Service Rules Governing Narrowband Operations in the 769-775/799-805 MHz Bands, 29710-29712 [2018-13700]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 123 / Tuesday, June 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
that had fulfilled its stated purpose
when EPA designated the site in 1990.
d. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
This action does not contain any
unfunded mandate as described in the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA), 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, and does
not significantly affect small
governments. The action imposes no
new enforceable duty on any state, local
or tribal governments or the private
sector.
e. Executive Order 13132: Federalism
This action does not have federalism
implications. It does not have
substantial direct effects on the states,
on the relationship between the national
government and the states, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities among various levels of
government.
f. Executive Order 13175: Consultation
and Coordination With Indian Tribal
Governments
This action does not have tribal
implications as specified in Executive
Order 13175, because the withdrawal
from EPA regulation of the Grays Harbor
Eight Mile Site will not have a direct
effect on Indian Tribes, on the
relationship between the federal
government and Indian Tribes, or on the
distribution of power and
responsibilities between the federal
government and Indian Tribes. Thus,
Executive Order 13175 does not apply
to this action. Although Executive Order
13175 does not apply to this action, the
EPA consulted with tribal officials in
the development of this action,
particularly as it relates to potential
impacts to tribal trust resources and
tribal operations within the Quinault
Indian Nation’s Usual and Accustomed
Area. The Quinault Indian Nation
responded to EPA’s request for Tribal
Consultation on April 5, 2018, stating
this action does not require governmentto-government consultation.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
g. Executive Order 13045: Protection of
Children From Environmental Health
and Safety Risks
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13045 because it is not
economically significant as defined in
Executive Order 12866, and because the
EPA does not believe the environmental
health or safety risks addressed by this
action present a disproportionate risk to
children. This action’s health and risk
assessments are contained in Section 3.
Background, a. History of Disposal Sites
near Grays Harbor, Washington.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:05 Jun 25, 2018
Jkt 244001
h. Executive Order 13211: Actions That
Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use
This action is not subject to Executive
Order 13211, because it is not a
significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866.
§ 228.15
[Amended]
2. Section 228.15 is amended by
removing and reserving paragraph
(n)(10).
■
[FR Doc. 2018–13715 Filed 6–25–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
i. National Technology Transfer and
Advancement Act
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
This rulemaking does not involve
technical standards.
47 CFR Parts 2 and 90
j. Executive Order 12898: Federal
Actions To Address Environmental
Justice in Minority Populations and Low
Income Populations
The EPA believes that this action does
not have disproportionately high and
adverse human health or environmental
effects on minority populations, lowincome populations and/or indigenous
peoples, as specified in Executive Order
12898 (59 FR 7629, February 16, 1994).
The documentation for this decision is
contained in Section 5. Statutory and
Executive Order Reviews, f. Executive
Order 13175: Consultation and
Coordination with Indian Tribal
Governments.
k. Congressional Review Act
This action is subject to the
Congressional Review Act (CRA), and
the EPA will submit a rule report to
each House of the Congress and to the
Comptroller General of the United
States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 228
Environmental protection, Water
pollution control.
Authority: This action is issued under the
authority of Section 102 of the Marine
Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act, as
amended, 33 U.S.C. 1401, 1411, 1412.
Dated: May 24, 2018.
Chris Hladick,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, the EPA amends title 40,
chapter I, subchapter H of the Code of
Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 228—CRITERIA FOR THE
MANAGEMENT OF DISPOSAL SITES
FOR OCEAN DUMPING
1. The authority citation for part 228
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1412 and 1418.
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
[PS Docket No. 13–87; PS Docket No. 06–
229, WT Docket No. 96–86, RM–11433 and
RM–11577, FCC 16–111]
Service Rules Governing Narrowband
Operations in the 769–775/799–805
MHz Bands
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of
effective date.
AGENCY:
In this document, the Federal
Communications Commission
(Commission) announces that the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB) has
approved, for a period of three years, the
information collection associated with
the Commission’s Service Rules
Governing Narrowband Operations in
the 769–775/799–805 MHz Bands Order
on Reconsideration (Order). This
document is consistent with the Order,
which stated that the Commission
would publish a document in the
Federal Register announcing the
effective date of those rules.
DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR
2.1033(c)(20) and 90.548(c) published at
81 FR 66830, September 29, 2016, are
effective July 26, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Evanoff, Policy and Licensing Division,
Public Safety and Homeland Bureau, at
(202) 418–0848, or email: john.evanoff@
fcc.gov. For additional information
concerning the information collection
requirements contained in this
document, send an email to PRA@
fcc.gov or contact Nicole Ongele, Office
of Managing Director, Performance
Evaluation and Records Management,
202–418–2991, or by email to PRA@
fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
document announces that, on March 13,
2017, OMB approved, for a period of
three years, the information collection
requirements relating to the 700 MHz
interoperability testing rules contained
in the Commission’s Report and Order,
FCC 16–111, published at 81 FR 66830,
Sept. 29, 2016. The OMB Control
Number is 3060–0057. The Commission
publishes this document as an
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\26JNR1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 123 / Tuesday, June 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
announcement of the effective date of
the rules. If you have any comments on
the burden estimates listed below, or
how the Commission can improve the
collections and reduce any burdens
caused thereby, please contact Nicole
Ongele, Federal Communications
Commission, Room 1–A620, 445 12th
Street SW, Washington, DC 20554.
Please include the OMB Control
Number, 3060–0057, in your
correspondence. The Commission will
also accept your comments via email at
PRA@fcc.gov.
To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files,
audio format), send an email to fcc504@
fcc.gov or call the Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202)
418–0530 (voice), (202) 418–0432
(TTY).
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
Synopsis
As required by the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3507),
the FCC is notifying the public that it
received final OMB approval on March
13, 2017, for the information collection
requirements contained in the
modifications to the Commission’s rules
in 47 CFR parts 2 and 90.
Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency
may not conduct or sponsor a collection
of information unless it displays a
current, valid OMB Control Number.
No person shall be subject to any
penalty for failing to comply with a
collection of information subject to the
Paperwork Reduction Act that does not
display a current, valid OMB Control
Number. The OMB Control Number is
3060–0057.
The foregoing notice is required by
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
Public Law 104–13, October 1, 1995,
and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
The total annual reporting burdens
and costs for the respondents are as
follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060–0057.
OMB Approval Date: March 13, 2017.
OMB Expiration Date: March 31,
2020.
OMB Control Number: 3060–0057.
Title: Application for Equipment
Authorization, FCC Form 731.
Form Number: FCC Form 731.
Type of Review: Revision of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other forprofit entities, and state, local, or tribal
government.
Number of Respondents and
Responses: 3,740 respondents; 22,250
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 35
hours.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:05 Jun 25, 2018
Jkt 244001
Frequency of Response: On occasion
reporting requirement and third party
disclosure requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to
obtain or retain benefits. Statutory
authority for these collections are
contained in Sections 4(i), 301, 302,
303(e), 303(f), and 303(r) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 301,
302, 303(e), 303(f), and 303(r).
Total Annual Burden: 778,750 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $34,465,000.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No
impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
There is no need for confidentiality with
this collection of information.
Needs and Uses: Commission rules
require that manufacturers of certain
radio frequency (RF) equipment file FCC
Form 731 to obtain approval prior to
marketing their equipment.
Manufacturers may then market their RF
equipment based on a showing of
compliance with technical standards
established in the FCC Rules for each
type of equipment or device operated
under the applicable FCC Rule part. The
following types of equipment are
regulated (a) the RF equipment is
regulated under certain rule sections of
47 CFR part 15 and part 18, and (b) in
addition, rules governing certain RF
equipment operating in the licensed
services also require equipment
authorization as established in the
procedural rules in 47 CFR part 2. The
RF equipment manufacturers comply
with the information collection
requirements by (a) Filing FCC Form
731 electronically with the Commission,
or (b) Submitting the information to a
Telecommunications Certification Body
(TCB), which acts on behalf of the FCC
to issue grants of certification and may
issue grants more expeditiously than the
FCC. The TCBs have flexibility in the
format in which they require the
collection of information (i) TCBs may
require applicants to submit the
required information in FCC Form 731
format or in another format selected by
the TCB, but (ii) whatever the
information collection method, the
information required is governed by the
