PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 14-8 January 8, 2014 AUCTION OF H BLOCK LICENSES IN THE 1915-1920 MHz AND 1995-2000 MHz BANDS 23 BIDDERS QUALIFIED TO PARTICIPATE IN AUCTION 96 AU Docket No. 13-178 1. In this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“Bureau”) identifies 23 applicants found to be qualified to bid in the upcoming auction of 176 H Block licenses in the 1915- 1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz bands (Auction 96). Bidding in Auction 96 is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. 1 This Public Notice contains bidding instructions and other important information regarding Auction 96. It also addresses the continuing obligations and auction procedures for all Auction 96 applicants, including those that have not qualified to bid. I. QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED BIDDERS A. Qualified Bidders 2. Attachment A to this Public Notice lists the name of each of the 23 qualified bidders and each qualified bidder’s claimed bidding credit revenue range, if any. Designation of an applicant as qualified to bid in the auction indicates that the applicant has provided the certifications and information concerning its qualifications for participation in the auction and timely submitted a sufficient upfront payment as required by the Commission’s competitive bidding rules. 2 1 See Auction of H Block Licenses in the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz Bands Rescheduled for January 22, 2014; Notice of Changes to Auction 96 Schedule Follow Resumptions of Normal Commission Operations, AU Docket No. 13-178, Public Notice, DA 13-2003 (rel. Oct. 21, 2013); see also Auction of H Block Licenses in the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz Bands; Notice and Filing Requirements, Reserve Price, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 96, AU Docket No. 13-178, Public Notice, DA 13-1885, 28 FCC Rcd 13019 (2013) (“Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice”); see also Auction of H Block Licenses in the 1915-1920 MHz and 1995-2000 MHz Bands; Status of Short-Form Applications to Participate in Auction 96, Public Notice, DA 13-2311 (rel. Dec. 4, 2013) (“Auction 96 Status Public Notice”). 2 Under the Commission’s two-phased auction application process, a winning bidder must submit a long-form application after the close of Auction 96 to demonstrate its qualifications to hold a Commission license and, if a bidding credit is requested, its eligibility for the requested bidding credit. Thus, a determination that a short-form application is complete and complies with the Commission’s competitive bidding rules and policies is not determinative of an applicant’s qualifications to hold a license or entitlement to a bidding credit. See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2107 – 1.2109; see also Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act – Competitive Bidding, PP (continued….) 23. In order to participate effectively in the auction, each qualified bidder should again review the auction rules, procedures, and other information described in the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice and subsequent public notices. 3 These public notices and other documents related to Auction 96 are available on the Commission’s auctions website at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/96. This Public Notice provides additional guidance. B. Non-Qualified Bidders 4. Attachment B to this Public Notice lists each applicant that submitted a short-form application but did not qualify to bid in this auction. All applicants, including those who have been deemed ineligible to bid, remain subject to the Commission’s rules prohibiting certain communications in connection with Commission auctions. 4 II. REGISTRATION AND BIDDING ACCESS A. Registration Materials 5. Qualified bidders have been automatically registered for the auction. Registration materials will be sent to the contact person at the contact address identified in the bidder’s short-form application. Upon receipt, each qualified bidder should be in possession of the following: ? At least two RSA SecurID ® tokens ? Integrated Spectrum Auction System (ISAS) Bidder’s Guide ? FCC Auction Bidder Line telephone number 6. Each qualified bidder is solely responsible for ensuring the security of its computer systems and its registration materials and for ensuring that only authorized bidders place bids on its behalf. The Commission assumes no responsibility or liability for these matters. WARNING: Any unauthorized entity accessing or tampering with an FCC or other government computer system will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 7. Any qualified bidder listed in Attachment A of this Public Notice that has not received the registration mailing by 12:00 noon Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, January 15, 2014, must contact the Auctions Hotline directly at (717) 338-2868. Qualified bidders must have these registration materials to submit bids. Receipt of the registration mailing is critical to participating in both the mock auction and the actual auction, and each qualified bidder must ensure that it has received all registration information. Docket No. 93-253, Second Report and Order, FCC 94-61, 9 FCC Rcd 2348, 2376-77 ¶¶ 163-168 (1994). Commission staff generally considers an applicant’s qualifications and eligibility for a bidding credit after the auction during the long-form application process. In the event that an applicant is found unqualified to be a Commission licensee or ineligible for any claimed bidding credit, it will be liable for any obligations incurred as a result of its participation in the auction. See generally 47 C.F.R. § 1.2109. 