NAIC/AO Newsletter, November 1997
The PRCZ has been the result of persistent efforts of Dr. Willem Baan over the past five years. We also thank Dr. Mike Davis from the Observatory and many of our colleagues who have actively supported these efforts by writing comments to the FCC in these proceedings.
By this regulation, FCC has made it mandatory that a new (or modified) license seeker at frequencies below 15 GHz present a copy of the technical details of their application to the Observatory. NAIC then has 20 days to consider the potential of such a system for interfering with its operations and to notify the FCC. This period may also be used to work out a mutually acceptable solution for the potential problems. The applicant will be obliged to make a "reasonable effort" to solve the interference problems for the Observatory. In cases of disputes, FCC reserves the right to either withhold or grant the necessary licenses despite the Observatory's reservations.
In addition to the PRCZ, a Memorandum of Understanding has also been agreed upon between NAIC, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense to adopt the same procedure of coordination for applications from the government side of the house. This MOU will also be signed in the coming weeks.
These are indeed major achievements in our efforts to protect the electromagnetic environment. All this will help the Observatory in its continued pursuit of getting the cleanest possible data with this unique telescope.