Report No. DC-2636     ACTION IN DOCKET CASE    August 2, 1994

        COMMENTS SOUGHT ON EXTENDING AUTHORIZATION FOR GEOGRAPHIC
         PARTITIONING OF PCS SERVICE AREAS TO WOMEN AND MINORITY
                               APPLICANTS 
                            (PP DOCKET 93-253)

     The Commission has asked for comment on extending to
businesses owned by women and minorities special permission to
partition broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) 
service areas.

     In establishing the rules for licensing PCS in the 2 GHz
band (broadband PCS), the Commission declined to allow general
partitioning of the geographic service areas, stating that it
could be used to circumvent construction requirements.  The
Commission did, however, recognize that the public interest might
compel a different result for certain groups.

     In the Fifth Report and Order in this proceeding, released
July 15, 1994, the Commission determined that, to expedite the
provision of broadband PCS in rural areas, which have
historically suffered from delayed introduction of new services
and fewer choices in service providers, rural telephone companies
should be permitted to obtain PCS licenses by geographically
partitioning certain areas from the licensed PCS service area
(MTA or BTA).

     The Commission said it wanted to consider whether to offer a
similar plan to businesses owned by minorities and/or women.  It
said the record had not been sufficiently developed on this issue
to enable it to make a determination.  Therefore, it asked for
further comment on this issue.




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     Specifically, the Commission asked for commenters to address
the following issues:

     -- Whether allowing businesses owned by minorities and/or
women to hold partitioned PCS licenses would serve the public
interest;

     -- If so, what parameters the Commission should provide for
these entities to obtain partitioned licenses; and

     -- Whether any such partitioning should be prohibited for a
period of time after initial PCS licensing and, if so, for what
period.

     Action by the Commission August 1, 1994, by Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking (FCC 94-198). Chairman Hundt,
Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong.

                               - FCC -

     News Media contact: Rosemary Kimball at (202) 418-0500.
     Office of Plans and Policy contact: Toni Simmons at (202)
418-2030.