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                            Before the
                Federal Communications Commission
                      Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of                )
                                )  
Application of Jon D. Word      )  
For Partial Reconsideration of  )  File No. 35283-CD-P/ML-95
a License Grant to Operate      )  
on 931.6125 MHz at              )
Raton, New Mexico               )
                                )
                                 

                              ORDER

   Adopted:  March 21, 1997             Released:  March 21, 1997

By the Chief, Commercial Wireless Division:

                         I. INTRODUCTION

     1.  On May 15, 1996, the Commission granted Jon D. Word, dba Word
Communications ("Word") a license to operate on frequency 931.6125 MHz under call sign
KNKO494 at Raton, New Mexico.  On June 14, 1996, Word filed the above-captioned
Petition for Partial Reconsideration ("Petition") seeking to have the authorization changed to
931.0375 MHz.  For the following reasons, we deny the Petition.  

                          II. BACKGROUND

     2.  Word operates a regional paging system on 931.0375 MHz.  To expand its system,
Word filed 100 applications for additional authorizations.  One of the filings was an
application to add a base station transmitter to station KNKO494 in Raton, New Mexico. 
Pursuant to the rules in effect at the time, Word requested the use of 931.0375 MHz.  

     3.  In the Petition, Word argues that "the Commission's policy is to grant a preference
to the existing licensee who already has use of the requested frequency in other areas." 
Because Word's system uses 931.0375 MHz in other areas of the country and because
931.0375 MHz is available, Word argues that he should be granted the use of that frequency
in Raton.  Word claims it is inefficient to assign him a different frequency because it is
difficult to integrate it into his system and it restricts his ability to expand.  Word also claims
that assigning him a different frequency restricts the expansion potential of other licensees on
the frequency assigned to Word.

                          II. DISCUSSION

     4.  Although an applicant may file an application for a 931 MHz frequency and
indicate a frequency preference, the Commission is not bound by such requests and may
assign any available frequency.  Because the Commission is not bound by a stated preference
for a particular frequency, applications requesting a specific frequency may be assigned
another frequency if the requested frequency is "blocked" and alternative frequencies are
available.  A frequency is blocked if there are: (1) mutually exclusive co-channel licensees,
or (2) mutually exclusive co-channel applications, or (3) unresolved, previously-filed,
mutually exclusive applications.  In Word's case, even though the frequency requested
appeared to be available, it was not available because it was blocked by unresolved,
previously-filed, mutually exclusive applications.  Therefore, Word's Petition for Partial
Reconsideration cannot be granted.  

                       III. ORDERING CLAUSE

     5.  Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED pursuant to Sections 4(i) and 405, of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C.  154(i) and 405, and pursuant to the
authority delegated by Sections 0.331 and 1.106 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. 
0.331 and 1.106, that Jon D. Word, dba Word Communications's Petition for Partial
Reconsideration IS DENIED.


                         FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                         David L. Furth
                         Chief, Commercial Wireless Division
                         Wireless Telecommunications Bureau