Auction 49: Lower 700 MHz Band

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

• Key Dates
• Licenses Offered
• Permissible Operations
• License Period
• Bidding Credits
• Tribal Land Bidding Credits
• Incumbents
• Licensing Rules
   

Auction No. 49 included 256 licenses in the Lower 700 MHz band C block (710-716/740-746 MHz) and D block (716-722 MHz). The auction included 251 C block and five D block licenses that remained unsold in Auction No. 44, which closed on September 18, 2002. The C block is a 12-megahertz block consisting of a pair of 6-megahertz segments, which is licensed over various MSA/RSAs. The D block is a 6-megaherts unpaired spectrum block, which is licensed over five 700 MHz Economic Area Groupings ("700 MHz EAGs").

For a complete list of licenses available for for Auction No. 49, see Attachment A of Public Notice DA 03-567.
 

Flexible fixed, mobile, and broadcast uses, including mobile and other digital new broadcast operations, fixed and mobile wireless commercial services (including FDD- and TDD-based services), as well as fixed and mobile wireless uses for private, internal radio needs. Could also include two-way interactive, cellular, and mobile television broadcasting services.

License Period

License expiration date is January 1, 2015 for Lower 700 MHz band licenses. This expiration date was set for eight years after the earliest date that incumbent broadcasters may be required to vacate the Lower 700 MHz band. For licensees that elect to commence new broadcast operations prior to 1/1/07, their renewal deadline will be set at the end of an eight-year term following commencement of such broadcast operations. All licensees meeting the substantial service requirements will be deemed to have met renewal expectancy regardless of which construction option the licensee chooses.

A winning bidder that intends to use its license(s) to deploy facilities and provide services to federally-recognized tribal lands that are unserved by any telecommunications carrier or that have a telephone service penetration rate equal to or below 70 percent is eligible to receive a tribal land bidding credit as set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 1.2107 and 1.2110(f). A tribal land bidding credit is in addition to, and separate from, any other bidding credit for which a winning bidder may qualify.

Unlike other bidding credits that are requested prior to the auction, a winning bidder applies for the tribal land bidding credit after winning the auction when it files its long-form application (FCC Form 601). In order for a winning bidder to be awarded a tribal land bidding credit, it must provide specific certifications regarding the servicing of tribal lands and is subject to specific performance criteria as set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 1.2110(f).

Additional information on the tribal land bidding credit, including how the amount of the credit is calculated, can be found on the Commission's web site by going to Tribal Land Bidding Credits.
 

Bidders are reminded that there are a number of incumbent broadcasters already licensed and operating on frequencies that will be subject to the upcoming auction. 698-746 MHz licensees in accordance with the Commission's Rules must protect such incumbents from harmful interference. These limitations may restrict the ability of such geographic area licensees to use certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum or provide service to certain regions in their geographic license areas.

To aid potential bidders, the Bureau issued a Due Diligence Announcement ( (PN DA 03-845) listing incumbent licensees operating in these bands. The Commission makes no representations or guarantees that the matters listed in this Due Diligence Announcement are the only pending matters that could affect spectrum availability in these services.