FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
October 2,2012
c.!ULJUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Janice D. Schakowsky
U.S. House of Representatives
2367 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky:
Thanl< you for your letter regarding the Northeast Illinois Regional Commuter Railroad
Corporation known as Metra. I appreciate your interest in this matter and have directed the
Chief of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to respond. I am pleased to provide
the enclosed letter addressing your concerns.
If you have any additional questions or need any further assistance. please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Enclosure
445 12TH STREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
October 2,2012
The Honorable Janice D. Schakowsky
u.s. House of Representatives
2367 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Congresswoman Schakowsky:
Thank you for your letter regarding the spectrum needs of Metra and other rail lines to
implement the positive train control (PTC) provisions of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of
2008 (RSIA). I recognize the vital role that PTC will play in enhancing rail safety and the
Commission is committed to helping rail carriers find PTC spectrum.
Commission staff has worked with numerous commuter rail carriers to educate them
about ways to acquire spectrum pursuant to the Commission's secondary markets policies and to
facilitate such transactions. Commission staff also has been working with interested federal
agencies to facilitate the secondary market process.
The Commission believes that there is adequate spectrum available on the secondary
market that is appropriate for PTC use. In recent months, transactions have been consummated
for some of the most challenging markets, including Los Angeles and New York City. With
Commission staff assistance, Metra and PTC-220 are working closely to implement PTC in
Chicago, including via spectrum and infrastructure sharing. There is other secondary market
spectrum available in Chicago, as well, to meet any further needs of these parties. The
Commission and staff will continue working with Metra and other stakeholders as they
implement PTC for the benefit of the American public.
I appreciate your interest in this important matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me if
you should require further assistance. We will place a copy of your inquiry and our response in
the Commission's PTC docket.
Sincerely,
Ruth Milkman
Chief
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau