Incentive Auction Task Force Seeks Comment on Staff Analysis Regarding Pairwise Approach To Preserving Population Served, 37705-37706 [2014-15585]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 2, 2014 / Proposed Rules action in the preamble to the direct final rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule. If we receive adverse comment, we will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. We would address all public comments in any subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. We do not intend to institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time. For further information, please see the information provided in the ADDRESSES section of this document. Dated: June 23, 2014. Jeanne Conklin, Acting Director, Office of Financial Management. [FR Doc. 2014–15579 Filed 7–1–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P (although the Commission continues to experience delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. • People With Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202– 418–0432. For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan McCormack, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418– 1065, email: jonathan.mccormack@ fcc.gov. This is a summary of the FCC’s document, GN Docket No. 12–268, ET Docket No. 13– 26, DA 14–677 released on June 2, 2014. The full text of this document 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. The complete text of this document also may be purchased from the Commission’s copy contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street SW., Room CY–B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may also be downloaded at: www.fcc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 47 CFR Parts 1, 27, and 73 [GN Docket No. 12–268; ET Docket No. 13– 26; DA 14–677] Incentive Auction Task Force Seeks Comment on Staff Analysis Regarding Pairwise Approach To Preserving Population Served Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments. AGENCY: The FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force (IATF) seeks comment on the results of a staff analysis on the potential for new aggregate interference in the repacking process and seeks comment on newly released repacking constraint data that uses actual channels. DATES: Comments must be filed on or before July 2, 2014 and reply comments must be filed on or before July 22, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by GN Docket No. 12–268 and ET Docket No. 13–26, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Federal Communications Commission’s Web site: https:// www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:50 Jul 01, 2014 Jkt 232001 Summary On June 2, 2014, the IATF released a document that published updated constraint data based upon actual channels, rather than proxy channels, to assist interested parties in conducting their own repacking studies. The document also announced the results of a staff analysis on the potential for new aggregate interference in the repacking process using the Commission’s adopted approach to preserving population served. This approach limits allowable station assignments to those causing 0.5 percent or less new pairwise interference. The staff analysis compiled 100 repacking scenario studies and found that on average, approximately one percent of all stations received new aggregate interference above one percent, and that the vast majority received less than the 0.5 percent interference constraint. The data and information released are based on preliminary staff assumptions necessary for completing the analysis, and are meant to be illustrative only. The FCC will adopt final decisions PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 37705 regarding the repacking process at a later date. The document and its appendix relate only to the repacking process, and specifically to issues commenters raised regarding the necessity of an aggregate interference cap and the use of proxy channels when preserving coverage area and population served. The results of studies in the analysis do not reflect any FCC assumptions about auction participation or station valuation. A number of commenters supported using a 0.5 percent pairwise limit approach for limiting interference in the repacking process, but argued that the FCC should impose a cap of one percent on allowable aggregate interference for each station to mitigate the risk that an individual station in a crowded market could receive significant new interference when the permitted pairwise interference from multiple stations is added up. In response to that argument, FCC staff conducted studies to calculate potential aggregate interference using the updated constraint files, which are based on actual channels, versus proxy channels. The staff analysis shows that approximately one percent of all stations in simulated channel reassignments received new interference above a one percent cap, and that the majority of stations received new aggregate interference well below the pairwise interference limit adopted by the FCC. The analysis is presented in detail in the appendix, available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/ attachmatch/DA-14-677A2.pdf. The repacking scenarios relate only to the UHF band because the largest number of stations that could potentially be assigned a new channel will be in this band. The FCC staff is releasing updated constraint files based upon actual channels to assist interested parties in conducting their own repacking studies. The new constraint files are in the same format as those released in July 2013, and can be found on the FCC’s LEARN Web site under the Repacking Section at: https://fcc.gov/learn. These files are also posted at: https://data.fcc.gov/ download/incentive-auctions/ Constraint_Files/. To generate sufficient data from which to draw meaningful results, FCC staff performed 100 simulations using several variations of an approach developed for creating simulated sets of stations to be repacked. The output of each of these simulations was a set of stations that remain on the air in the UHF band, together with the respective channel assignments, called a channel plan. Consistent with the FCC’s adopted approach to preserving population E:\FR\FM\02JYP1.SGM 02JYP1 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS 37706 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 2, 2014 / Proposed Rules served, none of the 100 channel plans involves new pairwise interference of greater than 0.5 percent. For each of these 100 channel plans, staff examined cell-level data generated by the TVStudy software to determine