The FCC’s Second Report and Order, Report and Order, and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) modernizing outdated Cellular Radiotelephone (Cellular) service rules has been published in the Federal Register. The rule changes are intended to facilitate use of the cellular spectrum for high-speed mobile broadband services such as long term evolution (LTE). Rule changes are now effective, except for the amendments to Rule Sections 22.317, discontinuance of station operations (which will no longer apply to the Cellular service), 22.911(a) through (c), new cellular geographic service area rules, 22.913(a), (c), and (f), new effective radiated power limits, 22.947, new Cellular discontinuance of service rule, and 22.953(c), new content and form of applications for Cellular Unserved Area authorizations, which contain information collection requirements that have not yet been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. The FCC will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those amendments. Comments for the FNPRM are due May 15, 2017, and Reply Comments are due June 13, 2016.
