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 07-4665 November 16, 2007 WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC FILING OF CELLULAR COVERAGE CERTIFICATIONS In this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) provides 800 MHz Cellular Radiotelephone Service (cellular) licensees that intend to discontinue analog service on or after February 18, 2008—the analog sunset date—instructions on how to file cellular coverage certifications electronically with the Bureau, and how the public can access the certifications via the FCC’s website. Cellular Coverage Certification. Under Section 22.953(c),1 when a cellular licensee decommissions analog service, if the location, power, or height parameters for any CGSA-defining cell site changes, it must file a revised cellular geographic service area (CGSA) showing. In June 2007, the Commission determined that, in lieu of making a revised CGSA showing, licensees could file a one-time certification stating that the discontinuance of analog service will not result in any loss of wireless coverage throughout an affected CGSA.2 The Commission found that such a certification would ensure the continuity of wireless coverage to consumers following sunset of the analog service requirement, as well as reduce certain financial, administrative, and technical burdens for cellular licensees. Licensees must file the certification at least 60 days before discontinuing analog service in a particular CGSA. For example, licensees who intend to discontinue analog service on February 18, 2008, must file a certification no later than December 20, 2007. The certification must comply with Section 1.163 of the Commission’s rules (unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury in lieu of affidavits), be signed by an officer or director of the licensee, and be filed through the Commission’s Cellular Coverage Certifications portal. If a licensee elects to file such a certification, its analog-determined CGSA (on file with the Commission as of the certification filing date) will remain its CGSA, and it will not be required to file a revised CGSA determination at that time. If at any time after the certification filing date, a licensee modifies a site that defines part of its CGSA boundary, it must file revised CGSA information for that site pursuant to Section 22.911.4 If a licensee has any CGSA-defining cell site changes and it cannot make the requisite certification for a particular CGSA, then it must modify the license in question by filing FCC Form 601, 1 47 C.F.R. § 22.953(c). 2 Sunset of the Cellular Radiotelephone Service Analog Service Requirement and Related Matters, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 22 FCC Rcd 11243 ¶¶ 47-49 (2007). 3 47 C.F.R. § 1.16. 4 47 C.F.R. § 22.911. 2 modifying the technical parameters at relevant cell site(s) and thereby reducing its CGSA in that market.5 Minor license modifications of this nature must be filed with the Commission no later than 30 days after the change taking place.6 Content of the Certifications. With respect to each CGSA (identified by call sign), the certification must state: “The discontinuance of analog service will not result in any loss of wireless coverage throughout the CGSA.” If a cellular licensee intends to certify for multiple CGSAs, the licensee may submit a single certification with a list of all call signs for which the licensee is certifying. Filing Certifications. To file a certification, go to the Cellular Home page at http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/cellular/ and click on the “Cellular Coverage Certification” link in the left column and then click on “Certification Filing.” On the Cellular Coverage Certifications Submission page, enter the filer’s name, entity/company (if any), and email address. To attach a certification, click on the “Add Attachments” link. The Attach Files screen will appear. Attachments may be submitted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF formats. Click on the “Browse” button to select the applicable file, then click on the “Attach” button to upload the attachment(s). If multiple files are being submitted, each file must be selected and attached separately. After all attachments have been uploaded, select “Return to Main Form.” On the main Cellular Coverage Certifications Submission page, click “Submit Certification” to finish the filing process. The system will generate a confirmation which you may print for your records. Accessing Certifications. Each certification will be available to the public within 10 business days after it is filed with the Bureau. Certifications may be accessed at: http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/cellular/. The certifications can be searched by the name of the filer or by the date the certifications were filed. You may also choose to "View All Certifications." The system will display the search results on the Cellular Coverage Certification page by filer entity/company if such information was provided, or by the first and last names of the individual filing the certification, if an entity/company name was not identified. The certifications may be sorted by filer name or by the date the certification was submitted. For information regarding filing a Cellular Coverage Certification, please contact Denise Walter, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at 202-418-0359 or denise.walter@fcc.gov or Joyce Jones, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau at 202-418-1327 or joyce.jones@fcc.gov. 5 Where revised information would result in a decrease of any CGSA defining site (arising from a reduction in operating power or the removal or relocation of a transmitter, for example), a licensee must notify the FCC by filing FCC Form 601 and include full-sized maps, reduced maps, and supporting engineering exhibits as described in 47 C.F.R. § 22.953(a)(1)-(3) of the Commission’s rules. 47 C.F.R. § 22.953(c). 6 47 C.F.R. § 1.947(b).