PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 13-2076 Released: October 25, 2013 CELLCO PARTNERSHIP D/B/A VERIZON WIRELESS AND BARAT WIRELESS, L.P., SEEK FCC CONSENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF AN ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES B BLOCK LICENSE FROM BARAT TO VERIZON WIRELESS ULS File Nos. 0005881395 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED Petitions to Deny Due: November 8, 2013 Oppositions Due: November 18, 2013 Replies Due: November 25, 2013 I. INTRODUCTION Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (“Verizon Wireless”) 1 and Barat Wireless, L.P., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of United States Cellular Corporation (“Barat” and, together with Verizon Wireless, the “Applicants”), have filed an application pursuant to Section 310(d) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 2 seeking approval of the assignment of the Advanced Wireless Services (“AWS-1”) B block license WQGV763 (BEA096 – St. Louis, MO-IL) (the “market”) from Barat to Verizon Wireless. According to the Applicants, the proposed assignment will serve the public interest because it will provide Verizon Wireless with additional spectrum capacity, which will enable it to meet the demands of its customers for Long-Term Evolution in the market. Preliminary review of the application indicates that, pursuant to the proposed transaction, Verizon Wireless would acquire 20 megahertz of AWS-1 spectrum in 53 counties in 14 Cellular Market Areas (“CMAs”) across parts of Illinois and Missouri. Post-transaction, Verizon Wireless would hold 62- 117 megahertz of spectrum across these CMAs, 40 megahertz of which would be AWS-1. 1 Verizon Wireless is a general partnership, ultimately owned by Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group Plc. 2 47 U.S.C. § 310(d). 2II. SECTION 310(d) APPLICATIONS The following application for consent to the assignment of a license has been assigned the following file number: File No. Licensee Assignee Call Sign 0005881395 Barat Wireless, LP Cellco Partnership WQGV763 III. EX PARTE STATUS OF THIS PROCEEDING Pursuant to Section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules, 3 the Commission may adopt modified or more stringent ex parte procedures in particular proceedings if the public interest so requires. We announce that this proceeding will be governed by permit-but-disclose ex parte procedures that are applicable to non-restricted proceedings under Section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules. 4 Parties making oral ex parte presentations are directed to the Commission’s revised ex parte rules. Parties are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain the presentation’s substance and not merely list the subjects discussed. 5 More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. 6 Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206(b) as well. 7 IV. GENERAL INFORMATION The assignment application referenced herein has been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return any application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules or policies. Interested parties must file petitions to deny no later than November 8, 2013. Persons and entities that file petitions to deny become parties to the proceeding. They may participate fully in the proceeding, including seeking access to any confidential information that may be filed under a protective order, seeking reconsideration of decisions, and filing appeals of a final decision to the courts. Oppositions to such pleadings must be filed no later than November 18, 2013. Replies to such pleadings must be filed no later than November 25, 2013. All filings concerning matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to ULS File No. 0005881395. To allow the Commission to consider fully all substantive issues regarding the Applications in as timely and efficient a manner as possible, petitioners and commenters should raise all issues in their initial filings. New issues may not be raised in responses or replies. 8 A party or interested person seeking to raise a new issue after the pleading cycle has closed must show good cause why it was not possible for it to have raised the issue previously. Submissions after the pleading cycle has 3 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200(a). 4 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206. 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(1). 6 See id. 7 Id. § 1.1206(b). 8 See 47 C.F.R. §1.45(c). 3closed that seek to raise new issues based on new facts or newly discovered facts should be filed within 15 days after such facts are discovered. Absent such a showing of good cause, any issues not timely raised may be disregarded by the Commission. Under the Commission’s current procedures for the submission of filings and other documents, 9 submissions in this matter may be filed electronically (i.e., though the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (“ULS”)) or by hand delivery to the Commission. ? If filed by ULS, pleadings may be filed via https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/pleadings/pleadingsType.jsp. ? If filed by paper, the original and four copies of each filing must be filed by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. One copy of each pleading must be delivered electronically, by e-mail or facsimile, or if delivered as paper copy, by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (according to the procedures set forth above for paper filings), to: (1) the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., at FCC@BCPIWEB.COM or (202) 488-5563 (facsimile); (2) Linda Ray, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at linda.ray@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7247 (facsimile); (3) Paroma Sanyal, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at paroma.sanyal@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7447 (facsimile); and (4) Jim Bird, Office of General Counsel, at TransactionTeam@fcc.gov or (202) 418-1234 (facsimile). Copies of the applications and any subsequently-filed documents in this matter may be obtained from Best Copy and Printing, Inc. in person at 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, via telephone at (202) 488-5300, via facsimile at (202) 488-5563, or via e-mail at FCC@BCPIWEB.COM. The applications and any associated documents are also available for public inspection and copying during normal reference room hours at the following Commission office: FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. The applications are also available electronically through ULS, which may be accessed on the Commission’s Internet website. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations for filing comments (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov; phone: (202) 418-0530 or TTY: (202) 418- 0432. 9 See FCC Announces Change in Filing Location for Paper Documents, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 14312 (2009). 4For further information, contact Linda Ray, Broadband Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-0257, or Paroma Sanyal, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-2425. -FCC-