3 Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13019; see also Auction 96 Status Public Notice. 4 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2105(c); see also Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13024 ¶ 8. 3B. Registration Material Replacement 8. In the event that a bidder’s SecurID ® tokens are lost or damaged, only a person who has been designated as an authorized bidder, the contact person, or the certifying official on the applicant’s short- form application may request replacements. Any qualified bidder requiring replacement of these items must call Technical Support at (877) 480-3201, option nine; (202) 414-1250; or (202) 414-1255 (TTY). C. Bidding Access 9. The Commission will conduct Auction 96 over the Internet. Each qualified bidder can access the Integrated Spectrum Auction System (“ISAS” or “FCC Auction System”) at http://auctions.fcc.gov or http://auctions2.fcc.gov. A bidder choosing to bid electronically should review the Integrated Spectrum Auction System (ISAS) Bidder’s Guide provided in the registration materials. We remind bidders that Apple ® Mac OS ® is not currently supported. 10. In addition to bidding electronically over the Internet, a qualified bidder will also have the option of bidding by telephone via the Auction Bidder Line. The Auction Bidder Line telephone number will be supplied in the registration materials sent to each qualified bidder. Any bidder choosing to bid electronically may use the Auction Bidder Line as an alternative method of bidding. When submitting bids by telephone, the bidder must allow sufficient time to bid by placing its calls well in advance of the close of a bidding round. 5 11. Each authorized bidder must have its own SecurID ® token to bid electronically or by telephone. An applicant with only one authorized bidder will be issued two SecurID ® tokens, while an applicant with two or three authorized bidders will be issued three tokens. For security purposes, the SecurID ® tokens and the instructions for using them are mailed only to the contact person at the contact address listed on the applicant’s short-form application. Please note that each SecurID ® token is tailored to a specific auction. SecurID ® tokens issued for other auctions or obtained from a source other than the FCC will not work for Auction 96. 12. SecurID ® tokens can be recycled. We strongly encourage bidders to return the tokens to the Commission. We will provide pre-addressed envelopes to return the tokens once the auction is closed. D. Bidding Contingency Plan 13. Each bidder should develop comprehensive contingency plans that can be quickly implemented in case difficulties arise when participating in the auction. While the Commission will correct any problems within Commission-controlled facilities, each bidder is solely responsible for anticipating and overcoming problems such as bidder computer failures or other technical issues, loss of or problems with data connections, telephone service interruptions, adverse local weather conditions, unavailability of its authorized bidders, or the loss or breach of confidential security codes. As referenced above, qualified bidders will receive the Auction Bidder Line telephone number in their registration materials. 5 Because the length of a call to place bids may vary, the bidder should allow a minimum of ten minutes. 4III. BIDDING TOOLS A. Mock Auction 14. The Bureau strongly encourages each qualified bidder to participate in the mock auction that will be conducted on Friday, January 17, 2014. The mock auction will allow a qualified bidder to familiarize itself with the FCC Auction System and to ask Commission auction staff and technical support staff questions about the system and auction conduct. The Bureau will conduct this auction over the Internet, and provide the option of bidding by telephone. 15. A qualified bidder can access the mock auction at http://auctions.fcc.gov or http://auctions2.fcc.gov. Bidders choosing to bid electronically should review the Integrated Spectrum Auction System (ISAS) Bidder’s Guide provided in the registration materials. Any qualified bidder that wishes to place bids by telephone should use the Auction Bidder Line telephone number supplied in the Auction 96 registration materials. 16. The mock auction will include 40 of the 176 licenses and will follow the rules governing Auction 96. 