Issues surrounding EAS, C Band usage and enforcement procedures are up for discussion at the July 12 Open Meeting of the Federal Communications Commission.
At the top of the list, the commission plans to consider an Order and a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would look at new ways to use of C Band spectrum — that midband spectrum in the 3.7–4.2 GHz band currently used by fixed-satellite service (FSS) earth stations and space stations.
Specifically, the commission is looking for comments on the feasibility of making the band available for mobile use and whether to allow point-to-multipoint use on a shared basis in certain portions of the band. The commission also wants to collect information from FSS earth stations and space stations to get a better sense of how they are currently using the spectrum.
[Read: FCC Gives C Band Earth Station Filers Another 90 Days]
The FCC recently gave those fixed satellite service earth stations more time to detail their usage of C Band spectrum.
The commission will also consider a Report and Order and a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts. The commission is proposing to adopt specific revisions to EAS rules and is asking for public comment on the best ways to further improve the effectiveness of both EAS and WEA.
The commission will also consider a Report and Order that would streamline rules governing formal complaint proceedings sent to the Enforcement Bureau. Specifically, the order would create a uniform set of procedural rules for formal complaint proceedings and would, among other changes, adopt uniform response deadlines for filed complaints and create a shot clock for resolution of formal complaints.
The meeting will start at 10:30 a.m. Eastern on July 12 and will be streamed live at www.fcc.gov/live. Current drafts of those items up for discussion can be found at www.fcc.gov/openmeeting.
