Auction 50: Narrowband PCS

Summary

September 24, 2003 - September 29, 2003
Rounds:
20
Bidding Days:
4
Qualified Bidders:
4
Winning Bidders:
4 bidders won 48 licenses
Gross Bids:
$571,610
Net Bids:
$428,709
Reports Files
Top Licenses (by High Bid)
Summary of Round Results
Bidders Sorted by Total Net Bids and High Bids
Markets Data
Spreadsheets Files
All Markets
All Bidders
Charts Files
Bidder Data
Licenses by Bidder
License Winner, Sorted by License
Maps & Band Plans
Major Trading Areas Map
Narrowband PCS
General Information

Tribal Land Bidding Credits
Includes MTA and Nationwide Cross References.

For additional information about PCS, including buildout information, see Narrowband PCS.

Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 50 began on 9/24/2003 and closed on 9/29/2003.
Round 20 (See PN DA 03-3012)

Licenses:
48 Major Trading Areas (MTA) licenses
See Major Trading Area (MTA) map (pdf)
Spectrum:

MTA Channel 26: (901.35 - 901.40 MHz)
MTA Channel 27: (901.40 - 901.45 MHz)
MTA Channel 29: (901.95 - 902.00, 930.80 - 930.85 MHz)
MTA Channel 30: (901.65 - 901.70, 930.30 - 930.40 MHz)
MTA Channel 31: (901.70 - 901.75, 930.85 - 931.00 MHz)
MTA Channel 32: (901.8375 - 901.8500, 940.9 - 941.0 MHz)

Bandwidth:
MTA Channel 26: 50 kHz unpaired
MTA Channel 27: 50 kHz unpaired
MTA Channel 29: 50 kHz/50 kHz paired
MTA Channel 30: 50 kHz/100 kHz paired
MTA Channel 31: 50 kHz/150 kHz paired
MTA Channel 32: 12.5 kHz/100 kHz paired
See Narrowband Bandplan (pdf)
Winning Bidders:
4 bidders won 48 licenses
Rounds:
20
Qualified Bidders:
4
Licenses Won:
48
Total Licenses:
48
Net Bids:
$428,709
Gross Bids:
$571,610

 

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

Key Dates

EventDate
Pre-Auction Seminar
7/30/2003
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
8/8/2003; 6:00 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline
8/26/2003; 6:00 pm ET
Mock Auction
9/22/2003 (previously scheduled 9/19/2003)
Auction Start
9/24/2003
Auction Closed
9/29/2003

Licenses Offered

Auction No. 50 offered 48 Major Trading Area (MTA) Personal Communications Service (PCS) licenses. The spectrum auctioned was unsold licenses from Auction No. 41, which closed on October 16, 2001. See PN DA 03-372 for a complete list of licenses available for Auction No. 50.

Permissible Operations

The Commission broadly defines PCS as mobile and fixed communications offerings that serve individuals and businesses, and can be integrated with a variety of competing networks.

License Period

CMRS licenses are issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date.

MTA licensees are required to construct base stations that provide coverage to a composite area of 75,000 square kilometers or 25 percent of the geographic area, or serve 37.5 percent of the population of the service area within five years of the initial license grant date; and, construct base stations that provide coverage to a composite area of 150,000 square kilometers or 50 percent of the geographic area, or serve 75 percent of the population of the service area within ten years of the initial license grant date. In the alternative, MTA licensees may provide substantial service to the licensed area within ten years of license grant.

Bidding Credits

Bidding credits are available to small and very small businesses or consortia thereof, (as defined in 47 C.F.R. § 1.2110(c)). 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 of the aggregated annual gross revenues for each of the preceding three years of the bidder, its affiliates, its controlling interests, and the affiliates of its controlling interests: 

Bidding credits are not cumulative. A qualifying applicant receives either the 15 percent or 25 percent bidding credit on its winning bids, but not both.

Tribal Land Credits

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 Credits.

Incumbents

These licenses are not encumbered.

Licensing Rules

  1. No spectrum or channel aggregation cap.
  2. No eligibility restrictions.
  3. Partitioning and/or disaggregation permitted at any time.
  4. Part 1 unjust enrichment provisions apply.
Releases P

10/2/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-3012)
Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction Closes; Winning Bidders Announced
This Public Notice announces the completion of the auction of 48 MTA narrowband Personal Communications Service licenses and the winning bidders.

9/10/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2866)
Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction; 4 Qualified Bidders
This Public Notice identifies applicants found to be qualified to bid in the upcoming auction for 48 MTA Narrowband PCS licenses in Auction No. 50.

8/21/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2658)
Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction; Status of FCC Form 175 Applications to Participate in the Auction

7/9/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2230)
Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction Scheduled for September 24, 2003
A free seminar for Auction 50 is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, 2003.

2/7/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-372)
Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction Revised Inventory and Start Date for Auction No. 50; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments and Other Auction Procedures
This Public Notice announces the procedures and minimum opening bids for the the upcoming Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction (Auction No. 50) and announces a new date for the start of Auction 50 and a revised license inventory.

11/26/2002
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 02-3234)
Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction Scheduled for March 26, 2003; Comment Sought on Reserve Prices or Minimum Opening bids and Other Auction Procedures
This Public Notice seeks comment on auction specific procedures.

Releases O

5/29/2001
ERRATUM
Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services, Narrowband PCS
Corrected Third Report and Order on Reconsideration in this proceeding released 5/29/2001.
pdf - Word
See THIRD REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION, FCC 01-135

5/29/2001
ERRATUM
Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services, Narrowband PCS
This Erratum corrects the Third Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration in this proceeding released 05/29/2001.
pdf - Word

5/3/2001
THIRD REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION
Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services, Narrowband PCS
Adopted further modifications to existing narrowband Personal Communications Services rules, in three respects.
pdf - Word

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