NEWSReport No. DC 96-72    ACTION IN DOCKET CASE              July 25, 1996

                FCC CREATES A NEW LOW POWER RADIO SERVICE
                         IN THE 216-217 MHZ BAND
                          (WT DOCKET NO. 95-56)

       Today the Commission adopted rules creating a new Low Power Radio Service
(LPRS) in the 216-217 MHz band.  LPRS will be authorized as a Personal Radio Service 
under Part 95 of the Commission's rules.  LPRS devices will be authorized on a secondary,
non-interference basis, for short-range, lower power communications including auditory
assistance devices for persons with disabilities, health care assistance devices for persons with
illnesses, law enforcement tracking systems, and point-to-point network control
communications for Automated Maritime Telecommunication Systems (AMTS).  

       The Commission's action furthers the public interest and benefits various specific
sectors of the public.  First, it promotes the Commission's goal of fostering efficient and
effective utilization of radio spectrum because it establishes a use for the 216-217 MHz band,
which had been found unusable for high power communications due to the potential for
interference to television (TV) channel 13 reception.  Second, it creates benefits for the
public by:  (1) improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities; (2) facilitating radio-
based health care services; (3) strengthening law enforcement, and (4) maximizing efficiency
in the use of AMTS coast station frequencies.  It will improve the quality of life of people
with disabilities by facilitating their participation in activities and events in educational
settings and public gathering places.  It will also improve the efficiency and effectiveness of
health care providers.  Additionally, providing spectrum for law enforcement tracking
systems will strenghthen law enforcement by facilitating reduction of crime and law
enforcement costs by promoting development of state-of-the-art law enforcement tools which
already have been successfully implemented in major cities nationwide on an experimental
basis.  Also, low power point-to-point network control links will benefit tugs, barges, and
commercial vessels by increasing the efficiency of channel usage on AMTS coast stations.  

       The Commission determined that LPRS transmitters will be authorized by rule, rather
than by individual licenses for each transmitter, in order to promote the rapid deployment of
these devices without imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens on the public.  In addition, to
reduce the potential for harmful interference to other LPRS devices and TV reception, these
transmitters must be type accepted in accordance with technical standards set forth in the 

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rules.  Under the technical standards for LPRS, manufacturers will have the flexibility to
produce narrowband (5 kHz), standard band (25 kHz), or wide band (50 kHz) equipment
with all transmissions limited to 100 milliwatts effective radiated power (ERP).  Additionally,
the rules permit AMTS wide band emissions (250 kHz) in the upper portion of the band.
                                     
       Action by the Commission July 25, 1996, by Report and Order  (FCC 96-315)
Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Ness, and Chong.  

    -FCC-

News Media contact:  Kara Palamaras at (202) 418-0654.
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact:  Roger Noel or Ira Keltz at (202) 418-0680.