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 07-2302 June 11, 2007 THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ENHANCES THE UNIVERSAL LICENSING SYSTEM FOR FILING REQUIRED NOTIFICATIONS AND REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION OF TIME IN WIRELESS SERVICES By this Public Notice, the Federal Communications Commission announces a redesign of the Universal Licensing System (ULS) filing interface for applicants filing Required Notifications of Construction or Consummation (NT) and Requests for Extension of Time to Construct or Consummate (EX). As of June 18, 2007, applicants can access the new functionality via ULS License Manager. For those few applicants permitted to file manually, FCC Form 601 Schedules K and L and FCC Form 603 Schedules D and E have not changed.1 The primary enhancement associated with the filing interface is that the system will dynamically display valid license information (construction) or application information (consummation) allowing the filer to ‘select’ the information to be included in the application. This feature eliminates the need for the filer to ‘type’ the information into the application. For the selected NT or EX filing, the system prompts the filer to provide the required information. This filing enhancement increases the ease and administrative efficiency of the filing process for the user. The new NT/EX filing interface utilizes the ULS License Manager web-based application wizard. This technology upgrade also eliminates many compatibility issues caused by the older software and generally makes filing a notification or extension easier for the applicant. For complete details on filing Required Notifications of Construction or Consummation (NT) or Requests for Extension of Time to Construct or Consummate (EX) in ULS License Manager, please see Attachment A. License Search In addition to the enhanced filing functionality, a “View All” function will be added to ULS License Search to more readily display construction and build out deadlines for individual fixed microwave and cellular radio services licenses. This enhanced feature is similar to the view currently available for other wireless and land mobile licenses and will simplify the process licensees use to review their construction requirement deadline dates in License Search. Additional Information For additional information and/or assistance, one may visit the Web at http://esupport.fcc.gov. Interested persons can also call the FCC Support Center at (877) 480-3201 or 717-338-2888 (TTY 717-338-2824) 1 47 C.F.R. §1.913(d) 2 and select Option #2, Forms or Licensing Assistance. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except Federal holidays) for such assistance and/or information. To provide quality service and ensure security, all telephone calls are recorded. - FCC – A-1 ATTACHMENT A HOW TO FILE NOTIFICATIONS OR REQUESTS FOR EXTENSION OF TIME IN ULS LICENSE MANAGER Filing a Notification or Request for Extension of Time for Buildout/Coverage/Construction Initiating a Filing An applicant filing a Notification or Request for Extension of Time for Buildout/Coverage/Construction for a single call sign should login to ULS License Manager and click on the applicable call sign link displayed on the “My Licenses” page. On the “License at a Glance” screen the applicant should select the Notify the FCC or Extend Deadlines link in the “Work on This License” box on the right side of the screen. The system will then launch an NT or EX application for the call sign from which the application was initiated. Call signs can not be added to an application that is initiated for a single call sign. To launch an application for multiple call signs, the applicant must select the new Notify the FCC or Extend Deadlines link in the left-hand navigation menu in License Manager. Licensees should note that waivers filed on a multiple call sign application are applicable to every call sign on the application. In services where a waiver fee is required, a fee will be required for every feeable call sign on the application. If a waiver is required for only some of the call signs, it is recommended that licensees submit two filings; one for the call signs with a waiver and one for the call signs without a waiver. Filing Details – Notifications Once an NT application is launched, the applicant will be guided through a series of steps in which the system will prompt the applicant to respond to questions and provide required information. On the first screen, the applicant must select the purpose of the NT filing. The system will display a list of application purposes based on the call sign selected (for a single call sign application) or the licenses linked to the applicant’s FCC Registration Number (for a multiple call sign application). For an NT filing, applicants can select only one purpose from the following list: · 1 - 1st Buildout/Coverage requirements · 2 - 2nd Buildout/Coverage requirements · T - Tribal Lands Buildout/Coverage requirements · S - Construction requirements (includes Cellular Radio Service) · D - Notification to request regular authorization for facilities operating under developmental authority (Paging Services) · G - Notification of compliance with yearly station construction commitments for licenses with approved extended implementation plans (Land Mobile Services) (Slow Growth - Yearly Notification) · H - Final Notification that construction requirements have been met for the referenced system with approved extended implementation plan (Land Mobile Services) (Slow-Growth - Final Notification) Market-Based Services An applicant must select the purpose 1, 2, or T when filing an NT application for market-based services. If the applicant is filing an application for multiple call signs, the system will display a list of pertinent A-2 call signs based on the purpose selected. After selecting and reviewing the call signs to be included in the application, the applicant will be asked to complete the questions on the “Fees and Waivers” page. Applications for a single call sign will go directly to this screen after the purpose is selected. After completing the fees and waivers questions, the “Summary” screen is displayed allowing the applicant to review and, if necessary, edit the information on the application. After ensuring that the information on the application is correct, the applicant may continue to the “Certification” screen to sign and submit the application. Site-Based Services An applicant must select the purpose D, G, H, or S when filing an NT application for site-based services. The purpose G is used to file slow growth implementation annual reports. An application filed for this purpose will follow the same process flow as an application for market-based