Report No. DC 95-61        ACTION IN DOCKET CASE             April 28, 1995


       COMMISSION PROPOSES NEW RULES CONCERNING LOW POWER RADIO AND
               AUTOMATED MARITIME TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 
                    OPERATIONS IN THE 216-217 MHZ BAND
                           (WT DOCKET NO. 95-56)

     The FCC has proposed amending the rules concerning low power
radio and automated maritime telecommunications systems
operations in the 216-217 MHz band.

     Specifically, the Commission has proposed new rules to
permit the shared use of the 216-217 MHz band, on a secondary,
non-interference basis, for a new Low Power Radio Service to
include law enforcement tracking systems (LETS), auditory
assistance devices for the hearing-impaired, and health care
assistance devices for disabled and ill persons.  The Commission
has also proposed to allow Automated Maritime Telecommunications
System (AMTS) coast stations to share this band on a secondary
basis for point-to-point network control communications.

     The Commission stated that providing channels for auditory
assistance and health care devices would further the goals of the
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, improve educational
opportunities for persons with disabilities, and facilitate
health care services.  The Commission stated further that
providing channels for tracking systems for stolen goods and
money would benefit the public by permitting the use of state of
the art law enforcement tools.  Additionally, providing channels
for AMTS network control will promote more efficient operations
in the AMTS service, increasing marine access to state of the art
communications services.  The Commission pointed out that each of
these proposals increases spectrum efficiency by making currently
unused spectrum available to meet the needs of disabled and ill 
persons, law enforcement agencies, as well as mariners.

     Under the proposed rules, thirty 25 kHz channels would be
allocated to the Low Power Radio Service and ten 25 kHz channels
would be allocated to the AMTS.  The majority of the low power
channels would be administered under Part 95 of the Commission's
Rules, two dedicated LETS channels would be administered under 
the Police Radio Service in Part 90, and the AMTS channels would 

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be administered the Maritime Service Rules in Part 80.  Further,
the Commission noted that these proposed services must not cause
harmful interference to TV receivers within he Grade B contour of
any TV Channel 13 station.  The Commission seeks comments
regarding: whether to alternatively permit non-channelized
emissions within the band; whether the scope of eligibility for
the Low Power Radio Service should be broadened; and whether the
proposed technical requirements are consistent with protecting
adjacent TV Channel 13 reception.

     With respect to licensing, the Commission stated that under
this proposal, authorizations in the Low Power Radio Service,
including the two LETS channels administered under Part 90, would
be granted based on Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and
Rural Service Areas (RSAs), while each AMTS license would be
authorized under its coast station license.  Applicants would
apply for authorization in the Low Power Radio Service using FCC
Form 600.  AMTS licensees would obtain authorization using FCC
Form 503.  Because all low power licensees would be sharing the
216-217 MHz band on a secondary, non-interference basis, the
Commission declined to place a limit on the number of
authorizations per MSA and RSA or the total number of licenses a
single entity may obtain.  The Commission is requesting comment
on this proposed licensing scheme.

     Action by the Commission April 25, 1995, by Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 95-174).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners
Quello, Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact: Roger Noel at
(202) 418-0680.