Automatic Operation of Aeronautical Advisory Stations (Unicoms)

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 87

[WT Docket No. 96-1, FCC 96-2]

Automatic Operation of Aeronautical Advisory Stations (Unicoms)

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission has adopted a Notice of Proposed Rule Making

(NPRM) which seeks to permit unattended, automatic operation of

aeronautical advisory stations (unicoms) to enhance service to the

general aviation community. This action stems from a Petition for Rule

Making filed by Potomac Aviation Technology Corporation (PATC). The

proposed rules would facilitate more efficient use of previously-

allocated radio spectrum, make unicom services more widely available

within the general aviation community, and increase safety in air

navigation.

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before March 29, 1996, and reply

comments must be filed on or before April 29, 1996. Written comments by

the public on the proposed and/or modified information collections are

due on or before March 29, 1996, and reply comments on or before April

29, 1996. Written comments must be submitted by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) on the proposed and/or modified information

collections on or before May 6, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, NW.,

Washington, DC 20554. In addition to filing comments with the

Secretary, a copy of any comments on the information collections

contained herein should be submitted to Dorothy Conway, Federal

Communications Commission, Room 234, 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC

20554, or via the Internet to [email protected], and to Timothy Fain, OMB

Desk Officer, 10236 NEOB, 725--17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503

or via the Internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Noel of the Wireless

Telecommunications Bureau at (202) 418-0680. For additional information

concerning the information collections contained in this NPRM contact

Dorothy

[[Page 8906]]

Conway at 202-418-0217, or via the Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's NPRM,

WT Docket No. 96-1, FCC 96-2, adopted January 11, 1996, and released

January 29, 1996. The full text of this NPRM is available for

inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC

Reference Center (Room 239) 1919 M Street, NW., Washington, DC. The

complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy contractor,

ITS, Inc., 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, Washington, DC 20037,

telephone (202) 857-3800. This NPRM contains proposed or modified

information collections subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(PRA), Pub. L. No. 104-13. It has been submitted to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for review under Section 3507(d) of the

PRA. OMB, the general public, and other Federal agencies are invited to

comment on the proposed or modified information collections contained

in this proceeding.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making

1. The unicom service was established in the 1950s to provide

weather and runway advisories, radio checks, and other services

necessary to the safe and expeditious operation of general aviation

aircraft, and is a primary source of this type of information at many

of the nation's 15,000 general aviation airfields. Many smaller

airfields, however, cannot afford personnel to operate unicom stations

full-time, nor can they afford other already-available but more complex

automated advisory systems such as automatic weather observation

stations (AWOS) or automatic terminal information stations (ATIS). The

instant proceeding was initiated by a petition for rulemaking filed by

Potomac Aviation Technology Corporation (PATC). PATC has been operating

several automatic unicom stations under a developmental license since

February, 1994.

2. The Commission proposes to expand the unicom service by

permitting unicom stations to transmit in automatic mode without a live

operator at the control point. Unicoms operating in automatic mode will

be subject to all of the rules applicable to non-automatic unicoms. In

order to reduce the potential for increased congestion on the unicom

frequencies, however, unicoms in automatic mode must be configured to

imitate basic congestion-reducing techniques employed by live

operators.

3. Specifically, unicoms in automatic mode must transmit only in

response to pilot interrogation via brief keyed RF signals from

aircraft stations (generated by briefly depressing the ``push-to-talk''

button on an aircraft's microphone), monitor the unicom frequency

before transmitting, and transmit only when the frequency has been

silent for at least three seconds.

4. Under the proposed rules, only one unicom station will be

permitted to operate in automatic mode at any airport. There will be no

special licensing requirements for automated unicom operation beyond

those applicable to a non-automatic unicom station; however, if an

automatic unicom is to operate at an airport where more than one unicom

station has been authorized, all of the unicom operators at that

airport must come to an arrangement concerning who will control the

automatic operations or how control will be shared. The Commission

seeks specific comments concerning the proposed rule amendments set

forth at the end of this document.

5. This NPRM is issued under the authority of sections 4(i), 4(j),

and 303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.

154(i), 154(j), and 303(r).

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

Reason for Action

The Commission proposes to permit Aeronautical Advisory Stations

(Unicoms) to operate in automatic mode.

Objectives

We seek to increase unicom service availability without allocating

new spectrum to the service or causing an increase in congestion on the

unicom frequencies.

Legal Basis

The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4(i) and 303(r) of

the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. Secs. 154(i) and 303(r).

Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance Requirements

Our proposed addition of 47 CFR Sec. 87.219 would require all

unicom licensees at airports having more than one unicom to jointly

sign a letter of agreement, prior to the operation of a unicom in

automatic mode at such an airport, stating the name(s) of the

licensee(s) who will control the automatic unicom and, if applicable,

how control of the automatic unicom will be divided.

Federal Rules Which Overlap, Duplicate or Conflict With These Rules

None; however, FAA Advisory Circular 150/5340, ``Air-to-Ground

Radio Control of Airport Lighting Systems'' addresses the method of

activating automated systems contained in our proposed amendments and

permitted under our current rules. Any proposed changes to 47 CFR.

Sec. 87.187(y) should be fully compatible with the FAA Advisory

Circular.

Description, Potential Impact, and Small Entities Involved

Permitting Aeronautical Advisory Stations (Unicoms) to operate in

automatic mode will make efficient use of previously-allocated spectral

resources, will make unicom services more widely available within the

general aviation community, will likely create a small number of

manufacturing jobs, and will benefit pilots who rely on unicom

information.

Any Significant Alternatives Minimizing the Impact on Small Entities

Consistent With the Stated Objectives

None.

