May 25, 1994

FCC INFORMATIONAL AUCTION SEMINAR JUNE 6, 1994

     On June 6, the FCC will hold an informational seminar to cover the auction
procedures to be used this July for the auction of ten nationwide licenses for narrowband
personal communication services (PCS) and approximately 600 licenses for Interactive Video
Data Service (IVDS).

     These auctions, which begin on July 25 (with registration on July 24), will mark the
first time the Commission will use auctions to license spectrum.  The informational seminar is
designed to help potential bidders learn more about this process.  The seminar will be held at
the Kalorama Studios, located at 16th and Kalorama Streets, N.W. in the Adams Morgan
neighborhood of Washington, D.C.  There is limited free parking available at the site.

     The morning session, beginning at 9 a.m., will cover the narrowband PCS procedures
and an afternoon session, beginning at 2 p.m., will cover IVDS procedures.  There is no
charge, but individuals must register in advance by calling (202) 637-FCC1 (3221) or (202)
637-FCC2 (3222) (fax).

     "We want anyone who is interested in participating in a spectrum auction to have the
opportunity to do so," said Chairman Reed Hundt.  "As we continue planning for and holding
auctions, we will hold informational seminars and undertake other efforts that let people know
what we are doing and how they can get involved.  We would especially like to see new
entrants to this field have the opportunity to learn about both the process and the potential
opportunities in this area."

     Narrowband PCS will include advanced voice paging, two-way acknowledgment
paging, data messaging, and both one-way and two-way messaging and facsimile.  It will be
licensed on a nationwide, regional, Major Trading Area (MTA) and Basic Trading Area
(BTA) basis.  Only the ten available nationwide narrowband PCS licenses will be included in
the July auctions.

     IVDS is a new short distance communications service in which licensees may provide
information, products or services to individual subscribers located at fixed locations, and these
subscribers may provide responses.  Service offerings that have been contemplated for IVDS
include home banking, home shopping, educational and pay-per-view programming, with
television viewer interaction in real time.  Approximately 600 IVDS licenses, all available
MSA markets, will be auctioned in July.
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     For more information on auctions in general, call the FCC's Auctions hotline at (202)
418-1400; hearing impaired customers can contact the hotline via Text Telephone at (202)
632-6999.  For information about either the narrowband or IVDS auctions, call (202) 637-
FCC1 or (202) 637-FCC2.

     The Commission also has available Public Notices on each of the narrowband PCS
and IVDS July auctions and Information Packets on narrowband PCS and IVDS.  The Public
Notices explain in greater detail which licenses will be auctioned and what potential bidders
need to do in order to participate in these auctions.  This information and other materials
related to spectrum auctions and other FCC issues are also available through the FCC's
internet address, ftp.fcc.gov.

     Registration for the narrowband PCS auctions will be held on July 24 and the auctions
will begin on July 25.  IVDS will be next, with registration beginning on July 27 and the
auctions on July 28 and 29.  The auctions will be held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in
Washington, D.C.

     Ultimately, the Commission will issue a total of approximately 3,500 narrowband PCS
licenses and approximately 1,400 IVDS licenses.

     Short-form applications to participate in the July narrowband PCS auctions are due
July 1, 1994.  Short form applications to participate in the July IVDS auctions are due June
27, 1994.  These applications will be available in the Bidder Packages that can be ordered by
calling (202) 637-FCC1(3221) or (202) 637-FCC2 (3222) (fax).

 - FCC -


News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball and Susan Lewis Sallet at (202) 418-0500.
Auction contractor contact:  Tradewinds International Inc. at (202) 637-FCC1
     or (202) 637-FCC2 (fax).
Consumers and general auction hotline contact: Patti Grace Smith at (202) 632-0260.
Small Business contact: John Winston at (202) 632-1571.