Auction 51: Regional Narrowband PCS

Event	Date
Pre-Auction Seminar	7/31/2003
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Window Opens	7/31/2003; 12:00 noon ET
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	9/17/2003 and 9/23/2003 (2nd day previously scheduled 9/18/2003)
Auction Start	9/24/2003
Auction Closed	9/25/2003

Licenses Offered

Auction No. 51 offered six regional Personal Communications Service (PCS) licenses. The spectrum auctioned was previously associated with licenses that were cancelled or terminated from Auction No. 3, which closed on November 8, 1994. See PN DA 03-1994 for a complete list of licenses available for Auction No. 51

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. Regional licensees are required to construct base stations that provide coverage to a composite area of 150,000 square kilometers or serve 37.5 percent of the population of the service area within five years of initial license grant date; and, construct base stations that provide coverage to a composite area of 300,000 square kilometers or serve 75 percent of the of the service area population within ten years of initial license grant date. In the alternative, regional 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:

A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues of not more than $40 million for the preceding three years receives a 15 percent discount on its winning bids for narrowband PCS licenses
A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three years receives a 25 percent discount on its winning bids for narrowband PCS licenses.

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

Tribal Land Bidding Credit

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

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

Releases P

10/1/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-3006)
Regional Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction Closes; Winning Bidder Announced
This Public Notice provides detailed information concerning the winning bidder, down payments, deposits, FCC Forms 601 and 602 filing requirements, requests for rule waivers, and licensing matters.

9/8/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2857)
Regional Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction; 2 Qualified Bidders
Public Notice identifies two applicants found to be qualified to bid in the upcoming auction for six regional Narrowband Personal Communications Service licenses.

8/21/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2659)
Regional Narrowband PCS Spectrum Auction; Status of FCC Form 175 Applications to Participate in the Auction
This public notice announces the status of the FCC Form 175 applications received to participate in Auction No. 51 scheduled to begin on Wednesday, September 24, 2003.

7/29/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2522)
Auction of Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses Scheduled for September 24, 2003
This Public Notice announces the round results process and replication procedures for the upcoming auction of six regional narrowband Personal Communications services licenses in the 900 MHz band (Auction No. 51).
Result Replication Data: zip

7/9/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-2231)
Auction of Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses Scheduled for September 24, 2003
A free FCC pre-auction seminar for Auction No. 51 is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2003.

6/18/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-1994)
Auction of Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses Scheduled for September 24, 2003; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, Package Bidding and Other Auction Procedures
This Public Notice announces the procedures and minimum opening bids for the upcoming auction of six regional narrowband Personal Communications Services licenses in the 900 MHZ band scheduled for September 24, 2003.

4/3/2003
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 03-1065)
Auction of Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses Scheduled for September 24, 2003; Comments Sought on Package Bidding Procedures, Reserve Prices or Minimum Opening Bids, and Other Auction Procedures
This Public Notice announces the auction of licenses in the 900 MHz band scheduled to commence on September 24, 2003.

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

5/3/2001
THIRD REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION (FCC 01-135)
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

No results here for this auction.

Auction 51: Regional Narrowband PCS

Summary

Fact Sheet

Auction Seminar

Education