COMMISSION PROPOSES REALLOCATION OF 27 MEGAHERTZ OF SPECTRUM

On November 20, 2000, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rule
Making (ET Docket No. 00-211) which proposes to reallocate 27 megahertz of
spectrum transferred from Government to non-Government use.  The FCC's
action is the result of a directives from Congress in the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993 and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
Specifically, in these Acts, Congress directed the Secretary of Commerce to
identify 255 megahertz of spectrum for transfer to non-Government use.  The
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
identified these spectrum bands, which include: 216-220 MHz, 1670-1675 MHz,
and 2385-2390 MHz.

In the 216-220 MHz band, the Commission tentatively found that the prior or
planned auction of licenses in the 217-220 MHz segment fulfilled the
Congressional mandate for auction of the band.  Under this proposal, the
FCC would not proceed with auctioning the 216-217MHz band.  In addition,
the Commission inquired whether the current secondary status uses of the
216-217 MHz segment should be upgraded to primary without auctioning the
segment.  These uses include
the Low Power Radio Service, which is currently used for auditory
assistance devices for people who are hard of hearing.  Such low power
applications are ideal uses of the 216-217 MHz segment, because it is used
as a "guard band" adjacent to TV Channel 13, in which only low power
applications are permitted, in order to prevent interference to
TV.

Potential users of the 1670-1675 MHz and 2385-2390 MHz bands include
MicroTrax, Inc., which recommends allocation of one of the bands for a
Personal Location and Monitoring Service.  This service would be of
especial benefit to individuals with visual and other disabilities, as it
would allow remote locating with pinpoint accuracy through the use
of very small transmitters carried or worn on the body, and push-button
emergency assistance calls.  Potential competing uses for these bands are
cellular-type two-way voice communications and a satellite-based industrial
remote sensing.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking can be viewed in its entirety on the
Disabilities Rights Office website at:
http://www.fcc.gov/cib/dro/.

If you do not have access to the Internet, please send an email to
[log in to unmask] and we will be happy to electronically send you a copy of
the NPRM.

If you have questions, concerns or need assistance in regard to disability
issues, please do not hesitate to contact us at [log in to unmask]
          The Disabilities Rights Office