Summary

August 13, 2008 - August 20, 2008
Rounds:
38
Bidding Days:
6
Qualified Bidders:
23
Winning Bidders:
16 Bidders won 53 Licenses
Licenses Held by FCC:
2
Gross Bids:
$23,565,000
Net Bids:
$21,276,850
Maps & Band Plans
General Information

 
On December 27, 2005, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce provided estimated costs and timeline information associated with relocating federal operations from the 1710-1755 MHz band (part of the AWS-1 spectrum). NTIA has since provided updates and progress reports. This information is available on NTIA's web page.
Tribal Lands Bidding Credits
Includes Cellular Market Area (CMA, or MSA and RSA), Economic Area (EA or BEA), Regional Economic Area Grouping (REAG), and Basic Trading Area (BTA) cross references.
Related Auctions:
AWS-1: Auction 66
Broadband PCS: Auctions 5, 11, 35, 58, and 71
Winning Bidders
8/25/2008
 
Qualified Bidders
8/4/2008
 
Applications to Participate
7/7/2008
 
Procedures
5/16/2008
 
Comment Sought
4/4/2008
 
6/10/2013
ORDER (DA 13-1341)
Club 42 CM Limited Partnership
 
3/9/2011
LETTER (DA 11-451)
Mr. Adolfo Montenegro, In Re AST Telecom, LLC, Application for Advanced Wireless Service Licenses, Auction 78, FCC File No. 0003573444
 
1/21/2011
ORDER (DA 11-106)
Applications of American Samoa Telecommunications Authority for Broadband Personal Communications Services and Advanced Wireless Service Licenses Informal Request for Commission Action of AST Telecom, LLC
 

Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 78 began on 8/13/2008 and closed on 8/20/2008.

(See Auction 78 Procedures Public Notice DA 08-1090)
Licenses:

35 AWS-1 Licenses:
Block A: 22 Cellular Market Area (CMA) licenses
Block B: 4 Economic Area (EA) licenses
Block C: 3 EA licenses
Block D: 2 Regional Economic Area Grouping (REAG) licenses
Block E: 1 REAG license
Block F: 3 REAG licenses 20 Broadband PCS Licenses:
Block C1: 5 Basic Trading Area (BTA) licenses
Block C3: 2 BTA licenses
Block C4: 3 BTA licenses
Block C5: 2 BTA licenses
Block D: 1 BTA license
Block E: 4 BTA licenses (including 2 partial BTAs)
Block F: 3 BTA licenses 55 licenses total

Bandwidth:

AWS-1 Licenses:
Block A: 1710-1720 / 2110-2120 MHz (20 MHz)
Block B: 1720-1730 / 2120-2130 MHz (20 MHz)
Block C: 1730-1735 / 2130-2135 MHz (10 MHz)
Block D: 1735-1740 / 2135-2140 MHz (10 MHz)
Block E: 1740-1745 / 2140-2145 MHz (10 MHz)
Block F: 1745-1755 / 2145-2155 MHz (20 MHz)

Broadband PCS Licenses:
Block C1: 1902.5-1910 / 1982.5-1990 MHz (15 MHz)
Block C3: 1895-1900 / 1975-1980 MHz (10 MHz)
Block C4: 1900-1905 / 1980-1985 MHz (10 MHz)
Block C5: 1905-1910 / 1985-1990 MHz (10 MHz)
Block D: 1865-1870 / 1945-1950 MHz (10 MHz)
Block E: 1885-1890 / 1965-1970 MHz (10 MHz or less)
Block F: 1890-1895 / 1970-1975 MHz (10 MHz)

Winning Bidders:
16 Bidders won 53 Licenses
Rounds:
38
Qualified Bidders:
23
Licenses Won:
53
Licenses Held by FCC:
2
Total Licenses:
55
Net Bids:
$21,276,850
Gross Bids:
$23,565,000

Event Date
Pre-Auction Seminar
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Window Opens
6/10/2008; 12:00 noon ET
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
6/19/2008; prior to 6:00 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline
7/17/2008; 6:00 pm ET
Mock Auction
8/11/2008
Auction Start
8/13/2008
Auction Closed
8/20/2008
 
AWS-1 Licenses: A total of 35 licenses will be offered in the Advanced Wireless Services 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz bands (AWS-1). These licenses consist of six Regional Economic Area Grouping (REAG) licenses, seven Economic Area (EA) licenses, and 22 Cellular Market Area (CMA) licenses, as shown in the table below. These are licenses for which there were no winning bids in Auction 66.
 