6 The mock auction will be identified as Mock Auction 74. The FCC Auction System will assume that each bidder submitted an upfront payment sufficient to give initial (maximum) eligibility of 94,332,000 bidding units. The mock auction will simulate the start of the auction, and each bidder will be required to be active on 80 percent of its current bidding eligibility. If a bidder does not meet this requirement, an activity rule waiver will be automatically applied (if any waivers are available) or its current eligibility will be permanently reduced (if no waivers remain), possibly eliminating it from further bidding in the mock auction. A bidder should take advantage of the mock auction to practice taking actions it might wish to take during Auction 96. 17. The mock auction bidding schedule for Friday, January 17, 2014, will be as follows: Round 1 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET Round 2 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET Round 3 1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET Round 4 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET Round 5 3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. ET B. Watchlists 18. The FCC Auction System sets up for each qualified bidder a default watchlist, called “All Licenses,” which contains every license selected on the applicant’s short-form application. A qualified bidder may create additional watchlists containing licenses of its own choosing, and licenses may appear in multiple watchlists. A bidder may access the FCC Auction System and begin creating its watchlists upon receipt of the SecurID ® tokens. Instructions for creating watchlists will be provided in the Integrated Spectrum Auction System (ISAS) Bidder’s Guide. Please note that watchlists created in the mock auction will not display in Auction 96. C. Bidder Questions during the Mock Auction and Auction 96 19. Commission auction staff and technical support staff will be available during the mock auction and the actual auction. Only a person who has been designated as an authorized bidder, the 6 The licenses will consist of the first forty licenses listed in Attachment A of the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13103-06, Attachment A. 5contact person, or the certifying official on the applicant’s short-form application should call on behalf of a bidder. When calling, the person should state that he or she is calling on behalf of a bidder with a time- sensitive auction question. To place bids by telephone or to ask questions during the auction, a bidder must use the FCC Auction Bidder Line telephone number supplied in the registration materials. Otherwise, a bidder should refer to the contact information provided in Section VII, “Contact Information,” below. D. Bidder Suggestions 20. The FCC Auction System includes a function for any bidder to submit suggestions to the Commission, but this is not an appropriate mechanism for asking time-sensitive questions that may need an immediate response, such as questions about auction procedures or other issues. Any time-sensitive questions should be directed to the Auction Bidder Line or to the appropriate staff contact using the telephone number provided in Section VII, “Contact Information,” below. IV. AUCTION INFORMATION A. Auction Announcements 21. The Commission will post pertinent auction information as announcements in the FCC Auction System. Each bidder should routinely check for announcements each time they enter the FCC Auction System and should read this information carefully. B. Bidding Schedule 22. Beginning on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, and continuing until further notice, we will conduct Auction 96 with three rounds of bidding each business day as follows: Bidding Round 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET Bidding Round 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET Bidding Round 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET 23. The Bureau will set the pace of the auction based upon monitoring of the bidding and assessment of the auction’s progress. We will provide notice of all subsequent schedule changes by announcement in the FCC Auction System during the course of the auction. C. Bid Amounts 24. For each license in Auction 96, the FCC Auction System will provide a minimum opening bid amount, as previously announced, and up to eight additional bid amounts from which to choose (for a typical total of nine bid amounts). 7 We caution each bidder to select its bid amounts carefully because each bidder assumes a binding obligation to pay the full bid amount, even if the bid was mistakenly or erroneously made. 8 25. The Bureau retains the discretion to change the minimum acceptable bid amounts, the minimum acceptable bid percentage, the bid increment percentage, the additional bid amounts, the dollar cap on bid increments, the number of acceptable bid amounts, and the parameters of the formulas used to 7 Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13066-67 ¶¶ 179-84. Attachment A of the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice lists the minimum opening bid amounts for each license offered in Auction 96. 