NEWS                                                                       
Report WT 98-5                WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACTION           February 24, 1998

CONDITIONAL AUTHORIZATION AUTHORITY EXTENDED TO
           THE 10.6 - 10.68 GHZ BAND

        Today the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET)
released an Order modifying Section 101.31 of the Commission's rules to provide for conditional authorization
authority in the 10.6-10.68 GHz band ("10 GHz band"), under certain circumstances.  As a direct result of this
action, microwave licensees will be able to provide service in the 10 GHz band in an expedited manner.

        The release of this Order is in response to the microwave industry's request that the Commission streamline
its license processing.  At the recent biennial review public forum hosted on January 21, 1998, by WTB and the
Office of General Counsel, participants encouraged the Commission to act as quickly as possible to permit conditional
authorization authority in the 10 GHz band.  Final coordination with the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) was necessary before the Commission could grant this request, however, and the
Commission and NTIA now have completed this coordination process.  

        In order to permit microwave licensees in the 10 GHz band to use conditional authorization authority at the
earliest opportunity, the rule modification will become effective upon publication of the Order in the Federal
Register.  Entities with 10 GHz band applications pending when the rule modification becomes effective will be
permitted to obtain conditional authorization authority in accordance with Section 101.31, as amended.

         NTIA has provided the Commission with a Memorandum that lists specific geographic locations where prior
coordination with NTIA will be required before grant of FCC authorizations covering non-Government operations in
the 10 GHz band.  The NTIA Memorandum also stated that, for non-Government facilities only operating outside
these geographic areas, coordination with NTIA will not be necessary.  The Order modifies Section 101.31 of the
Commission's rules to permit conditional authorization in the 10 GHz band under the specific circumstances stated in
the NTIA Memorandum.

        Action by Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology,
February 24, 1998, by Order (DA 98-349).


   - FCC - 

        News Media Contact:  Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654 
        Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Contact: Michael Pollak (202) 418-1682
        Office of Engineering and Technology Contact: Frank Wright (202) 418-2411