procedural rules in 47 CFR part 2 and
a showing of compliance with the FCC
technical standards for the specific type
of equipment. RF manufacturer
applicants for equipment certification
may also request ‘‘expedited
authorization’’ to market their
equipment by: (a) Choosing to pay the
fee levied by a TCB, and (b) submitting
their request to a TCB in order for
expedited authorization to market. The
TCB processes the RF equipment
manufacturer’s application as follows:
PO 00000
Frm 00047
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
29711
(i) The TCB receives and reviews the RF
manufacturer’s information submission/
application; and (ii) the TCB enters the
information into the FCC Equipment
Authorization System database using an
interface that provides the TCB with the
tools to issue a standardized Grant of
Equipment Authorization. Whichever
method the RF manufacturers choose to
submit their information—via either the
FCC on FCC Form 731 or the TCB, FCC
Rules require that applicants supply the
following data: (a) Demographic
information including Grantee name
and address, contact information, etc.;
(b) information specific to the
equipment including FCC Identifier,
equipment class, technical
specifications, etc.; and (c) attachments
that demonstrate compliance with FCC
Rules that may include any combination
of the following based on the applicable
Rule parts for the equipment for which
authorization is requested: (1)
Identification of equipment (47 CFR
2.925); (2) attestation statements that
may be required for specific equipment;
(3) external photos of the equipment for
which authorization is requested; (4)
block diagram of the device; (5)
schematics; (6) test report; (7) test setup
photos; (8) Users Manual; (9) Internal
Photos; (10) Parts List/Tune Up
Information; (11) RF Exposure
Information; (12) Operational
Description; (13) Cover Letters; and, (14)
Software Defined Radio/Cognitive Radio
Files.
In general, an applicant’s submission
is as follows: (a) FCC Form 731 includes
approximately two pages covering the
demographic and equipment
identification information; and (b)
applicants must supply additional
documentation and other information,
as described above, demonstrating
conformance with FCC Rules, which
may range from 100–1,000 pages. The
supplemental information is essential to
control potential interference to radio
communications, which the FCC may
use, as is necessary, to investigate
complaints of harmful interference. In
response to new technologies and in
allocating spectrum, the Commission
may establish new technical operating
standards: (a) RF equipment
manufacturers must meet the new
standards to receive an equipment
authorization, and (b) RF equipment
manufacturers must still comply with
the Commission’s requirements in FCC
Form 731 and demonstrate compliance
as required by 47 CFR part 2 of FCC
Rules. Thus, this information collection
applies to a variety of RF equipment: (a)
That is currently manufactured, (b) that
may be manufactured in the future, and
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29712
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 123 / Tuesday, June 26, 2018 / Rules and Regulations
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with RULES
(c) that operates under varying technical
standards. On July 8, 2004, the
Commission adopted a Report and
Order, Modification of Parts 2 and 15 of
the Commission’s rules for Unlicensed
Devices and Equipment Approval, ET
Docket No. 03–201, FCC 04–165. The
change requires that all paper filings
required in 47 CFR Sections 2.913,
2.926(c), 2.929(c) and 2.929(d) of the
rules are outdated and now must be
filed electronically via the internet on
FCC Form 731. The Commission
believes that electronic filing speeds up
application processing and supports the
Commission in further streamlining to
reduce cost and increase efficiency.
Information on the procedures for
electronically filing equipment
authorization applications can be
obtained from the Commission’s rules,
and from the internet at: https://
transition.fcc.gov/oet/ea/ea-appinfo.htm.
On August, 26, 2016, the Federal
Communications Commission released
an Order on Reconsideration, FCC 16–
111, PS Docket No. 13–87 that modified
Part 2 and Part 90 of the Rules for
equipment approval and Private Land
Mobile Radio Services. The amended
rule requires all Wireless
Communications Equipment
Manufacturers who manufacture 700
MHz narrowband equipment capable of
operating on the interoperability
channels to demonstrate compliance
with the Commission’s Interoperability
Technical Standards in 90.548. The
Order on Reconsideration prescribed
two methods stage for showing
compliance with Section 90.548 after
equipment authorization application
approval and before the marketing and
sale of equipment capable of operating
on the 700 MHz narrowband
interoperability channels. Specifically,
the Commission modified Section
2.1033(c)(20) to provide that before
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:05 Jun 25, 2018
Jkt 244001
equipment operating under 47 CFR part
90 and capable of operating on the 700
MHz interoperability channels (See 47
CFR 90.531(b)(1)) may be marketed or
sold, the manufacturer thereof shall
have a Compliance Assessment Program
Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity
and Summary Test Report or,
alternatively, a document detailing how
the manufacturer determined that its
equipment complies with 47 CFR
90.548 and that the equipment is
interoperable across vendors.
