The FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau released guidance today on the filing of amended regional plans by eight 800 megahertz band regional planning committees (RPCs) along the U.S. border with Canada.

“We direct the eight RPCs for the NPSPAC regions bordering Canada to file amendments to their 800 MHz regional plans by October 22, 2018 to bring them into conformity with the new 800 MHz band plan as detailed below. Alternatively, RPCs may elect to file amended regional plans by December 19, 2018, that combine these conforming band reconfiguration-related changes with other modifications, provided that they notify the Bureau by October 22, 2018 of their intent to do so,” said a public notice, which was released in WT docket 02-55.

“Changes to regional plans that reflect only changes in frequency listings based on the new NPSPAC band plan (i.e., changes that are limited to shifting channel assignments in the former plan downward by fifteen megahertz) and do not propose any other amendments except for administrative updates (e.g., changes to RPC by-laws or membership) will be subject to streamlined processing. Under the streamlined procedure, RPCs may submit their amendments to the Bureau without first seeking concurrence from adjacent Public Safety Regions,” the bureau added. “The Bureau will waive normal public notice and comment procedures for processing these amendments.

“Changes to regional plans that reflect other modifications such as changes to technical parameters or procedures for assigning channels, will be processed under non-streamlined procedures,” the bureau said. “Thus, RPCs must obtain concurrence to their amendments from adjacent regions prior to filing, and the Bureau will place such amendments on public notice and seek comment prior to approval.”- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily