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                                Before the
                     Federal Communications Commission
                          Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of                        )
                                        )
Applications for Very High Frequency (VHF)              )
Public Coast Spectrum in the 156-162 MHz        )
Bands                                           )
                                        )


ORDER
                

   Adopted:  March 16, 1998                                            Released:  March 17, 1998


By the Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau:

      1.      By this Order, we impose a suspension of acceptance and processing of applications for
very high frequency (VHF) public coast spectrum (156-162 MHz), effective March 17, 1998.  As an
initial matter, we note that the Commission imposed a suspension regarding VHF public coast spectrum
applications in the Second Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second
Further Notice) in PR Docket No. 92-257.  The Commission-imposed suspension took effect on June
17, 1997, and was to be effective until March 17, 1998.  For the reasons stated herein, we take action
to continue suspension of acceptance and processing of VHF public coast applications during the
pendency of the PR Docket No. 92-257 proceeding.

      2.      In the Second Further Notice, the Commission proposed service rules for the Maritime
Services, including the introduction of geographic area licensing for VHF public correspondence
channels.  In order to permit the effective resolution of the issues raised in the Second Further Notice,
the Commission suspended the acceptance of (1) public coast station applications to use VHF spectrum
and private land mobile radio applications proposing to share that spectrum for new licenses, (2)
amendments to such new license applications, and (3) applications to modify existing licenses, and
amendments thereto, except for applications involving renewals, transfers, assignments, and modifications
proposing neither to expand a station's service area nor obtain additional public coast VHF spectrum. 
The Commission also suspended the processing of pending applications for VHF public coast spectrum
that either were mutually exclusive with other applications or as to which the period for filing competing
applications had not expired.  The Commission further expressly reserved the right to extend the
suspension if it did not adopt final rules by the end of the suspension period.

      3.      To date, the Commission has not adopted final rules in PR Docket No. 92-257.  As a
result, the same reasons which prompted the Commission to impose the initial suspension remain today. 
We believe that a continued suspension of acceptance and processing of public coast VHF spectrum
applications is warranted in order to facilitate the orderly and effective resolution of the matters pending
in this proceeding.  We are concerned that, absent such action, the goals underlying initiation of the PR
Docket No. 92-257 proceeding might be compromised by the influx of applications for new licenses, as
well as modifications to existing licenses, that are inconsistent with the decisions ultimately made by the
Commission.  Thus, we believe that there is good cause to continue suspension of the acceptance and
processing of public coast VHF spectrum applications.  This suspension shall remain in effect until sixty
days after the final rules enacted in the Third Report and Order in Docket No. 92-257 are published in
the Federal Register.

      4.      This decision is procedural in nature and therefore not subject to notice and comment and
effective date requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.  Moreover, there is good cause for
proceeding in this manner, for to do otherwise would be impractical, unnecessary, and contrary to the
public interest because compliance would undercut the purposes of this action.

      5.      Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Sections 4(i), 4(j), and 303(r) of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i), 154(j), and 303(r), that there be a
continued suspension of the acceptance and processing of applications to use VHF public coast spectrum,
effective March 17, 1998.  The suspension will continue until sixty days after the final rules enacted in
the Third Report and Order in Docket No. 92-257 are published in the Federal Register.  This action is
taken under delegated authority pursuant to Section 0.331 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.  0.331. 



      6.      For further information concerning this Order, contact Scot Stone, Policy and Rules
Branch, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-
0680.  

                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              
                              Daniel B. Phythyon
                              Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau