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PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                 DA 99-1601

News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov


                                      Released:  August 11, 1999 

  PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON AMENDED PETITION
  FOR RULEMAKING TO AMEND PARTS 21 AND 74 OF THE COMMISSION'S
RULES TO PERMIT LICENSING IN THE MULTIPOINT DISTRIBUTION SERVICE
    AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL TELEVISION FIXED SERVICE FOR THE 
                         GULF OF MEXICO


On October 17, 1996,  the Commission put out for comment a petition for rulemaking filed by Gulf
Coast MDS Service Company ("Gulf Coast"), which sought amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the
Commission's rules to permit licensing of Multipoint Distribution Service ("MDS") spectrum and
Instructional Television Fixed Service ("ITFS") spectrum in the Gulf of Mexico.  Gulf Coast asked
the Commission to treat the Gulf of Mexico as one service area and to hold an auction to license
service there.

Petrocom License Corporation ("Petrocom"), successor in interest to Gulf Coast, has filed an
amended petition for rulemaking on the same matter.  Petrocom asks the Commission to authorize
two licenses for the Gulf and to adopt eligibility restrictions to avoid excessive concentration of
licenses.  Petrocom asks that one of these licenses be set aside for small businesses and that only the
set aside license be auctioned at this time.   Petrocom also seeks to have the licensing process
streamlined so that the ultimate Gulf licensee, after receiving its BTA authorization, can construct
MDS stations anywhere in the Gulf, so long as the Gulf licensee's operations do not exceed a signal
strength of -75 dBw/m2 along the boundary between the Gulf licensee and the land licensee.  Finally,
Petrocom seeks modification of our two-way rules for stations operating in the Gulf.

Interested parties should file comments on this petition by September 10, 1999, and reply comments
by September 26, 1999, with the Secretary, FCC, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington D.C.
20554.  A copy should also be sent to Dave Roberts, Mass Media Bureau, Video Services Division,
Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room 2-A728, and to the Commission's contractor for public
service records duplication, International Transcription Services, Inc. ("ITS"), Portals II, 445 12th
Street, S.W. Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554.  Copies of the above-referenced filings will
be available for public inspection in Room CY-A257, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. and may also be obtained from ITS at (202) 857-3800.  For further information, please contact
Dave Roberts at (202) 418-1600.

                            - F C C -