FCC is set to take up order on ultra-wideband devices (UWB) at De...

will consider first report and order to revise Part 15 on UWB devices. FCC Chmn. Powell has told Congress in last year that he anticipated action on item by year-end. Move to put UWB on agenda followed letter Fri. from Commerce Secy. Donald Evans asking for 60 additional days to complete analysis of UWB systems. Evans said he believed more time was needed to complete evaluation of UWB to ensure it would protect critical govt. operations and safety of life systems (CD Dec 4 p5). Deputy Defense Secy. Paul Wolfowitz had asked Evans to back delay in final decision until at least Feb., citing concerns over how critical govt. systems such as GPS would be affected (CD Nov 29 p1). But FCC staffer said that move to put item on agenda preserves Commission’s options to still potentially vote on order at meeting. One possibility is that issues that have been fully coordinated between Commerce Dept. and FCC in next week could still be voted on at meeting, while others that are still in conflict would be put off until Feb. timeframe as requested by Evans, staffer said. Putting it on agenda “gives us more options” over next week, staffer said. Any outstanding issues over which final coordination aren’t reached in time would be put off until next year, as requested by Evans, staffer said. Also on agenda are reallocation and service rules for lower part of 700 MHz band, TV Ch. 52-59. FCC plans to consider report and order on rules to reallocate those channels under Balanced Budget Act of 1997. On common carrier side, FCC will consider: (1) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to begin “comprehensive examination” of appropriate regulatory framework for ILEC provision of broadband services. Item stems in part from SBC petition for ruling that it was nondominant in providing advanced services and for forbearance from dominant carrier regulation for those services. (2) Triennial review of unbundling obligations of ILECs. Commission will consider NPRM to look at definitions and rules for access to ILEC unbundled network elements. (3) Order on plans for nationwide 1,000-block number pooling and “other strategies to ensure that numbering resources are used efficiently.” Commission also is expected to consider technology-specific number overlays. In mass media area, agency will consider NPRM on new equal employment opportunity rules for broadcast and cable. U.S. Appeals Court, D.C. had overturned earlier rules.