Block Frequencies (MHz) Bandwidth Geographic Area Type No. of Licenses
A 1710-1720 / 2110-2120 20 MHz CMA 22
B 1720-1730 / 2120-2130 20 MHz EA 4
C 1730-1735 / 2130-2135 10 MHz EA 3
D 1735-1740 / 2135-2140 10 MHz REAG 2
E 1740-1745 / 2140-2145 10 MHz REAG 1
F 1745-1755 / 2145-2155 20 MHz REAG 3

Broadband PCS Licenses: A total of 20 broadband PCS licenses will be offered in the C, D, E and F frequency blocks in full or partial BTA markets. Because of the history of licenses for broadband PCS spectrum, some licenses available in Auction 78 cover less bandwidth and fewer frequencies than noted in the table below. In some cases, licenses are available for only part of a market. Attachments A and B of the Auction 78 Procedures Public Notice (DA 08-1090), released May 16, 2008, provide more details about the broadband PCS licenses that will be offered in this auction. In addition, certain C block licenses are subject to an eligibility restriction making them available only to “entrepreneurs” in “closed” bidding. See section on “Eligibility for Closed Bidding” below.
 
Block Eligibility Status Frequency Bands (MHz) Bandwidth Geographic Area Type No. of Licenses
C1 Open 1902.5-1910 / 1982.5-1990 15 MHz BTA 1
C1 Closed 1902.5-1910 / 1982.5-1990 15 MHz BTA 4
C3 Closed 1895-1900 / 1975-1980 10 MHz BTA 2
C4 Closed 1900-1905 / 1980-1985 10 MHz BTA 3
C5 Open 1905-1910 / 1985-1990 10 MHz BTA 2
D n/a 1865-1870 / 1945-1950 10 MHz BTA 1
E n/a 1885-1890 / 1965-1970 10 MHz (or less) BTA 4
F Open 1890-1895 / 1970-1975 10 MHz BTA 3

Five of the broadband PCS licenses available in Auction 78 are for spectrum that became available when previous licenses for that spectrum automatically terminated for failure to meet the construction requirements. These licenses – which includes the four C1 block licenses that are available in closed bidding and the E block license within BTA460 – cannot be acquired by the former licensee. See 47 C.F.R. § 24.203.
 
Broadband PCS Licenses: Broadband PCS licensees may provide any mobile communications service on their assigned spectrum, consistent with technical requirements set forth in the Commission’s rules. For example, broadband PCS spectrum may be used for a variety of mobile and/or portable radio services, using such devices as small, lightweight, multifunction portable phones, portable fax machines, and advanced devices with two-way data capabilities. Fixed services may be provided on a co-primary basis with mobile operations. Broadcasting as defined in the Communications Act is prohibited. See 47 C.F.R. § 24.3.
 
AWS licensees must make a showing of “substantial service” in their license areas within the prescribed license term. See 47 C.F.R. § 27.14(a). “Substantial” service is defined as service that is sound, favorable, and substantially above a level of mediocre service which just might minimally warrant renewal. Any licensee that fails to meet this requirement will forfeit its license and the licensee will be ineligible to regain it.
Broadband PCS Licenses: Licenses will be issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date. See 47 C.F.R. § 24.15. Licensees have a renewal expectancy based on the provision of substantial service and substantial compliance with applicable Commission rules, policies, and the Communications Act. See 47 C.F.R. § 24.16.
Broadband PCS licensees must serve at least one-quarter of the population in their licensed area or make a showing of “substantial service” in their licensed area within five years of the original license date. These construction requirements refer to licenses consisting of 10 MHz and 15 MHz blocks. See 47 C.F.R. § 24.203.
   
