On March 5, 2015, the FCC was closed due to inclement weather.

The FCC released a document dated March 4, 2015 which approves a spectrum lease and a waiver request for Amtrak.  The spectrum lease and waiver of several rules allow Amrak to use maritime spectrum in the 217-218 MHz and 219-220 MHz band to implement a Positive Train Control (PTC) system along its Northeast Corridor line from New York City to Washington, D.C., and on other rail lines from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and from New York City to Albany, New York.

The PTC system, required by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, should help Amtrak to reduce the risk of rail accidents caused by human error, including train-to-train collisions, derailments caused by excessive speed, and unauthorized train movements in work zones.  Use of the spectrum requested will also enable interoperability with the PTC systems of freight lines which operate in the nearby 220-222 MHz band.   The FCC decision may be accessed at:     https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-15-287A1.pdf