Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554
    ‘ ‘   March 24, 2014 
DA 14-397
Small Entity Compliance Guide
In the Matter of Promoting Interoperability in the 700 MHz Commercial 
Spectrum
Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification
FCC 13-136
WT Docket No. 12-69
Released: October 29, 2013
This Guide is prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 212 of the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.  It is intended to 
help small entities—small businesses, small organizations
1
(non-profits), and 
small governmental jurisdictions—comply with the new rules adopted in the 
above-referenced FCC rulemaking docket(s).  This Guide is not intended to 
replace the rules and, therefore, final authority rests solely wi th the rules.  
Although we have attempted to cover all parts of the rules that might be 
especially important to small entities, the coverage may not be exhaustive.  This 
Guide may, perhaps, not apply in a particular situation based upon the 
circumstances, and the FCC retains the discretion to adopt approaches on a case-
by-case basis that may differ from this Guide, where appropriate.  Any decisions 
regarding a particular small entity will be based on the statute and regulations.  
In any civil or administrative action against a small entity for a violation of 
rules, the content of the Small Entity Compliance Guide may be considered as 
evidence of the reasonableness or appropriateness of proposed fines, penalties or 
damages.  Interested parties are free to file comments regarding this Guide and 
the appropriateness of its application to a particular situation; the FCC will 
consider whether the recommendations or interpretations in the Guide are 
appropriate in that situation. The FCC may decide to revise this Guide without 
public notice to reflect changes in the FCC’s approach to implementing a rule, 
or to clarify or update the text of the Guide.  Direct your comments and 
recommendations, or calls for further assistance, to the FCC’s Consumer 
Center:
1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)  
TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC  (1-888-835-5322)  
Fax: 1-866-418-0232
fccinfo@fcc.gov
                                                          
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Section 212 applies to any rule for which the FCC “is required to prepare a final regulatory flexibility analysis” under 5 U.S.C. 
§ 605(b).  Although the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this docket originally contemplated a wider range of rules, the 
voluntary industry solution that is the subject of the Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification described below 
ultimately adopted rules that impose additional technical limits only on Lower 700 MHz D and E Block licensees, none of which
are small entities.  However, this Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared for the benefit of small entities in the event 
that any such licensees assign or transfer control of such licenses to small entities.
I. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROCEEDING
The Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification takes certain steps to implement an industry 
solution to provide interoperable Long Term Evolution (LTE) service in the Lower 700 MHz band in an 
efficient and effective manner to improve choice and quality for consumers of mobile services.  A number 
of the principal wireless providers licensed in this band, along with the Competitive Carriers Association, 
developed a voluntary industry solution that would resolve the lack of interoperability in this band while 
allowing flexibility in responding to evolving consumer needs and dynamic and fast-paced technological 
developments.  
The steps that are taken in the Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification will assist 
consumers and the economies in rural areas, as well as small and regional businesses that operate 
there. Additional competition in rural areas is likely to result in lower-priced services, or plan options 
that are tailored to local communities. Small or regional providers serving rural areas drive economic 
growth in these rural areas, directly, by investing in their networks and creating jobs, and indirectly, by 
enabling the growth of other small businesses. But in order to promote competition – and enable small 
business customers of 700 MHz band licensees to operate successfully in the 21st century – these 
licensees need to be able to offer service choices. Interoperability of LTE service in the Lower 700 MHz 
band will remove an unnecessary barrier to the successful operation of such businesses. The rule changes 
implemented in the Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification are designed to eliminate 
potential harmful interference from Lower 700 MHz D and E Block operations to operations of small 
entities and others operating on paired Lower 700 MHz frequencies. 
II.      REGULATIONS AND POLICIES THAT THE COMMISSION ADOPTED OR 
MODIFIED, INCLUDING COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS 
The Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification takes the following steps:  
? Revises the Part 27 rules to modify the technical requirements for the Lower 700 MHz D and E 
Blocks to eliminate potential harmful interference.  Establishes a process for higher power uses 
primarily in rural areas if the D/E Block licensee has the consent of affected 700 MHz licensees, or 
can show no harmful interference.
