PUBLIC NOTICE

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20554                         News Media Information: (202) 418-0500
                                  Fax-On-Demand: (202) 418-2830
                                   Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
                                                     ftp.fcc.gov
                                                               
                                                     DA 98-2246
                                              November 10, 1998
                                
                                
     WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU POSTPONES DECEMBER
         15, 1998 AUCTION DATE FOR 528 MULTILATERATION 
           LOCATION AND MONITORING SERVICE LICENSES  
                                
    Commencement of the Auction Postponed to February 23, 1999

Report No. AUC-98-21-C (Auction No. 21)

          In a letter dated October 22, 1998, to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
("Bureau"), MicroTraxTM ("MicroTrax") requested a temporary delay of the Location and
Monitoring Service ("LMS") auction.  On October 23, 1998, the Bureau released a Public
Notice, seeking comment on MicroTrax's request for temporary delay of the auction.  The
Bureau received nine comments in response to the LMS Stay Public Notice.  MicroTrax, and
other commenters, contend, among other things, that information for evaluating incumbent
spectrum is unavailable for inspection.  These commenters specifically note that information
on Federal usage of the 902-928 MHz band has not been released by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration ("NTIA").  Commenters contend that
without this data, potential bidders cannot accurately assess the value of the licenses for these
frequencies nor analyze which frequencies would be most useful for a particular planned
service.  

     Pursuant to authority delegated by  0.131 of the Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R.
 0.131, the Bureau will postpone the commencement of the LMS auction to give potential
bidders a reasonable opportunity to consider deployment and technical information that NTIA
is currently compiling regarding government primary users occupying the 902-928 MHz band. 
We note that other arguments made by some commenters in support of MicroTrax's request
for temporary delay of the auction do not justify a delay of the auction.  Commencement of
the LMS auction is now scheduled for February 23, 1999.    

     In light of this action, any applications manually filed to date will be returned. 
However, the window for filing the FCC Form 175 will remain open until 5:30 p.m. ET on
January 25, 1999.  The following critical dates now apply to the rescheduled LMS auction:

Pre-Auction Deadlines:

    Short Form Application (FCC Form 175)      . January 25, 1999; 5:30 p.m. ET
    Upfront Payments (via wire transfer)     . . . .. February 8, 1999; 6:00 p.m. ET
    Auction    . .  . .  . .  . .  . . February 23, 1999
  
A subsequent Public Notice will be released announcing a complete list of revised pre-auction
deadlines. 
   
Action by Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.



Copies of the request for temporary delay may be obtained from the Commission's duplicating
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS), 2131 20th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036, (202)857-3800.  Copies are also available for public inspection in
the Public Reference Room, Room 5608, 2025 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20554.

For further information:  Media Contact:  Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654.
Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau:  Kenneth
Burnley, Legal Branch at (202) 418-0660; Kathryn Garland, Operations at (717) 338-2801;
Bob Reagle, Operations at (202) 418-0660.