Preparation For The 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[WRC-97]

Preparation For The 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference

AGENCIES: Federal Communications Commission and National

Telecommunications and Information Administration.

ACTION: Notice; announcement of draft preliminary proposals to WRC-97.

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SUMMARY: The FCC and NTIA have released Joint Draft Preliminary

Proposals for WRC-97. The public is provided a 30-day period, from the

date of the release of the notice, to provide comment on the draft

proposals. Copies of the draft proposals are available for inspection

and photocopying at the FCC's International Reference Center, 2000 M

Street, N.W., Room 102, Washington, D.C., and on-line at http://

www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc97/. Final U.S. proposals will be determined by the

Department of State based on the recommendations of the FCC and NTIA.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 24, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,

1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554; Director, Office of

Spectrum Plans and Policies, National Telecommunications and

Information Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 4099,

Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Crystal Foster, FCC, 202-418-0749 and

William T. Hatch, NTIA, at 202-482-1138.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FCC's WRC-97 Advisory Committee and

NTIA, through the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee, announced

on September 24, 1996, their approval of an initial set of draft

preliminary proposals for WRC-97. In accordance with the streamlined

procedures developed to improve the United States conference

preparation process, the agencies are providing the public with this

early opportunity to review and comment on draft proposals before

further consideration. Final U.S. proposals will be determined by the

Department of State based on the recommendations of the FCC and NTIA.

The joint preliminary draft proposals seek to:

(1) Continue simplification of the international Radio Regulations;

(2) Improve sharing criteria for worldwide Mobile Satellite-Service

(MSS) allocations below 1 GHz;

(3) Ensure availability of 1610-1626.5 MHz and 2483.5-2500 MHz for

non-geostationary (NGSO) MSS systems;

(4) To harmonize MSS 2 GHz allocations;

(5) Extend bands designated for sharing between NGSO MSS and GSO

Fixed-Satellite Service systems to 19.3-19.7 GHz and 29.1-29.5 GHz;

(6) Upgrade the space research service allocation at 410-420 GHz

for extra-vehicular activities by astronauts;

(7) Upgrade the allocation for Earth Exploration-Satellite service

(EES) (space-to-Earth) at 25.5-27 GHz;

(8) Establish a common worldwide primary allocation for the EES at

8025-8400 MHz; and

(9) Maintain the current allocation for passive space borne sensors

at 10.6-10.68 GHz and 10.68-10.7 GHz.

Members of the public are invited to provide to the FCC and NTIA

comments on the joint preliminary draft proposals. Commenters should

send an original plus one copy of their comment to the Office of the

Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20554. Comments should clearly note ``Reference No. ISP-

96-005'' to ensure proper routing and should refer to specific

proposals by their Joint Preliminary Draft Proposal number. Copies of

the comments should also be submitted to the Director, Office of

Spectrum Plans and Policies, National Telecommunications and

Information

[[Page 52453]]

Administration, Department of Commerce, Room 4099, Washington, DC

20230. Parties preferring to e-mail their comments should address their

comments to WRC[email protected] and WRC[email protected] and they should

reference ``First Draft Proposals'' in the subject line.

The deadline for comments on this first set of joint preliminary

draft proposals is October 24, 1996. Timely comments will be considered

by the FCC WRC-97 Advisory Committee and will be made available for

public inspection at the FCC's International Reference Center, 2000 M

Street, NW., Room 102, Washington, DC, 202-418-1492. Copies of the

documents can be purchased through the FCC's duplication contractor,

ITS, Inc., 202-857-3800.

Further information about the FCC WRC-97 Advisory Committee,

including its schedule of meetings, is available on the Internet at

http://www.fcc.gov/ib/wrc97/. Meetings of the Advisory Committee and

its Informal Working Groups are open to the public.

Federal Communications Commission.

Shirley S. Suggs,

Chief, Publications Branch.

[FR Doc. 96-25135 Filed 10-4-96; 8:45 am]

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