8 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2104(g). 6calculate bid amounts if the Bureau determines that circumstances so dictate. 9 Further, the Bureau retains the discretion to do so on a license-by-license basis. 10 D. Round Results 26. Round results will be available approximately ten minutes after the close of each round. Auction 96 will be conducted using procedures that limit the disclosure of information on bidder interests and identities until after the close of bidding. 11 27. Two types of reports will be available to qualified bidders during the auction: (1) publicly available information, and (2) bidder-specific information available only to that bidder when logged in to the FCC Auction System. The public information will be available on the FCC Auction System results page and in downloadable files. When a bidder is logged in to the FCC Auction system, it will have a selection of “My Bid Reports” available on the FCC Auction System’s bidding page. Information in “My Bid Reports” allows only the respective bidder to view all of its actions in the current and previous rounds of the auction. Samples of the downloadable files are available on the web page for Auction 96 at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/96, via the “Sample Results Files” link in the “General Information” section of the page. Please note that the sample files provide the file formats. The data in the sample files is not specific to Auction 96. 28. Detailed instructions for reviewing and downloading round results are provided in the Integrated Spectrum Auction System (ISAS) Bidder’s Guide. The bidder’s guide is included with qualified bidders’ registration materials and is available in electronic form through the “HELP” link in the FCC Auction System. V. APPLICANTS’ CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS A. Prohibited Communications 29. The Bureau reminds applicants that section 1.2105(c) of the Commission’s rules prohibits applicants for licenses in any of the same or overlapping geographic areas from communicating with one another about bids, bidding strategies, or settlements, which may include communications regarding post- auction market structure, unless each applicant has identified the other applicant on its short-form application as a party with which the applicant has entered into an agreement under section 1.2105(a)(2)(viii). 12 The prohibition on certain communications applies to applicants that selected licenses in the same markets. 13 In Auction 96, the prohibition on certain communications would, for example, prohibit applicants that have selected any of the same licenses on their short-form applications 9 Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13067-68 ¶ 186. 10 Id. 11 Id. at 13071 ¶ 204. 12 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2105(a)(2)(viii), 1.2105(c)(1). See also Amendment of Part 1 of the Commission’s Rules – Competitive Bidding Procedures, WT Docket No. 97-82, Seventh Report and Order, FCC 01-270, 16 FCC Rcd 17546 (2001) (“Part 1 Seventh Report and Order”); Order on Reconsideration of the Third Report and Order, Fifth Report and Order, and Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, FCC 00-274, 15 FCC Rcd 15293, 15297- 98 ¶¶ 7-8 (2000). 13 Additional guidance on the requirements of section 1.2105(c) may be found in the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice. See Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13024-30 ¶¶ 7-30. 7from communicating absent a disclosed agreement. 14 An applicant is prohibited from communicating not only about its own bids or bidding strategy, but also from communicating about another applicant’s bid or bidding strategy. 30. The prohibition on certain communications in sections 1.2105(c) took effect for Auction 96 at the short-form application filing deadline, 6:00 p.m. ET on November 15, 2013, and extends until the post-auction down payment deadline, which will be announced in a public notice released shortly following close of bidding. 15 The prohibition applies to each applicant regardless of whether such applicant becomes a qualified bidder or actually bids. 16 For further information on the prohibition, applicants should refer to the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice. 17 B. Maintenance of Anonymous Bidding 31. We remind applicants that, under the anonymous bidding procedures in effect for Auction 96, the Commission is withholding from public release, until after the close of the auction, any information that may indicate a specific applicant’s interests in the auction – including, among other things, license selections, upfront payments, and eligibility information – and the identities of bidders making bids or taking other bidding-related actions. Accordingly, communication to other applicants or public disclosure of such non-public information would appear to violate the Commission’s anonymous bidding procedures and section 1.2105(c) of the Commission’s rules. 