Auction 26: 929 And 931 MHz Paging Service

This auction offers 2,499 licenses in 51 Major Economic Areas ("MEAs").Offered are:
612 "929 MHz licenses" (twelve in each MEA)
1,887 "931 MHz licenses"(thirty-seven in each MEA)

Spectrum:

929 - 930 MHz Band
931 - 932 MHz Band

Bandwidth:

931 MHz Licenses:
Block AA thru BK - 20 kHz licence in each of 51 MEAs

929 MHz Licenses:
Block A thru L - 20 kHz license in each of 51 MEAs

Winning Bidders:

78 bidders won 985 licenses

Rounds:

Qualified Bidders:

Licenses Won:

985

Licenses Held by FCC:

1514

Total Licenses:

2499

Net Bids:

$4,122,500

Gross Bids:

$4,927,200

Withdrawal Payments:

$87,300

The Paging Upper band 929 MHz and 931 MHz spectrum auction will use simultaneous multiple round competitive bidding. Bidding will be permitted only from remote locations, either electronically (by computer) or telephonically. Specific information relating to this auction will be announced by public notice. General information and associated licensing parameters are listed below.

Key Dates
Licenses Offered
Permissible Operations
License Period and Construction Requirements
Bidding Credits
Incumbents

Key Dates

Event	Date
Pre-Auction Seminar	1/7/2000
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline	1/20/2000
Upfront Payments Deadline	2/7/2000
Auction Start	2/24/2000
Auction Closed	3/2/2000

Licenses Offered

The Federal Communications Commission ("FCC" or "Commission") held an auction for 2,499 licenses: 612 - 929 MHz Licenses and 1,887 - 931 MHz licenses

Permissible Operations

The 929 and 931 MHz frequency bands are allocated for paging services. If you win a geographic license in the auction, you will be able to use the spectrum to provide: (1) one-way messaging; (2) two-way messaging; and (3) fixed wireless services. Provision of these services is subject to the technical limitations set forth for the service in Part 22 (Part 90 for 929 MHz exclusive channels).

Paging systems are traditionally one-way signaling systems. Paging services, grouped by output, include; tone, tone/voice, numeric, and alphanumeric. Present systems are of two basic types; a wide-area general-use type providing subscription service to the public, and, an in-building, private, paging system, limited to a commercial building or the general area of a manufacturing plant. Currently, neither of these paging systems can initiate an answer without calling through a landline telephone. However, in 1996, the Commission adopted the First Report and Order in the flexible spectrum use proceeding, in which several CMRS bands (including 929 and 931 MHz) were allocated to the fixed service on a co-primary basis. ¹ Permitting service providers to offer all types of fixed, mobile, and hybrid services will allow CMRS providers to better respond to market demand and increase competition in the provision of telecommunications services. The Commission concluded that the public interest would be served by giving licensees maximum flexibility in the use of CMRS spectrum.

License Period and Construction Requirements

CMRS licenses are issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date. Licensees are required to provide coverage to one-third of the population in its area within three years of the license grant, and to two-thirds of the population within its area within five years of the license grant. In the alternative, the licensee may provide substantial service to the geographic license area within five years of license grant. See CMRS Third Report and Order, 9 FCC Rcd at 8157 n.712.

Bidding Credits

Bidding credits are available to small businesses or consortia thereof, (as defined in 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2110(c) and 22.217(a)). A bidding credit represents the amount by which a bidder’s winning bids are discounted. The size of the bidding credit depends on the average annual gross revenues for the preceding three years of the bidder, its affiliates, its controlling interests, and the affiliates of its controlling interests:

A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues of more than $3 million but not more than $15 million for the preceding three years receives a 25 percent discount on its winning bids for paging licenses
A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues of not more than $3 million for the preceding three years receives a 35 percent discount on its winning bids for paging licenses

Bidding credits are not cumulative. A qualifying applicant receives either the 25 percent or the 35 percent bidding credit, but not both.

