PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                 DA 99-1966

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                        Released:  September 22, 1999 

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Itron, Inc.
Request for Emergency Relief from the Multiple Address Systems Application Freeze 


Comment Date:  October 7, 1999                    Reply Date:  October 18, 1999  

On August 13, 1999, Itron, Inc., (Itron), filed a petition for emergency relief from the application freeze
in the 928/952/956 MHz Multiple Address Systems (MAS) bands implemented by the MAS Further
Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (MAS Further Notice).  Itron, a manufacturer of RF-based
automatic meter reading (AMR) systems used by gas, electric and water utility companies, urges the
Commission to lift the application freeze or at a minimum, expand the exemption of modification
applications from the freeze because of the unnecessary hardship that the freeze will cause the company,
its utility customers and the general public.  

Formerly, the Commission suspended the acceptance of applications proposing to provide subscriber-
based MAS services in the 928/952/956 MHz bands.  Recently, this suspension was expanded to include
all applications for authorization in the 928/952/956 MHz bands, regardless of the type of service
proposed, because the MAS Further Notice sought comment on using competitive bidding procedures to
assign licenses to provide non-subscriber based MAS services.  

Itron asserts that the MAS application freeze is causing a hardship to the manufacturers and users of
AMR systems by denying utilities a full range of options for satisfying their meter reading requirements. 
According to Itron, the application freeze will prevent utilities from serving their customers with
maximum efficiency and may in some instances, force utilities to reduce the level of service provided. 
Additionally, Itron indicates that the freeze will affect over $5 million worth of orders for its AMR
equipment and will cost $3 million in gross profit through the end of the year.  Itron states that the
imposition of an application freeze is an extreme step and that the Commission should be reluctant to
impose a freeze that severely burdens an identifiable user or class of users.  Furthermore, Itron maintains
that the Commission should expand the exemptions to the application freeze.

Interested parties may file comments on the Itron Petition no later than October 7, 1999.  Parties
interested in submitting reply comments must do so no later than October 18, 1999.  All comments
should reference Itron Petition, and DA 99-1966, and should be filed with the Office of Secretary,
Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth  Street, S.W., TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. 
A copy of each filing should be sent to International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 1231 20th Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-3800 and to Shellie Blakeney, Federal Communications
Commission, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, 445
Twelfth Street, S.W., Room 3-A223, Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies are also available for public
inspection during regular business hours in the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, 445 Twelfth Street, S.W., Room 4-C330, Washington, D.C. 20554.

For further information, contact Shellie Blakeney of the Public Safety and Private Wireless Division at
(202) 418-0680.

By the Chief, Public Safety and Private Wireless Division