*Pages 1--6 from Microsoft Word - 22569.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 02 – 2934 October 31, 2002 THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU PROVIDES DETAILS ON ENHANCEMENTS TO THE UNIVERSAL LICENSING SYSTEMS MARKET- BASED LICENSE INFORMATION On October 17, 2002, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) released a new version of the Universal Licensing System (ULS) license search. 1 Part of the release included enhancements to the search criteria for market- based licenses (e. g., auctionable licenses) and enhancements to the display of information on market- based licenses. This Public Notice is intended to highlight enhancements that will be of interest to those reviewing information regarding market- based licenses. The following enhancements are highlighted: € How to interpret partitioned and disaggregated licenses € Ability to search for cellular licenses by Cellular Market Area (CMA) codes € Display of the market description € Link to auctions web site How to Interpret Partitioned and Disaggregated Licenses Market- based licenses can be partitioned (subdivided by geographic areas), disaggregated (subdivided by spectrum) or both. Previously, information was displayed in a manner in which partitioned and disaggregated information was “Included” on one license and “Excluded” on another license. For example, if the A- block broadband PCS license in the New York MTA (MTA001) was partitioned (partitioner) by assigning the Ithaca BTA (BTA208) to another entity (partitionee), the partitioner’s license would have indicated BTA208 was “Excluded” and the partitionee’s license would have indicated BTA208 was “Included.” The Include/ Exclude concept has been replaced by always displaying the geographic area and spectrum on a license that is authorized to a licensee. See Appendix A for examples of licenses that only display the geographic area and spectrum authorized to a licensee. In addition, partitioned and disaggregated licenses now display populations for partitioned areas based on 2000 Census Bureau data and have a link to view other licenses within the same radio service, market and channel block. 1 See “Redesigned ULS License Search Debuts Thursday, October 17, 2002,” Public Notice, DA 02- 2502 (rel. October 3, 2002). 1 2 Search by Cellular Market Area (CMA) Codes Each cellular license (radio service code CL) is associated with a particular CMA. 2 Previously, CMA codes could not be entered as search criteria on the market- based license search. As a result of the new license search, CMA codes can now be searched similar to other geographic market areas such as Major Trading Areas (MTAs), Basic Trading Areas (BTAs) and Economic Areas (EAs). The following are steps to search by CMAs (or other market codes): 1. Access the ULS license search at click on Licenses and then click the Market- Based search link. 2. Enter the six- character code in the Market field and click Submit. For example, to search by the Seattle – Everett, WA CMA, enter CMA020. 3. The results of the search will appear on the Results Page. 4. Click on a Call Sign to view an individual license. Display of the Market Description Each market- based license is associated with a particular geographic market area. For example, broadband PCS licenses (radio service code CW) are either associated with an MTA or BTA. Previously, the Market field on a license displayed only the market code, such as MTA001. As a result of the enhancements to the display of market- based information, each license now displays a market code and description, such as MTA001 – New York. The market code and description are displayed in the Market field on both the Main tab and the Market tab. Link to Auctions Web Site Each market- based license is associated with an Auction ID. The Auction ID indicates the license was either issued as a result of a particular auction or that the license was issued as a result of a partition or disaggregation from a license that was issued as a result of a particular auction. Previously, only the Auction ID was displayed on a market- based license. As a result of the enhancements to the display of market- based information, each license now has a link to the auctions web site for information regarding a specific auction. For example, a Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) license issued as a result of Auction 16 has a link on the Market tab for the Auction 16 web page. For more information about the issues covered in this public notice, contact ULS support at the locations listed below: FCC Technical Support Hotline: 202- 414- 1250 (TTY 202- 414- 1255), or via e- mail at ulscomm@ fcc. gov. Contact the Technical Support Hotline about questions concerning computer access to ULS, your FRN, uploading files, or submitting attachments. The hotline is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a. m. to 6 p. m. Eastern Standard Time (except federal holidays). In order to provide better service to ULS users and ensure the security of the electronic filing system, all calls to the hotline are recorded. 2 There are 734 CMAs. The first 306 are Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and the remaining 428 are Rural Statistic Areas (RSAs). MSAs and RSAs for cellular licenses are collectively referred to as CMAs. 2 3 ULS Licensing Support and Forms Information: 1- 888- CALLFCC (225- 5322), select option #2 or 717- 338- 2888. E- mail questions may be sent to ulshelp@ fcc. gov. Contact Licensing Support with questions about which application purpose( s) are appropriate for a particular filing, what information is being requested on a ULS form or schedule, or any other ULS- related licensing matter. ULS Licensing Support is available Monday through Friday, from 8: 00 a. m. to 5: 30 p. m. Eastern Standard Time (except federal holidays). 3 4 Appendix A Example 1. The following example depicts a license that has not been partitioned or disaggregated. In this case, a statement will appear on the license under the “Authorized Spectrum” indicating “License [insert call sign] has not been partitioned or disaggregated.” You can review the values for the “Market” and “Associated Frequencies” to determine the market area and amount of spectrum a licensee holds for a given license. In this example, the licensee is authorized for the entire Detroit MTA (MTA005) and 30 MHz of spectrum (i. e., the entire A- block). 4 5 Example 2. The following example depicts a license that has been disaggregated. In this case, the value to the right of the “Authorized Spectrum” will be less than the value for the “Associated Frequencies” and the value under the “Market Areas” will be the same as the value for the “Market.” In this example, the licensee is authorized for 15 MHz (i. e., half of the C- block) of spectrum across the entire Montgomery, AL BTA (BTA305). 5 6 Example 3. The following example depicts a license that has been partitioned and disaggregated. In this case, the value to the right of the “Authorized Spectrum” for one or more geographic areas will be less than the value for the “Associated Frequencies” and the value under the “Market Areas” will be a subset of the value for the “Market.” In this example, the licensee is authorized for 10 MHz (the entire D- block) of spectrum in one of the two counties (Del Norte, CA) that comprise the Eureka, CA BTA (BTA134) and 5 MHz of spectrum (half of the D- block) in the other county (Eureka, CA). 6