Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Seeks Comment on Petition for Declaratory Ruling Asking to Clarify Language in Order Granting 700 MHz Public Safety Broadband Waiver to the State of Texas
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
DA 11-1059June 15, 2011
PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON
PETITION FOR DECLARATORY RULING ASKING TO CLARIFY LANGUAGE IN
ORDER GRANTING 700 MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY BROADBAND WAIVER TO THE
STATE OF TEXAS
PS Docket No. 06-229
Comments Due: July 5, 2011
Reply Comments Due: July 15, 2011
a May 26, 2011, petition from the Harris Corporation (Harris) requesting that the Commission "clarify that it
does not endorse any procurement model for building an interoperable public safety broadband network on a
local, regional, state or nation-wide basis."1 In particular, the Harris Petition addresses a statement in the
Bureau's recent order granting a conditional waiver to the State of Texas for early deployment of a 700 MHz
public safety broadband network2 in which the Bureau expressed its expectation that constituent jurisdictions
deploying 700 MHz public safety broadband networks pursuant to the state waiver would "work with
[Texas] to minimize duplicative expenses and facilities where appropriate, in order to limit the need for
multiple system identifiers or other impediments to interoperability."3
Harris states that the foregoing statement "inadvertently implies a statewide mandate to build a
network with the same vendor-specific technologies included in a local core network" and that "[s]uch an
interpretation may result in a state or region believing it is compelled to apply the same procurement
practices and sourcing model ... as that used by a local entity."4 The Bureau's statement in the Texas Waiver
Order, Harris argues, "could be interpreted to mandate a single or sole source procurement model on a state,
regional, or even national level."5 Harris contends that "[t]his could severely limit interoperability by
1 See Petition for Clarification filed by the Harris Corporation, PS Docket 06-229 (May 26, 2011) (Harris Petition). Harris's petition,
though styled as a "Petition for Clarification," will be treated as a request for declaratory ruling filed under Section 1.2 of
Commission rules. See 47 C.F.R. 1.2.
2 See Requests for Waiver of Various Petitioners to Allow the Establishment of 700 MHz Interoperable Public Safety
Wireless Broadband Networks, PS Docket 06-229, Order, DA 11-863 (PSHSB 2011) (Texas Waiver Order).
3 Id. at 6 16.
4 Harris Petition at 4.
5 Id.
precluding competition and chilling innovations that link all suppliers' technology together for nationwide
interoperability."6
Harris requests that the Bureau "make clear that nothing in the [Texas Waiver Order] shall be
interpreted as a requirement or recommendation that Harris County's public safety network sole sourcing
practice serve as a model or requirement for any other public safety entity" and that the Bureau "does not
endorse or require any procurement model in building an interoperable broadband public safety network."7
Harris also requests that the Bureau "reiterate its commitment to speeding deployment of an interoperable
public safety broadband network through competition and open standards."8 The Bureau seeks comment on
these requests.
This matter shall be treated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the
Commission's ex parte rules.9 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda
summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely
a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments
presented is generally required.10 Other requirements pertaining to oral and written presentations are set
forth in section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.11
Interested parties may file comments on or before July 5, 2011, and reply comments on or before
July 15, 2011. All comments should reference PS Docket No. 06-229. Comments may be filed: (1) using
the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) through the Federal Government's
eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies.12
Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing the ECFS:
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Paper Filers: Parties that choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing.
If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers must
submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number.
Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class
or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U.S.
Postal Service mail). All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary
must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington,
DC 20554. The filing hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering
the building.
6 Id.
7 Id.
8 Id.
9 See 47 C.F.R. 1.1200, 1.1206.
10 See 47 C.F.R. 1.1206(b).
11 See id.
12 See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
2
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail)
must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th
Street, S.W., Washington D.C. 20554.
People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer
& Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty).
For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Jennifer A. Manner, Deputy Chief, Public
Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at (202) 418-3619, or jennifer.manner@fcc.gov.
- FCC -
3
Note: We are currently transitioning our documents into web compatible formats for easier reading. We have done our best to supply this content to you in a presentable form, but there may be some formatting issues while we improve the technology. The original version of the document is available as a PDF, Word Document, or as plain text.