18 32. This prohibition would include communication of any such non-public information by an applicant to the public, financial analysts, or the press, as well as any such communication by an applicant to another applicant for one or more licenses covering geographic areas also covered by the applicant’s license selections on its short-form application. 19 Examples of communications that may raise concern, 14 Part 1 Seventh Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd at 17549 n.13. 15 47 C.F.R. § 1.2105(c)(1). 16 For example, the Commission imposed a forfeiture in the amount of $100,000 for violation of Section 1.2105(c) even though the applicant never made an upfront payment for the auction and was not listed as a qualified bidder. See Northeast Communications of Wisconsin, Inc., Forfeiture Order, DA 04-3027, 19 FCC Rcd 18635 (Enf. Bur. 2004). The Commission subsequently reduced the amount of the forfeiture to $75,000 due to the parties’ history of compliance with Commission rules. See Star Wireless, LLC and Northeast Communications of Wisconsin, Inc., Order on Review, FCC 07-80, 22 FCC Rcd 8943 (2007), petition for review denied, Star Wireless, LLC v. FCC, 522 F.3d 469 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (Section 1.2105(c) applies to auction applicant regardless of whether the applicant is qualified to bid). The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin granted summary judgment in favor of the United States pursuant to an effort by the Department of Justice to enforce the forfeiture. United States v. Northeast Communications of Wisconsin, Inc., Decision and Order, 608 F. Supp. 2d 1049 (D. Wisc. 2008). See also Letter to Robert Pettit, from Margaret W. Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Div., DA 00-2905, 16 FCC Rcd 10080 (2000) (declining to exempt an applicant’s controlling interest from coverage by Section 1.2105(c), even though the applicant never made an upfront payment for the auction and was not listed as a qualified bidder). 17 Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13024-30 ¶ 7-30. 18 Id., 28 FCC Rcd at 13057 ¶ 144. 19 The Commission has long expressed the concern that applicants should use caution in their dealings with other parties, such as members of the press, financial analysts, or others who might become a conduit for the communication of non-public information relating to auctions, such as bids and bidding strategies. Compare Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Responds to Questions About the Local Multipoint Distribution Service Auction, Public Notice, DA 98-37, 13 FCC Rcd 341, 347-48 (1998) (“Public statements can give rise to collusion (continued….) 8given the anonymous bidding procedures in effect for Auction 96, include an applicant’s statement to the press about its upfront payment or bidding eligibility, and an applicant’s statement that it is, or is no longer, interested in bidding in the auction. C. Disclosure Obligations and Possible Sanctions 33. Section 1.2105(c)(6) requires any applicant that makes or receives a communication that appears to violate section 1.2105(c) to report such communication in writing to the Commission immediately, and in no case later than five business days after the communication occurs. 20 Each applicant’s obligation to report any such communication continues beyond the five-day period after the communication is made, even if the report is not made within the five day period. 21 34. In addition, section 1.65 of the Commission’s rules requires an applicant to report to the Commission any communication of a bid or bidding strategy that results in a bidding arrangement, agreement, or understanding after the short-form filing application deadline. 22 35. Any party reporting a prohibited communication must take care to ensure that any such report does not itself give rise to a violation of section 1.2105(c). For example, a party’s report of a prohibited communication could violate the rule by communicating prohibited information to other applicants through the use of Commission filing procedures that would allow such materials to be made available for public inspection. To minimize the risk of inadvertent dissemination of a party’s report of a prohibited communication, section 1.2105(c)(6) of the Commission’s rules requires such a report to be filed consistent with the instructions set forth in the public notice detailing the procedures for bidding in a given auction. 23 For Auction 96, a party should file only a single report concerning a prohibited communication, as specified in the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice. 24 Any such report must be filed immediately, and in no case later than five business days after the communication occurs, with the Chief of the Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, and either submitted by e-mail to auction96@fcc.gov or delivered to the following address: Margaret W. Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12 th Street, SW, Room 6423, Washington, DC 20554. 36. A party seeking to report such a prohibited communication should consider submitting its report with a request that the report or portions of the submission be withheld from public inspection. 