Submission of a 700 MHz narrowband
radio for certification will constitute a
representation by the manufacturer that
the radio will be shown, by testing, to
be interoperable across vendors before it
is marketed or sold.
The Commission also modified
Section 90.548(c) of the Commission’s
rules to provide that transceivers
capable of operating on the
interoperability channels listed in 47
CFR 90.531(b)(1) shall not be marketed
or sold until the transceiver has
previously been certified for
interoperability by the Compliance
Assessment Program (CAP)
administered by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security; provided, however,
that this requirement is suspended if the
CAP is discontinued. Submission of a
700 MHz narrowband radio for
certification will constitute a
representation by the manufacturer that
the radio will be shown, by testing, to
be interoperable across vendors before it
is marketed or sold. In the alternative,
manufacturers may employ their own
protocol for verifying compliance with
Project 25 standards and determining
that their product is interoperable
among vendors. In the event that field
experience reveals that a transceiver is
not interoperable, the Commission may
require the manufacturer thereof to
provide evidence of compliance with 47
CFR 90.548.
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 9990
To effectively implement the
provisions of the new Rules, no
modifications to the existing FCC Form
731 Application for Equipment
Authorization are required. The changes
are intended to simplify the filing
process, ensure equipment complies
with Project 25 standards and is
interoperable across vendors. The
following specific methods are proposed
to ensure compliance with Section
90.548 and simplify filing processes for
equipment manufacturers:
(1) The Order on Reconsideration
establishes that before the marketing or
sale of equipment designed to operate
on the 700 MHz narrowband
interoperability channels,
manufacturers shall have a Compliance
Assessment Program Supplier’s
Declaration of Conformity and Summary
Test Report or, alternatively, a
document detailing how the
manufacturer determined that its
equipment complies with § 90.548 and
that the equipment is interoperable
across vendors. OMB has approved the
information collections associated with
P25 CAP compliance under OMB
Control No. 1640–0015.1
(2) In the event that field experience
reveals that a transceiver is not
interoperable, the Commission may
require the manufacturer thereof to
provide evidence of compliance with
§ 90.548.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018–13700 Filed 6–25–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
1 Congressional direction for a P25 compliance
assessment program can be found in the COPS Law
Enforcement Technologies and Interoperable
Communications Program section of the Conference
Report to Public Law 109–148, as well as the
Science & Technology Management and
Administration section of Division E of the
Conference Report to Public Law 110–161.
E:\FR\FM\26JNR1.SGM
26JNR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29710-29712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13700]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 2 and 90
[PS Docket No. 13-87; PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket No. 96-86, RM-
11433 and RM-11577, FCC 16-111]
Service Rules Governing Narrowband Operations in the 769-775/799-
805 MHz Bands
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection
associated with the Commission's Service Rules Governing Narrowband
Operations in the 769-775/799-805 MHz Bands Order on Reconsideration
(Order). This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that
the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register
announcing the effective date of those rules.
DATES: The amendments to 47 CFR 2.1033(c)(20) and 90.548(c) published
at 81 FR 66830, September 29, 2016, are effective July 26, 2018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Evanoff, Policy and Licensing
Division, Public Safety and Homeland Bureau, at (202) 418-0848, or
email: [email protected]. For additional information concerning the
information collection requirements contained in this document, send an
email to [email protected] or contact Nicole Ongele, Office of Managing
Director, Performance Evaluation and Records Management, 202-418-2991,
or by email to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that, on March 13,
2017, OMB approved, for a period of three years, the information
collection requirements relating to the 700 MHz interoperability
testing rules contained in the Commission's Report and Order, FCC 16-
111, published at 81 FR 66830, Sept. 29, 2016. The OMB Control Number
is 3060-0057. The Commission publishes this document as an
[[Page 29711]]
announcement of the effective date of the rules. If you have any
comments on the burden estimates listed below, or how the Commission
can improve the collections and reduce any burdens caused thereby,
please contact Nicole Ongele, Federal Communications Commission, Room
1-A620, 445 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20554. Please include the
OMB Control Number, 3060-0057, in your correspondence. The Commission
will also accept your comments via email at [email protected].
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 and Governmental
Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432 (TTY).
Synopsis
As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3507), the FCC is notifying the public that it received final OMB
approval on March 13, 2017, for the information collection requirements
contained in the modifications to the Commission's rules in 47 CFR
parts 2 and 90.