Incumbents

Incumbent (non-geographic) paging licensees operating under their existing authorizations are entitled to full protection from co-channel interference. ² Geographic area licensees are likewise afforded co-channel interference protection from incumbent licensees. & sup3 Adjacent geographic area licensees are obligated to resolve possible interference concerns of adjacent geographic area licensees by negotiating a mutually acceptable agreement with the neighboring geographic licensee.

For further details on Paging services please refer to our Commercial Wireless Divisions Paging web site

¹ Amendment of the Commission's rules to Permit Flexible Service Offerings in the Commercial Mobile Radio Services, WT Docket No. 96-6, First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 11 FCC Rcd 8965 (1996).

² Paging Second Report and Order at ¶ 58 and Paging Reconsideration Order at ¶ 42-44; 47 C.F.R. § 22.503(I).

³ Paging Reconsideration Order at ¶ 45.

Releases P

3/6/2000
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 00-508)
929 and 931 MHz Paging Auction Closes Winning Bidders of 985 Licenses Announced Down Payments Due March 20, 2000 FCC Forms 601 and 602 Due March 20, 2000 Ten-Day Petition to Deny Period
This Public Notice details information regarding winning bidders, down payments, bid withdrawals, waiver requests, and licensing matters.
Attachment A: pdf
Attachment B: pdf
Attachment C: pdf
Attachment D: pdf - text - Word
Attachment E: pdf - text - Word
Attachment F: pdf - text - Word

2/17/2000
CORRECTION TO PUBLIC NOTICE
Correction to Attachment A; Auction of 929 and 931 MHZ Paging Licenses
This Public Notice corrects Attachment A of the original item that was released February 14, 2000.
pdf - text - Word
See original PN
Attachment A: pdf

2/14/2000
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 00-278)
Auction of 929 and 931 MHz Paging Licenses Report No. AUC-26-E (Auction No. 26)
This Public Notice identifies 81 applicants that have been found qualified to bid in Auction No. 26, which is scheduled to begin Thursday, 2/24/2000. This Public Notice also contains bidding instructions and other important information regarding the auction
See Correction
Attachment A: pdf
Attachment B: pdf
Attachment C: pdf
Attachment D: text - Word
Attachment E: text - Word
Attachment F: text - Word
Attachment G: text - Word

2/1/2000
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 00-173)
Auction of 2,499 - 929 and 931 MHz Paging Licenses Report No. AUC-99-26-C (Auction No. 26)
This Public Notice announces the status of the 87 Form 175 applications received to participate in Auction No. 26. The upfront payment deadline is addressed as well as other important auction information.
Attachment A: pdf
Attachment B: pdf

12/23/1999
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 99-2988)
Auction of 929 and 931 MHz Paging Service Spectrum Report No. AUC-99-26-C (Auction No. 26)
This Public Notice provides supplemental due diligence information for potential bidders in the upcoming Paging 929 and 931 MHz Upper Bands Auction ("Upper Bands Auction").
pdf - text - Word
Attachment A: xls
Attachment B: xls

12/6/1999
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 99-2731)
929 and 931 MHZ Paging Pre-Auction Seminar
This Public Notice announces the pre-auction seminar is scheduled for Friday, January 7, 2000 and will provide information about pre-auction procedure, service and auction rules, conduct of the auction, and the FCC remote bidding software.
pdf - text - Word

8/12/1999
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 99-1591)
Auction Of 929 and 931 MHz Paging Service Spectrum Auction Notice and Filing Requirements for 2,499 Paging Upper Band Licenses Scheduled for February 24, 2000 Minimum Opening Bids and Other Procedural Issues
This Public Notice announces the procedures and minimum opening bids for the upcoming Paging 929 and 931 MHz Upper Bands Auction ("Upper Bands Auction").
pdf - text - Word
Attachment A (2 worksheets): xls
Attachment B (2 worksheets): xls-1 - xls-2
Attachments C, D, E, F, G, H, & I: text - Word
FCC remote Bidding Software Order Form: pdf
FCC Auction Seminar Registration Form: pdf

