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 98-684 April 9, 1998 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU MAKES 929 MHZ AND 931 MHZ PAGING DATABASES AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW PRIOR TO AUCTION This notice instructs licensees of 929 MHz and 931 MHz paging systems on how to access and review the Bureau's paging databases and how to submit corrections if necessary. This review is necessary in order to protect incumbent stations in light of the upcoming paging service auction. In the Second Report and Order in WT 96-18, the Commission adopted rules to auction geographic area licenses for commercial paging spectrum in the 931 MHz, 929 MHz, 35-36 MHz, 43-44 MHz, 152-159 MHz, and 454-460 MHz bands. In this connection, the Commission provided for the continued operation of incumbent stations and required auction winners to protect incumbent service areas. The Commission's licensing database will be used by auction participants to determine how much spectrum is available in a given area, and by auction winners to protect incumbent operations. Further, these databases will be used by the Commission to process requests from incumbent paging licensees who wish to trade in co-channel, site-based licenses for a single, system-wide license. An auction of 929 MHz and 931 MHz paging system licenses is tentatively planned for third quarter 1998. In preparation for the auction, the public may review the licensing database via the internet so that incumbent licensees may immediately notify the Commission of any discrepancies between licensee and Commission records. Moreover, the Bureau is developing a Universal Licensing System (ULS) that will provide electronic filing as well as online querying and mapping capabilities to the public. Prior to transferring license data from our existing databases into the ULS, we are making these databases available for viewing via the internet so that licensees may review the data, and provide corrections if necessary. How to access the databases. Licensees may access the 929 MHz and 931 MHz paging databases via the internet at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/cpgncrct.html Each licensee should confirm that its license provides for the use of a valid frequency and that its operation is taking place on the authorized frequency. Each licensee should also verify that its transmitter coordinates properly identify its transmitter location and that its operating parameters are consistent with that provided by its license. NOTE: Incumbent paging licensees may make permissive changes (e.g., relocate transmitters, add transmitters, delete transmitters, modify operating parameters, etc.) WITHOUT LICENSE MODIFICATION so long as the station's originally authorized interference contour is not increased. The Bureau IS NOT seeking notification of such permissive changes. Rather, licensees should notify the Bureau in the event that the databases provided do not accurately reflect all locations that make up their composite interference contours. In the event that the Bureau's databases do not reflect a licensee's composite interference contours, or the data would lead to underestimating a licensee's composite interference contours, the licensee should notify the Bureau as outlined below. To insure that the Bureau has ample time to substantiate the errors and take timely corrective action prior to the auction, corrections must be received in the Bureau by May 15, 1998. How to submit corrections. Each licensee who determines that its authorization contains one or more errors should notify the Bureau informally and include as much of the following information as possible: (1) the callsign(s) and specific error(s) involved; (2) evidence that the error occurred in the Bureau's licensing process; (3) the approximate date the error occurred, if known; (4) a copy of the original application for authorization date-stamped by Mellon Bank or the FCC; (5) a date-stamped copy of the instrument of notification certifying construction and commencement of service; and, (6) technical data, including the maximum effective radiated power and average height above terrain (in meters along the eight cardinal radials) sufficient to insure that the proper interference contour is identified. In lieu of the date-stamped copies described in (4) and (5) above, a licensee may provide other evidence sufficient to demonstrate authorization and notification of facilities. Where to submit corrections. Licensees should notify the Bureau of database errors as described below. 929 MHz Corrections may be faxed to (717) 338-2689 or mailed to: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Commercial Wireless Division Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch 1270 Fairfield Rd. Gettysburg, PA 17325-7245 ATTN: 929 MHz Paging Database Corrections 931 MHz Corrections may be faxed to (202) 418-1412 or mailed to: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Commercial Wireless Division Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch 2100 M St. N.W., Washington, DC 20554 ATTN: 931 MHz Paging Database Corrections Verifying that corrections have been made. Licensees may access the Commission's internet homepage at http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/cpgncrct.html to verify that corrections have been made. For further information contact: Linda Spence at (717) 338-2625 (929 MHz corrections) Bettye Woodward at (202) 418-1345 (931 MHz corrections) Action by the Acting Chief, Commercial Wireless Division.