National Telecommunications and Information Administration 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces a public meeting of the Spectrum Management Advisory Committee (Committee). The Committee provides advice to the Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information on spectrum management matters.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has established a program through which each eligible low-power television broadcast station, Class A television station, television translator station, or television booster station, may receive compensation toward the cost of the purchase of a digital-to-analog conversion device that enables it to convert the incoming digital signal of its corresponding full-power television station to analog format for transmission on the low-power television station's analog channel. The conversion devices are necessary so the eligible stations can continue to broadcast in analog after February 17, 2009.\1\ Without converter devices, the eligible facilities will be unable to receive the incoming off-air digital signal for conversion and rebroadcast to consumers within their coverage area.

Pursuant to Section 2201(c) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, Public Law No. 110- 53, 121 Stat. 266, (2007) (Act), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Department of Commerce, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) are establishing the Joint Advisory Committee on Communications Capabilities of Emergency Medical and Public Health Care Facilities (Committee). By February 4, 2008, the Committee is to assess and submit a report to Congress on the communications capabilities and needs of emergency medical and public health care facilities and the options to accommodate growth of communications services and to improve integration of communications systems used by such facilities. NTIA and FCC are requesting nominations from interested organizations of qualified individuals, and the submission of expressions of interest from individuals who desire to serve as members of the Committee.

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Title III of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to establish and implement a $1 billion grant program to assist public safety agencies in the acquisition of, deployment of, or training for the use of interoperable communications systems that utilize, or enable interoperability with communications systems that can utilize, reallocated public safety spectrum for radio communications. The Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program is a one-time formula-based, matching grant program intended to enhance interoperable communications with respect to voice, data, and/or video signals. PSIC provides public safety agencies with the opportunity to achieve meaningful and measurable improvements to the state of public safety communications interoperability through the full and efficient use of telecommunications resources.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

NTIA will hold a public meeting on June 4, 2007, in connection with its Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program to provide information on the proposed program policies related to the program.

The U.S. Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing efforts to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

On March 15, 2007, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) published a final rule (72 FR 12097) in the above-referenced proceeding (Final Rule). The dates heading on page 12097 incorrectly sets out the effective date as April 16, 2007. The correct effective date of the Final Rule is May 16, 2007.

Summary: NTIA will hold a public meeting on March 19, 2007 in connection with its Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program described in the Final Rule that was recently adopted by NTIA.