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Auction 3: Regional Narrowband (PCS)

Summary

October 26, 1994 - November 8, 1994
Rounds:
105
Bidding Days:
9
Qualified Bidders:
28
Winning Bidders:
9 bidders won 30 licenses
Gross Bids:
$488,772,800
Net Bids:
$392,706,797
Maps & Band Plans
Regional PCS Areas Map
Narrowband PCS
General Information

Revenue Graph (gif)
Winning Bidders & Licenses (xls)
You can find more licensing information at Narrowband PCS.

Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 3 began on 10/26/1994 and closed on 11/8/1994.
(See PNWL 94-027)

 
 
Licenses:

30 regional licenses. Six licenses in each of five geographic regions known as Regional Narrowband PCS service areas (RPC)

Spectrum:

Various 901-902; 930-931; 940-941 MHz

Bandwidth:

2 licenses - 100 kHz ea.(2 x 50 kHz) in 5 Regions (Total 200 kHz)

4 licenses - 62.5 kHz ea. (50 kHz & 12,5 kHz) in 5 Regions (Total 250 kHz)

Winning Bidders:
9 bidders won 30 licenses
Rounds:
105
Qualified Bidders:
28
Licenses Won:
30
Total Licenses:
30
Net Bids:
$392,706,797
Gross Bids:
$488,772,800

 

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
6/6/1994
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
9/26/1994; 5:30 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline
10/5/1994; 11:59 pm ET
Auction Start
10/26/1994
Auction Closed
11/8/1994

Licenses Offered

A total of 30 Narrowband Personal Communications Services (Narrowband PCS) licenses were offered in this auction. Two licenses, 100 kHz ea.(2 x 50 kHz), in five Regional Narrowband PCS service areas (total 200 kHz) and four licenses, 62.5 kHz ea. (50 kHz & 12,5 kHz), in five Regional Narrowband PCS service areas (total 250 kHz).

The regional Narrowband PCS auction was the first to use a new computerized auction system that allowed bidders to participate in the auction either on-site at the FCC's auction headquarters or from remote locations via computer or telephone.

Permissible Operations

Personal Communications Service (PCS) encompasses a wide variety of mobile, portable and ancillary communications services to individuals and businesses. The Commission broadly defined PCS as mobile and fixed communications offerings that serve individuals and businesses, and can be integrated with a variety of competing networks.

Narrowband PCS uses a smaller portion of the spectrum than broadband PCS. Narrowband PCS licenses are used to provide such services as two-way paging and other text-based services. For example, licensees offer services using devices that come equipped with a small keyboard allowing a subscriber to both retrieve and send complete messages through microwave signals (e.g. wireless e-mail). Licensees also use the spectrum to offer wireless telemetry which is the monitoring of mobile or fixed equipment in a remote location. For example, a licensee may remotely monitor utility meters of energy companies (this is called automatic meter reading or "AMR")..

License Period

Licenses are issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date.

Installment Payments

Installment payments were made available to small businesses for any of the regional narrowband licenses. See the Bidder Information Package for more details.

Bidding Credits

Businesses owned by women and minorities were entitled to a 40 percent bidding credit applicable to ten specified regional licenses, frequency block #2 (50/50 kHz paired) and #6, (50/12.5 kHz paired) in each region. See the Bidder Information Package for more details.

Releases P

9/18/1998
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 98-1897)
WTB Provides Guidance on Grace Period and Installment Payment Rules
This Public Notice provides guidance to licensees participating in installment payment programs regarding the revised Part 1 rules governing grace periods and installment payments.

10/26/1995
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 95-2244)
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Clarifies Spectrum Auction Anti-Collusion Rules
This Public Notice provides guidance regarding the Commission's anti-collusion rules, is meant to serve as a guideline for all auctions.
text

2/3/1995
PUBLIC NOTICE (REPORT CN-95-7)
Personal Communications Service Information Narrowband - Regional
This Public Notice grants five applications, on the condition that the remaining balance is paid in accordance with Section 1.2109 of the Commission's rules
text

1/20/1995
REPORT (CN-95-3 )
Personal Communications Service Information Narrowband - Regional
The WTB granted ten applications today, on the condition that the remaining balance is paid by the due date.
text

11/29/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-31)
FCC Announces the Receipt Of Down Payments From the High Bidders In the Auction Of 30 Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses
This Public Notice announces receipt of down payments totaling $57,192,316 from the winning bidders in the auction of 30 Regional Narrowband Personal Communications Service (PCS) licenses.
text

11/9/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-27)
Announcing the High Biders In the Auction Of 30 Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses Winning Bids Total $490,901,787
This Public Notice announces the winning bids and licenses won in the Auction of 30 Regional Narrowband PCS licenses.
text

11/9/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE
The WTB announces the close of Auction No. 3 and a list of the winning bidders and close auction procedures