Under 5 CFR part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a
collection of information unless it displays a current, valid OMB
Control Number.
No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number is 3060-0057.
The foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents
are as follows:
OMB Control Number: 3060-0057.
OMB Approval Date: March 13, 2017.
OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 2020.
OMB Control Number: 3060-0057.
Title: Application for Equipment Authorization, FCC Form 731.
Form Number: FCC Form 731.
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, and state,
local, or tribal government.
Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,740 respondents; 22,250
responses.
Estimated Time per Response: 35 hours.
Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement and third
party disclosure requirement.
Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Statutory authority for these collections are contained in Sections
4(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f), and 303(r) of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154(i), 301, 302, 303(e), 303(f),
and 303(r).
Total Annual Burden: 778,750 hours.
Total Annual Cost: $34,465,000.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for
confidentiality with this collection of information.
Needs and Uses: Commission rules require that manufacturers of
certain radio frequency (RF) equipment file FCC Form 731 to obtain
approval prior to marketing their equipment. Manufacturers may then
market their RF equipment based on a showing of compliance with
technical standards established in the FCC Rules for each type of
equipment or device operated under the applicable FCC Rule part. The
following types of equipment are regulated (a) the RF equipment is
regulated under certain rule sections of 47 CFR part 15 and part 18,
and (b) in addition, rules governing certain RF equipment operating in
the licensed services also require equipment authorization as
established in the procedural rules in 47 CFR part 2. The RF equipment
manufacturers comply with the information collection requirements by
(a) Filing FCC Form 731 electronically with the Commission, or (b)
Submitting the information to a Telecommunications Certification Body
(TCB), which acts on behalf of the FCC to issue grants of certification
and may issue grants more expeditiously than the FCC. The TCBs have
flexibility in the format in which they require the collection of
information (i) TCBs may require applicants to submit the required
information in FCC Form 731 format or in another format selected by the
TCB, but (ii) whatever the information collection method, the
information required is governed by the procedural rules in 47 CFR part
2 and a showing of compliance with the FCC technical standards for the
specific type of equipment. RF manufacturer applicants for equipment
certification may also request ``expedited authorization'' to market
their equipment by: (a) Choosing to pay the fee levied by a TCB, and
(b) submitting their request to a TCB in order for expedited
authorization to market. The TCB processes the RF equipment
manufacturer's application as follows: (i) The TCB receives and reviews
the RF manufacturer's information submission/application; and (ii) the
TCB enters the information into the FCC Equipment Authorization System
database using an interface that provides the TCB with the tools to
issue a standardized Grant of Equipment Authorization. Whichever method
the RF manufacturers choose to submit their information--via either the
FCC on FCC Form 731 or the TCB, FCC Rules require that applicants
supply the following data: (a) Demographic information including
Grantee name and address, contact information, etc.; (b) information
specific to the equipment including FCC Identifier, equipment class,
technical specifications, etc.; and (c) attachments that demonstrate
compliance with FCC Rules that may include any combination of the
following based on the applicable Rule parts for the equipment for
which authorization is requested: (1) Identification of equipment (47
CFR 2.925); (2) attestation statements that may be required for
specific equipment; (3) external photos of the equipment for which
authorization is requested; (4) block diagram of the device; (5)
schematics; (6) test report; (7) test setup photos; (8) Users Manual;
(9) Internal Photos; (10) Parts List/Tune Up Information; (11) RF
Exposure Information; (12) Operational Description; (13) Cover Letters;
and, (14) Software Defined Radio/Cognitive Radio Files.
