Emergency Justification Letter

Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
August 22, 2019

Mr. Alexander Hunt
Chief, Information Policy Branch
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Office of Management and Budget
725 y7th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20503
Dear Mr. Hunt:

.

In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s (0MB) emergency
processing rules, 5 C.F.R. § 1320(13), the federal Communications Commission (FCC or
Commission) requests expedited review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
of 1995, of the new information collection requirements adopted by the Commission in the
Transfrrming the 2.5 GHz Band Report and Order (FCC 19-62) (2.5 GHz Band R&O). The
Commission is requesting expedited review to make valuable mid-band spectrum available for
the mobile services on which consumers increasingly rely and which is critical to maintaining
American leadership in the next generation of wireless connectivity. In particular, the spectrum
will be available to members of federally-recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native
Villages on rural Tribal lands who have lacked meaningful access to wireless communications
services.
Under 0MB Control Number 3060-1094 the Commission is permitted to collect
information associated with 47 C.f.R. 27.1221(f) to help protect licensees from interference in
the 2500-2690 MHz Band. On July 10, 2019, the FCC approved the 2.5 GHz Band R&O in
which it adopted service rules, Construction Requirements (47 C.f.R. 27.14(u)), and a Tribal
Priority Filing Window (47 C.F.R. 27.1204) for the 2.5 GHz Band. The information collection
requirements contained in 47 C.F.R. 27.1221(f) have not changed since last approved by 0MB.
They remain a part of this information collection. 0MB Control Number 3060-1094 is being
revised to collect information associated with 47 C.F.R. 27. 14(u) and 27.1204. All of the rules
for which the Commission is seeking expediated review are necessary to facilitate the rapid
deployment of mid-band spectrum, particularly to rural Tribal areas.
The Commission wants to auction spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band in 2020. Requiring the
Commission to seek OMB’s approval for this collection under the regular PRA processing

procedures would significantly delay the auction and the provision of service in Tribal lands. As
a result, the Commission requests that 0MB allow only one public notice comment period of 30
days instead of the standard two comment periods of 60 and 30 days for 0MB Control Number
3060-1094.
We request to publish a notice in the Federal Register seeking 30 days of public
comment on the information collection requirements. We are also requesting that 0MB approve
the information collection requirements within 35 days after the collection is received at 0MB.
I
Please contact PRA Desk Officer contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918 or
[email protected], if there are any questions or requires any additional information.

I
Sincerely,

-

/%j_
Mindy J. Ginsburg
Deputy Managing Director
Federal Communications Commission

-.

-

—
--

L

AJ4

-

4

-

f4f-

—

-—

2

j