PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 14-1071
Released July 28, 2014
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU EXTENDS PERIOD TO FILE REPLY 
COMMENTS ON PROPOSED RULES TO ESTABLISH A CITIZENS BROADBAND RADIO 
SERVICE IN THE 3550-3650 MHz BAND
WT Docket No. 12-354
Reply Comment Date: August 15, 2014
By this Public Notice, we extend the deadline for filing reply comments in response to the 
Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) in the above-captioned proceeding to allow parties to 
more thoroughly address the complex technical, legal, and policy issues raised in the FNPRM and in the 
record.
1
  Interested parties will now have until August 15, 2014 to file reply comments.
2
On July 23, 2014, the Satellite Industry Association (SIA) filed a motion to extend the reply 
comment deadline in the above-captioned proceeding from August 1 until August 15, 2014.
3
  SIA asserts 
that additional time is needed to respond to significant technical issues raised in the extensive record.
4
  In 
addition, SIA notes that, during the scheduled reply comment period, many of the technical personnel 
responsible for analyzing issues raised in the FNPRM on behalf of SIA member companies will be 
unavailable.  These personnel will be attending meetings of the ITU Joint Task Working Groups 
preparing for WRC-15.
5
                                                     
1
Amendment of the Commission's Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band, GN 
Docket No. 12-354, Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 29 FCC Rcd 4273(2014).
2
The FNPRM sets forth a comment deadline of 40 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register and a 
reply comment deadline of 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. Id. The FNPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on June 2, 2014.  Comments were due on or before July 14, 2014 and reply comments were 
originally due on or before August 1, 2014.  See 79 FR 31247, available at https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-11732.
3
Satellite Industry Association Motion for Extension of Time to File Reply Comments, GN Docket No. 12-354 
(filed July 23, 2014) (SIA Motion).
4
Id. at 1.
5
Id. at 2.
On July 24, 2014, the Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, Utilities Telecom Council, and 
Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (Petitioners) filed a joint request (Joint Extension 
Request) to extend the reply comment deadline until August 15, 2014.
6
  Petitioners assert that extenuating 
circumstances warrant an extension and that the requested extension would be consistent with the public 
interest.
7
Specifically, the Joint Extension Request asserts that additional time is needed to accurately 
assess and prepare responses to the relatively large volume of comments filed in response to the FNPRM, 
many of which addressed complicated technical issues.
8
  The Petitioners also note that the Commission’s 
Electronic Comment Filing System was largely inaccessible during the two days following the July 14, 
2014 comment deadline and that the Federal Register publication date of the FNPRM removed an 
additional two days from the contemplated reply comment window.
9
  In addition, the Petitioners note that 
many of the parties that have filed comments in this proceeding have also been participating in the Open 
Internet proceeding
10
and other Commission rulemakings with overlapping deadlines.
11
  The Petitioners 
contend that the requested extension would not prejudice other parties or delay consideration of the record 
and that the Commission’s work would be assisted by more robust participation in the reply comment 
phase.
12
It is the general policy of the Commission that extensions of time shall not be routinely granted.
13
  
However, under these circumstances, we agree that an extension of time to file reply comments is 
warranted to ensure that the Commission obtains a complete and thorough record in response to the 
FNPRM.  The FNPRM sought comment on a wide variety of novel technical, policy and legal issues 
related to the establishment of the proposed Citizens Broadband Radio Service.  We conclude that a short 
extension of time is warranted to enable interested parties sufficient opportunity to review and respond to 
the complex issues raised by the FNPRM.  Accordingly, pursuant to Section 4(i) of the Communications 
Act of 1934, as amended,
14
and Section 1.46 of the Commission's rules,
15
we extend the deadline for 
filing reply comments until August 15, 2014.
For further information, please contact Paul Powell of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 
Mobility Division, at (202) 418-1613 or paul.powell@fcc.gov.
Action by the Deputy Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
-FCC-
                                                     
6
Public Interest Spectrum Coalition, Utilities Telecom Council, and Wireless Internet Service Providers Association 
Joint Request for Extension of Time to File Reply Comments, GN Docket No. 12-354 (filed July 24, 2014) (Joint 
Extension Request).
7
Id. at 1.
8
Id. at 1-2.
9
Id. at 1-2.
10
See GN Docket No. 14-28.
11
Joint Extension Request at 2-3.
12
Id. at 3.
13
47 C.F.R. § 1.46(a).
14
47 U.S.C. § 154(i).
15
47 C.F.R. § 1.46.