Auction 4: Broadband PCS A And B Block

Summary

December 5, 1994 - March 13, 1995
Rounds:
112
Bidding Days:
60
Qualified Bidders:
30
Winning Bidders:
18 bidders won 99 licenses
Gross Bids:
$7,019,403,797
Net Bids:
$7,019,403,797
Spreadsheets Files
Final Results for All License
Final Results for All Bidders
Charts Files
Results Summary
Summary of Measures by Round
Bidders Sorted by Total Net Bids and High Bids
Activity and Revenue Graph
Maps & Band Plans
Major Trading Areas Map
PCS (A, B, C, D, E, & F Block)
General Information
Auction Programs
For more licensing information, see Broadband.

3/13/1995
Winning Bidders
Commercial Mobile Radio Service Information: Announcing The Winning Bidders In The FCC's Auction of 99 Licenses To Provide Broadband PCS In Major Trading Areas: Down Payments Due March 20, 1995
On March 13, 1995, the Commission completed its auction of 99 licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band (broadband PCS), raising a total of $7,736,020,384.

11/28/1994
Qualified Bidders (txt)
FCC Releases Upfront Payment Amounts Tendered By Qualified Bidders In December 5, 1994 Broadband PCS Auction. This Public Notice provides information regarding the amount of the upfront payment made by each of 30 companies that have qualified to bid in the Commission's auction of 99 licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band (broadband PCS), which will begin on December 5, 1994.

11/1/1994
Applications to Participate (txt)
FCC Announces the Status of Application to Participate in the December 5, 1994 Auction of 99 MTA Licenses to Provide Communication Services in the 2 GHz Band (Broadband PCS)

Procedures
Bidder Information Package
Broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) Bidder Information Package
pdf - pdf - pdf - pdf - pdf - pdf - pdf - pdf - pdf

Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 4 began on 12/5/1994 and closed on 3/13/1995.
(See PN PNWL 95-28)

Licenses:
99 licenses. Two in each of 51 Major Trading Areas (MTAs), less 3 licenses awarded by pioneer's preference in New York, Washington/Baltimore and Los Angeles/San Diego ($701,780.374). See Major Trading Area (MTA) map, (pdf)
Spectrum:

2 GHz band
A block: 1850-1865 and 1930-1945 MHz
B block: 1870-1885 and 1950-1965 MHz

Bandwidth:
Block A & B - 30.0 MHz ea. (2 x 15 MHz paired) in 51 MTAs (Note: 2 licenses were awarded via pioneer preference - $701,780,374 total)

Total bandwidth: 60.0 MHz (60,000 KHz)
See PCS Bandplan, (pdf)
Winning Bidders:
18 bidders won 99 licenses
Rounds:
112
Qualified Bidders:
30
Licenses Won:
99
Total Licenses:
99
Net Bids:
$7,019,403,797
Gross Bids:
$7,019,403,797

 

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
08/22/1994, 08/24/1994, 08/26/1994, 08/29/1994
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
10/28/1994; 6:30 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline (Wire Transfer)
11/18/1994; 6:00 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline (Cashiers Check)
11/18/1994; 6:00 pm ET
Auction Start
12/5/1994
Auction Closed
3/13/1995

Licenses Offered

In this auction, the FCC offered for bid Broadband PCS licenses that authorize service in each of 51 Major Trading Areas (MTAs) covering the entire United States and its territories. Licenses in both frequency blocks A and B were auctioned in 48 MTAs, and in the other three MTAs, only the block B license was auctioned. In those three MTAs (New York, Los Angeles/San Diego, and Washington/Baltimore), the block A license was previously awarded to companies under the Commission's pioneer's preference program. Therefore, a total of 99 licenses were auctioned.

Permissible Operations

Licensees use broadband Personal Communications Service (PCS) spectrum for a variety of mobile and fixed radio services, also called wireless services. Mobile broadband PCS services include both voice and advanced two-way data capabilities that are generally available on small, mobile multifunction devices. The Commission and other wireless industry representatives often refer to these services as "Mobile Telephone Services" and "Mobile Data Services." Many broadband PCS licensees offer these services in competition with existing cellular and SMR licensees.

License Period

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

Installment Payments

Installment payments were not offered in this auction.

Bidding Credits

Bidding credits were not offered in this auction.

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.

5/26/1995
PUBLIC NOTICE (DA 95-1170)
Petition To Deny Against Broadband PCS A and B Block Applicants and Related Requests To Stay A and B Block Licensing Treated As Restricted Proceedings Under Commission Ex Parte Rules
This Public Notice announces the May 12, 1995 Petition to Deny and Request for Stay, filed by the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters, Percy Sutton, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will be treated as restricted proceedings.

3/13/1995
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 95-28)
Commercial Mobile Radio Service Information: Announcing The Winning Bidders In The FCC's Auction of 99 Licenses To Provide Broadband PCS In Major Trading Areas: Down Payments Due March 20, 1995
On March 13, 1995, the Commission completed its auction of 99 licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band (broadband PCS), raising a total of $7,736,020,384.
pdf - text - xls

1/4/1995
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 95-1)
Notice Of Amendments To Form 175 Filed With The FCC Broadband (PCS) Licenses For Public Inspection
This Public Notice announces for public inspection amendments to Form 175 from the Broadband personal communications services (PCS) licenses.
text

11/29/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-30)
Important Bidding Instruction and Other Information Regarding The Auction Of 99 Broadband PCS Licenses Commencing December 5, 1994
This Public Notice provides additional information concerning the procedures for the auction beginning December 5, 1994 of 99 licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band (broadband PCS) over Major Trading Areas.
text

11/28/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-29)
FCC Releases Upfront Payment Amounts Tendered By Qualified Bidders In December 5, 1994 Broadband PCS Auction
This Public Notice provides information regarding the amount of the upfront payment made by each of 30 companies that have qualified to bid in the Commission's auction of 99 licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band (broadband PCS), which will begin on December 5, 1994.
text

11/28/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-28)
Over $522 Million Collected In Upfront Payments For December 5, 1994 Broadband Auction
A total of $522,339,935 in upfront payments has been submitted for the Commission's auction of 99 Major Trading Area licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band (Broadband PCS), which will begin on December 5, 1994.
text

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.

