Modification of Rules To Codify New Procedure for Non-Federal Public Safety Entities To License Federal Interoperability Channels, 19976-19981 [2018-08790]

Agencies

• FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 88 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19976-19981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08790]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 2 and 90

[DA 18-282]


Modification of Rules To Codify New Procedure for Non-Federal 
Public Safety Entities To License Federal Interoperability Channels

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This document adopts changes to the Commission's rules to 
conform them to a streamlining modification recently made by the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA 
streamlined the coordination process which enables the Commission to 
grant licenses to non-federal public safety entities who seek to 
operate on forty federal government interoperability channels over 
which NTIA has jurisdiction.

DATES: Effective June 6, 2018, except for the addition of Sec.  90.25, 
which contains a new information collection that requires review by the 
Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. The FCC will publish a document in the Federal Register 
announcing the effective date of that rule section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Marenco, Policy and Licensing 
Division, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, (202) 418-0838.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order, 
DA 18-282, released on March 22, 2018. The complete text of this 
document is available for inspection and copying during normal business 
hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th 
Street SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. To request materials in 
accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or 
call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 
(voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY). The complete text of this document is 
also available on the Commission's website at https://www.fcc.gov.
    1. NTIA designated forty channels for interoperability 
communications among federal agencies and between federal agencies and 
non-federal entities with which federal agencies have a requirement to 
interoperate. A non-federal public safety entity may communicate on the 
federal interoperability channels for joint federal/non-federal 
operations, provided it first obtains a license from the Commission 
authorizing use of the channels.
    2. In September 2015, NTIA streamlined the process which enables 
non-federal agencies to obtain an FCC license to use the federal 
interoperability channels. Under the new process, the Statewide 
Interoperability Coordinator (SWIC) or state appointed official in each 
state is responsible for coordinating access to the federal 
interoperability channels by non-federal public safety entities. Each 
SWIC/official will sign an agreement with a federal user with a valid 
assignment. The agreement may specify which federal interoperability 
channels are available for use in a particular state or territory and 
establish the conditions for their use by non-federal public safety 
entities.
    3. Once the federal-state agreement for a given state is signed, 
non-federal public safety entities in that state may file an 
application with the Commission to license the designated federal 
interoperability channels under the new streamlined process. Before 
filing with the Commission, a non-federal public safety entity seeking 
to license mobile and portable units on the federal government 
interoperability channels must first obtain written concurrence from 
its SWIC/official. The non-federal agency must then include a copy of 
the written concurrence with its license application to the Commission.
    4. NTIA's streamlined process eliminates the need for non-federal 
public safety entities to obtain written certification from a federal 
government agency and for the Commission to refer applications for the 
federal interoperability channels to the Interdepartment Radio Advisory 
Committee's (IRAC) Frequency Assignment Subcommittee for approval.
    5. On March 22, 2018, the Public Safety and Homeland Security 
Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology, on delegated 
authority, jointly released an Order amending Sec. Sec.  2.102(c)(4) 
and 90.173(c) and adopting new Sec.  90.25 in order to conform the 
Commission's rules to the new streamlined process established by NTIA.

Procedural Matters

A. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis

    6. The requirement in new Sec.  90.25 that non-federal public 
safety agencies obtain written concurrence from the SWIC/official 
constitutes a new information collection subject to the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. It will be submitted to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and public comment 
under section 3507(d) of the PRA.
    7. In addition, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act 
of 2002, Public Law 107-198 (see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4)), the 
Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau will seek 
specific comment on how it might further reduce the information 
collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees.

B. Congressional Review Act

    8. The Commission will not send a copy of this Order pursuant to 
the Congressional Review Act, see 5 U.S.C.

[[Page 19977]]

801(a)(1)(A), because the adopted rules are rules of agency 
organization, procedure, or practice that do not ``substantially affect 
the rights or obligations of non-agency parties.

Ordering Clauses

    9. Accordingly,  it is ordered, pursuant to sections 4(i), 303(c) 
and 332 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
154(i), 303(c), and 332, this order is hereby adopted.
    10. It is further ordered that the rules and requirements adopted 
herein will become effective June 6, 2018, except for new Sec.  90.25 
that contains a new or modified information collection requirement that 
requires review by the OMB under the PRA. Section 90.25 will become 
effective after OMB review and approval, on the effective date 
specified in a notice that the Commission will publish in the Federal 
Register announcing such approval and effective date.
    11. This action is taken under delegated authority pursuant to 
section 155(c) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 
155(c) and Sec. Sec.  0.31, 0.191, 0.241, and 0.392 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 0.31, 0.191, 0.241, and 0.392.

List of Subjects

47 CFR Part 2

    Radio, Telecommunications.

47 CFR Part 90

    Administrative practice and procedure, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Lisa Fowlkes,
Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau.

Final Rules

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR parts 2 and 90 as follows.

PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS; GENERAL 
RULES AND REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 2 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 302a, 303, and 336, unless otherwise 
noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  2.102 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  2.102   Assignment of frequencies.