25 concerns. This has occurred in the antitrust context, where certain public statements can support other evidence which tends to indicate the existence of a conspiracy.”). 20 47 C.F.R. § 1.2105(c)(6); see also Part 1 Seventh Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd at 17552-55 ¶¶ 12-18. This reporting requirement applies even if the communication of bids or bidding strategies does not result in a bidding arrangement, agreement, or understanding. Id. at 17552 ¶ 12. 21 See Service Rules for the 698-746, 747-762 and 777-792 MHz Bands, WT Docket No. 06-150, Second Report and Order, FCC 07-132, 22 FCC Rcd 15289, 15395 ¶¶ 285-86 (2007). 22 Part 1 Seventh Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd at 17550-51 ¶ 9. 23 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2105(c)(6); Procedural Amendments to Commission Part 1 Competitive Bidding Rules, WT Docket No. 10-18, Order, FCC 10-4, 25 FCC Rcd 521, 522 ¶ 4 (2010) (“Part 1 Procedural Amendments Order”). 24 Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13029 ¶¶ 26-28. 25 See 47 C.F.R. § 0.459 (procedures for requesting that materials or information submitted to the Commission be withheld from public inspection). If an applicant requests confidential treatment of a document, the cover page of the filing must prominently display that the applicant is seeking confidential treatment for that document. For (continued….) 9Any such report must include a cover sheet to avoid the inadvertent dissemination of information contained in the report. You are encouraged to consult with the Auctions and Spectrum Access Division staff about the procedures for submitting such a report. 26 The Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice provides additional guidance on procedures for submitting application-related information. 27 37. Any applicant that is a winning bidder will be required to disclose in its long-form application the specific terms, conditions, and parties involved in any agreement or arrangement entered into relating to the competitive bidding process, including any agreement relating to the post-auction market structure. 28 38. Any applicant found to have violated section 1.2105(c) of the Commission’s rules may be subject to sanctions. 29 In addition, we remind each applicant that it is subject to the antitrust laws, which are designed to prevent anti-competitive behavior in the marketplace. If an applicant is found to have violated the antitrust laws or the Commission’s rules in connection with its participation in the competitive bidding process, it may be subject to forfeiture of its upfront payment, down payment, or full bid amount, and it may be prohibited from participating in future auctions, among other sanctions. 30 D. Submission of Auction-Related Filings 39. As noted above, an applicant seeking to amend its short-form application during the auction must make modifications electronically and submit a letter, briefly summarizing the changes, by e-mail to the attention of Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, at the following address: auction96@fcc.gov. The e-mail summarizing the changes must include a subject or caption referring to Auction 96 and the name of the applicant. 40. A party wishing to submit a request, a complaint, or other information concerning Auction 96 should, in addition to following other procedures prescribed by the Commission’s rules, send a copy by e-mail to the attention of Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, at the following address: auction96@fcc.gov. The Commission occasionally receives complaints regarding specific bidders and requests to suspend bidding during an auction. While the Commission reserves the right to take appropriate action during an auction to preserve the integrity of the auction process, it is generally our practice to address any such allegations only after a winning bidder has submitted its long- form application, when there is greater opportunity for investigation of such allegations, if warranted. The Commission will not investigate any complaints or allegations that are not accompanied by full contact information, including name, address, and telephone number, for the complaining party or parties. 41. Finally, parties wishing to make suggestions concerning Auction 96 or future auctions should present such ideas using the suggestion feature of the FCC Auction System. (As mentioned above, this example, a filing might include a cover page stamped with “Request for Confidential Treatment Attached” or “Not for Public Inspection.” Any such request must cover all of the material to which the request applies. See 47 C.F.R. § 0.459(a). 26 See Section VII, “Contact Information,” below. 27 See Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13046-47 ¶ 98. 28 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2107(d). 29 See 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2105(c), 1.2109(d). 30 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2109(d). 