PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 06-2622 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: December 29, 2006 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES FILING DATES AND PROCEDURES FOR VERIZON AIRFONE INC. TRANSITION STATUS REPORTS CALL SIGN KNKG804 By this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announces the filing dates and procedures for four reports that Verizon Airfone Inc. (Verizon Airfone or Airfone) must file regarding its air-ground radiotelephone system.1 Airfone holds a nonrenewable license, which expires on May 13, 2010, to operate a narrowband radiotelephone system in all four megahertz of the 800 MHz commercial Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service band (2.0 MHz at 849.0-851.0 MHz paired with 2.0 MHz at 894.0-896.0 MHz).2 Airfone recently discontinued using this spectrum to provide “seat-back” phone service onboard commercial aircraft, but has announced that it intends to serve general aviation aircraft until “at least” December 31, 2007.3 The terms of Airfone’s nonrenewable license require that, no later than October 31, 2008, it vacate the lower 1.5 MHz portion of each two megahertz portion of the air-ground band, which corresponds to the exclusive 3 MHz spectrum license won by AC BidCo LLC in Auction No. 65.4 Thereafter, Airfone may (but is not required to) operate in the upper 0.5 MHz portion of each two megahertz portion of the air-ground band until its license expires on May 13, 2010. 1 See “Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Adopts Reporting Requirements Regarding Verizon Airfone Inc., Call Sign KNKG804,” Public Notice, DA 06-294, 21 FCC Rcd 1263 (WTB rel. Feb. 6, 2006) (enumerating reporting requirements) (Airfone Public Notice). 2 See Amendment of Part 22 of the Commission's Rules to Benefit the Consumers of Air-Ground Telecommunications Services, Biennial Regulatory Review--Amendment of Parts 1, 22, and 90 of the Commission's Rules, Amendment of Parts 1 and 22 of the Commission's Rules to Adopt Competitive Bidding Rules for Commercial and General Aviation Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service, WT Docket Nos. 03-103 and 05-42, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 20 FCC Rcd 4403, 4440-4441 ¶¶80-81 (2005) (Air-Ground Order), Order on Reconsideration and Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd 19663 (2005) (Air-Ground Reconsideration Order). 3 See http://www22.verizon.com/airfone/ (last visited December 26, 2006). 4 On October 31, 2006, the Bureau announced the grant of new nationwide air-ground licenses to AC BidCo LLC (File No. 0002653156) and LiveTV LLC (FCC File No. 0002658043). See “Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Grants 800 MHz Air-Ground Licenses,” Public Notice, DA 06-2254, 21 FCC Rcd 13022 (WTB rel. Oct. 31, 2006). AC BidCo LLC won the exclusive 3-MHz C-block license, Call Sign WQFX728 (1.5 MHz at 849.0-850.5 MHz paired with 1.5 MHz at 894.0-895.5 MHz), and LiveTV LLC won the exclusive 1-MHz D-block license, Call Sign WQFX729 (0.5 MHz at 850.5-851.0 MHz paired with 0.5 MHz at 895.5-896.0 MHz). 2 In the Air-Ground Reconsideration Order, the Commission directed the Bureau to adopt reporting requirements regarding Airfone's transition of its base stations and its subscribers' aircraft to operate on one megahertz of the air-ground band.5 The Commission found that such reports would serve the public interest by enabling FCC staff to closely monitor the transition of Airfone's system and to ensure that the transition is timely effected.6 The Bureau enumerated such reporting requirements in the Airfone Public Notice7 and, pursuant to that public notice, hereby announces the filing dates for such reports: · First Status Report, April 30, 2007. · Second Status Report, October 31, 2007. · Third Status Report, April 30, 2008. · Fourth Status Report, October 31, 2008. Verizon Airfone must file an original and two copies of each status report with the Office of the Secretary of the Federal Communications Commission (attention Wireless Telecommunications Bureau), and concurrently serve a copy of each report on the licensee of Call Sign WQFX728 and the licensee of Call Sign WQFX729 (currently AC BidCo LLC and LiveTV LLC, respectively). Alternate formats of this public notice (computer diskette, large print, audio recording, and Braille) are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at (202) 418-7426 (voice), (202) 418-7365 (TTY), or send an e-mail to access@fcc.gov. For questions regarding this public notice, please contact Richard Arsenault, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0920. -FCC- 5 Air-Ground Reconsideration Order, 20 FCC Rcd at 19673 ¶21. 6 Id. 7 See supra note 1.