*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 27959.doc* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 03- 1735 May 20, 2003 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU BEGINS AN AUDIT OF LICENSES IN CERTAIN 220 – 222 MHz BAND SERVICES Licensees Must Respond to the Audit Letter by June 13, 2003 On May 14, 2003, the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) began its license audit of the operational status of certain site- specific licenses operating in the 220 – 222 MHz (220 MHz) band. This audit was announced by Public Notice on April 9, 2003 1 and includes licenses in the following services: € “QT” – Non- nationwide 5- channel trunked systems € “QD” – Non- nationwide data € “QO” – Non- nationwide other Note: This audit does not include geographic- area licenses granted following the 220 MHz auctions or 220 MHz licenses authorized for public safety, mutual aid, or emergency medical services. The Audit Letter On Wednesday, May 14, 2003, 453 letters were mailed to all licensees operating in the QT, QD, and QO radio services inquiring into the operational status of each license held. Every licensee in these radio services must respond and certify, by June 13, 2003, that its authorized station( s) has not discontinued operations for one year or more. 2 The audit letter, mailed to each licensee at its address of record, included the call signs of the licensee’s authorizations involved in this audit. A licensee will receive only one audit letter for all of its QT, QD, and QO authorizations if the licensee, by May 13, 2003, verified the address was listed correctly in ULS, obtained its FRN, and associated its call signs with the FRN. If the licensee did not ensure the address was correct in ULS, did not obtain its FRN, and did not associate its calls signs with the FRN by May 13, 2003, the Bureau attempted to include all of a licensee’s call signs subject to this audit in one letter, but may have issued more than one letter for an entity due to slight variations in licensee name or address in the Commission’s records. 3 If this is the case, the licensee must respond to each letter sent by the Commission 1 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces an Audit of the Operational Status of Certain 220- 222 MHz Band Licenses, Public Notice, DA 03- 1089, rel. April 9, 2003. 2 Under the Commission’s rules, if a licensee allows a constructed facility to discontinue operations for one year or more, the license cancels automatically. See 47 C. F. R. § 90. 157. 3 In this case, each letter will list different call signs associated with that exact licensee name and address. 1 in order to account for all of its call signs that are part of the audit. If a licensee holds an authorization( s) in any of these radio services and does not receive an audit letter, the licensee may still be required to respond to the audit. Licensees can use the Audit Search at http:// wireless. fcc. gov/ licensing/ audits/ 220 to determine if a particular license is part of the audit. If the Audit Search shows an audit letter was mailed, the licensee is required to respond to the audit even though the audit letter was not received. For instructions on how to proceed in this instance, call the Commission at 717- 338- 2888 or 888- CALLFCC (888- 225- 5322) and select option #2. A response to the audit letter is mandatory. Each licensee is required to submit its response( s), electronically, by June 13, 2003. Specific instructions for responding to the audit, including the internet site, were included in the audit letter. Failure to provide a timely response may result in the Commission presuming that the station has been non- operational for more than one year, and thus the license may be presumed to have automatically cancelled. Failure to provide a timely response may also result in enforcement action, including monetary forfeiture, pursuant to Section 503( b)( 1)( B) of the Communications Act and Section 1.80( a)( 2) of the Commission’s Rules. 4 For assistance in registering with CORES and associating your call sign with the FRN, call 717- 338- 2888 or 888- CALLFCC (888- 225- 5322) and select option 2. For additional information on the 220 MHz license audit, visit the 220 MHz audit web site at http:// wireless. fcc. gov/ licensing/ audits/ 220 or contact Denise Walter of the Bureau’s Commercial Wireless Division at 202- 418- 0620 or denise. walter@ fcc. gov. 4 See 47 U. S. C. § 503( b)( 1)( b); 47 C. F. R. § 1. 80( a)( 2). 2