10 feature is not an appropriate mechanism for asking time-sensitive questions that need an immediate response.) Commission staff considers all suggestions, but may not always provide an individualized response. E. Duty to Maintain Accurate Information in Short-Form Applications 42. Each applicant must maintain the accuracy and completeness of information furnished in its short-form application (FCC Form 175), including any attachments. 31 Sections 1.65(a) and 1.2105(c) of the rules require an applicant in a competitive bidding proceeding to furnish additional or corrected information within five days after a significant occurrence, or to amend its short-form application no more than five days after the applicant becomes aware of the need for amendment. 32 The Commission has established a five-day reporting requirement to facilitate the auction process, by making the information available promptly to all participants and enabling the Bureau to act expeditiously on those changes when such action is necessary. 33 Therefore, an applicant must amend its short-form application to furnish additional or corrected information as promptly as possible, and in no case more than five business days after the applicant becomes aware of the need for amendment or five business days after the reportable event occurs, whichever is later. 34 43. An applicant seeking to provide additional or updated information must modify its short-form application electronically and submit a letter briefly summarizing the change by e-mail to the attention of Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, at the following address: auction96@fcc.gov. The e-mail summarizing the change must include a subject or caption referring to Auction 96 and the name of the applicant. The Bureau requests that parties format any attachments to e-mail as Adobe ® Acrobat ® (pdf) or Microsoft ® Word documents. An applicant must not submit application-specific material through the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (“ECFS”). Questions about changes should be directed to the Auctions and Spectrum Access Division at (202) 418- 0660. 44. As described in the Commission’s rules, an applicant may make only minor corrections to its short-form application (e.g., deletion and addition of authorized bidders or contact information). 35 A major modification (e.g., license selection change, newly claimed or increased bidding credit, or changing control of the applicant) will not be accepted. 36 Any change affecting an applicant’s eligibility for a bidding credit, insofar as it results in the reduction or loss of the credit originally claimed on the Form 175 application, must be reported immediately, and no later than five business days after the change occurs. Each applicant must clearly state the nature of the change in an amendment to its short-form application and in the summary letter referenced above. In cases of diminished bidding credit eligibility, the Commission will make appropriate adjustments in the bidding credit prior to the computation of any down and final payment amounts due. 31 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.65. For more information on making administrative changes to an existing application, see “Minor Modifications to Short-Form Applications” and “Maintaining Current Information in Short-Form Applications” in the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13045-46 ¶¶ 92-97, 13046-47 ¶ 98, and Attachment D at 13095 Section I.D.2. 32 Part 1 Procedural Amendments Order, 25 FCC Rcd at 523 ¶ 8. 33 Id. 34 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2105(b)(4); see also Part 1 Procedural Amendments Order, 25 FCC Rcd at 521. 35 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2105(b). 36 Id. 11 45. When amending short-form applications, applicants must avoid any statements or disclosures that may violate section 1.2105(c) of the Commission’s rules, particularly in light of the limited information disclosure procedures in place for Auction 96. 37 Applicants should avoid including any information in their short-form applications that might convey information regarding license selections, such as using applicant names that refer to licenses being offered, referring to certain licenses or markets in describing bidding agreements, or including any information in attachments that may otherwise disclose applicants’ license selections. Therefore, a party seeking to submit information that might reflect non-public information, such as an applicant’s license selections, upfront payment amount, or bidding eligibility, should consider submitting any such information along with a request that the filing or portions of the filing be withheld from public inspection until the end of the prohibition of certain communications pursuant to section 1.2105(c). F. Ex Parte Rule 46. Applicants should also be aware that the Commission has generally treated mutually exclusive short-form applications as exempt proceedings and, therefore, not subject to the ex parte prohibitions that pertain to restricted proceedings. 