Telecom Business Alert -- Vol. IX Issue 5
FCC's Tower Rule Published in Federal Register
Last week, the FCC's Final Rule implementing a notification process for new towers was published in the Federal Register. The Final Rule will become effective when the FCC publishes an additional notice in the Federal Register, which is expected in the next several months. The Final Rule requires applicants proposing to construct a tower taller than 450 feet to prepare and file an Environmental Assessment with the FCC. In addition, applicants seeking to construct a tower that requires an Antenna Structure Registration ("ASR") number must provide notice of the proposed tower through publication in a local newspaper or other appropriate means and submit a partially-completed FCC Form 854 to the Commission for notification purposes. Please contact Wes Wright (202.434.4296; wright@khlaw.com) with questions.
Public Notice Seeks Comment on Narrowband Waiver Requests
Last week, the FCC issued a Public Notice seeking comment on 21 requests for waiver of the Commission's January 1, 2013, VHF and UHF narrowbanding deadline. All of these waiver requests were filed by public safety entities and most sought an additional 12 to 18 months to comply with the narrowbanding deadline. Ocean County, New Jersey sought the longest extension, until December 31, 2017. For more information regarding the upcoming narrowbanding deadline, please see our Special Narrowbanding Alert. Please contact Greg Kunkle (202.434.4178; kunkle@khlaw.com) with questions about narrowbanding.
Keller and Heckman at Industry Events
On February 22-23, 2012, Keller and Heckman LLP Partners Doug Jarrett and Greg Kunkle and FCC Licensing Specialist Tim Doughty will be attending the International Wireless Communications Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Doug will be moderating a panel on Broadband Spectrum Options for Critical Infrastructure Industries and Greg will be presenting on spectrum available for Positive Train Control Technology. Please attend these speaking sessions and stop by Keller and Heckman's booth (#3100) at IWCE.
European Union Bans Certain Exports to Syria
Earlier this month, the European Union expanded sanctions against Syria by banning exports of certain equipment critical to oil and gas companies, electric utilities and telecommunications firms. A list of the equipment and more information on the sanctions is available in our special Alert.
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In an attempt to address in our weekly Telecom Business Alert the issues of most importance to the clients and friends of Keller and Heckman LLP, we invite you to submit suggestions on topics of interest to you. To make suggestions, please send an e-mail to TelecomAlert@khlaw.com.
Keller and Heckman LLP's Telecom Business Alert is a complimentary weekly electronic update created by the Telecommunications and the Business Counseling and Transactional practice groups of Keller and Heckman LLP.
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