[Federal Register: July 13, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 133)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 40276-40277]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13jy05-29]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 22
[WT Docket No. 04-435; DA 05-1712]
Facilitating the Use of Cellular Telephones and Other Wireless
Devices Aboard Airborne Aircraft
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of reply comment period.
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[[Page 40277]]
SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB)
of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the reply
comment deadline established in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) adopted by the Commission in the Airborne Cellular proceeding.
This action is taken to provide interested parties sufficient time
within which to respond meaningfully to the relevant issues raised in
both the NPRM and in the recently-filed comments in this proceeding.
DATES: The agency must receive reply comments on or before August 11,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments, identified by WT
Docket No. 04-435, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: To receive filing instructions for e-mail
comments, commenters should send an e-mail to ecfs@fcc.gov, and should
include the following words in the body of the message, ``get form
.'' A sample form and directions will be sent in
reply. Include the docket number in the subject line of the message.
Mail: Appropriate addresses for submitting comments and
reply comments may be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name
and docket number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/, including any personal information
provided.
Docket: Interested parties may read the NPRM and submitted comments
by accessing WT Docket 04-435 at http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Guy N. Benson, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, at 202-418-2946, or via the Internet at
Guy.Benson@fcc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the WTB's Order
(Order), DA 05-1712, in WT Docket No. 04-435 (2005 WL 1489574 (FCC)),
released June 23, 2005, which further extends the reply comment filing
deadline in the Airborne Cellular proceeding. The full text of this
document is available for public inspection and copying during regular
business hours at the FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th St.,
SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be
purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor: Best Copy &
Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC
http://www.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are available to persons with
disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 or TTY (202)
418-7365 or at Brian.Millin@fcc.gov.
Synopsis of the Order
1. On December 15, 2004, the Commission adopted an NPRM in WT
Docket No. 04-435; FCC 04-288 published at 70 FR 11916, March 10, 2005,
in which it requested public comment regarding proposals to replace or
relax the Commission's ban on airborne use of 800 MHz cellular
handsets, as well as on other proposals to facilitate the use of
wireless handsets and devices on airborne aircraft.
2. Pursuant to several extension requests, the WTB released an
April 6, 2005 Order in WT Docket No. 04-435; DA 05-1015 published at 70
FR 21724, April 27, 2005, in which the Commission extended the comment
and reply comment deadlines from April 11, 2005, and May 9, 2005,
respectively, to May 26, 2005, and June 27, 2005, respectively.
3. On June 13, 2005, CTIA-The Wireless Association (``CTIA'')
submitted a request seeking a further extension of time to file reply
comments in this proceeding. The Boeing Company, Cingular Wireless LLC
and Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless, and QUALCOMM
Incorporated filed comments in support of CTIA's request. The parties
argue that a further extension of the reply comment period would permit
interested parties to conduct a more thorough review of all the issues
raised by the comments and to submit more detailed and meaningful
responses.
4. Although it is the policy of the Commission that extensions of
time shall not be routinely granted, an extension of time in this
instance will aid in clarifying the complex issues raised in the record
of this proceeding. In order to provide interested parties sufficient
time within which to respond meaningfully to the relevant issues raised
in the NPRM and the record, the reply comments deadline in this
proceeding is extended, by forty-five days, to August 11, 2005.
Ordering Clause
5. Pursuant to sections 4(i) and 4(j) of the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 154(j), and Sec. Sec. 0.131,
0.331, and 1.46 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 0.131, 0.331, and
1.46, the deadline for filing reply comments in response to the NPRM,
published on March 10, 2005, in WT Docket No. 04-435, is extended to
August 11, 2005.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 22
Communications common carriers, and Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
Linda C. Chang,
Associate Chief, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 05-13361 Filed 7-12-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P