Federal Communications Commission DA 22-795 DA 22-795 Released: July 26, 2022 By this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) announces the grant of an additional six long-form applications and issuance of 2,431 Priority Access Licenses. On August 25, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) completed the auction of Priority Access Licenses in the 3550-3650 MHz portion of the 3550-3700 MHz (3.5 GHz) band, and the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) and WTB announced the results of that auction on September 2, 2020. See Auction of Priority Access Licenses in the 3550-3650 MHz Band Closes, AU Docket No. 19-244, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 9287 (OEA & WTB 2020). This auction raised a total of $4,543,232,339 in net bids ($4,585,663,345 in gross bids), with 228 bidders winning a total of 20,625 licenses. “Gross bids” refers to the total amount of winning bids at the close of bidding and does not reflect any small business or rural service provider bidding credits claimed by eligible winning bidders. “Net bids” refers to the total amount of winning bids as adjusted for any small business or rural service provider bidding credits claimed by winning bidders. Long-form applications (FCC Form 601) of winning bidders were accepted on December 3, 2020, January 19, 2021, March 26, 2021, and June 23, 2021. Specifically, 235 FCC long-form applications were accepted for filing on December 3, 2020. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces that Applications for Auction 105 Licenses Are Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 14080 (WTB 2020). An additional 10 FCC long-form applications were accepted for filing on January 19, 2021. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Additional Applications for Auction 105 Licenses Are Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, 36 FCC Rcd 798 (WTB 2021). An additional three FCC long-form applications were accepted for filing on March 26, 2021. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Additional Applications for Auction 105 Licenses Are Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, 36 FCC Rcd 5744 (WTB 2021). One additional FCC long-form application was accepted for filing on June 23, 2021. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces an Additional Application for Auction 105 Licenses is Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, DA 21-728 (WTB June 23, 2021). Initial review of the remaining Auction 105 long-form applications is ongoing. Licenses were granted for certain winning bidders on March 12, 2021, April 30, 2021, July 12, 2021, and December 9, 2021. Specifically, 17,450 licenses associated with 222 FCC long-form applications were granted on March 12, 2021. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Grants Auction 105 Priority Access Licenses, Public Notice, 36 FCC Rcd 4926 (WTB 2021) (First Auction 105 Grant PN). An additional 125 licenses associated with 13 FCC long-form applications were granted on April 30, 2021. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Grants Additional Auction 105 Priority Access Licenses, Public Notice, 36 FCC Rcd 7633 (WTB 2021) (Second Auction 105 Grant PN). An additional 26 licenses associated with two FCC long-form applications were granted on July 12, 2021. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Grants Additional Auction 105 Priority Access Licenses, Public Notice, 35 FCC Rcd 10886 (WTB 2021) (Third Auction 105 Grant PN). An additional 102 licenses associated with four FCC long-form applications were accepted on December 9, 2021. See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Grants Additional Auction 105 Priority Access Licenses, Public Notice, DA 21-1529 (WTB Dec. 9, 2021) (Fourth Auction 105 Grant PN). On July 15, 2022, WTB and OEA issued orders adopting consent decrees with five Priority Access License applicants—Cable One, Inc.; NorthWestern Corporation; SAL Spectrum, LLC; Shenandoah Cable Television, LLC; and United States Cellular Corporation (together, the Applicants). Cable One, Inc., File No. 0009226187, Order and Consent Decree, DA 22-746 (OEA & WTB July 15, 2022) (Cable One Consent Decree); NorthWestern Corporation, File No. 0009225398, Order and Consent Decree, DA 22-748 (OEA & WTB July 15, 2022); SAL Spectrum, LLC, File No. 0009223630, Order and Consent Decree, DA 22-744 (OEA & WTB July 15, 2022); Shenandoah Cable Television, LLC, File No. 0009225534, Order and Consent Decree, DA 22-745 (OEA & WTB July 15, 2022); United States Cellular Corporation, File No. 0009224814, Order and Consent Decree, DA 22-747 (OEA & WTB July 15, 2022). On July 22, 2022, WTB and OEA issued an order adopting a modification of the consent decree that WTB and OEA entered into with SAL Spectrum, LLC. SAL Spectrum, LLC, File Nos. 0009223630 and 0009223760, Order and Modification of Consent Decree, DA 22-788 (OEA & WTB July 22, 2022). After adoption of the consent decrees and subsequent amendments made by the Applicants consistent with those consent decrees, WTB finds the applications for the licenses listed in Attachment A to be complete and in conformance with the Commission’s rules. Review of applications that previously were accepted for filing, but are not listed in Attachment A, the First Auction 105 Grant PN, the Second Auction 105 Grant PN, the Third Auction 105 Grant PN, or the Fourth Auction 105 Grant PN, is ongoing. Attachment A's list of Priority Access Licenses being granted includes six licenses in three markets that the Cable One Consent Decree does not cover. See Cable One Consent Decree, DA 22-746, at 3, para. 13, n.18. When making amendments consistent with that Consent Decree, Cable One removed from its application four licenses in those three markets. Compare Application File No. 0009226187 as amended, received Sept. 17, 2020, with Application File No. 0009226187 as amended, received July 18, 2022. The status of the four licenses removed from the application will be addressed separately. No petitions to deny these applications were filed. We also find that granting the applications for the licenses listed in Attachment A serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity. Furthermore, the Commission has received full payment for the licenses listed in Attachment A, as required by section 1.2109(a) of its rules. 47 CFR § 1.2109(a). Accordingly, by this Public Notice, we announce the grant of the licenses listed in Attachment A. We grant these licenses pursuant to section 309(a) of the Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 309(a), and sections 0.131 and 0.331 of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.131, 0.331. We remind licensees that they should review the Commission’s part 96 rules and all Commission orders and public notices establishing rules and policies for the 3.5 GHz band. See 47 CFR pt. 96; see also Amendment of the Commission’s Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band, GN Docket No. 12-354, Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 30 FCC Rcd 3959 (2015); Amendment of the Commission’s Rules with Regard to Commercial Operations in the 3550-3650 MHz Band, GN Docket No. 12-354, Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order, 31 FCC Rcd 5011 (2016); Promoting Investment in the 3550-3700 MHz Band, GN Docket No. 17-258, Report and Order, 33 FCC Rcd 10598 (2018). Each licensee is solely responsible for complying with all FCC rules and regulations associated with these licenses. This Public Notice includes two attachments: Attachment A – Priority Access Licenses Granted – Sorted by Licensee Attachment B – Priority Access Licenses Granted – Sorted by Market Number Please contact Halie Peacher, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Mobility Division, at (202) 418-0514 or Halie.Peacher@fcc.gov for questions regarding legal matters or licensing issues. Please contact Will Wiquist at (202) 418-0509 or Will.Wiquist@fcc.gov for press questions. People with Disabilities: 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 & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice). - FCC - 2