Source: http://www.fcc.gov/print/node/47802
Timestamp: 2015-02-27 12:50:43
Document Index: 511073098

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 90', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 90', '§ 90', 'art 22', '§ 1', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 22', 'art 90', 'art 22']

Somerset County Waiver to Use Part 22 and UHF TV Channels
DA 13-613
File Nos. 0004598355, 0004598366, )
0004598374, 0004598382, 0004983388, Request for Waiver of Sections 20.9(a)(6), 22.651, )
0004993152, 0004994418, 0004994929 90.303, 90.305(a), 90.307(d) and 90.311 of the )
Somerset County, New Jersey (Somerset or the County) filed four applications for television spectrum and an associated waiver request,1 and four applications for Part 22 spectrum and an associated waiver request2 to use certain UHF television channels3 and an unassigned Part 22 channel in the UHF “T-Band” (470-512 MHz band).4 Somerset proposes to add eight new Part 90 frequency pairs, six of which are in the television (TV) Channel 19 band (500-506 MHz),5 and one Part 22 frequency,6 to its existing licenses. Specifically, Somerset seeks waiver relief, pursuant to Section 1.925 of the 1 See File No. 0004983388 (filed December 7, 2011, modification of Station WIK392), File No. 0004993152 (filed December 15, 2011, modification of Station WIK355), File No. 0004994418 (filed December 16, 2011, modification of Station WIL900) and File No. 0004994929 (filed December 16, 2011, modification of Station WPVM588). See also associated attachment Request for Waiver (TV Waiver Request), In Support Of Somerset County, NJ, Channel 19 TV Sharing Waiver Request (TV Waiver Support). We note that File Nos. 0004983388, 0004993152, 0004994418, and 0004994929 replaced four applications previously associated with the TV Waiver Request, File Nos. 0004624208, 0004624213, 0004625897, 0004625899 (filed February 22, 2011, amended November 3, 2011 and November 4, 2011), which have been dismissed at the request of Somerset. 2 See File No. 0004598355 (filed February 1, 2011); File No. 0004598366 (filed February 1, 2011, modification of Station WPPB311), File No. 0004598374 (filed February 1, 2011, modification of Station WQBL367), and File No. 0004598382 (filed February 1, 2011, modification of Station WQBL360). See also associated attachments Request for Waiver (Part 22 Waiver Request), In Support Of Somerset County, NJ Part 22 UHF Frequency Waiver Request (Part 22 Waiver Support).
3 TV Waiver Request at 1.4 Part 22 Waiver Request at 1.5 The Part 90 frequencies are 477/480.4500, 477/480.7750, 500/503.3250, 500/503.8000, 500/503.9500, 501/504.6750, 502/505.5250, and 502/505.5500 MHz. See File Nos. 0004983388, 0004993152, 0004994418, and 0004994929. Frequencies 477/480.4500 and 477/480.7750 MHz are within the TV Channel 15 band and thus are available to the private land mobile radio service in the New York/Northeast New Jersey urbanized area, where Somerset is located. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 90.303, 90.305(a). The remaining six frequencies are in the TV Channel 19 band and are subject to the TV Waiver Request.
6 The Part 22 frequency is 473.1375 MHz. See also File No. 0004598382.
Commission’s rules,7 to “modify current licenses to adjust parameters, including new directional antenna patterns, and add additional frequencies at new or existing sites that are more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Philadelphia”8 However, after Somerset filed its applications, a freeze on applications seeking to change frequencies or expand coverage in the T-Band was placed into effect on April 26, 2012.9 Accordingly, Somerset amended its applications to also seek waiver of the freeze.10 For the reasons stated below, we grant both Waiver Requests.
