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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 30, 1999 |
News Media contact: Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654 |
222 LICENSES SOLD AT FCC 220 MHz SERVICE AUCTION
"Virtually all markets across the United States have been licensed to provide 220 MHz service to the public," said Chairman William Kennard. "Many of the licenses sold in this auction cover areas with small populations that were overlooked in the last auction. These are very positive results."
The auction, which began on June 8, 1999, closed after after 71 rounds of bidding. This auction represents the FCC's second 220 MHz auction as part of Phase II of the licensing of this band. Phase I licensing was conducted by lotteries in 1992 and 1993.
Of the 225 licenses auctioned 222 were sold. Licenses were simultaneously auctioned in 2 different-sized geographic areas. Of the licenses sold: 7 are Regional Economic Area Group Licenses, each authorized to use of 155 KHz paired of bandwidth and 215 are Economic Area Licenses, each license authorized to use of 100 KHz paired of bandwidth.
"These results can only lead to more competition which will mean good things for American consumers," said Tom Sugrue, Chief of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. "The Commission's efforts have placed 222 new 220 MHz licenses into the hands of companies to use to provide exciting new services."
License winners must make the down payment on their licenses ten business days after the release of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau's Public Notice announcing the close of the auction. Winning bidders must also file their long form applications with the FCC within the same time period. The 220 MHz auction represents the Commission's 22nd auction. More information on the 220 MHz and other auctions can be located on the FCC homepage at: http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/auctions.
News Media Contact: Meribeth McCarrick at (202) 418-0654; TTY at (202) 418-7233 Wireless Telecommunications Bureau contacts: Bob Reagle at (717) 338-2807 (Auctions and Industry Analysis Division) or Scott Mackoul at (202) 418-7240 (Commercial Wireless Division); TTY at (202) 418-7233.
WT Report No. 99-19