11/4/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (FCC 94-283)
Commission Announces That Mutually Exclusive "Short-Form" Applications (Form 175) To Participate In Competitive Bidding Process (Auctions) Are Treated As Exempt For Ex Parte Purpose
In the Second Report and Order in PP Docket No. 93-253, 9 FCC Rcd 2348 (1994), recon. Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 94-215 (released August 15, 1994), the Commission adopted general rules to implement the authority conferred in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 to employ competitive bidding ("auction") procedures to choose among mutually exclusive applications for initial licenses.
text

10/21/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 94-1183)
Important Information Regarding the Auction Of Narrowband PCS Licenses; Canadian Interim Sharing Agreement
On September 22, 1994, representatives of the FCC and Industry Canada concluded a sharing arrangement for narrowband PCS.
text

10/12/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE
28 applicants qualified to bid in the regional narrowband Personal Communications Service (PCS) licenses

10/1/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-18)
FCC Announces Electronic Remote Access Bidding Will Be Available For Regional Narrowband Auction and a Series Of Auction Simulations Open To Interested Parties
This Public Notice details the various bidding options that will be available to bidders in the FCC's October 26, 1994 auction of regional narrowband PCS licenses, and announces a series of auction simulations beginning October 10, 1994 that the FCC will conduct to further test the remote access bidding option.
text

9/28/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-19)
Announcing the Status Of Applications Received For the 30 Regional Narrowband Personal Communications Service (PCS) Licenses To Be Auctioned Beginning October 26, 1994 At the Postal Square Building, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C.
The FCC (FCC) has received 53 applications to participate in the Regional Narrowband Personal Communication Service (PCS) license auction beginning October 26, 1994, at the Postal Square Building, Washington, D.C..
text

9/28/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE
This Public Notice announces the status of applications received for the 30 Regional Narrowband Personal Communication Service (PCS) licenses

9/27/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-17)
FCC Auction Line; Communications Software For Narrowband PCS
The Commission is considering offering Regional Narrowband PCS auction applicants remote access bidding. The auction is scheduled for October 26, 1994.
text

9/26/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-16)
FCC Announces Location Of the 30 Regional Narrowband PCS Licenses To Be Auctioned On October 26, 1994
This Public Notice announces the simultaneous multiple round auction for 30 regional Personal Communications Service (PCS) licenses in the 900 MHz band ("narrowband PCS").
text

8/29/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (REPORT No. Auc - 94-03)
Auction Notice For 30 Paired Regional Licenses For Personal Communications Services In the 900 MHz Band; First Amendment To Public Notice Dated August 17, 1994
The FCC amends its decision that a bidder be required to be active on licenses encompassing 100% of the MHz-Pops to 90% in the third stage. In addition, Commission has decided to allow bidders to submit proactive waivers during the submission period
text

8/17/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (REPORT No. Auc - 94-03)
Auction Notice and Filing Requirements For 30 Paired Regional Licenses For Personal Communications Services In the 900 MHz Band
The FCC ("FCC") plans to hold a simultaneous multiple round auction for 30 regional Personal Communications Service (PCS) licenses in the 900MHz band ("narrowband PCS"). The auction will begin at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, October 26, 1994.
text

7/1/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-13)
Narrowband PCS Fact Sheet
Information on the potential of narrowband PCS and the bidding process.
text

6/17/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 91-1)
Answers To Questions From the June 6, 1994 FCC Bidders Seminar For the Auction Of Narrowband Personal Communications Services (PCS) Licenses and Interactive Video and Data Service License
Questions have been grouped according to the following topics: 1. Completion and Making Changes to FCC Application Forms 2. Designated Entities 3. Auctions 4. PCS Licenses and PCS Auction Rules 5. IVDS Licenses
text

Releases O

3/9/2007
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (FCC 07-20)
In the Matter of Hill & Welch and Myers Keller Communications Law Group Request for Attorney Fees in Connection with the 218-219 MHz Service, Regional Narrowband PCS Service and Nationwide Narrowband PCS Service
The Commission dismisses in part and otherwise denies a Petition for Reconsideration filed by the law firm of Hill & Welch.

4/1/2003
MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (FCC 03-70)
Hill & Welch and Myers Keller Communications Law Group Request for Attorney Fees in Connection with the 218-219 MHz Service, Regional Narrowband PCS Service, and Nationwide Narrowband PCS
Denied the Application for Review filed by Hill & Welch and Myers Keller Communications Law Group.

7/26/2001
LETTER (DA 01-1803)
Instapage Network, Ltd.
This letter dismisses Instapage's request for a grace period pursuant to the then applicable installment payment rules.

10/26/2000
ORDER (DA 00-2410)
Hill and Welch and Myers Keller Communications Law Group
This Order denies the request for attorney fees in connection with 218-219 MHZ service proceeding and regional narrowband PCS service.

8/17/1994
THIRD MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER AND FURTHER NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (FCC 94-219)
In the Matter of Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act - Competitive Bidding Narrowband PCS and Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Establish New Narrowband Personal Communication Services
By this action, we respond to petitions for reconsideration of the Third Report and Order in this proceeding. The Third Report and Order established service-specific rules for competitive bidding for the award of licenses for Personal Communications Services in the 900 MHz band (narrowband PCS). Seven such petitions were received, as well as three oppositions and comments and one reply.

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