FCC Approved Narrowbanding Order Ahead of Meeting
The FCC approved unanimously on circulation an order that says the agency will issue a rulemaking before establishing a timetable for private land mobile radio licensees to transition to 6.25 kHz technology. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin had placed the item on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, but it was deleted from the agenda following approval. That leaves one item intact for Wednesday’s meeting -- a rulemaking seeking comment on rules for reauction of the 700 MHz D-block.
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Meanwhile, we've learned, Martin on Monday circulated a document on the eighth floor proposing meeting dates through next January. At present, the FCC still has not established a date for the June meeting and Martin has been under pressure to provide more certainty rather than scheduling meetings sometimes on a month-to-month basis. Commissioners are to check the dates against their schedules and provide feedback before the chairman releases a final schedule. Interestingly, one of the proposed dates is Nov. 4, election day.
The 700 MHz item, unlike the D-block in general, is not controversial since the rulemaking will ask a battery of questions but not draw any tentative conclusions, agency sources say. The FCC could have voted that rulemaking out as well on electronic vote, but that would have left nothing on the agenda, one agency source noted.
The approved item addresses a petition by Kenwood, which wanted the FCC to clarify that the Commission’s statement in an earlier order urging licensees to consider migrating directly to 6.25 kHz technology should not “delay or discourage” migration to 12.5 kHz technology as a transitional step. It also addresses a petition by New York City, which argued an early date for 6.25 kHz migration “would result in stranded investment, and raises other concerns.” The city asked the FCC to undertake a rulemaking before adopting a transition date.
“We are cognizant of the concerns raised by New York and commenters supporting New York’s petition that their 12.5 kHz equipment not be rendered obsolete prematurely,” the FCC said in the order. “Accordingly, we clarify that we intend to provide notice and seek comment prior to adopting final rules establishing a 6.25 kHz migration schedule.” But the FCC also reiterated that use of 12.5 kHz equipment remains “a transitional step in the eventual migration of PLMR systems to 6.25 kHz technology” which it said will make more efficient use of the spectrum. No commissioners issued statements on the item.