FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COM MISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 22, 2015
The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Schumer:
Thank you for your letter concerning the FCC's July 16thField Modernization Order and
its potential impact on radio spectrum interference issues. I believe that the Commission's final
decision in this matter represents a fact-based, balanced approach to modernizing a 20-year-old
field office structure that was out of step with current technology and budgetary
limitations. Although it is never easy to close underused federal facilities or improve
management in ways that eliminate long-held positions, the Commission's goal was to maximize
the effectiveness of its operations to meet 2151 Century needs and realities. With that in mind, we
studied a broad range of potential reorganization options, reviewed concerns with stakeholders
and modified our contractor's initial recommendations to ensure nationwide enforcement
coverage. Importantly, our final decision ensures that the Commission's New York facility will
be better designed to cope with the difficult and special problems in that region of the
nation. Although we closed the underused Buffalo office, we have shifted staff and increased the
overall size and engineering capabilities of our agent pool in New York City.
At this stage, the Commission has consulted with OMB and the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees, and is initiating the first phase of the reorganization. Please be
assured that as part of this implementation, we are maintaining a commitment to respond in a
timely manner to interference issues anywhere in the nation, including responding to all public
safety spectrum complaints within one day. As a follow-up to our Field Modernization Order,
the Enforcement Bureau released an August 27thPublic Notice (PN) to enhance procedures for
public safety and industry interference complaints. The PN outlined an escalation process for
interference complaints that will also improve complainants' ability to stay informed of the
status of their complaint. This process will streamline the interference complaint intake and
response and result in more effective enforcement for our highest priority interference
complaints.
With regard to your specific concerns about pirate radio, the Commission has issued
more than 100 pirate radio enforcement actions during Fiscal Year 2015 and we will continue to
enforce our rules to protect industry stakeholders and consumers. We also are exploring ways to
support the recommendations of our June 29thPirate Radio Roundtable, including developing
new educational tools, as well as working with Congress to strengthen Communications Act
provisions to extend to those who aid and abet pirate operators. Given your significant interest
in pirate enforcement, I would be pleased to arrange for you and/or your staff to participate in a
Page 2-The Honorable Charles E. Schumer
"ride along" with our staff to experience first-hand the work of our field agents and the resource-
intensive challenges that they face in their daily work.
Our Field Modernization Order and the August 27th PN are part of a comprehensive
approach toward efficient enforcement. We see the future of enforcement as an efficient,
holistic, and systematic process supported by better overall management and modem IT
systems. I look forward to continuing our efforts to improve the Commission's enforcement
practices and I am certain that they will yield successful, long-lasting results. Please let me know
if I can be of any further assistance.
'.~SillcerelU'(~~eeler
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
September 22, 2015
The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand
United States Senate
478 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Gillibrand:
Thank you for your letter concerning the FCC's July 16thField Modernization Order and
its potential impact on radio spectrum interference issues. I believe that the Commission's final
decision in this matter represents a fact-based, balanced approach to modernizing a 20-year-old
field office structure that was out of step with current technology and budgetary
limitations. Although it is never easy to close underused federal facilities or improve
management in ways that eliminate long-held positions, the Commission's goal was to maximize
the effectiveness of its operations to meet 21stCentury needs and realities. With that in mind, we
studied a broad range of potential reorganization options, reviewed concerns with stakeholders
and modified our contractor's initial recommendations to ensure nationwide enforcement
coverage. Importantly, our fmal decision ensures that the Commission's New York facility will
be better designed to cope with the difficult and special problems in that region of the
nation. Although we closed the underused Buffalo office, we have shifted staff and increased the
overall size and engineering capabilities of our agent pool in New York City.
At this stage, the Commission has consulted with OMB and the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees, and is initiating the first phase of the reorganization. Please be
assured that as part of this implementation, we are maintaining a commitment to respond in a
timely manner to interference issues anywhere in the nation, including responding to all public
safety spectrum complaints within one day. As a follow-up to our Field Modernization Order,
the Enforcement Bureau released an August 27thPublic Notice (PN) to enhance procedures for
public safety and industry interference complaints. The PN outlined an escalation process for
interference complaints that will also improve complainants' ability to stay informed of the
status of their complaint. This process will streamline the interference complaint intake and
response and result in more effective enforcement for our highest priority interference
complaints.
With regard to your specific concerns about pirate radio, the Commission has issued
more than 100 pirate radio enforcement actions during Fiscal Year 2015 and we will continue to
enforce our rules to protect industry stakeholders and consumers. We also are exploring ways to
support the recommendations of our June 29thPirate Radio Roundtable, including developing
new educational tools, as well as working with Congress to strengthen Communications Act
provisions to extend to those who aid and abet pirate operators. Given your significant interest
in pirate enforcement, I would be pleased to arrange for you and/or your staff to participate in a
Page 2-The Honorable Kirsten Gillibrand
"ride along" with our staff to experience first-hand the work of our field agents and the resource-
intensive challenges that they face in their daily work.
Our Field Modernization Order and the August 27th PN are part of a comprehensive
approach toward efficient enforcement. We see the future of enforcement as an efficient,
holistic, and systematic process supported by better overall management and modem IT
systems. I look forward to continuing our efforts to improve the Commission's enforcement
practices and I am certain that they will yield successful, long-lasting results. Please let me know
if I can be of any further assistance.
Sincerely, ~4ii~ ,