FCC Finalizes Enforcement Field Op Changes

[N4ESS]

FCC Finalizes Enforcement Field Op Changes 

by Paul McLane

on 07.16.2015

      



The Federal Communications Commission adopted a plan to modernize field
operations within its Enforcement Bureau. It includes the closing of 11
offices.

"The proposal will improve efficiency, better position the agency to do
effective radio interference detection and resolution and meet other
enforcement needs, and save millions of dollars annually after
implementation is complete," it stated.

Plans to scale back had generated controversy and strong reactions in the
industry, and the plan has been modified since it was first floated.

It will require all field agents to be electrical engineers. Six compliance
specialists will lose their jobs as a result. 
Field offices will continue in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Columbia (Md.),
Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Portland (Ore.), and San Francisco. 

Closing down will be offices in Anchorage, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Kansas
City, Norfolk, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Juan, Seattle, and Tampa.

"The Enforcement Bureau will maintain a field presence in Alaska and Puerto
Rico and field agents will also rotate periodically through Kansas City. In
addition, three offices will relocate to FCC-owned properties nearby to
better utilize agency resources."

Rapid deployment "tiger" teams will be stationed in Columbia (Md.) and
Denver to "supplement the enforcement efforts of other field offices when
necessary and support high-priority enforcement actions nationwide." 

The commission said the current structure of field operations is over 20
years old, "during which time significant technological changes have taken
place and available funding has decreased." It said the new structure was
adopted after the Enforcement Bureau, Office of the Managing Director and
outside consultants studied the problem. Some including the Society of
Broadcast Engineers have criticized the openness of that process.

Interference concerns also have been a common theme among critics of the
original proposal. But in announcing the vote, the FCC stated: "The field
reorganization plan adopted by the commission today aligns the field's
structure, operations, expenses, and equipment with the agency's priorities
such as radio frequency interference. It also prepares the field to address
future enforcement needs in an ever more complex spectrum environment, and
aligns field operations to support this mission. Through this plan, the
commission is 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." 

The NAB issued a statement saying it "appreciates the work of both the FCC
and Congress in forging a compromise FCC field office proposal that keeps
open many more enforcement offices than was originally proposed" and thanked
all the commissioners for taking note of "a need to better enforce
prohibition against pirate radio stations." 

Chairman Wheeler had been pushing the plan; he voted in favor, as did his
Democratic colleagues Commissioners Clyburn and Rosenworcel. Republican
Commissioners Pai and O'Rielly opted to concur and issue statements
expressing some concerns. 

 

We'll post those shortly. - See more at:
http://www.radioworld.com/article/fcc-finalizes-enforcement-field-op-changes
/276621#sthash.YWrEGkP7.dpuf

 

 

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