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Auction 20: VHF Public Coast

Summary

December 3, 1998 - December 14, 1998
Rounds:
44
Bidding Days:
8
Qualified Bidders:
8
Winning Bidders:
4 bidders won 26 licenses (3 small business bidders won 17 licenses which were all Inland VPCs 1 other bidder won 9 Maritime Border and Maritime Non-Border VPCs
Licenses Held by FCC:
16
Gross Bids:
$7,812,000
Net Bids:
$7,459,200
Reports Files
Bidders by Net Bids and by Number of High Bids
Summary of 500 KHz, 450 KHz and Top 10 Inland VPCs
Summary of Round Results
Activity and Revenue Graph
Winning Bidders Map
Markets Data
Bidder Data
Spreadsheets Files
All Markets
All Bidders
Maps & Band Plans
Public Coast Station Areas Map
Public Coast
General Information
Auction Announcements
Auction Programs

12/16/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2542)
Winning Bidders
VHF Public Coast Service Auction Closes, Winning Bidders In the Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Service
This Public Notice announces the closing of the VHF Public Coast Service Auction (Auction No. 20) and provides other detailed information.
Attachment A: Database
Attachment B: Database
Attachment C: Database
Attachment D: text
Attachment E: text
Attachment F: text

11/20/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2347)
Qualified Bidders
Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Service Licenses, 8 Qualified Bidders
This Public Notice identifies the 8 applicants that have been found qualified to bid for 42 VHF Public Coast Service licenses in Auction No. 20, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 3, 1998. It also contains bidding instructions and other important information regarding the auction.
pdf - text
Attachment A: xls
Attachment B: xls
Attachment C: xls
Attachment D: text
Attachment E: text
Attachment F: text
Attachment G: text

11/6/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2248)
Applications to Participate
Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Station Licenses, Status of Applications to Participate in the Auction, Bureau Reminds Bidders of Responsibilities Under NEPA Provisions
This Public Notice announces the status of applications received to participate in the Public Coast auction scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 2, 1998.
pdf - text
Attachment A: xls
Attachment B: xls
Attachment C: text
Attachment D: text
Correction to Attachment D: pdf - text

Procedures
Bidder Information Package
The VHF Public Coast Service Auction Bidders Information Package
Table of Contents & Tab A: pdf
Tab B: pdf
Tab C: pdf
Tab D: pdf
Tab E: pdf
Summary of Licenses to be Auctioned: pdf

Related Release(s):

9/8/1998
ERRATUM (DA 98-1796)
Attachment A: xls

9/21/1998
FURTHER CORRECTION TO Public Notice (DA 98-1796)
Attachment A: xls

9/25/2002
LETTER (DA 02-2387)
WJG MariTEL Corporation - Re: Final Bid Withdrawal Payment for Auction No. 20

5/19/1999
ORDER (DA 99-962)
Memorandum Opinion and Order "VHF Public Coast spectrum in the 156-162 MHz band."
pdf - text

12/16/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2542)
VHF Public Coast Service Auction Closes, Winning Bidders In the Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Service
pdf - text
Attachment A: Database
Attachment B: Database
Attachment C: Database
Attachment D: text
Attachment E: text
Attachment F: text

Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 20 began on 12/3/1998 and closed on 12/14/1998.
Round 44 (See PN DA 98-2542)

Licenses:
42 licenses, 1 license in each of the 42 VHF Public Coast Station Areas (VPCs) (pdf)
Spectrum:

156 - 162 MHz Band

Bandwidth:

50 kHz license (2 x 25 kHz blocks) in each of 42 VPCs

Winning Bidders:
4 bidders won 26 licenses (3 small business bidders won 17 licenses which were all Inland VPCs 1 other bidder won 9 Maritime Border and Maritime Non-Border VPCs
Rounds:
44
Qualified Bidders:
8
Licenses Won:
26
Licenses Held by FCC:
16
Total Licenses:
42
Net Bids:
$7,459,200
Gross Bids:
$7,812,000
Withdrawal Payments:
$26,552

 

General information and associated licensing parameters are provided below. Public Notices provide specific information regarding this auction. This fact sheet includes:

Key Dates

EventDate
Pre-Auction Seminar
10/20/1998
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
11/2/1998; 5:30 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline (Wire Transfer)
11/16/1998; 6:00 pm ET
Orders for Remote Bidding Software
11/17/1997; 5:30 pm ET
Mock Auction
12/1/1998
Auction Start
12/3/1998
Auction Closed
12/14/1998

Licenses Offered

A total of 42 licenses were included in this auction. VHF Public Coast Station Areas (VPCs) was the geographic method used to assign licenses. There were a total of 42 station areas consisting of 9 maritime VPCs and 33 inland VPCs. A single license of 350, 450 or 500 KHz was offered in each of the 42 VPCs. Each license consisted of channel pairs and the license size varied based upon public safety set-aside requirements and availability of channel 88 for maritime use.

Channel 88 is only available within 75 miles of the Canadian border (requires prior Canadian coordination) and is not available throughout remainder of the United States due to its allocation as a government channel.

Frequencies Offered

Working Carrier Frequency Pairs in the 156-162 MHz Band as set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 80.371(c)

Carrier frequency (MHz)
Channel designatorShip transmitCoast transmit
24157.200161.800
84157.225161.825
25157.250161.850
85157.275161.875
26157.300161.900
86157.325161.925
27157.350161.950
87157.375161.975
28157.400162.000
88157.425162.025

There is a specified pre-determined two channel pair public safety set-aside requirement [50 KHz each] for each inland VPC, as outlined in 47 C.F.R. § 80.371(c)(1)(B)and illustrated in the . See also Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications, Third Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order , FCC 98-151, Appendix E(rel. July 9, 1998).