* * * * *
    (c) Non-Federal stations may be authorized to use Federal 
frequencies in the bands above 25 MHz:
    (1) If the Commission finds, after consultations with the 
appropriate Federal agency or agencies, that such use is necessary for 
coordination of Federal and non-Federal activities. Such operations 
must meet the following requirements:
    (i) Non-Federal operation on Federal frequencies shall conform with 
the conditions agreed upon by the Commission and NTIA;
    (ii) Such operations shall be in accordance with NTIA rules 
governing the service to which the frequencies involved are allocated;
    (iii) Such operations shall not cause harmful interference to 
Federal stations and, should harmful interference result, that the 
interfering non-Federal operation shall immediately terminate; and
    (iv) Non-Federal operation has been certified as necessary by the 
Federal agency involved and this certification has been furnished, in 
writing, to the non-Federal licensee with which communication is 
required; or
    (2) Pursuant to the provisions of Sec.  90.25 of this chapter, 
provided that such operations shall not cause harmful interference to 
Federal stations and, should harmful interference result, that the 
interfering non-Federal operation shall immediately terminate.
* * * * *

0
3. Amend Sec.  2.106 by revising pages 24 and 27 of the Table of 
Frequency Allocations, and by adding footnote US55 to the list of 
United States (US) Footnotes to read as follows:


Sec.  2.106   Table of Frequency Allocations.

* * * * *
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[[Page 19978]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR07MY18.030

* * * * *

[[Page 19979]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR07MY18.031

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* * * * *

United States (US) Footnotes

* * * * *
    US55 In the bands 162.0375-173.2 MHz and 406.1-420 MHz, the FCC may

[[Page 19980]]

authorize public safety applicants to use the 40 Federal 
Interoperability Channels that are designated for joint federal/non-
federal operations for law enforcement, public safety, emergency 
response and disaster response in section 4.3.16 of the NTIA Manual, 
subject to the condition that that these non-Federal mobile (including 
portable) interoperability communications shall conform to the national 
plans specified therein, and in particular, shall not cause harmful 
interference to Federal stations. The procedure for authorizing such 
use is set forth in 47 CFR 90.25.
* * * * *

PART 90--PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES

0
4. The authority citation for part 90 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Sections 4(i), 11, 303(g), 303(r), and 332(c)(7) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 161, 
303(g), 303(r), and 332(c)(7), and Title VI of the Middle Class Tax 
Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, Pub. L. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156.

0
5. Add Sec.  90.25 to subpart B to read as follows.


Sec.  90.25   Non-Federal Use of the Federal Interoperability Channels.

    The Commission may authorize non-Federal licensees to operate 
mobile and portable radio units on the frequencies listed below in 
Tables 1 and 2, provided the applicant includes with its application to 
the Commission, written concurrence from the Statewide Interoperability 
Coordinator (SWIC) or state appointed official stating that the 
application conforms to the agreement with a federal agency with a 
valid assignment from the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.

                                                          Table 1--Law Enforcement Plans (MHz)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   LE VHF plan                                                                  LE UHF plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Identifier                    Mobile transmit        Mobile receive          Identifier                Mobile transmit       Mobile receive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEA................................  167.0875 (S)...............        167.0875  LEB.......................  414.0375 (S)..............        414.0375
LE1................................  162.0875...................        167.0875  LE10......................  418.9875..................        409.9875
LE2................................  162.2625...................        167.2500  LE11......................  419.1875..................        410.1875
LE3................................  162.8375...................        167.7500  LE12......................  419.6125..................        410.6125
LE4................................  163.2875...................        168.1125  LE13......................  414.0625 (S)..............        414.0625
LE5................................  163.4250...................        168.4625  LE14......................  414.3125 (S)..............        414.3125
LE6................................  167.2500 (S)...............        167.2500  LE15......................  414.3375 (S)..............        414.3375
LE7................................  167.7500 (S)...............        167.7500  LE16......................  409.9875 (S)..............        409.9875
LE8................................  168.1125 (S)...............        168.1125  LE17......................  410.1875 (S)..............        410.1875
LE9................................  168.4625 (S)...............        168.4625  LE18......................  410.6125 (S)..............        410.6125
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(S)--Simplex.


                                                         Table 2--Incident Response Plans (MHz)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   LE VHF Plan                                                                  LE UHF Plan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Identifier                    Mobile transmit        Mobile receive          Identifier                Mobile transmit       Mobile receive
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC1 Calling........................  164.7125...................        169.5375  NC2 Calling...............  419.2375..................        410.2375
IR1................................  165.2500...................        170.0125  IR10......................  419.4375..................        410.4375
IR2................................  165.9625...................        170.4125  IR11......................  419.6375..................        410.6375
IR3................................  166.5750...................        170.6875  IR12......................  419.8375..................        410.8375
IR4................................  167.3250...................        173.0375  IR13......................  413.1875 (S)..............        413.1875
IR5................................  169.5375 (S)...............        169.5375  IR14......................  413.2125 (S)..............        413.2125
IR6................................  170.0125 (S)...............        170.0125  IR15......................  410.2375 (S)..............        410.2375
IR7................................  170.4125 (S)...............        170.4125  IR16......................  410.4375 (S)..............        410.4375
IR8................................  170.6875 (S)...............        170.6875  IR17......................  410.6375 (S)..............        410.6375
IR9................................  173.0375 (S)...............        173.0375  IR18......................  410.8375 (S)..............        410.8375
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(S)--Simplex.



[[Page 19981]]


0
6. Amend Sec.  90.173 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows.


Sec.  90.173  Policies governing the assignment of frequencies.

* * * * *
    (c) Frequencies assigned to Federal Government radio stations by 
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration may be 
authorized under the provisions set forth in Sec.  2.102(c) of this 
chapter.

[FR Doc. 2018-08790 Filed 5-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P