Hurricane Relief
The FCC has extended Filing and Regulatory deadline dates for wireless licensees in areas impacted by Hurricane Wilma:
- Per FCC Public Notice DA 05-2778: Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Wilma, President Bush issued a major disaster declaration for certain parts of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. “Affected” licensees and applicants include those who operate facilities or, in a significant manner essential to the business operation, rely on personnel, records, or financial institutions located in these areas to provide services or to conduct substantial business activities with the Commission.
- Extending certain application, notification and report deadlines: Any Part 90 deadlines associated with the Wireless Radio Service occurring between October 23 and December 21, 2005 have been extended until December 22, 2005. This includes license modifications, renewals and construction notifications. Licensees filing in accordance with this extension must include with their filing a certification upon the penalty of perjury that the deadlines could not be met in a timely manner due to the hurricane.
- Expedited processing of STA (special temporary authority) requests: The Commission’s rule is hereby waived through December 21, 2005 to allow the filing of STA requests in manners other than electronically on FCC Form 601. All STA filings related to the hurricanes will be considered “emergency filings” pursuant to Section §1.915(b) of the Commission’s rules and will be processed as expeditiously as possible. Affected licensees must include a certification that the STA request is in response to the hurricane. To file STA requests for Part 90 via email or fax, or to receive an oral STA, contact Tracy Simmons at (717) 338-2657, by fax at (717) 338-2696, by email at Tracy.Simmons@fcc.gov or Contact your DCI/LAO representative for assistance.
- Filing through the ULS (Universal Licensing System): In order to allow WTB to process filings submitted through the ULS as expeditiously as possible, a new “Attachment Type” has been created in ULS called “Hurricane Relief.” This Attachment Type must be used to upload and attach to a filing a certification that states, upon penalty of perjury that the deadlines could not be met within the time otherwise provided in the Commission’s rules because of the hurricane. Filings submitted manually should include an attachment with the hurricane-related certification with a “Hurricane Relief Certification” statement at the top of the attachment.
- Avoid payment of unnecessary fees: In addition to licensees in the hurricane affected areas, WTB has extended relief to some licensees in non-affected states because they rely on personnel, records or financial institutions in affected areas. WTB will rely on certifications by licensees at the time they submit their filings as proof that relief is due. A temporary procedure has been developed by WTB whereby affected licensees will not be charged waiver fees if filings are submitted pursuant to the relief provided in this Public Notice.
Contact DCI/LAO for a copy of this Public Notice or to file a relief request for you. Failure to follow FCC instructions may result in the rejection of the application or a charge for the fees.
