Section 0.331 - [Effective 12/20/2024] Authority delegatedThe Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, is hereby delegated authority to perform all functions of the Bureau, described in § 0.131 , subject to the exceptions and limitations in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section, and also the functions described in paragraphs (e) through (g) of this section.
(a)Authority concerning applications.(1) The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau shall not have authority to act on any radio applications that are in hearing status.(2) The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau shall not have authority to act on any complaints, petitions or requests, whether or not accompanied by an application, when such complaints, petitions or requests present new or novel questions of law or policy which cannot be resolved under outstanding Commission precedents and guidelines.(b)Authority concerning forfeitures and penalties. The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, shall not have authority to impose, reduce, or cancel forfeitures pursuant to the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and imposed under regulations in this chapter in amounts of more than $80,000 for commercial radio providers and $20,000 for private radio providers.(c)Authority concerning applications for review. The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, shall not have authority to act upon any applications for review of actions taken by the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau pursuant to any delegated authority, except that the Chief may dismiss any such application that does not contain any statement required under § 1.115(a) or (b) of this chapter, or does not comply with the filing requirements of § 1.115 (d) or (f) of this chapter.(d)Authority concerning rulemaking proceedings. The Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau shall not have the authority to act upon notices of proposed rulemaking and inquiry, final orders in rulemaking proceedings and inquiry proceedings, and reports arising from any of the foregoing except such orders involving ministerial conforming amendments to rule parts, or orders conforming any of the applicable rules to formally adopted international conventions or agreements where novel questions of fact, law, or policy are not involved. Orders conforming any of the applicable rules in part 17 of this chapter to rules formally adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration also need not be referred to the Commission if they do not involve novel questions of fact, law, or policy. In addition, revisions to the airport terminal use list in § 90.35(c)(61) of this chapter and revisions to the Government Radiolocation list in § 90.371(b) of this chapter need not be referred to the Commission. Adoption of certain technical standards applicable to hearing aid compatibility under § 20.19 of this chapter made together with the Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, as specified in § 20.19(k) of this chapter, also need not be referred to the Commission. Also, the addition of new Marine VHF frequency coordination committee(s) to § 80.514 of this chapter need not be referred to the Commission if they do not involve novel questions of fact, policy or law, as well as requests by the United States Coast Guard to: (1) Designate radio protection areas for mandatory Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) and establish marine channels as VTS frequencies for these areas; or(2) Designate regions for shared commercial and non-commercial vessel use of VHF marine frequencies.(3) Designate by footnote to frequency table in § 80.373(f) of this chapter marine VHF frequencies are available for intership port operations communications in defined port areas.(e) The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is delegated authority jointly with the Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology to administer provisions of § 15.713(h)(8) of this chapter pertaining to the registration of event sites where large numbers of wireless microphones that operate on frequencies specified in § 74.802 of this chapter are used.(f) The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is delegated authority jointly with the Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology to administer the Spectrum Access System (SAS) and SAS Administrator functions set forth in part 96 of this chapter. The Chief is delegated authority to develop specific methods that will be used to designate SAS Administrators; to designate SAS Administrators; to develop procedures that these SAS Administrators will use to ensure compliance with the requirements for SAS operation; to make determinations regarding the continued acceptability of individual SAS Administrators; and to perform other functions as needed for the administration of the SAS. The Chief is delegated the authority to perform these same functions with regard to the Environmental Sensing Capability.(g)Authority concerning review of certain proposed technologies in the 71-76 and 81-86 GHz bands. The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is delegated authority, jointly with the Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology, to establish and administer a process for review of proposed technologies for point-to-endpoint-in-motion communications to aircraft and ships in the 71-76 GHz and 81-86 GHz bands to ensure compliance with the requirements adopted by the Commission. The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is also delegated authority to establish and administer specific procedures to be followed for coordinating and registering aeronautical and maritime stations and their associated transmissions.(h)Authority concerning space launch services programs and licensing. The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is delegated authority to administer the Commission's space launch services programs (part 26 of this chapter) and the issuing of space launch services licenses. The Chief is delegated authority to develop specific methods that will be used to develop an application filing procedure for initial authorization and subsequent station registration; to seek comment on the circumstances attending the designation of a third-party space launch frequency coordinator, including a mechanism for selecting a frequency coordinator; to develop procedures that the space launch frequency coordinator will use to ensure compliance with the coordination requirements for space launch operations; and to perform other functions as needed for the administration of the space launch services.(i) The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is delegated authority jointly with the Chief of the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau to administer provisions of §§ 90.1203 , 90.1207 , 90.1209 , and 90.1217 of this chapter. The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is also delegated authority to establish the procedures by which a Band Manager selection committee will be chosen; identify representatives to sit on the selection committee; determine the requisite number of selection committee members; identify the applicable selection criteria; confirm that the Band Manager selectee meets the selection criteria; and establish the appropriate procedures and oversight for the selection process as part of choosing the Band Manager. The Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau is also delegated authority to develop the form and procedures pursuant to which the Band Manager will submit certifications required by §§ 90.1207(h)(3) and 90.1209(e) of this chapter to the Commission; to manage the process of determining the appropriate Band Manager funding mechanisms; and to perform oversight and any other functions for the administration of the Band Manager and its responsibilities.60 FR 35506, July 10, 1995, as amended at 61 FR 26465, May 28, 1996; 62 FR 40285, July 28, 1997; 65 FR 43715 , July 14, 2000; 67 FR 63284 , Oct. 11, 2002; 69 FR 46440 , Aug. 3, 2004; 73 FR 25587 , May 7, 2008; 75 FR 75835 , Dec. 6, 2010; 79 FR 56984 , Sept. 24, 2014; 80 FR 36218 , June 23, 2015; 85 FR 34527 , June 5, 2020; 86 FR 12547 , Mar. 4, 2021; 89 FR 33258 , Apr. 29, 2024; 89 FR 63313 , Aug. 5, 2024 85 FR 34527 , 6/5/2020; 86 FR 12547 , 4/5/2021; 89 FR 33258 , 5/29/2024; 89 FR 63313 , 9/4/2024; 89 FR 91584 , 12/20/2024