Maritime VPCs have a two offset (narrowband) channel pair public safety requirement,[25 KHz each], however, not specified or pre-determined, must be coordinated with the United States Coast Guard post auction. See Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications, Third Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 98-151, paragraph 48-49 (rel. July 9, 1998).
See also 47 C.F.R. § 80.371 (c)(3).

License Types

There were four types of licenses based upon the public safety set-aside and/or availability of channel 88 for maritime use. Maritime Border 500 KHz Maritime Non Border 450 KHz Inland Border 350 KHz * Inland Non Border 350 KHz

* On September 21, 1998, An Erratum to Public Notice, DA 98-1796 was issued changing the kHz.

Permissible Operations

VHF Public Coast licensees may provide fixed, mobile, or hybrid voice or data communications. Service may be provided to units on land, provided that priority is given to marine originating communications.

License Period

Licenses are issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date. Licenses have a renewal expectancy based on the provision of substantial service and substantial compliance with applicable Commission rules, policies, and the Communications Act. (See 47 C.F.R. § 80.25).

Bidding Credits

A bidding credit acts as a discount on the winning bid amount that a bidder actually has to pay for the license. The size of the bidding credit depends on the annual gross revenues of the bidder, together with its affiliates and controlling interests, as averaged over the preceding three years. 

These bidding credits are not cumulative.

Releases P

12/16/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2542)
VHF Public Coast Service Auction Closes, Winning Bidders In the Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Service
This Public Notice announces the closing of the VHF Public Coast Service Auction (Auction No. 20) and provides other detailed information.
pdf - text
Attachment A: Database
Attachment B: Database
Attachment C: Database
Attachment D: text
Attachment E: text
Attachment F: text

11/20/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2347)
Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Service Licenses, 8 Qualified Bidders
This Public Notice identifies the 8 applicants that have been found qualified to bid for 42 VHF Public Coast Service licenses in Auction No. 20, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 3, 1998. It also contains bidding instructions and other important information regarding the auction.
pdf - text
Attachment A: xls
Attachment B: xls
Attachment C: xls
Attachment D: text
Attachment E: text
Attachment F: text
Attachment G: text

11/6/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2248)
Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Station Licenses, Status of Applications to Participate in the Auction, Bureau Reminds Bidders of Responsibilities Under NEPA Provisions
This Public Notice announces the status of applications received to participate in the Public Coast auction scheduled to begin on Thursday, December 2, 1998.
pdf - text
Attachment A: xls
Attachment B: xls
Attachment C: text
Attachment D: text
Correction to Attachment D: pdf - text

10/15/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-2079)
Public Coast Pre-Auction Seminar Venue Change
This public notice announces a change of venue for the VHF Public Coast Pre-Auction Seminar.

9/21/1998
FURTHER CORRECTION TO Public Notice (DA 98-1796)
Further Correction to Public Notice, Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Station Services, Licenses, Auction Notice and Filing Requirements for 42 Geographic Area Licenses, Minimum Opening Bids and Other Procedural Issues
This Public Notice further corrects Public Notice, DA 98-1796, released September 4, 1998.
pdf - text
Attachment A: xls

9/8/1998
ERRATUM (DA 98-1796)
Correction to Attachment A of Public Notice, Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Station Service Licenses
This Public Notice corrects and replaces Attachment A of Public Notice DA 98-1796, released September 4, 1998.
pdf - text
Attachment A: xls

9/4/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-1796)
Auction of 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Station Service Licenses
This Public Notice announces the procedures and minimum opening bids for the upcoming 156-162 MHz VHF Public Coast Station Service ("VHF Public Coast Service") auction.
pdf - text
See Correction to this Public Notice Issued September 8, 1998
See Correction to this Public Notice Issued September 21, 1998
Attachment A: xls

7/23/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-1469)
156-162 VHF Public Coast Station Spectrum Auction Scheduled for December 3, 1998, Comment Sought on Reserve Prices or Minimum Opening Bids and Other Auction Procedural Issues
This Public Notice announces the auction of 42 VHF public coast station licenses set to begin on December 3, 1998. Also, comment is sought on procedural issues relating to this auction.
pdf - text

Releases O

9/25/2002
LETTER (DA 02-2387)
WJG MariTEL Corporation - Re: Final Bid Withdrawal Payment for Auction No. 20
This letter calculates WJG's final bid withdrawal payment obligations.

5/19/1999
ORDER (DA 99-962)
Memorandum Opinion and Order "VHF Public Coast spectrum in the 156-162 MHz band."
On January 14, 1999, WJG MariTEL Corporation (MariTEL) filed a petition to deny the VHF Public Coast Service long-form applications (FCC Form 601s) of itself and Warren Havens (Havens). For the reasons discussed below, the Petition is dismissed in part and denied in part.
text

7/27/1998
ERRATA (DA 98-151)
In the Matter of Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications
This Errata corrects portions of the text and final rules in the Third Report and Order and Memorandum Opinion and Order in the above-captioned proceeding, FCC 98-151, which was released July 9, 1998.

7/9/1998
THIRD REPORT AND ORDER AND MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (DA 98-151)
In the Matter of Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications
This Report and Order addresses the petition for reconsideration of our decisions in the Second Report and Order filed by WJG MariTEL (MariTEL) and adopts rules aimed at streamlining our licensing process for VHF public coast stations.
pdf - text
See Errata
Map (Part of Appendix D): pdf

6/26/1997
SECOND REPORT AND ORDER AND SECOND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE MAKING (FCC 97-217)
In the Matter of Amendment of the Commission's Rules Concerning Maritime Communications
This Order amends the Commission's rules to promote operational, technical and regulatory flexibility in the Maritime service.
pdf - text
Appendix A: pdf - text

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