services. The flows for purpose S, D, and H are slightly different. If the applicant is filing an application for multiple call signs, the system will display a list of pertinent call signs based on the purpose selected. On this screen, the applicant selects the call signs to include on the application. After reviewing the call signs that have been selected, the applicant will continue to the “Buildout Information Summary” screen which lists all of the call signs that are included on the application. The applicant must click on each call sign to view the “Buildout Information” page, which will display the frequencies or locations that are eligible for an NT filing.2 An application for a single call sign will display this page after the purpose is selected. On this page, an applicant selects the license components (frequencies or locations) for which they are providing notice of construction by entering the actual construction date for each license component. Clicking the “Apply to All” button will apply the first date entered to all the license components only on that page. If a license component is in a Termination Pending status, it will not be displayed for inclusion on the application. Up to three tabs can appear dynamically on an NT “Buildout Information” page: · Eligible for Filing: this tab contains license components which are eligible for filing; i.e., being filed no later than 15 days from the buildout deadline date. · Eligible for Filing – Waiver Required: this tab contains license components which are eligible for filing but require a waiver because the application was not timely-filed. If an applicant is untimely in filing their notification, but is filing before the frequency or location enters a termination pending status, the component will appear under this tab. Applicants are encouraged to file their notification application even though it is untimely. · No Buildout Notification Required: this tab contains license components which do not have a construction notification requirement. Filing a notification for items in this tab is optional. An applicant filing a notification for Land Mobile licenses should note that mobile units have a construction requirement. For mobile units, the construction date is the date the units were placed into operation. Additionally, a license in radio service codes IG, IK, PW, YG, YK, YW with a lower/assigned frequency between 470-512 MHz or a license in radio service codes GB, GE, GF, GI, GJ, GO, GP, or GU with a lower frequency greater than 800 MHz also requires the number of mobile units in operation. After reviewing and updating the “Buildout Information” page for all of the call sign(s) on the application, the applicant may continue to the “Fees and Waivers” page. The system will not allow an applicant filing an application for multiple call signs to continue past the “Buildout Information 2 Only the Cellular Radio Service has the buildout requirement at the location level. A-3 Summary” screen until the detailed information page for every call sign on the application has been reviewed and updated. The applicant continues to the “Summary” screen to review and, if necessary, edit the information on the application. After ensuring that the information on the application is correct, the applicant may continue to the “Certification” screen to sign and submit the application. Filing Details- Extension An EX application will follow the same process flow as an NT application with a few differences. On the first screen, the applicant must select the purpose of the EX application. The system will display the list of application purposes based on the call sign selected (for a single call sign application) or based on the licenses linked to the applicants FCC Registration Number (for a multiple call sign application). For an EX filing, applicants can select only one purpose from the following list: · 1 - 1st Buildout/Coverage requirements · 2 - 2nd Buildout/Coverage requirements · T - Tribal Lands Buildout/Coverage requirements · S - Construction requirements (includes Cellular Radio Service) An application for a market-based service must be filed for purpose 1, 2, or T and an application for a site-based service must be filed for purpose S. An applicant filing for multiple call signs must then select and review the call signs to be included in the application. Once these steps are completed, the applicant enters the requested new Buildout/Coverage/Construction Date. After entering the requested Buildout/Coverage/Construction Date, the application will follow the same process flow as an NT application. Applicants filing for purpose 1, 2, and T will continue to the “Fees and Waivers” screen and applicants filing for purpose S will continue to the “Buildout Information Summary” screen where they must review the “Buildout Information” page for every call sign and select license components for inclusion on the application. Up to two tabs can appear dynamically on an EX “Buildout Information” page: · Eligible for Filing: this tab contains license components which are eligible for filing; i.e., being filed no later than the buildout deadline date. · Eligible for Filing – Waiver Required: this tab contains license components which are eligible for filing but are filed untimely and require an additional waiver request(s) to be filed. Filing Notifications of Consummation and Extensions of Time to Consummate An Assignee/Transferee wishing to file a Notification of Consummation can select a Consented-To Application from the “My Applications” section of License Manager. After choosing the file number, an applicant logged in as the Assignee/Transferee can select Notify the FCC from the “Work on This Application” box on the right side of the screen. The applicant then enters the date of consummation and continues through the “Fees and Waivers,” “Summary,” and “Certification” screens to complete the filing. Applicants logged into ULS as an Assignor/Transferor will see an Extend Deadlines link after selecting a file number from the “My Applications – Consented To Applications” section of License Manager. Clicking this link will allow the Assignor/Transferor to enter a new consummation expiration date. After entering the requested consummation expiration date, the applicant will continues through the “Fees and Waivers,” “Summary,” and “Certification” screens to complete the filing. A-4 Applicants may also file Notifications of Consummation and Extensions of Time to Consummate directly from the Notify the FCC and Extend Deadlines links contained within the left-hand navigation menu on the “My Licenses” page in License Manager. Selecting purpose C from these links will allow the applicant to select one file number from a drop down list and then continue filing as above.