On August 3, 2017, the Commission released the WRS Reform Second Report and Order in which it consolidated the hodgepodge of service-specific renewal and permanent discontinuance rules into consolidated Part 1 rules, 1.949 and 1.953, respectively (See Amendment of Parts 1, 22, 24, 27, 74, 80, 90, 95, and 101 To Establish Uniform License Renewal, Discontinuance of Operation, and Geographic Partitioning and Spectrum Disaggregation Rules and Policies for Certain Wireless Radio Services, Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, FCC 17-105 (WRS Reform Second Report and Order)) . Of relevance to the information collection at issue here, the Commission established a consistent standard for renewing wireless licenses and set forth safe harbors providing expedited renewal for licensees that meet their initial term construction requirement and remain operating at or above that level. In addition, the Commission adopted consistent service continuity rules, which provide for automatic termination of any license on which a licensee permanently discontinues service or operation.
The Commission now seeks approval for revisions to its currently approved collection of information under OMB Control Number 3060-0798 to permit (1) the collection of renewal-related information for Wireless Radio Service (WRS) licenses, and (2) the filing of requests to extend a permanent discontinuance period for good cause. Regarding renewal of WRS licenses, § 1.949(d) of the Commission's rules requires an applicant for renewal of certain WRS licenses to meet the Renewal Standard, i.e., the applicant must demonstrate that over the course of the license term, the licensee provided and continues to provide service to the public, or operated and continues to operate the license to meet the licensee(s)' private, internal communications needs. A renewal applicant can meet the Renewal Standard by certifying compliance with one of the safe harbors enumerated in § 1.949(e) of the Commission's rules, or, if the applicant cannot satisfy the requirements of one of the safe harbors, the applicant must make a Renewal Showing consistent with § 1.949(f). In addition, a renewal applicant must make a Regulatory Compliance Certification certifying that it has substantially complied with all applicable FCC rules, policies, and the Communications Act of 1934, as amended. If an applicant is unable to make this substantial compliance certification, it will need to provide an explanation of the circumstances preventing such a certification and why renewal of the subject license should still be granted.
In addition, on August 10, 2015, the Commission released a Report and Order in Amendment of Sections 90.20(d) and 90.265 of the Commissionâs Rules to Facilitate the Use of Vehicular Repeater Units, FCC 15-103, in which it decided to adopt certain changes to the rules governing six remote control and telemetry channels in the VHF band. The Commission decided to allow the licensing and operation of vehicular repeater systems (VRS) and other mobile repeaters on these channels. In addition, the Commission revises and updated the technical rules for these channels to allow greater use of VRS systems while providing protection for incumbent telemetry users who rely on these frequencies for control of critical infrastructure systems. Of significance for this collection, the Commission also decided that the only way to accommodate both telemetry and VRS on these frequencies is through frequency coordination to both ensure geographic separation as well as minimizing the risk of commingling voice and data operations. In particular, the Commission adopted new section 90.175(b)(4), which prescribes the obligations of frequency coordinators and the ability of applicants to submit written concurrences from potentially affected incumbent licensees as part of the Form 601 filing.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form FCC Form 601 - Mai FCC Application for Radio Service Authorization: WTB and PSHSB
Supporting Statement OMB 3060-0798 (601) (FCC 17-105)(June 2020)(final) (clean).docx
FCC Application for Radio Service Authorization: WTB and PSHSB