocations Branch, Policy and Rules

Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 96–10292 Filed 4–25–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712–01–F

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket No. 96–75; RM–8781]

Radio Broadcasting Services;

Reynoldsville, PA

AGENCY: Federal Communications

Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Commission requests

comments on a petition filed by Priority

Communications, Inc. seeking the

substitution of Channel 293A for

Channel 258A at Reynoldsville, PA, and

the modification of Station WDSN(FM)’s

license to specify the alternate Class A

channel. The modification of Station

WDSN(FM)’s license to Channel 293A

could enable the station to increase its

power from 3 kW to 6 kW. Channel

293A can be allotted to Reynoldsville in

compliance with the Commission’s

minimum distance separation

requirements and can be used at Station

WDSN(FM)’s present transmitter site, at

coordinates 41–08–41 NL and 78–52–41

WL. Competing expressions of interest

in use of Channel 293A at Reynoldsville

will not be accepted since the

provisions of Section 1.420(g) do not

apply in cases where no change in the

class of the channel is proposed.

Canadian concurrence in the allotment

is required since Reynoldsville is

located within 320 kilometers (200

miles) of the U.S.-Canadian border.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or

before June 10, 1996, and reply

comments on or before June 25, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications

Commission, Washington, DC 20554. In

addition to filing comments with the

FCC, interested parties should serve the