PUBLIC NOTICE
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1919 M STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON DC  20554 __________________DA 96-1813
News media information 20Z'418-0500Fax-Oa-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.tcc.gov————————
Released: November 1, 1996 
By the Mass Media Bureau:
MASS MEDIA BUREAU REMINDS LICENSEES THAT ISSUANCE OF
A BTA AUTHORIZATION TRIGGERS COPYRIGHT
RESPONSIBILITIES
Rand McNally & Company is the copyright owner of the Basic Trading Area (BTA) and 
Major Trading Area (MTA) Listings, which list the counties contained in each BTA, as embodied 
in Rand McNally's Trading Area System Diskette and geographically represented in the map 
contained in Rand McNally's Commercial Atlas & Marketing Guide. Rand McNally has licensed 
the use of its copyrighted MTA/BTA listings and maps for certain services such as Personal 
Communications Services, 800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio Services and Local Multipoint 
Distribution Services. Similarly, on September 18, 1995. Rand McNally reached an agreement 
with the Wireless Cable Association (WCA) for a blanket copyright license for the conditional 
use of the copyrighted material in the Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS). This agreement 
authorizes the conditional use of Rand McNally's copyrighted material by Commission licensees 
and requires interested persons using the material to include a legend on reproductions (as 
specified in the license agreement) indicating Rand McNally's ownership, and provides for a 
payment of a one time license fee to Rand McNally.
Under the terms of the WCA license agreement, license fees are to be paid within ten 
business days after the date that MDS BTA authorizations(s) are issued by the Commission. In 
recognition of Rand McNally's interests, the Commission has noted that an MDS BTA 
authorization grantee who does not obtain a copyright license (either through a blanket license 
agreement or some other agreement) from Rand McNally, for the use of the copyrighted material, 
may not rely on the grant of a BTA-based authorization from the Commission as a defense 
against any claim of copyright infringement brought by Rand McNally against such grantee. See 
In Amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the Commission's Rules With Regard to Filing Procedures 
in the Multipoint Distribution Service and in the Instructional Television Fixed Service and 
Implementation of Section 309(f) of the Communications Act — Competitive Bidding, Report and 
Order, 10 FCC Red 9589, 9608 (1995). The MTA/BTA Listings, the MTA/BTA Map and the 
license agreements noted above are available for public inspection at the MDS public reference 
room, Room 207,2033 M Street, N.W, Washington, D.C. For further information please contact 
Charles E. Dziedzic at (202) 418-1600.
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