Somerset is located in North Central New Jersey with a population of about 360,000.11 Currently, Somerset “is licensed to operate [on] TV Channel[s] 14, 15 and 19... under the Call Signs WIL900 and WPVM588 in the trunked mode and under WIK355 and WIK392 in the conventional mode.”12 The County’s “radio system serves all public-safety and municipal services, including police, fire, EMS, emergency management, roads and bridges, water, sewer, and elder transportation” and “[t]hrough its interoperable capabilities Somerset system participants can communicate on the UHF (450-512 MHz) band with a myriad of state and local agencies.”13
Somerset asserts that “[t]he purpose of this request is to license additional frequencies at new or existing sites and to re-license various, existing channels at new sites using directional antenna patterns, ERP and AGL” and “correcting erroneous site coordinates at some existing sites.”14 Somerset states that “the modifications to the existing licenses do not alter the ‘footprint’ of coverage beyond that of the current system and would not otherwise create interference.”15
Somerset argues that Public Safety Pool channels in the UHF band “are not available to meet the County’s requirements, and the additional channels requested can be used without causing interference to existing licensees.”16 With respect to the 700 MHz band, the County states that while some 700 MHz channels are available, these channels “are not compatible with the existing, established county-wide system.”17 Hence, Somerset asserts that the use of 700 MHz would cause “a far greater 7 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.925.8 TV Waiver Request at 1. Somerset proposes adding 7 new base stations ranging from 69.806 kilometers to 101.596 kilometers from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania reference coordinates. Somerset currently operates 12 base stations ranging from 68.380 kilometers to 97.659 kilometers from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania reference coordinates. See File Nos. 0004983388, 0004993152, 0004994418, and 0004994929.
9 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Suspend the Acceptance and Processing of Certain Part 22 and 90 Applications for 470-512 MHz (T-Band) Spectrum, Public Notice, 27 FCC Rcd 4218 (WTB/PSHSB 2012) (Freeze Notice).
10 See File Nos. 0004598355, 0004598366, 0004598374, 0004598382, 0004983388, 0004993152, 0004994418, and 0004994929, attachment entitled, Request for Waiver (filed May 02, 2012) (Freeze Waiver Request).
11 TV Waiver Support at 1.12 Id. See FCC File Nos. 0004994929, 0004994418, 0004983388 and 0004993152: Frequency Tab.13 TV Waiver Support at 1.14 Part 22 Waiver Support at 2.15 TV Waiver Request at 2.16 Id. at 1.17 Id. at 2. Part 22 Waiver Support at 2.
expense and hardship than could be reasonably imposed on any governmental entity and its local funding base.”18 Somerset also states that it has explored the possibility of adding public safety pool channels in the 450-512 MHz band, but concludes that “no channels [are] available.”19
In support of its four applications for television spectrum, Somerset obtained concurrences from Stations WPPZ550, MIC Talk, Inc.; WPMU674 and WIM582, Northampton County, PA; WIL678, Monmouth County; WQBH754, KEF776 and WPYP906, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority; and WQMG213, Home Box Office.20 Somerset also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Mountain Broadcasting Corporation, the licensee of television Station WMBC.21 The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International, Inc., (APCO) an FCC-certified frequency advisor, coordinated Somerset’s Part 90 applications.22 The County also submitted a TSB 8823 Interference Study and RS660224 Co-channel and Adjacent Channel Studies and RS6602 System Footprint Study.25
On September 6, 2012, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau issued a public notice26 seeking comment on the applications and Waiver Requests. The Enterprise Wireless Alliance filed comments in support of the County’s requests.27
18 Part 22 Waiver Support at 2.19 Id. at 2-3. TV Waiver Support at 3.20 See File Nos. 0004983388, 0004993152, 0004994418, and 0004994929, attachment, Somerset County, NJ, Exhibit D, Letters of Concurrence: Letter from Elizabeth R. Sachs, Lukas, Nace, Gutierrez and Sachs, LLP to Mr. Thomas H. Shuler, Blue Wing Services (April 14, 2010); Letter from Todd K. Weaver, ENP, Deputy Director of Systems, County of Northampton, Department of Administration, to Somerset County NJ, Department of Emergency Management (Sept. 7, 2010); Letter from Shaun Golden, Acting Sheriff, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office to County of Somerset, NJ Office of Emergency Management (Sept. 1, 2010); Letter from Michael Monastero, Chief Operating Officer, Communications & Signals, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to Mr. Roy Gunzelman, Somerset County, Office of Emergency Management (August 23, 2010); Letter from Rebekah Calabrese, Vice President, Business Initiatives, Home Box Office to Mr. William Stahl, Acting Director, Somerset County Emergency Operations Center (Oct. 25, 2010).
21 See File Nos. 0004983388, 0004993152,