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Federal Communications Commission
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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).

May 5, 1998


COMMISSION RECEIVES AWARD FOR BEST COMPUTER APPLICATION OF THE YEAR


Yesterday at the International Sybase User Group (ISUG) North American Conference in Washington, DC, the Commission was presented with an award for having the best computer application of the year.

The 1998 ISUG Award of Outstanding Achievement is awarded for contributions made to the Sybase user community. The Commission was chosen to receive this award because of its implementation and demonstrations of the FCC Automated Auction System using Sybase technology.

Chief of Staff John Nakahata accepted the award on behalf of the Commission. In his remarks he said, "The Automated Auction System, for which we are receiving this Award, has led the Commission's effort to get licenses out to the public in a quicker timeframe than was ever possible with lotteries or comparative hearings. Due to this innovative software system, anyone, from anywhere in the United States and its territories, can participate in the Commission's auctions process without leaving home. It's a tremendous achievement that the operation of the Commission's auctions has now become routine."

The FCC's Automated Auction System was developed by the FCC beginning in July 1994 and updated and improved after every auction to provide the necessary tools to conduct an efficient spectrum auction. The system gives the Commission the ability to track auction participants from their initial inquiry through the auction bidding process and will soon tie into the Commission's new Universal Licensing System. The system is designed to accommodate the needs of bidders. Bidders may bid from their own offices with the use of a personal computer and a modem or the system can also accommodate on-site bidders and telephonic bidding with a bid assistant keying in the bids. The system manages both the administrative and technical aspects of the auction process with day-to-day operations that are simple and straightforward. In short, the FCC's Automated Auction System handles everything from initial customer interest in an auction, through application to participate, to the auction itself and post auction report and license distribution.

-FCC-

News Media contact: Meribeth McCarrick at 202-418-0654