6/7/1999
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 99-1103)
First Paging Service Spectrum Auction Scheduled for December 7, 1999; Comment Sought on Reserve Prices or Minimum Opening Bids and Other Auction Procedural Issues
This Public Notice announces the first auction of Paging services licenses, scheduled to commence on December 7, 1999.
Attachment A (2 worksheets): xls

4/9/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-684)
WTB Makes 929 MHz and 931 MHz Paging Databases Available For Review Prior To Auction
This Public 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. The FCC has asked the licensees to review the 929 MHz and 931 MHz Paging database for accuracy. The Paging Database is located at Universal Licensing System.
pdf - text

Releases L

10/31/2006
LETTER (DA 06-2122)
Final Bid Withdrawal Payment for Auction No. 26, 1001 Lockwood, Inc.

12/13/2004
LETTER (DA 04-3886)
Letter to Charlotte M. Slone, President, TeleMaxx Communications, LLC
This letter assesses the final bid withdrawal payment for Auction No. 26.

12/13/2004
LETTER (DA 04-3888)
Letter to Dwayne H. Caraway, President, BCO, Incorporated
This letter assesses the final bid withdrawal payment for Auction No. 26.

12/13/2004
LETTER (DA 04-3889)
Letter to Harvey Jacquin, President, RCC, Inc. d/b/a Radio Comm Company
This letter assesses the final bid withdrawal payment for Auction No. 26.

12/21/2001
LETTER (DA 01-2709)
Mr. Carl W. Northrop (representing Vodafone AirTourch Licenses LLC)
This letter responds to the Request for Refund filed by Vodafone AirTouch Licenses LLC in connection with certain licenses it purchased in Auction No. 26.

3/2/2000
LETTER (DA 00-458)
Mr. William Buxbaum on behalf of Network Services, LLC
This letter denies a waiver request to amend Network Services, LLC's FCC Form 175 to include additional license areas in Auction No 26.

Releases O

10/25/2001
ORDER (DA 01-2480)
Default Payment Obligations and Procedures for Trompex Corporation
This Order sets forth the disqualification and the default payment obligations and procedures for Trompex Corp., resulting from its violation of sections 1.2105(b)(2) and (c)(2) of the Commission's rules during the Commission's 929 and 931 MHz Paging Auction.

3/21/2000
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION (DA 00-626)
Application of Password, Inc. To Participate in the 929/931 MHZ Paging Auction (Auction No. 26)
This Order denies an Emergency Petition for Reconsideration filed by Cook Telecom, Inc. seeking recession of a rule waiver granted to Pass Word, Inc. on February 15, 2000.
pdf - text - Word

2/14/2000
LETTER (DA 00-274)
Ms. Melodie Virtue on behalf of Pass Word, Inc. (Pass Word)
This letter responds to the "Request for Waiver and Leave to Amend FCC Form 175- Upper Band Paging Auction 26" filed by Ms. Melodie Virtue.

2/1/2000
LETTER (DA 00-156)
Paul L. Valois, President Lincoln Communications, Inc.
This letter denies the request of Paul L. Valois, President Lincoln Communications, Inc., for confidential treatment of the information contained in Exhibit E to the FCC Form 175 application submitted by Lincoln to participate in Auction No. 26.

5/24/1999
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION AND THIRD REPORT AND ORDER (FCC 99-98)
In the Matter of Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act -- Competitive Bidding
This MO&O on Reconsideration and 3rd R&O makes certain modifications to the rules adopted in the 2nd R&O &Further Notice and adopts rules that permit partitioning of nationwide licenses and disaggregation of paging spectrum.

12/14/1998
ORDER (DA 98-2543)
In the Matter of Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems
This Order dismisses all pending mutually exclusive paging applications...

2/24/1997
SECOND REPORT AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (FCC 97-59)
In the Matter of Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act - Competitive Bidding
This Order adopts rules and competitive bidding procedures for the Common Carrier Paging and 929 MHz Private Carrier Paging licensing process.
pdf - text
Appendices for text version: text