The Mobility Division of the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau issued an order and proposed order on modification today concerning a waiver request submitted by the state of Maine seeking an extension of the construction deadline for 10 part 22 paging licenses used in the Maine State Communications Network (MSCommNet), which is a statewide, interoperable public safety communications system.

In the order, the division denied the state’s extension request, concluding that Maine failed to satisfy the construction requirements.

“Based on our review of the record, however, we find on our own motion that the public interest supports a partial waiver of the construction requirements and of relevant technical rules to the extent necessary to permit continued operation on the Part 22 paging frequencies in use as of September 1, 2017, and supports a limited grant of special temporary authority to operate while Maine brings the system into compliance with our rules,” the division said. “In light of these waivers, we also propose to modify the geographic license area for the ten licenses at issue. The technical waivers are conditioned on Maine obtaining consent of relevant other licensees and completing required international coordination within six months. We conclude that such relief is in the public interest given the unique factual circumstances involved and that the conditions will promote use of spectrum for important public safety functions, while protecting against harmful interference to adjacent licensees.”- Paul Kirby, paul.kirby@wolterskluwer.com

Courtesy TRDaily