the aggregate interference experienced by each station. The results show that across all simulations, on average approximately one percent of stations are predicted to receive new aggregate interference after channel reassignment above the one percent cap proposed by commenters, while the average new aggregate interference level was less than 0.2 percent, well below the de minimis constraint threshold adopted by the FCC. In none of the results did any station receive new aggregate interference above 2 percent. Details about the methodology as well as study results can be found in the appendix, available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_ public/attachmatch/DA-14-677A2.pdf. The analysis pertains only to constraints applied to prevent new interference under the approach adopted by the FCC, and does not consider any alternatives that stations may have, including the opportunity reassigned stations will have to request alternate channels or expanded facilities on their newly assigned channels. Similarly, the approach used in these studies does not factor in any postauction optimization, which will be run after the completion of bidding in the auction. Such optimization could consider additional factors, such as minimizing the number of channel reassignments or the estimated costs of repacking. To assist commenters in designing and running their own simulations, FCC staff is releasing information about how it conducted the analysis and performed interference calculations. The results are not exhaustive. The Incentive Auction Task Force invites parties to conduct their own simulations and interference analyses using these updated constraint files in conjunction with the publicly available TVStudy software. The Incentive Auction Task Force seeks comment from interested parties on the data and analyses in the document and its appendix. New constraint files and all current and subsequent releases relating to the Broadcast Incentive Auction will be posted to and available on the LEARN Web site at: https://www.fcc.gov/learn. Federal Communications Commission. Roger Sherman, Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. [FR Doc. 2014–15585 Filed 7–1–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6712–01–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:15 Jul 01, 2014 Jkt 232001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2014–0024; 92220–1113–0000–C5] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Finding on a Petition To Reclassify the West Indian Manatee From Endangered to Threatened Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of 90-day petition finding and initiation of status review. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or USFWS), announce a 90-day finding on a petition to reclassify the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this notice, we are initiating a review of the status of the species to determine if reclassification is warranted. Section 4(c)(2)(A) of the Act also requires a status review of listed species at least once every 5 years. We are, therefore, electing to conduct the 5-year review simultaneously with the status review. To ensure that this status review is comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding the West Indian manatee, including its subspecies the Florida manatee and Antillean manatee. Based on the status review, we will issue a 12-month finding on the petition, which will address whether the petitioned action is warranted, as provided in section 4(b)(3)(B) of the Act. DATES: We request that we receive information to consider for the status review on or before September 2, 2014. After this date, you must submit information directly to the North Florida Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Please note that if you are using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES), the deadline for submitting an electronic comment is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date. We may not be able to address or incorporate information that we receive after this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit information by one of the following methods: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 • Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2014– 0024, which is the docket number for this action. Then, in the Search panel on the left side of the screen under the Document Type heading, click on the Proposed Rules link to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ • U.S. mail or hand delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2014–0024; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Headquarters, MS: BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041– 3803. We will post all information received on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see the Request for Information section, below, for more details). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay Herrington, Field Supervisor of the North Florida Ecological Services Field Office, by telephone at 904–731–3191, or by facsimile at 904–731–3045; or at the following address, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256; or Edwin ˜ Muniz, Field Supervisor of the Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, by telephone at 787–851–7297 (ext. 204), or by facsimile at 787–851– 7441; or at the following address, Road 301, Km. 5.1, 491, Boqueron, PR 00622. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Information When we make a finding that a petition presents substantial information indicating that reclassifying a species may be warranted, we are required to promptly commence a review of the status of the species (status review). To ensure that the status review is complete and based on the best available scientific and commercial information, we request information from governmental agencies, Native American Tribes, the scientific community, industry, and any other interested parties concerning the status of the West Indian manatee throughout its entire range. We seek information on: (1) The species’ biology, including, but not limited to, distribution, abundance, population trends, demographics, and genetics. (2) The factors that are the basis for making delisting and downlisting determinations for a species under section 4(a) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), which are: E:\FR\FM\02JYP1.SGM 02JYP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 127 (Wednesday, July 2, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37705-37706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15585]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1, 27, and 73

[GN Docket No. 12-268; ET Docket No. 13-26; DA 14-677]


Incentive Auction Task Force Seeks Comment on Staff Analysis 
Regarding Pairwise Approach To Preserving Population Served

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FCC's Incentive Auction Task Force (IATF) seeks comment on 
the results of a staff analysis on the potential for new aggregate 
interference in the repacking process and seeks comment on newly 
released repacking constraint data that uses actual channels.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before July 2, 2014 and reply 
comments must be filed on or before July 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by GN Docket No. 12-268 
and ET Docket No. 13-26, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, 
by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. 
Postal Service mail (although the Commission continues to experience 
delays in receiving U.S. Postal Service mail). All filings must be 
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission.
     People With Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan McCormack, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, (202) 418-1065, email: 
jonathan.mccormack@fcc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the FCC's document, GN 
Docket No. 12-268, ET Docket No. 13-26, DA 14-677 released on June 2, 
2014. The full text of this document 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. The complete text 
of this document also may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-
B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may also be downloaded at: 
www.fcc.gov.

Summary

    On June 2, 2014, the IATF released a document that published 
updated constraint data based upon actual channels, rather than proxy 
channels, to assist interested parties in conducting their own 
repacking studies. The document also announced the results of a staff 
analysis on the potential for new aggregate interference in the 
repacking process using the Commission's adopted approach to preserving 
population served. This approach limits allowable station assignments 
to those causing 0.5 percent or less new pairwise interference. The 
staff analysis compiled 100 repacking scenario studies and found that 
on average, approximately one percent of all stations received new 
aggregate interference above one percent, and that the vast majority 
received less than the 0.5 percent interference constraint.
    The data and information released are based on preliminary staff 
assumptions necessary for completing the analysis, and are meant to be 
illustrative only. The FCC will adopt final decisions regarding the 
repacking process at a later date. The document and its appendix relate 
only to the repacking process, and specifically to issues commenters 
raised regarding the necessity of an aggregate interference cap and the 
use of proxy channels when preserving coverage area and population 
served. The results of studies in the analysis do not reflect any FCC 
assumptions about auction participation or station valuation.
    A number of commenters supported using a 0.5 percent pairwise limit 
approach for limiting interference in the repacking process, but argued 
that the FCC should impose a cap of one percent on allowable aggregate 
interference for each station to mitigate the risk that an individual 
station in a crowded market could receive significant new interference 
when the permitted pairwise interference from multiple stations is 
added up.
    In response to that argument, FCC staff conducted studies to 
calculate potential aggregate interference using the updated constraint 
files, which are based on actual channels, versus proxy channels. The 
staff analysis shows that approximately one percent of all stations in 
simulated channel reassignments received new interference above a one 
percent cap, and that the majority of stations received new aggregate 
interference well below the pairwise interference limit adopted by the 
FCC. The analysis is presented in detail in the appendix, available at 
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-677A2.pdf. The 
repacking scenarios relate only to the UHF band because the largest 
number of stations that could potentially be assigned a new channel 
will be in this band. The FCC staff is releasing updated constraint 
files based upon actual channels to assist interested parties in 
conducting their own repacking studies. The new constraint files are in 
the same format as those released in July 2013, and can be found on the 
FCC's LEARN Web site under the Repacking Section at: https://fcc.gov/learn. These files are also posted at: https://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Constraint_Files/.
    To generate sufficient data from which to draw meaningful results, 
FCC staff performed 100 simulations using several variations of an 
approach developed for creating simulated sets of stations to be 
repacked. The output of each of these simulations was a set of stations 
that remain on the air in the UHF band, together with the respective 
channel assignments, called a channel plan. Consistent with the FCC's 
adopted approach to preserving population

[[Page 37706]]

served, none of the 100 channel plans involves new pairwise 
interference of greater than 0.5 percent. For each of these 100 channel 
plans, staff examined cell-level data generated by the TVStudy software 
to determine the aggregate interference experienced by each station. 
The results show that across all simulations, on average approximately 
one percent of stations are predicted to receive new aggregate 
interference after channel reassignment above the one percent cap 
proposed by commenters, while the average new aggregate interference 
level was less than 0.2 percent, well below the de minimis constraint 
threshold adopted by the FCC. In none of the results did any station 
receive new aggregate interference above 2 percent. Details about the 
methodology as well as study results can be found in the appendix, 
available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-677A2.pdf.
    The analysis pertains only to constraints applied to prevent new 
interference under the approach adopted by the FCC, and does not 
consider any alternatives that stations may have, including the 
opportunity reassigned stations will have to request alternate channels 
or expanded facilities on their newly assigned channels. Similarly, the 
approach used in these studies does not factor in any post-auction 
optimization, which will be run after the completion of bidding in the 
auction. Such optimization could consider additional factors, such as 
minimizing the number of channel reassignments or the estimated costs 
of repacking.
    To assist commenters in designing and running their own 
simulations, FCC staff is releasing information about how it conducted 
the analysis and performed interference calculations. The results are 
not exhaustive. The Incentive Auction Task Force invites parties to 
conduct their own simulations and interference analyses using these 
updated constraint files in conjunction with the publicly available 
TVStudy software.
    The Incentive Auction Task Force seeks comment from interested 
parties on the data and analyses in the document and its appendix. New 
constraint files and all current and subsequent releases relating to 
the Broadcast Incentive Auction will be posted to and available on the 
LEARN Web site at: https://www.fcc.gov/learn.

Federal Communications Commission.
Roger Sherman,
Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2014-15585 Filed 7-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.