? Takes no action to address claims of reverse intermodulation interference from adjacent Channel 51 
operations to B and C Block operations, because it concludes based on the record that harmful 
interference from such reverse intermodulation products is unlikely and is therefore not an 
impediment to the implementation of the voluntary industry solution.
? Pursuant to Section 316 of the Communications Act, proposes to modify AT&T’s B and C Block 
licenses to effectuate the voluntary industry solution that will resolve the lack of interoperability in 
the Lower 700 MHz band in an effective and efficient manner.
? Waives the construction requirements for E Block licensees, extending the interim and final deadlines 
and permitting a showing of population coverage, rather than geographic coverage.
? Waives the construction requirements for A and B Block licensees, extending the interim deadline to 
December 13, 2016, and removing the interim deadline for certain A Block licensees adjacent to 
Channel 51 operations
Technical Rules for D and E Blocks
The Report and Order revises the Commission’s Part 27.2 (e); 27.50 (c)(7), (12), and (13) to provide that:
? Operations in the 716-722 and 722-728 MHz frequencies (Lower 700 MHz D and E Block) are 
limited to downlink only.
? Lower 700 MHz D and E Block base station transmitting a signal with an emission bandwidth of 1 
megahertz or less must not exceed 1 kW ERP in non-rural areas or 2 kW ERP in rural areas.  
? Lower 700 MHz D and E Block base stations transmitting a signal with an emission bandwidth 
greater than 1 megahertz must not exceed 1 kW ERP per megahertz in non-rural areas or 2 kW ERP 
per megahertz in rural areas.  
? Lower 700 MHz D and E Block licensees operating at these maximum permissible ERP are limited to 
an antenna height of 305 m HAAT.  
? The Report and Order permits a Lower 700 MHz D or E Block licensee to operate particular sites at a 
higher ERP level up to 50 kW in conjunction with the current power flux density (PFD) limit if the 
Lower 700 MHz D or E Block licensee enters into operator-to-operator agreements with other 
potentially affected licensees or, absent agreements with all affected licensees, pursuant to a waiver 
from the Commission.
To mitigate potential for harmful interference, Lower 700 MHz D and E Block licensees are required to 
take the following measures:  (1) coordinate with A, B, or C Block licensees to mitigate the potential for 
harmful interference; (2) mitigate interference to A, B, or C Block operations within 30 days after 
receiving written notice from the affected A, B, or C Block licensees; and (3) ensure that D or E Block 
transmissions are filtered at least to the extent that the D or E Block transmissions are filtered in markets 
where the D or E Block licensee holds an A, B, or C Block license, as applicable.  
Coordination and mitigation steps should include, but are not limited to, the following measures:  
? If a Lower A, B, or C Block licensee deploys a network after the D or E Block deploys a network 
on its Lower 700 MHz D or E Block spectrum in the same geographic market, the D or E Block 
licensee will work with the A, B, or C Block licensee to identify sites that will require additional 
filtering, and will help the A, B, or C Block licensee to identify proper filters.  
? The D or E Block licensee is also required to permit these licensees to collocate on the towers it 
owns at prevailing market rates.  
? On the other hand, if a Lower A, B, or C Block licensee deploys a network before a D or E Block 
licensee deploys a network in the same geographic market, the D or E Block licensee will work 
with the A, B, or C Block licensee to identify sites that will need additional filtering and will 
purchase and pay for installation of required filters on such sites.  
For purposes of this condition, “deployment of a network” shall be the date upon which the network is 
able to support a commercial mobile voice or data service.
General Technical Requirements in the 700 MHz Band Remain Unchanged
Except for the power, antenna height, and downlink limits of the Lower 700 MHz D and E 
Blocks, the other administrative and technical requirements applicable to operation of the Part 27 
rules remain unchanged.  
III. WEBLINK
A copy of the Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification is available at 
http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2013/db1101/FCC-13-136A1.pdf  The 
Commission’s Rules (47 Code of Federal Regulations (47 C.F.R.)) are available at 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/index.htm?job=rules_and_regulations