SAM GRAVES, MISSOURI CHAIRMAN Q:ongrcss of the tinited ~tates 'lIi.~. !\OUSf of'Rcprcscntatiocs Itommittec on ~mall )Busincss 2361 lRayburn iIlousr lBIDcr ~uildin.ll 'll1Iloshington, IlII: 20m-Om' February 26,2012 The Honorable Julius Genachowski Chainnan Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554 NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ, NEW YORK RANKING MEMBER Re: Federal Communications Commission, Aviation Communications; Proposed Rule, 77 Fed. Reg. 6276 (January 30, 2013) WT Docket No. 01-289; FCC 13-2 Dear Chainnan Genachowski: On January 30, 2013, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) published a request for comments on the aforementioned proposed rule to phase out and prohibit the certification, manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). Additionally, the FCC requests comments on whether the manufacturers, importers, sellers, and users of 121.5 MHz ELTs are small entities, and the extent to which a total or partial prohibition of 121.5 MHz ELTs might impose burdens on them. It has come to my attention that a number of trade associations representing the general aviation (GA) community, including: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; General Aviation Manufacturing Association; National Air Transportation Association; and Experimental Aircraft Association have requested a 60-day extension of the comment period for this proposed rule. As Chainnan of the Committee on Small Business, I am concerned that affected small businesses have not had enough time to offer meaningful and substantive comments by the March 1, 2013 deadline, Given the impact these changes would have on the GA industry, the majority ofwhich are small businesses, the Commission should look favorably on this request for a 60-day extension for comments. Please include these comments for the record. Should you have any questions about these comments, please do not hesitate to contact Joe Hartz of the Committee Staff at (202) 225-5821. Cc: Hon. Robert McDowell, Commissioner, FCC Hon. Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, FCC Hon. Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner FCC Hon. Ajit Pai, Commissioner, FCC 2