PUBLIC NOTICE
  FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
  445 12th STREET, S.W.
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554                                       DA 00-862
  
  News media information 202/418-0500     Fax-On-Demand  202/418-2830     Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov    ftp.fcc.gov
  
                              
                 FCC ANNOUCES PUBLIC FORUM 
           ON SECONDARY MARKETS IN RADIO SPECTRUM
                              
                                          Released:  April 13, 2000
       
  The FCC will hold a Public Forum addressing issues related to the development of
  secondary markets for radio spectrum on Wednesday, May 31, 2000, from 9:00 a.m. to
  1:00 p.m. The Public Forum will be held at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th
  Street, SW, Washington, DC, in the Commission Meeting Room.  Chairman Kennard plans to
  participate in this forum, as may other FCC Commissioners. Chiefs or their designees from
  the FCC's Office of Engineering & Technology, Office of Plans & Policy, Mass Media
  Bureau, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and International Bureau will lead the
  discussion.  The public input received will help FCC staff in preparing recommendations
  for Commission action, if appropriate, in this area.
  
  On February 28, 2000, FCC Chairman William Kennard announced in a speech to
  the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association his intention to convene a forum on
  issues related to secondary markets in spectrum.  He stated his desire that the FCC have
  "rules and policies that allow a secondary market in spectrum so that it flows as freely in
  the marketplace as any commodity."  
  
  Explosive growth in wireless communications has created tremendous demand for scarce
  spectrum resources.  As part of the FCC's core spectrum management responsibilities, we
  seek to increase the efficiency of spectrum use and to make more spectrum available for
  use.  Secondary markets may facilitate greater utilization of spectrum.  Spectrum licensees
  may be able to make capacity available for use on a temporary basis to meet demand.
  
  The FCC invites interested members of the public to notify us of their interest in attending
  and/or making in-person presentations at the forum. The Commission is particularly
  interested in receiving views:
  
       a)   from entities believing that spectrum constraints inhibiting the deployment of new
       services or expansion of current services could be mitigated through a secondary
       market in spectrum;
     
       b)   from entities interested in making capacity available on idle spectrum assets;
     
       c)   from entities with knowledge or experience on negotiating deals for the provision
       of spectrum on a spot or short-term basis;
     
       d)   on the financial, legal, economic and any other factors affecting the success of
       secondary markets in other products or services, as well as what would make a
       secondary market in spectrum similar or different from such other markets; 
     
       e)   from individuals who will comment in a comprehensive and balanced fashion on
       Commission rules and policies that should be retained, modified or eliminated to
       create incentives or remove disincentives to the formation of secondary markets in
       spectrum; and
     
       f)   on proposals for what the Commission should do, beyond the subject of its current
       rules and policies, to facilitate a secondary market in spectrum.
  
  We invite interested members of the public to participate in this forum. The forum
  will be open to the public, and seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.  All
  interested persons are invited to attend. 
  
  Persons interested in making a presentation at the forum should send their name,
  title and affiliation, phone number, biography, and an explanation of how their remarks
  would address the six factors listed above in writing to: Robert Calaff, Office of
  Engineering & Technology, Federal Communications Commission, 445 Twelfth St, SW,
  Room 7-C222, Washington, DC 20554. This information should be received no later than
  Friday, April 28, 2000.
  
  The Commission will evaluate proposals to make presentations and construct panels around
  the key topics cited above. Specific questions to be addressed during presentations will be
  provided to selected presenters in advance of the forum.  A second public notice will be
  issued prior to the forum providing additional details, including panels and speakers.  Details
  regarding captioning, Internet broadcast, and transcript availability will also be included.
  
       For additional information contact: Robert Calaff, Office of Engineering &
  Technology, 202-418-7293, TTY 202-418-1169 or rcalaff@fcc.gov, or Lisa Gaisford, Office of
  Engineering and Technology, 202-418-7280, TTY 202-418-1169 or lgaisfor@fcc.gov.  News
  media contact: Meribeth McCarrick, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 202-418-0654,
  TTY 202-418-7233 or mmccarri@fcc.gov.