See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2110(f)(2). Bidding credits are not cumulative. Qualifying applicants receive either the 15 percent or the 25 percent bidding credit on their winning bids, but not both.
As noted above, bidding credits for applicants that qualify as small or very small businesses will be available for all AWS-1 licenses, the broadband PCS C block licenses that are available in open bidding, and all broadband PCS F block licenses. Bidding credits are not available for broadband C block licenses subject to closed bidding or for broadband PCS D and E block licenses. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 24.712, 24.717.
   
Broadband PCS Licenses: While most of the private and common carrier fixed microwave services (“FMS”) formerly operating in the 1850-1990 MHz band (and other bands) have been relocated to available frequencies in higher bands or to other media, some FMS licensees may still be operating in the band. Any remaining FMS entities operating in the 1850-1990 MHz band, however, are secondary to PCS operations. FMS licensees, absent an agreement with the applicable PCS entities or an extension pursuant to 47 C.F.R. § 101.79(b), must turn in their authorizations six months following written notice from a PCS entity that such entity intends to turn on a system within the interference range of the incumbent FMS licensee. Further, broadband PCS licensees are no longer responsible for costs associated with relocating an incumbent FMS operation.
 
AWS-1 Licenses: 47 C.F.R. Parts 1, 27, and 101
Broadband PCS Licenses: 47 C.F.R. Parts 1 and 24
Releases P
 
Auction of AWS-1 and Broadband PCS Licenses Closes; Winning Bidders Announced for Auction 78
Attachment A: pdf
Attachment B: pdf
Attachment C: pdf
Attachment D: pdf
Attachment E: pdf - Word
 
8/4/2008
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 08-1752)
Auction of AWS-1 and Broadband PCS Licenses; 23 Bidders Qualified to Participate in Auction 78
Attachment A: pdf
Attachment B: pdf
 
7/7/2008
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 08-1579)
Auction of AWS-1 and Broadband PCS Licenses; Status of Short-Form Applications to Participate in Auction 78
Status of Short-Form Applications to Participate in Auction 78.
Attachment A: pdf
Attachment B: pdf
 
5/16/2008
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 08-1090)
Auction of AWS-1 and Broadband PCS Licenses Rescheduled for August 13, 2008; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 78
The WTB announces the procedures and minimum opening bid amounts for the upcoming auction of 55 licenses: 35 licenses in the AWS 1710-1755 MHz and 2110-2155 MHz bands ("AWS-1") and 20 broadband PCS licenses.
Attachment A: pdf - xls
Attachment B: pdf
 
4/4/2008
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 08-767)
Auction of AWS-1 and Broadband PCS Licenses Scheduled for July 29, 2008, Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 78
Attachment A: pdf - xls
Attachment B: pdf
Attachment C: pdf - Word
Copies of comments and reply comments filed in response to this public notice may be found by using the search function of ECFS under proceeding 08-46 or through the FCC Reference Information Center, which is located in Room CY-A257 at the Commission's Headquarters.
View Auction Results in the Integrated Spectrum Auction System (opens new window)
 

Auction 78 Limited Information Round Results Files

Auction Seminar

This seminar was held on June 10, 2008. You may view the presentations below.
 
 

Presentations

Opening Remarks

 

Kathryn Hostetter, Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division (ASAD)
 

Pre-Auction Process

 

Kathryn Hostetter, Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division (ASAD)
 
Licensing Matters Panel
Technical Issues, Due Diligence and Licensing Parameters
Keith Harper, Engineer, Mobility Division (MD)

 

John Spencer, Attorney, Broadband Division
 
 

Tribal Lands Bidding Credits

Michael Connelly, Attorney Advisor, MD
 

Break

 

Panel on Auction & DE Rules, Application and Payment Procedures

Electronic Filing of Form 175 and Overview of Auction & DE Rules
Lisa Stover, Auctions Marketing Specialist, ASAD

 

Stephen Johnson, Attorney, ASAD
 
Wire Transfer & Payment Process
Gail Glasser, Financial Management Specialist, Auctions Accounting Group
 
 

Break for Lunch

 

Auction Bidding Procedures

Overview of Auction Process
Roy Knowles, Analyst, ASAD
 
 

Auction Bidding Systems

Overview of Auction System
Roy Knowles, Analyst, ASAD
 
 

Education