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PUBLIC NOTICE

Federal Communications Commission

News Media Information 202 / 418-0500

445 12th St., S.W.

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

Washington, D.C. 20554

TTY: 1-888-835-5322

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

:
DA 12-474
Released: March 26, 2012 

FCC ESTABLISHES A PUBLIC DOCKET FOR PROVIDING INPUT TO THE TECHNICAL 

ADVISORY BOARD FOR FIRST RESPONDER INTEROPERABILITY AND ANNOUNCES 

BOARD LEADERSHIP AND CHANGES TO THE BOARD MEMBERSHIP

PS Docket 12-74

Washington, DC – Pursuant to Section 6203(b)(1)(A) of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation 
Act of 2012 (Spectrum Act),1 Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Chairman 
Julius Genachowski appointed fourteen persons to serve on Technical Advisory Board for First 
Responder Interoperability (Interoperability Board). These appointments were announced in a public 
notice issued on March 22, 2012.2
By this Public Notice, the Commission announces the formation of a public docket, PS Docket 12-74, 
established for the Interoperability Board.3 Parties desiring to contribute materials for the Interoperability 
Board to consider in developing its recommendations may submit their materials in this docket. Parties 
may seek confidential treatment of materials they submit pursuant to Section 0.459 of the Commission’s 
rules.4 By creating this docket, we provide a vehicle for outside parties to contribute to the Board’s 
deliberations in an open and transparent manner. This docket is not intended, however, to serve as the 
exclusive mechanism by which members of the Interoperability Board will receive information from 
outside sources to inform their deliberations. 
We also announce the election by the members of the Interoperability Board of Charles L.K. Robinson, 
Director, Business Support Services, City of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kenneth C. Budka, Senior 
Director, Advanced Mission-Critical Communications, Bell Labs Chief Technology Office, Alcatel-
Lucent, as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
Finally, we announce that we have been informed by State of Alaska representatives that James Kohler of 
the Alaska Department of Administration, who had previously been nominated to the Interoperability 
Board, is unable to serve.  In his place the Chairman has appointed Bill Price, Director of Broadband 
 
 
1 See Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 § 6203(b)(1)(A), Pub. L. No. 112-96, 126 Stat. 156 (2012).
2 See FCC Announces Membership of Technical Advisory Board for First Responder Interoperability, Public Notice, DA 12-455 
(rel. Mar. 22, 2012). 
3 The docket is titled “Technical Advisory Board for First Responder Interoperability.”
4 See 47 C.F.R. § 0.459. 

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Programs, Department of Management Services of the State of Florida.5 The Chairman welcomes Mr. 
Price to the Interoperability Board.  
Because we are establishing this docket to facilitate the collection of information, and we are not at this 
time initiating a rulemaking, we designate PS Docket No. 12-74 as exempt under the ex parte rules.  
Interested persons may make presentations to decision-making personnel concerning PS Docket No. 12-
74 without restriction and without being subject to any reporting requirements.  Further, we intend for 
Interoperability Board members to be able to communicate freely with Commission decision-making 
personnel about relevant matters.  We will therefore treat them as Commission decision-making personnel 
for purposes of the ex parte rules.  See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200(a).  Accordingly, they will not be subject to ex 
parte limitations and reporting requirements that apply to persons who are not decision-making personnel 
when making presentations regarding restricted or permit-but-disclose proceedings.
For further information, please contact Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland 
Security Bureau, at 202-418-3619 or jennifer.manner@fcc.gov.  
- FCC -
 
 
5 Mr. Price will serve as a State government representative.  See Spectrum Act § 6203(b)(1)(A)(iv).
2

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