Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 17 began on 2/18/1998 and closed on 3/25/1998.

Round 128 (See PN DA 98-572)
Licenses:

986 licenses. 2 licenses in each of 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs)

Spectrum

Block A: 27,500-28,350 MHz; 29,100-29,250 MHz and 31,075-31,225 MHz Bands
Block B: 31,000-31,075 MHz and 31,225-31,300 MHz Bands

Bandwidth:

Block A - 1,150 MHz in 493 BTAs
Block B - 150 MHz in 493 BTAs

Winning Bidders:
104 bidders won 864 licenses
Rounds:
128
Qualified Bidders
139
Licenses Won:
864
Licenses Held by FCC:
122
Total Licenses:
986
Net Bids
$578,663,029
Gross Bids:
$834,177,095

 
 
 
General information and associated licensing parameters are provided below. Public Notices provide specific information regarding this auction. This fact sheet includes:

Key Dates

 

Event Date
Pre-Auction Seminar
10/30/1997
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
1/20/1998; 5:30 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline
2/2/1998; 6:00 pm ET
Orders for Remote Bidding Software
2/2/1998; 5:30 pm ET
Mock Auction
2/13/1998
Auction Start
2/18/1998
Auction Closed
3/25/1998
 

Licenses Offered

A total of 986 LMDS licenses were offered in this auction. Two licenses (Frequency Blocks "A" with a bandwidth of 1,150 MHz and "B" with a bandwidth of 150 MHz), in each of 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs).

Permissible Operations

A local multipoint distribution system (LMDS) is capable of offering subscribers a variety of one and two-way broadband services, such as video programming distribution; video teleconferencing; wireless local loop telephony; and high speed data transmission, e.g. internet access. Because of its multi-purpose applications, LMDS has the potential to become a major competitor to local exchange and cable television services.
LMDS systems may consist of a multicell configuration distribution systems with return path capability within the assigned spectrum. Generally, each cell will contain a centrally located transmitter (hub), multiple receivers or transceivers, and point-to-point links interconnecting the cell with a central processing center and/or other cells.

License Period

Licenses are issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date. At the end of the 10 year period, licensees are required to submit an acceptable showing to the Commission demonstrating that they are providing "substantial service" to their service area. Licensees failing to demonstrate that they are providing substantial service will be subject to forfeiture of their licenses. See Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 12 FCC Rcd 12545 (1997) at 260-272.

Incumbents

Some BTAs have incumbent operations in the smaller 150 megahertz block, such as governmental licensees and private business users operating in the 31,000-31,075 and 31,225-31,300 MHz bands, and are entitled to protection against harmful interference from any LMDS operation in these blocks. See Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking at 85-90..

Bidding Credits

Bidding credits are available to very small businesses, small businesses, and entrepreneurs (or consortia of very small businesses, small businesses, or entrepreneurs) as set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 101.1112. A bidding credit represents the amount by which a bidder’s winning bids are discounted. The size of the bidding credit depends on the average gross revenues for the preceding three years of the bidder and its controlling interests and affiliates: Bidding credits are not cumulative. A qualifying applicant receives either the 25 percent, a 35 percent, or 45 percent bidding credit, but not more than one of them.