Aggregator

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, the Federal Communications Commission received Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of orbital debris mitigation plans under 47 CFR 5.63(e), 25.114(d)(14), and 97.207(g) of the Commission's rules. Mitigation of Orbital Debris, IB Docket No. 02-54, OMB Control Number 3060-1013. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number.

On August 10, 2005, (70 FR 46576) the Commission published final rules in a Report and Order, which implemented allocation changes to the frequency range between 5900 kHz and 27.5 GHz in furtherance of decisions that were made at the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva 2003) (WRC-03). This document contains corrections to 47 CFR 2.101 and 2.106.

This document proposes to amend the amateur radio service rules to eliminate the requirement that individuals pass a telegraphy examination in order to qualify for any amateur radio operator license.

This document implements allocation changes to the frequency range between 5900 kHz and 27.5 GHz in furtherance of decisions that were made at the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2003) (WRC-03) and updates the Commission's Rules in this frequency range. The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) took this action in order to conform its Rules, to the extent practical, to the decisions that the international community made at WRC-03. This action will promote the advancement of new and expanded services and provide significant benefits to the American public.

This document amends twelve sections of the Commission's Rules by updating the postal address of the Arecibo Radio Astronomy Observatory near Arecibo, Puerto Rico.

This document facilitates the introduction of Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) in the band 1710-1755 MHz--an integral part of a 90 MHz spectrum allocation recently reallocated to allow for such new and innovative wireless services. We largely adopt the proposals set forth in our recent AWS Fourth NPRM in this proceeding that are designed to clear the 1710-1755 MHz band of incumbent Federal Government operations that would otherwise impede the development of new nationwide AWS services. These actions are consistent with previous actions in this proceeding and with the United States Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA") 2002 Viability Assessment, which addressed relocation and reaccommodation options for Federal Government operations in the band.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on additional policies that could facilitate the development of advanced technologies, such as cognitive radio and "opportunistic use" devices. In particular, we request comment on whether additional revisions should be made to the spectrum leasing and private commons regulatory models, or whether other types of arrangements can better enable more users to gain spectrum access.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts a Second Report and Order that amends the Commission's rules to minimize the amount of orbital debris created by satellite systems and to mitigate the effects of orbital debris on operational spacecraft. Orbital debris consists of man-made objects that are not functioning spacecraft. Although orbital debris currently poses little short-term risk to operational spacecraft, an increase in orbital debris could have a significant impact in the long term on space activities, including important satellite communications. Adoption of these rules will help preserve the United States' continued affordable access to space, the continued provision of reliable U.S. space-based services-- including communications and remote sensing satellite services for U.S. commercial, government, and homeland security purposes--as well as the continued safety of persons and property in space and on the surface of the Earth. Adoption of these rules will also further the domestic policy objective of the United States to minimize the creation of orbital debris and is consistent with international policies and initiatives to achieve this goal.

This document proposes to revise operating privileges for amateur radio service licensees as well as to eliminate obsolete and duplicative rules in the Amateur Radio Service. We believe that these proposals will promote the development of the amateur radio service by providing licensees greater flexibility in the utilization of amateur service frequencies; eliminate unduly burdensome or duplicative requirements that may discourage individuals from becoming amateur radio service licensees; and promote efficient use of spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service.

In this document the Commission adopts licensing and service rules for the Dedicated Short Range Communications Service (DSRCS) in the Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Radio Service in the 5.850-5.925 GHz band (5.9 GHz band). This action promotes a nationwide solution to the transportation safety challenges faced by all Americans and follows the Commission's earlier allocation of this radio spectrum for DSRCS.

In this document the Commission addresses three petitions for reconsideration and two petitions for clarification of the Report and Order in this proceeding to govern the licensing of 27 MHz of electromagnetic spectrum in the 216-220 MHz, 1390-1395 MHz, 1427-1429 MHz, 1429-1432 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz, and 2385-2390 MHz bands, which were reallocated for non-Government use. The Commission also on its own motion corrects certain rules adopted in the Report and Order, and adopts further rule amendments codifying decisions made in the Report and Order.

In this document the Commission amends its rules to accommodate technological advances, facilitate operational flexibility, and promote spectral efficiency in the Aviation Radio Service. The purpose of the Report and Order is to streamline and update our rules governing the Aviation Radio Service.

This document makes minor amendments to various rule sections to clarify or eliminate duplicative language, or conform them with other rule sections. 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, streamline our licensing processes, and promote efficient use of spectrum allocated to the Amateur Radio Service.

This document denies a Petition for Reconsideration filed by Mr. W. Lee McVey in response to the Commission's decision in a Report and Order. The Commission finds that arguments and information provided in the Petition were substantively addressed by the Report and Order and do not merit further consideration.

In this document, the Commission adopts service rules to promote the private sector development and use of the "millimeter wave" spectrum in the 71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz and 92-95 GHz bands pursuant to parts 15 and 101 of our rules. This action follows an initiative by the Commission's Office of Engineering and Technology to spawn possible commercial development of these bands under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended.

This document relaxes and updates certain regulations for unlicensed devices, to allow for improved operations. It also grants a petition for reconsideration concerning the acceptance of foreign laboratory accreditations and grants a petition for declaratory ruling concerning the certification requirements for transmitters in the private land mobile radio services. The rules will permit the development of new types of unlicensed devices while protecting authorized users of the radio spectrum from harmful interference.

In this document we seek comment on several actions the Commission could take to further enhance spectrum access and efficient use of spectrum through the development of more robust secondary markets in spectrum usage rights in the wireless radio and satellite services. We also seek comment on how to encourage the development of information and clearinghouse mechanisms that will facilitate secondary market transactions between licensees and new users in need of access to spectrum. Finally, we seek comment on further streamlining of application processing for spectrum leasing, transfer of control, license assignments, expanding leasing to additional services, and modifying or eliminating other regulatory barriers impeding secondary market transactions.

This document seeks comment on proposed amendments to the FCC's rules and regulations relating to compliance of transmitters and facilities with guidelines for human exposure to radiofrequency (RF) energy. These proposals are intended to ensure protection of the public from potentially adverse health effects from RF exposure, while avoiding any unnecessary burden in evaluating compliance with FCC requirements. Several proposals are made regarding the Commission's rules and regulations including proposals related to categorical exclusion from routine evaluation for RF exposure, requirements for evaluation of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for certain RF devices, RF evaluation requirements for modular transmitters, labeling requirements for consumer devices, clarifications of responsibilities for evaluating compliance, special considerations regarding occupational exposure to RF fields, procedures for measuring RF fields for evaluating compliance, and other miscellaneous items related to clarification of the FCC's rules for RF exposure.

This document proposes to make spectrum available for Federal Government operations that will be displaced from the band 1710-1850 MHz as a result of making the 1710-1755 MHz segment available to support the introduction of new non-Federal Government advanced wireless services (AWS), including third generation wireless (3G) systems. The implementation of these proposals would substantially clear the band 1710-1755 MHz of Federal Government operations that would have otherwise impeded the development of new nationwide AWS services.

In this document, the Commission addresses five petitions for reconsideration filed in response to the Commission's Part 1 Order on Reconsideration of the Third Report and Order, and Fifth Report and Order. The Commission also adopts several minor modifications and revisions to certain part 1 general competitive bidding rules to provide specific guidance to auction participants and to streamline the competitive bidding regulations.