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 fourth set of Joint Draft

Preliminary Proposals for WRC-97. The public is provided a 14-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 July 21, 1997.

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 June 7, 1997, their approval of a fourth 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 37910]]

The joint preliminary draft proposals seek to:

JPDP 31 Defer consideration of Appendix S7 (determination of

coordination area around an earth station) until further work is

completed (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.3);

JPDP 32 Bring forward the date of access to bands allocated by WARC-92

to high frequency broadcasting to 1 January 1998, on a secondary basis

(WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.4);

JPDP 33 Propose that ITU-R monitor the status of assignment of

maritime mobile service identities and, if exhaustion is anticipated,

participate in urgent studies to identify alternative numbering

resources (Agenda Item 1.6.1);

JPDP 34 Propose that WRC-99 consider giving priority to distress

related communications originated from shore based rescue authorities

(Agenda Item 1.6.3);

JPDP 35 Delete all secondary allocations from the 136-137 MHz band in

order to make the existing allocation to the aeronautical mobile (R)

service exclusive with a footnote to accommodate existing

meteorological satellites (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.8);

JPDP 36 Allocate spectrum within the 401-406 MHz band for MSS below 1

GHz while protecting meteorological services (WRC-97 Agenda Item

1.9.1);

JPDP 37 Propose use of the band 14.0-14.5 GHz for provision of land

and maritime mobile-satellite services on a secondary basis in Regions

1, 2, and 3 (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.1);

JPDP 38 Revise footnotes to FSS allocations at 15.4-15.7 GHz for use

by NGSO MSS feeder links (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.1);

JPDP 39 Designate the remaining 100 MHz set aside by WRC-95 for NGSO

FSS in the bands 18.8-19.3 GHz and 28.6-29.1 GHz (Agenda Item 1.9.1);

JPDP 40 Defer to WRC-99 implementation of telecommand links in the

space research and space operation services in 3 MHz of spectrum

between 100 MHz and 1 GHz to allow time for completion of studies

(Agenda Item 1.9.2);

JPDP 41 Obtain a primary worldwide allocation in the 1215-1300 MHz

band for space-based active sensors (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.2);

JPDP 42 Incorporate by reference new ITU-R Recommendation containing

guidelines on sharing between mobile and space services in the bands

2025-2110 MHz and 2200-2290 MHz (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.2);

JPDP 43 Establish a common worldwide primary allocation for active

spaceborne sensors at 3100-3300 MHz (Agenda Item 1.9.2);

JPDP 44 Provide a common worldwide primary allocation for space

research (Earth-to-space) in the band 7145-7235 MHz (WRC-97 Agenda Item

1.9.2.);

JPDP 45 Establish a primary worldwide allocation for passive

spaceborne sensors at 18.6-18.8 GHz (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.2);

JPDP 46 Defer consideration of allocations above 50 GHz for Earth

exploration-satellite (passive) service (WRC-97 Agenda Item 1.9.4.1);

JPDP 47 Designate spectrum for stratospheric stations in the 47.2-47.5

GHz and 47.9-48.2 GHz bands on a non-exclusive basis (WRC-97 Agenda

Item 1.9.6); and

JPDP 48 Modify Recommendation 66 to call for continuation of studies

on unwanted emissions (Agenda Item 4)

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 fourth set of joint preliminary draft proposals is

July 21, 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, D.C. 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, D.C. 20230. Parties preferring to e-mail their comments

should address their comments to WRC[email protected] and WRC[email protected]

and they should reference ``Fourth 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, D.C., 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. 97-18506 Filed 7-14-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-P