FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                       News Media Contact:
August 1, 2000                               Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654
                                        e-mail: mmccarri@fcc.gov 

     FCC PROMOTES DEVELOPMENT OF WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICES
Adopts Rules for a Future Auction of 24 GHz Fixed Wireless Licenses 

       Washington, DC   The Federal Communications Commission has adopted service and auction
rules for licensing of the 24.25-24.45 GHz and 25.05-25.25 GHz (24 GHz) spectrum band.  24 GHz licenses
can be used for a variety of fixed wireless services including broadband services. 
The FCC took the following actions: 
  ·       Permitted open eligibility for 24 GHz band licensees and permitted licensees to offer a variety of fixed
  services.  
  ·       Assigned the 24 GHz band for licensing throughout the United States by Economic Areas  (constituting
  172 service areas). Also authorized license areas in the following U.S. territories and possessions: Guam,
  Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa and the Gulf of Mexico.
  ·       Determined the FCC's general competitive bidding rules will apply to the 24 GHz band and adopted a
  three-tiered approach to small business bidding credits:  "Very small businesses" with average annual
  gross revenues not exceeding $3 million are eligible to receive a 35 percent bidding credit; "small
  businesses" with average annual gross revenues not exceeding $15 million are eligible to receive a 25
  percent bidding credit; and "entrepreneurs" with average annual gross revenues not exceeding $40 million
  are eligible to receive a 15 percent bidding credit.
  ·       Determined 24 GHz licensees, including incumbent Digital Electronic Message Service licensees, will be
  governed by Part 101 of the FCC's Rules; determined the 24 GHz band will be licensed in 40 MHz
  flexible channel pairs; and provided 24 GHz band licensees more flexibility in system design, by
  designating that either the upper or lower side of the 40 MHz channel pairs can be used for the nodal
  station or the subscriber station.
  ·       Adopted a licensing framework in which licensees will have a ten-year license term from the date of grant. 
  Also, determined 24 GHz band licensees may partition and/or disaggregate their licenses and allowed
  licensees to aggregate 24 GHz band spectrum.
  ·       Adopted technical standards both consistent with the FCC's Part 101 rules and provided licensees
  increased flexibility in system design, including but not limited to, an emission mask for the 24 GHz band;
  allowing the use of non-directional antennas as well as one-foot diameter parabolic antennas; eliminating
  individual licensing for nodal stations; and allowing a maximum contiguous bandwidth of up to 200 MHz
  through aggregation.
Action by the Commission on July 25, 2000 by Report and Order (FCC 00-272). Chairman Kennard,
Commissioners Ness, Powell and Tristani with Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth concurring and Commissioners
Ness, Furchtgott-Roth and Tristani issuing separate statements.
Wireless Bureau Contact: Cathy Fox at (202) 418-0680, cafox@fcc.gov, TTY at (202) 418-7233.