Regional Planning Status Update and Regulatory Update

1. Regional PlanningStatus Update and Regulatory Update Presented by John A. Evanoff, Deputy Chief, Brian Marenco, Senior Engineer Policy and Licensing Division, PSHSB, FCC National Regional Planning Council Training, August 13, 2019 Baltimore, Maryland

2. TOPICS • Background –Regional Planning • 800 MHz • 700 MHz • Bureau Support for Regional Planning Committees • Update on Interoperability Issues • Questions

3. Commission’s Role in Relation to Regional Planning Committees

4. Commission’s role in relation to the RPCs is limited to: • (1) defining regional boundaries, • (2) requiring fair and open procedures, i.e., requiring notice, opportunity for comment, and reasonable consideration, • (3) specifying the elements that all regional plans must include, and • (4) reviewing and accepting proposed plans (or amendments to approved plans) or rejecting them with an explanation.

5. 800 MHz Band Regional Planning

6. NPSPAC 806-809/851-854 MHz 47 CFR § 90.16 – The Public Safety National Plan is contained in Report and Order, General Docket No. 87-112. • No assignments will be made until a regional plan has been accepted by the Commission. 47 CFR § 90.621(g) • “Home” RPC approval letters must be filed with FCC Form 601 • RPCs should follow adjacent region coordination procedures called out in FCC-approved RPC plans. • Five Mutual Aid channels, including one calling channel • Emission Mask H applies to all digital equipment in the 800 MHz NPSPAC band. • All mobile and portable radios must be capable of analog emission on the 800 MHz mutual aid channels.

7. Full interference protection rules in place (47 CFR Secs. 90.672-90.675) TA approval for new NPSPAC applications no longer required Sprint-Vacated interleaved spectrum available to Public Safety for 5 yrs (exclusively for 3 yrs) Expansion and Guard Band spectrum available 44 Regions Completed Rebanding

11. 700 MHz Band Regional Planning

12. 700 MHz Regional Planning Administration of regional planning is defined in the Commission’s First Report and Order and Third Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, WT Docket No. 96-86, 14 FCC Rcd 152 (1998) – describes the planning process for General Use channels Authorizes RPCs to prioritize “highest and best use” to make such determinations - Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 16844 (2000) – addressed digital modulation, technical requirements, efficiency and receiver standards, and further outlined RPC authority and responsibilities Consolidation of NB frequencies Second Report and Order, PS Docket No. 06-229, WT Docket No. 96-8622 FCC Rcd 15289 (2007).

13. Plan Requirements • 47 C.F.R § 90.527 - Regional plan requirements - each plan must contain certain “common elements” • Comprehensive Plans will also contain: • Procedures for requesting spectrum allotments • Initial “county” pool allotments, varies by region • Application requirements and RPC evaluation/approval criteria • Procedure for frequency coordination • System Design/Efficiency Requirements • System Implementation • Adjacent region coordination procedures

14. 47 CFR § 90.531 Band Plan • Sets forth the band plan for the 769-775 MHz and 799-805 MHz bands. • Base and mobile use. The 769-775 MHz band may be used for base, mobile or fixed transmissions. The 799-805 MHz band may be used only for mobile or fixed (control) transmissions. • Narrowband segments - divided by designated purpose: General Use, Interoperability, Air-Ground Channels (former Secondary Trunking), State License, Low Power, and the former Reserve (now General Use) channels.

15. Plan development and implementation issues • Flexibility in Allotment pools – ex: By county geographic political boundary plus, 5+ 10+ miles, where possible. Region 5 (Southern California) is an exception. • Applicants failing to provide sufficient information to the RPC in order to complete their due diligence evaluation and frequency recommendation. • Resolve within the Region or through the NRPC. If necessary escalate to the Policy and Licensing Division of the PSHSB for resolution.

16. RPC-established Loading requirements. RPC 700 MHz Plan may include loading policy, which the RPC will use in evaluating applications on a case-by-case basis. • RPC Interoperability responsibilities: State SIEC and SWICs. Identify the body with responsibility (RPC, SIEC, etc.) • Eligibility rules: 700 MHz eligibility rules are very specific and may not be waived by the Commission. 47 CFR Sec. 90.523. • Relation to 800 MHz: 700 MHz RPCs are distinct entities.

17. RPC letters of support for STAs, and applications for licensure • RPC approval letters must be filed with every application • Specific frequency recommendations, as approved by the RPC, must be identified in the RPC letter of support to the public safety applicant and must be signed by current chairperson.

18. 700 MHz Regional Plan Status • 50Plans Submitted – See Docket history in WT Docket No. 02-378 in ECFS (repository for plans, plan amendments and comments submitted) • Electronic Comment Filing System: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/ • 49Plans Approved, See FCC EDOCs for Comment and Approval Public Notices (PNs) • Commission’s Electronic Documents: http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public • 5 Regions Have Not Submitted Plans • 1 Pending Plan – North Dakota

19. 700 MHz NARROWBAND UPDATES • Former reserve channels available for T-band incumbents, General Use, deployable trunked systems and vehicular repeater systems (MO3) • PSHSB approved 30 plan amendments to incorporate the reserve channels • States or RPCs may administer the 700 MHz air-ground channels (former secondary trunked channels) • The FCC eliminated the 6.25 kHz narrowbanding mandate and encouraged the RPCs to consider broadband operations on the General Use spectrum • In 2018, the FCC • Exempted vehicular repeater systems from the 700 MHz trunking rule; • Adopted a list of baseline feature sets for radios operating on the interoperability channels; and • Clarified the 700 MHz interoperability rules.

