PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                           FCC 96-403

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                                  Released: October 9, 1996


       ADDITIONAL COMMENT SOUGHT ON NON-ACCREDITED STANDARD-SETTING
          ORGANIZATIONS THAT DEVELOP STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT 
                           WT Docket No. 96-86
                                    
     Comments Due:  October 21, 1996; Replies Due:  December 3, 1996
                                    
                                    
On April 5, 1996, the Commission adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice) in WT
Docket No. 96-86, that seeks comment on the development of operational, technical, and
spectrum requirements for meeting Federal, state, and local public safety agency communication
requirements through the year 2010.  Specifically, the Notice asks for comment on:  (1) 
methods to facilitate the development of interoperable equipment and technologies, including the
development of standards to foster interoperability; (2) the service features and system
requirements essential to the effective performance of public safety functions; (3) technological
issues regarding the enhancement and improvement of public safety wireless communications;
(4) regulatory approaches that address the problems of congested spectrum and fragmented public
safety allocations; (5) measures  that would foster the development of public safety wireless
communications that are spectrally-efficient, of high quality, and effective; and (6) the means to
promote competition in the supply of goods and services used by public safety agencies.

Prior to the adoption of this Notice,  the Commission and the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) established the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee
(Advisory Committee) to address many of these same issues.  In the discussions of the Advisory
Committee's Interoperability Subcommittee, a need was identified to develop a baseline
technology to promote interoperability between and among public safety entities.  The
Subcommittee subsequently recommended a baseline technology for analog applications.  It
further recommended that a group comprised of experts from government, industry, and users be 

                                  (over)

organized, following the termination of the Committee's work, to examine a baseline
interoperability technology that could be used in digital systems.  The organization, membership,
and charter of the proposed group were not further specified.  The Advisory Committee
subsequently recommended that follow-up efforts be continued to advise the Commission and
NTIA on public safety wireless communications and adopted the Subcommittee's recommendation
that future standards be developed in a fair and open process.

Section 273(d)(4) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the Act) establishes
procedural and other requirements that certain non-accredited entities must follow if they develop
industry-wide telecommunications standards or generic network equipment requirements.  We
believe that the requirements of Section 273(d)(4) of the Act apply specifically to the
development of standards for telecommunications equipment, customer premises equipment and
software used in the provision of wireline telephone exchange service, and are not applicable to
non-accredited standards-setting organizations that develop standards for public safety wireless
communications equipment.  We seek comment, however, on whether the general principles
articulated in Section 273(d)(4) nonetheless may be useful in the development of standards
initiated in the future for public safety equipment.  Accordingly, we seek comment on whether
the Act generally provides the Commission with authority to impose requirements similar to those
identified in Section 273(d)(4), and, if so, whether the Commission should exercise this authority. 
Specifically, we seek additional comment on whether to require open and fair processes, similar
to those described in the Act, in the development and adoption of future standards for public
safety wireless communications equipment and systems.  

Comments and replies should be filed in accordance with the procedures established in WT
Docket No. 96-86.  Interested parties must file an original and four copies of their comments
with the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, Room 222, 1919 M
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.  Comments should reference WT Docket No. 96-86. 
Parties should send one copy of their comments to the Commission's copy contractor,
International Transcription Service, Room 140, 2100 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037. 
Comments will be available for public inspection during regular business hours in the FCC
Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.  20554.  

Action by the Commission October 4, 1996.  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness
and Chong.

                                  - FCC -

For further information, contact Robert McNamara or John Borkowski, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, Private Wireless Division (202) 418-0680.