Before the
                Federal Communications Commission
                      Washington, D.C. 20554                                                                       

In the Matter of                )
                                )
Amendment of the Commission's   )       WT Docket No. 97-82
Rules Regarding Installment Payment)
Financing For Personal Communications)
Services (PCS) Licensees        )
                                 

                             ORDER


Adopted:  February 24, 1998             Released:  February 24, 1998

By the Commission:  Commissioner Ness concurring and issuing a statement.  


     1.   On September 25, 1997, the Commission adopted a Second Report and Order and
Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making ("Second Report and Order") which established January
15, 1998 as the deadline for broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) C block licensees
to elect to continue under the existing installment payment plan or to elect one of the three alternative
payment options.  On January 7, 1998, we changed that election date to February 26, 1998 in order
to allow us time to respond to petitions seeking reconsideration of the Second Report and Order. 
We stated that "[m]oving the election date will serve the public interest by permitting licensees to
submit their election after final disposition of arguments raised on reconsideration."

     2.   Although we initially believed a February 26 election date would provide us sufficient
time to respond to the arguments raised by petitioners, we now find it will take additional time to
consider the numerous and wide-ranging issues involved.  In their joint petition for reconsideration,
Northern Michigan PCS Consortium L.L.C. and Wireless 2000, Inc. request that we extend the
election deadline to a date that is 60 days after issuance of the reconsideration order.  We agree with
these petitioners that 60 days would provide licensees an adequate review period.  Accordingly, we
will move the election date for C block licensees to 60 days after publication of our forthcoming
Order on Reconsideration in the Federal Register.

     3.   In order to provide licensees adequate time between the election date and the
resumption of payment deadline, we will move the March 31, 1998 payment deadline for both C and
F block licensees to a date that is at least 30 days after the revised election date.  To avoid any
potential confusion, the specific dates for election and payment resumption will be set forth in a public
notice issued under delegated authority by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
  
     4.   Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to Sections 4(i), 303(r), and 309(j) of
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. §§ 154(i), 303(r), and 309(j), the election
deadline for C block licensees and the March 31, 1998 payment deadline for C and F block licensees
are extended as specified herein and the petition for reconsideration filed by Northern Michigan PCS
Consortium L.L.C. and Wireless 2000, Inc. is hereby GRANTED IN PART.  This Order shall
become effective upon its release.


                              FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                              Magalie Roman Salas                
                              Secretary
            Concurring Statement of Commissioner Ness



Re:  Installment Payments for PCS Licensees

     Given the Commission's continued delay in concluding its "C" Block reconsideration
proceeding, I reluctantly agree that an extension of the election deadline is necessary.  I concur
because I am not in favor of prolonging the reconsideration proceeding.

     Continuing to consider changes to our rules delays the marketplace certainty that must
exist in order for systems to be financed and constructed.  The result is to delay use of this
spectrum, by those otherwise prepared to go forward, to provide beneficial services to the
American public.   

     The Commission must come to a conclusion immediately on this matter so that the market
can proceed.