38 G. Due Diligence 47. We remind each potential bidder that it is solely responsible for investigating and evaluating all technical and marketplace factors that may have a bearing on the value of the licenses being offered in Auction 96. The Commission makes no representations or warranties about the use of this spectrum for particular services. We strongly encourage each potential bidder to conduct its own research prior to the beginning of bidding in Auction 96 in order to determine the existence of pending proceedings, pleadings, applications, or authorizations that might affect its decisions regarding participation in the auction. Each potential bidder is solely responsible for identifying associated risks and for investigating and evaluating the degree to which such matters may affect its ability to bid on, otherwise acquire, or make use of any specific license available in Auction 96. In addition, each potential bidder should perform sufficient technical analyses to assure itself that, should it be a winning bidder for any Auction 96 license, it will be able to build and operate facilities that will comply fully with the Commission's technical and legal requirements. 48. Each participant must continue such research throughout the auction. For further details regarding due diligence, please refer to the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice under Section I.C.6. 39 VI. POST-AUCTION INFORMATION 49. Shortly after bidding has ended, the Commission will release a public notice declaring the auction closed, identifying the winning bidders, and establishing the deadlines for submitting down payments and final payments. 40 Each winning bidder will have ten business days following the release of 37 See Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13057 ¶ 142. 38 See Commission Announces that Mutually Exclusive ‘Short Form’ Applications (Form 175) to Participate in Competitive Bidding Process (‘Auctions’) Are Treated as Exempt for Ex Parte Purposes, Public Notice, FCC 94- 283, 9 FCC Rcd 6760 (1994). See also 47 C.F.R. § 1.1202(d)(1) Note 1. 39 See Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13033-34 ¶¶ 41-45. 40 For more detail, see Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13071-74 ¶¶ 206-221. 12 that public notice to make down payments. Final payments will be due ten business days after the deadline for submitting down payments for this auction. 50. Each winning bidder must electronically file a complete and accurate long-form application (FCC Form 601) and an ownership disclosure information report (FCC Form 602) within ten business days after the release of the auction closing public notice. 41 Each winning bidder must include with its long-form application a detailed explanation of the terms, conditions and parties involved in any bidding agreement into which it has entered, including any agreement relating to the post-auction market structure. 42 Any winning bidder claiming eligibility to receive a bidding credit will be subject to the more extensive reporting requirements contained in section 1.2112(b) of the Commission’s rules. 43 In addition, any winning bidder with a foreign ownership interest will be required to comply with 47 U.S.C. § 310(b) at the long-form application review stage. Further instructions regarding these post-auction procedures are contained in the Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice and will be provided in the public notice announcing the winning bids. 44 VII. CONTACT INFORMATION 51. For further information concerning Auction 96, please contact: General Auction Information General Auction Questions Auction Process and Procedures FCC Auctions Hotline (888) 225-5322, option two; or (717) 338-2868 Auction 96 Process and Procedures Auctions and Spectrum Access Division (202) 418-0660 Jeff Crooks (Analyst) Linda Sanderson (Project Manager) Auction 96 Legal Information Auction Rules, Policies, Regulations Reports of section 1.2105(c) Violations and Application Major Modifications Auctions and Spectrum Access Division (202) 418-0660 Valerie Barrish (Attorney) Licensing Information Service Rules, Policies, Regulations Licensing Issues, Engineering Issues Due Diligence, Incumbency Issues Broadband Division (202) 418-2487 Matthew Pearl (Attorney) Janet Young (Engineer) 41 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2107. 42 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.2107(d). 43 47 C.F.R. § 1.2112(b). 44 See Auction 96 Procedures Public Notice, 28 FCC Rcd at 13071-74 ¶¶ 206-221. See also 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2107, 1.2109(a). 13 Technical Support Electronic Filing FCC Auction System (Hardware/Software Issues) FCC Auctions Technical Support Hotline (877) 480-3201, option nine; or (202) 414-1250 (202) 414-1255 (TTY) Hours of service: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday Auction Payments Instructions for Wiring Payments FCC Auctions Accounting Group (202) 418-0578 Gail Glasser (202) 418-2945 Theresa Meeks 52. To request materials in accessible formats (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format) for people with disabilities, send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). - FCC -