Preparation for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-97)

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Preparation for the 1997 World Radiocommunication Conference

(WRC-97)

AGENCY: 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 a third set of 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, NW, Room 102, Washington, DC, 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 June 16, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission,

1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554; Director, Office of Spectrum

Plans and Policies, National Telecommunications and Information

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

20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: 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 May 28, 1997, their approval of a third 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.

[[Page 31431]]

The joint preliminary draft proposals seek to:

JPDP 21--upgrade to primary the allocations for the Meteorological-

Satellite and Earth Exploration-Satellite Services at 401-403 MHz (WRC-

97 Agenda Item 1.9.1);

JPDP 22--delete unnecessary provisions for coordinating frequency

assignments in the NAVTEX system (Article 14A) now being handled by the

International Maritime Organization (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.6.4);

JPDP 23--add an allocation in the 5250-5350 MHz band for the Earth

Exploration-Satellite and Space Research Services (WRC-97 Agenda Item

1.9.2);

JPDP 24--add an allocation in the 8500-8650 MHz band for the Earth

Exploration-Satellite and Space Research Services (WRC-97 Agenda Item

1.9.2);

JPDP 25--modify Appendix S3 to adopt Category A spurious emission

limits (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.7);

JPDP 26--add a definition to the Radio Regulations for frequency

adaptive systems (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.5);

JPDP 27--replace Recommendation 621 to improve administration of wind

profiler radars and discourage their use of the 400.15-406 MHz band

(WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.3);

JPDP 28--merge allocations in the 1.5/1.6 GHz bands for Aeronautical

Mobile Satellite (Route), Land Mobile Satellite, and Maritime Mobile

Satellite Services into the Mobile-Satellite Service (WRC-97 Agenda

Item 1.9.1);

JPDP 29--review single sideband receiver population statistics in time

for consideration by WRC-99 (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.4); and

JPDP 30--amend Article S52 to permit use of new digital technology on

HF by Maritime Service and approve resolution directing WRC-99 to

further update Radio Regulations to provide for digital radio

telecommunications in the HF A1A Morse Telegraphy and Telephony Bands

(WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.6.5).

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

comments on the joint preliminary draft proposals. The deadline for

comments on this third set of joint preliminary draft proposals is June

16, 1997. Timely comments will be considered by the FCC WRC-97 Advisory

Committee.

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 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 ``Second Draft Proposals'' in the subject

line.

The draft proposals and comments received 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 also 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 and the draft proposals, 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.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-14895 Filed 6-6-97; 8:45 am]

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