FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 						       NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
April 13, 1999 					 		     Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654

Report No. WT 99-11	WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACTION

FCC AFFIRMS, REFINES AND CLARIFIES RULES REGARDING CONSOLIDATION OF PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES
(PR Docket No. 92-235)
	Today the Commission released a Second Memorandum Opinion and Order (Second MO&O) that reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating the radio services below 800 MHz in the interest of more effective and efficient use of the Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) spectrum.  The Commission also clarified various aspects of the radio service consolidation rules and effected certain rule changes.

	On February 20, 1997, the Commission first introduced consolidation into the PLMR services by adopting a Second Report and Order (Second R&O) that consolidated twenty PLMR services into two broad frequency pools.  The Second R&O created a Public Safety Pool, consisting of all former Public Safety Radio Services and the Special Emergency Radio Service (SERS), and an Industrial/Business Pool, consisting of the former Industrial and Land Transportation Radio Services.  Additionally, the Second R&O established provisions designed to facilitate development of highly efficient centralized trunked systems in the shared PLMR bands below 800 MHz, and adopted procedures for accommodating low power use of frequencies in the 450-470 MHz band.  

	Today's Second MO&O addresses the pending requests for reconsideration and clarification of the Second R&O, except those related to the trunking rules and potential interference to medical telemetry systems, which the Commission will address at a later date.  
	Specifically, the Commission made the following decisions in the Second MO&O:

		Affirmed the prior determination that eligibility in the Public Safety Pool is limited to those entities that were eligible licensees under any of the former Public Safety Radio Services and the Special Emergency Radio Service.

		Determined that all frequencies -- shared and exclusive -- allotted to the former Power Radio Service, Petroleum Radio Service, Railroad Radio Service and former Automobile Emergency Radio Service prior to the adoption of the Second R&O must be coordinated by the certified frequency coordinators responsible for these services prior to adoption of the Second R&O. On a case-

		by-case basis, however, these certified frequency coordinators may allow coordination of these frequencies by other certified Industrial/Business Pool frequency coordinators.  
		
		Affirmed the reliance upon the frequency coordination process, rejected arguments that, with consolidation, the traditional expert and impartial service of frequency coordinators will be compromised, and declined to regulate the frequency coordination process more restrictively.

		Clarified several aspects of the rules regarding licensees operating on the low power 12.5 kHz offset channels in the 450-470 MHz band and made limited provision for the use of wide band equipment on low power offset channels. 

		Clarified the rules regarding the stations from which applicants proposing trunked systems must obtain concurrence.

	Action by the Commission, April 6, 1999, by Second Memorandum Opinion and Order (FCC 99-68).  Chairman Kennard, Commissioners Ness, Furchtgott-Roth, Powell and Tristani.
.
-FCC-

	News Media contact:  Meribeth McCarrick at 202-418-0654
	Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact:  Ira Keltz (technical); Michael Wilhelm (legal) at (202) 418-0860 or, by e-mail, to mayday@fcc.gov.