20. 700 MHz State License Update

21. Final Substantial Service Showings Were Due on June 13, 2019

22. Update on Canada and Mexico Border Issues

23. Canada and Mexico • 700 MHz and 800 MHz Regional Plans are generally subject to International Agreements between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico • Arrangement F (800 MHz) and Q (700 MHz narrowband) • Define Sharing and Protection Zones and designate channels as primary to licensees in the U.S. or Canada (generally areas within 140 km of border) • Identify interoperability channels which may be used for coordinating tactical communications between public safety agencies. • 700 MHz Air-Ground channels • Aircraft operations not currently covered Arrangement Q. • Staff at PSHSB discussing parameters for aircraft operations along the border with officials from Canada. U.S – Canada Border

24. Canada and Mexico (cont.) • 800 MHz Protocol • Defines Sharing Zone and designates channels as primary to licensees in the U.S. or Mexico (within 110 km of border) • Identifies interoperability channels which may be used for coordinating tactical communications between public safety agencies. • Task Force looking to clear last remaining incumbents in Mexico thereby setting stage to complete rebanding along the border. • 700 MHz Protocol • Agreement based upon the U.S. domestic band plan from 2006 before the creation of FirstNet and consolidation of narrowband spectrum. • Staff at PSHSB working with regulator in Mexico to update the agreement but discussions are complicated by the fact that Mexico is deploying the Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) band plan which is incompatible with the U.S. domestic band plan. U.S – Mexico Border

25. US Band Plan vs. Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Band Plan Lower Blocks (TV Channels 52-59) Upper Blocks (TV Channels 60-69) 704 710 716 722 728 734 740 746 758 769 775 782 788 799 805 US Band Plan 698 A B C D E A B C C A B C A B Public Safety Public Safety BB NB BB NB Uplink Unpaired Downlink Downlink Uplink Uplink = Mobile Transmit (Base Receive) Downlink = Base Transmit (Mobile Receive) APT Band Plan 698 703 748 758 803 806 Guard Band Guard Band Center Gap 45 MHz 45 MHz Uplink Unpaired Downlink

26. U.S. Base Stations Could Receive Interference Here Coordination Needed to Avoid Mutual Interference Lower Blocks (TV Channels 52-59) Upper Blocks (TV Channels 60-69) 704 710 716 722 728 734 740 746 758 769 775 782 788 799 805 US Band Plan A B C D E A B C C A B C A B Public Safety Public Safety BB NB BB NB Uplink Unpaired Downlink Downlink Uplink APT Band Plan 703 748 758 803 806 Guard Band Guard Band Center Gap 45 MHz 45 MHz 26 Mexico Base Stations Could Receive Interference Here Uplink Unpaired Downlink

27. BUREAU SUPPORT FOR Regional Planning

28. Regional Plan Administration: • John Evanoff, John.Evanoff@fcc.gov(202) 418-0848 • RPCs should notify adjacent regions and PSHSB staff of changes in leadership Requests for Meeting Announcement PNs: • Kim Anderson, Kim.Anderson@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7604 • Cc: John Evanoff • RPC requests to PSHSB to issue Public Notice of meeting announcements are provided as a courtesy and RPCs should provide PSHSB staff advance notice • RPCs remain responsible for providing membership advance notice as required by Commission policies.

29. Comment Public Notice Plan and Plan Amendments are reviewed, and if accepted, placed on public notice for comment. If found deficient, i.e., rejected -- Staff will notify RPC of discrepancy, resolve staff-to-staff where possible. Deficiencies must be resolved before deemed sufficiently compliant to place on public notice. 700 MHz plan amendments subject to streamlined procedures, 47 CFR § 90.527(b). Combining 700 MHz and 800 MHz Plan Amendments 12/20/2019 29

30. Electronic Search Databases • FCC Daily Digest (DD) – Public notices are published in the Commission’s DD with a comment cycle: 20 days for comments, 10 for replies. • Streamlined 700 MHz plan amendments are deemed approved unless objection filed within 30 day comment period. • 700 MHz minor plan amendments must be filed with the FCC and served on adjacent regions, but are not subject to public comment • Plan, or Plan Amendment approvals are announced by Public Notice • EDOCs – Commission’s Electronic Document database contains all FCC issued documents, PNs, Orders, NPRMs, News Releases, etc. • ECFS – Electronic Comment Filing System allows public to file comments on Plan and Plan Amendments according to docket number

31. UPDATE ON INTEROPERABILITY EFFORTS

32. INTEROPERABILITY • NTIA and the FCC agreed to streamline procedures to enable State, Local and Tribal public safety entities to license and use the Federal interoperability channels. • The PSHSB issued an Order and Public Notice outlining the new procedures.

33. QUESTIONS? 700 MHz and 800 MHz Policy: • John Evanoff, Deputy Chief, John.Evanoff@fcc.gov 202-418-0848; • Brian Marenco, Electronics Engineer Brian.Marenco@fcc.gov (202) 418-0838; • Roberto Mussenden, Senior Attorney Advisor Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov (202) 418-1428; or • Michael J. Wilhelm, Chief, Policy and Licensing Division Michael.Wilhelm@fcc.gov (202) 418-0870. Licensing: • Tracy Simmons, Chief, Licensing Branch, Policy and Licensing Division, Gettysburg (717) 338-2657