NEWS                                                        April 5, 1996
                                                                         
           FCC HITS $20 BILLION MARK IN TOTAL AUCTION REVENUES
                                    

     As of today, the FCC has reached the $20 billion mark in total auction revenues to be
deposited with the U.S. Treasury.  The agency has completed a total of six spectrum auctions
and two others are still in progress.  These auctions include:  Nationwide Narrowband PCS,
Interactive Video and Data Services, Regional Narrowband PCS, Broadband PCS (A and B
Blocks), Direct Broadcast Satellite, Multipoint Distribution Service, 900 MHz Specialized
Mobile Radio and Broadband PCS (C Block).

     In 1993, Congress gave the FCC authority to conduct spectrum auctions.  At that time,
the House Budget Committee estimated that auction receipts over a five-year period would
reach $10.2 billion.  In 1994, the Congressional Budget Office estimated five-year auction
receipts at $8.1 billion while the Office of Management and Budget estimated auction receipts
at $12.6 billion.

     "We have exceeded all expectations," said FCC Chairman Reed Hundt.  "Auctions
have proven once again to be a success not only by awarding licenses to those that value
them the most, but also by decreasing the national debt." 

     The Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) Auction, which just closed last week,
contributed $216 million to this total.  "This auction brought 67 new entrants to the MDS
marketplace, 61 of which claimed small business status,"  said Michele Farquhar, Acting
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief. "This has been a real success in terms of
providing incentives for small players, creating jobs for the American public, and introducing
more competition in the wireless and video marketplace."  
 
     The on-going auctions include the 900 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) and the
Broadband PCS C-Block or "Entrepreneurs" block auction.  To date, the 900 MHz SMR
auction has raised $200 million.  In this auction, licenses won will be used for dispatch and
other sophisticated mobile data and voice services.  The PCS C-Block has raised $9.8 billion. 
Licenses in this auction will be used for a broad range of voice and data services.



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     The FCC's upcoming auction schedule is very active.  This summer it plans to auction
the spectrum for the Personal Communications Services D, E and F Blocks.  Licenses in this
service will award winners with 10 MHz spectrum to be used for PCS.

                                  - FCC -

News Media Contact:  Kara Palamaras at (202) 418-0654
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contact:  Amy Zoslov at (202) 418-0660