11/1/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-25)
FCC Announces The Status Of Applications To Participate In The December 5, 1994 Auction Of 99 MTA Licenses To Provide Personal Communication Services In The 2 GHz Band (Broadband PCS); Auction To Be Held At FCC Auction Facility At The Postal Square Building, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC
This Public Notice announces the status of the 74 applications filed to participate in the auction of 99 Major Trading Area licenses to provide Personal Communication Services in the 2GHz band (broadband PCS) on frequency blocks A and B.
text

11/1/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 4025)
FCC Announces the Status of Application to Participate in the December 5, 1994 Auction of 99 MTA Licenses to Provide Communication Services in the 2 GHz Band (Broadband PCS)
text

10/20/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-21)
Answers To Questions Concerning Broadband PCS Auctions
This Public Notice provides guidance to prospective bidders on broadband PCS licenses.
text

9/19/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (REPORT NO. AUC 94-04)
Auction Notice and Filing Requirements For 99 MTA Licenses Located On The A and B Blocks For Personal Communication Services In The 2 GHz Band
This Public Notice announces filing requirements for a simultaneous multiple round auction for 99 licenses to provide Personal Communications Services (PCS) in the 2 GHz band ("broadband PCS").
text

8/12/1994
PUBLIC NOTICE (PNWL 94-8)
Agenda For Informational Seminars On Broadband PCS - August 22-29, 1994
This Public Notice announces the schedule of seminars held across the country to educate the public on the rules and procedures applicable to participation in auctions for licenses to provide Personal Communications Services in the 2 GHz band ("broadband PCS").
text

Releases O

7/15/1996
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (FCC 96-287)
Geographic Partitioning and Spectrum Disaggregation by Commercial Mobile Radio Services Licensees
In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, we propose to modify our broadband personal communications service (PCS) rules to expand our geographic partitioning provisions to include all PCS licensees and to permit spectrum disaggregation in the near term. We also solicit comment on certain issues relating to these rules.

11/23/1994
FIFTH MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (FCC 94-285)
In the Matter of Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act - Competitive Bidding
This Fifth Memorandum Opinion and Order resolves issues associated with our entrepreneurs' block rules, as well as other provisions we established to ensure that small businesses, rural telephone companies and businesses owned by minorities and women (collectively termed "designated entities") have meaningful opportunities to participate in the provision of broadband PCS.

10/19/1994
FOURTH MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (FCC 94-264)
Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act - Competitive Bidding, PP Docket No. 93-253, 9 FCC Rcd 6858, 6866-6869 ¶¶ 47-60
This Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order resolves petitions for reconsideration or clarification of our rules governing the methodology and procedure for auctions to provide personal communications services in the 2 GHz band (called "broadband PCS").

7/15/1994
FIFTH REPORT AND ORDER (FCC 94-178)
Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act - Competitive Bidding, PP Docket No. 93-253, 9 FCC Rcd 5532, 5570-5571, ¶¶ 91-92
This Fifth Report and Order sets forth the specific auction procedures for broadband PCS licenses.

Releases N

4/25/1996
NEWS
FCC Adopts Proposals To Encourage Rapid Deployment Through Modification Of Microwave Relocation Rules, Adoption Of Cost-Sharing Plan
text

6/23/1995
NEWS
FCC Grants 99 Licenses For Broadband Personal Communications Services In Major Trading Areas
text

3/13/1995
NEWS
The broadband PCS auction which began December 12, 1994 officially closed today generating over $7.7 billion. The 99 license auction will provide better service in the cellular industry
text

11/17/1994
NEWS
Broadband PCS Auction Rules Modified In Three Respects
text

10/31/1994
NEWS
Media Briefing On First Broadband PCS Auction, Commission Will Release Bidder Application List, Make Filing Available
text

10/26/1994
NEWS
Staff Adopts Order and Releases Letters Clarifying Issues On Broadband PCS Auctions
text

10/19/1994
NEWS
Broadband PCS Auction Procedures Generally Upheld; Some Modifications Made
text

10/19/1994
NEWS
Broadband PCS Regulatory Structure Affirmed With Minor Modification
text

8/22/1994
NEWS
Broadband PCS Auction Seminar Press Conference
text

8/15/1994
NEWS
On Its Own Motion, FCC Amends Its Affiliation and Attribution Rules For "Entrepreneurs" Licenses In Broadband PCS
text

8/2/1994
NEWS
Comments Sought On Extending Authorization For Geographic Partitioning Of PCS Service Areas To Women and Minority Applications
text

6/29/1994
NEWS
The Commission Adopts Competitive Bidding Procedures For Broadband PCS
text

6/9/1994
NEWS
FCC Adopts Modifications To PCS Band Plan; Creates Significant Benefits For Consumers and Businesses
text

Results

Tracking Tool

Read Me Files (txt)

Round Results 

Bidder Cross Reference (dbf)

Market Data (dbf)

Announce 

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Auction Seminar

Education