In general, an applicant's submission is as follows: (a) FCC Form
731 includes approximately two pages covering the demographic and
equipment identification information; and (b) applicants must supply
additional documentation and other information, as described above,
demonstrating conformance with FCC Rules, which may range from 100-
1,000 pages. The supplemental information is essential to control
potential interference to radio communications, which the FCC may use,
as is necessary, to investigate complaints of harmful interference. In
response to new technologies and in allocating spectrum, the Commission
may establish new technical operating standards: (a) RF equipment
manufacturers must meet the new standards to receive an equipment
authorization, and (b) RF equipment manufacturers must still comply
with the Commission's requirements in FCC Form 731 and demonstrate
compliance as required by 47 CFR part 2 of FCC Rules. Thus, this
information collection applies to a variety of RF equipment: (a) That
is currently manufactured, (b) that may be manufactured in the future,
and
[[Page 29712]]
(c) that operates under varying technical standards. On July 8, 2004,
the Commission adopted a Report and Order, Modification of Parts 2 and
15 of the Commission's rules for Unlicensed Devices and Equipment
Approval, ET Docket No. 03-201, FCC 04-165. The change requires that
all paper filings required in 47 CFR Sections 2.913, 2.926(c), 2.929(c)
and 2.929(d) of the rules are outdated and now must be filed
electronically via the internet on FCC Form 731. The Commission
believes that electronic filing speeds up application processing and
supports the Commission in further streamlining to reduce cost and
increase efficiency. Information on the procedures for electronically
filing equipment authorization applications can be obtained from the
Commission's rules, and from the internet at: https://transition.fcc.gov/oet/ea/ea-app-info.htm.
On August, 26, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission released
an Order on Reconsideration, FCC 16-111, PS Docket No. 13-87 that
modified Part 2 and Part 90 of the Rules for equipment approval and
Private Land Mobile Radio Services. The amended rule requires all
Wireless Communications Equipment Manufacturers who manufacture 700 MHz
narrowband equipment capable of operating on the interoperability
channels to demonstrate compliance with the Commission's
Interoperability Technical Standards in 90.548. The Order on
Reconsideration prescribed two methods stage for showing compliance
with Section 90.548 after equipment authorization application approval
and before the marketing and sale of equipment capable of operating on
the 700 MHz narrowband interoperability channels. Specifically, the
Commission modified Section 2.1033(c)(20) to provide that before
equipment operating under 47 CFR part 90 and capable of operating on
the 700 MHz interoperability channels (See 47 CFR 90.531(b)(1)) may be
marketed or sold, the manufacturer thereof shall have a Compliance
Assessment Program Supplier's Declaration of Conformity and Summary
Test Report or, alternatively, a document detailing how the
manufacturer determined that its equipment complies with 47 CFR 90.548
and that the equipment is interoperable across vendors. Submission of a
700 MHz narrowband radio for certification will constitute a
representation by the manufacturer that the radio will be shown, by
testing, to be interoperable across vendors before it is marketed or
sold.
The Commission also modified Section 90.548(c) of the Commission's
rules to provide that transceivers capable of operating on the
interoperability channels listed in 47 CFR 90.531(b)(1) shall not be
marketed or sold until the transceiver has previously been certified
for interoperability by the Compliance Assessment Program (CAP)
administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; provided,
however, that this requirement is suspended if the CAP is discontinued.
Submission of a 700 MHz narrowband radio for certification will
constitute a representation by the manufacturer that the radio will be
shown, by testing, to be interoperable across vendors before it is
marketed or sold. In the alternative, manufacturers may employ their
own protocol for verifying compliance with Project 25 standards and
determining that their product is interoperable among vendors. In the
event that field experience reveals that a transceiver is not
interoperable, the Commission may require the manufacturer thereof to
provide evidence of compliance with 47 CFR 90.548.
To effectively implement the provisions of the new Rules, no
modifications to the existing FCC Form 731 Application for Equipment
Authorization are required. The changes are intended to simplify the
filing process, ensure equipment complies with Project 25 standards and
is interoperable across vendors. The following specific methods are
proposed to ensure compliance with Section 90.548 and simplify filing
processes for equipment manufacturers:
(1) The Order on Reconsideration establishes that before the
marketing or sale of equipment designed to operate on the 700 MHz
narrowband interoperability channels, manufacturers shall have a
Compliance Assessment Program Supplier's Declaration of Conformity and
Summary Test Report or, alternatively, a document detailing how the
manufacturer determined that its equipment complies with Sec. 90.548
and that the equipment is interoperable across vendors. OMB has
approved the information collections associated with P25 CAP compliance
under OMB Control No. 1640-0015.\1\
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\1\ Congressional direction for a P25 compliance assessment
program can be found in the COPS Law Enforcement Technologies and
Interoperable Communications Program section of the Conference
Report to Public Law 109-148, as well as the Science & Technology
Management and Administration section of Division E of the
Conference Report to Public Law 110-161.
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(2) In the event that field experience reveals that a transceiver
is not interoperable, the Commission may require the manufacturer
thereof to provide evidence of compliance with Sec. 90.548.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-13700 Filed 6-25-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