Paperwork Reduction Act

This NPRM contains either a proposed or modified information

collection. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce

paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the information collections

contained in this NPRM, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995, Pub. L. No. 104-13. Public and agency comments are due at the

same time as other comments on this NPRM; OMB comments are due 60 days

from date of publication of this NPRM in the Federal Register. Comments

should address: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the

Commission, including whether the information shall have practical

utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of

information on the respondents, including the use of automated

collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

OMB Approval Number: N/A.

Title: Proposed 87.219 Automatic operations (NPRM in WT Dck No 96-

1).

Form No.: N/A.

Type of Review: New collection.

Respondents: Business or other for-profit.

[[Page 8907]]

Number of Respondents: 50.

Estimated Time Per Response: 0.7 hour.

Total Annual Annualized Cost: $5,500.

Total Annual Burden: 35.

Needs and Uses: This rule requires that if airports have control

towers or FAA flight service stations, and more than one licensee and

want to have an automated aeronautical advisory station (unicom), they

must write an agreement outlining who will be responsible for the

unicom's operation, sign the agreement and keep a copy of the agreement

with each licensee's station authorization. The information will be

used by compliance personnel for enforcement purposes and by licensees

to clarify responsibility in operating unicom.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 87

Communications equipment, Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

Proposed Rules

Chapter I of Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 87,

is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 87--AVIATION SERVICES

The authority citation for Part 87 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 48 Stat. 1066, 1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 303,

unless otherwise noted. Interpret or apply 48 Stat. 1064-1068, 1081-

1105, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 151-156, 301-609.

Section 87.5 is amended by revising the definition of ``automatic

weather observation station'' to read as follows:

Sec. 87.5 Definitions.

* * * * *

Automatic weather observation station (AWOS) or automatic surface

observation station (ASOS). A land station located at an airport and

used to automatically transmit weather information to aircraft.

* * * * *

3. Section 87.187 is amended by revising paragraph (y) introductory

text and the first sentence in paragraph (y)(4) to read as follows:

Sec. 87.187 Frequencies.

* * * * *

(y) Brief keyed RF signals (keying the transmitter by momentarily

depressing the microphone ``push-to-talk'' button) may be transmitted

from aircraft for the control of automated unicoms on the unicom

frequencies listed in paragraph (y)(3) of this section, or for the

control of airport lights on the following frequencies:

* * * * *

(4) Aviation support station frequencies listed in Sec. 87.323(b):

* * *

* * * * *

4. A new Section 87.219 is added to Subpart G to read as follows:

Sec. 87.219 Automatic operations.

(a) A station operator need not be present when an automated unicom

is in operation.

(b) In addition to the requirements applicable to non-automated

unicom operations, unicoms operating in an automated mode must:

(1) Monitor the unicom frequency prior to transmission, and

transmit only when no detectable signals are received for at least

three seconds;

(2) Transmit only in response to brief keyed RF signals from

aircraft stations as specified in Sec. 87.187(y);

(3) Automatically shut down after three minutes of continuous

transmission.

(c) Automated advisory transmissions must be as brief as possible,

and must include the time and date of the advisory message's last

update in each transmission.

(d) Only one automated unicom may be operated at an airport. Prior

to the operation of an automated unicom at an airport with more than

one unicom licensee, all of the licensees at that airport must sign a

letter of agreement stating which licensee(s) control the automated

unicom operations, and, if control is to be shared among several

operators, how that control will be divided or scheduled. The original

or a copy of the letter of agreement must be kept with each licensees'

station records. Within 90 days of the date upon which a new unicom

operator is licensed at an airport where more than one unicom is

authorized, and an automated unicom is being operated, an amended

letter of agreement that includes the new licensee's signature must be

signed or automated unicom operations must cease.

5. Section 87.419 is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 87.419 Supplemental eligibility.

Only one control tower or RCO will be licensed at an airport.

6. Subpart S is amended by revising the heading to read as follows:

Subpart S--Automatic Weather Stations (AWOS/ASOS)

7. Section 87.525 is revised to read as follows:

Sec. 87.525 Scope of service.

Automatic weather observation stations (AWOS) and automatic surface

observation stations (ASOS) must provide up-to-date weather information

including the time of the latest weather sequence, altimeter setting,

wind speed and direction, dew point, temperature, visibility and other

pertinent data needed at airports having neither a full-time control

tower nor a full-time FAA Flight Service Station. When a licensee has

entered into an agreement with the FAA, an AWOS or an ASOS may also

operate as an automatic terminal information station (ATIS) during the

control tower's operating hours.

8. Section 87.527 is amended by revising the first sentence of

paragraph (b) and paragraph (c) to read as follows:

Sec. 87.527 Supplemental eligibility.

* * * * *

(b) Eligibility for an AWOS, an ASOS, or an ATIS is limited to the

owner or operator of an airport or to a person who has entered into a

written agreement with the owner or operator for exclusive rights to

operate and maintain the station. Where applicable a copy of the

agreement between the applicant and owner or operator of the airport

must be submitted with an application. * * *

(c) Only one AWOS, ASOS, or ATIS will be licensed at an airport.

9. Section 87.529 is amended by revising the fourth and fifth

sentences to read as follows:

Sec. 87.529 Frequencies.

* * * Normally, frequencies available for air traffic control

operations set forth in subpart E will be assigned to an AWOS, ASOS, or

to an ATIS. When a licensee has entered into an agreement with the FAA

to operate the same station as both an AWOS and as an ATIS, or as an

ASOS and an ATIS, the same frequency will be used in both modes of

operation.

[FR Doc. 96-5185 Filed 3-5-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P