*Pages 1--2 from Microsoft Word - 22791.doc* NEWS News media Information 202 / 418- 0500 TTY 202 / 418- 2555 Fax- On- Demand 202 / 418- 2830 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov ftp. fcc. gov Federal Communications Commission 445 12 th Street, S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D. C. Circ 1974). FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: News Media Contacts: November 7, 2002 Lisa Gaisford (202) 418- 7280 (Order) e- mail: lgaisfor@ fcc. gov Lauren Kravetz Patrich at (202) 418- 7944 (NPRM) e- mail: lkravetz@ fcc. gov FCC ALLOCATES SPECTRUM FOR ADVANCED WIRELESS SERVICES AND PROPOSES LICENSING AND SERVICE RULES Washington, DC – The Federal Communications Commission allocated 90 megahertz of spectrum that can be used to provide advanced wireless services (AWS), including services commonly referred to as “Third Generation” or “IMT- 2000.” In a Second Report and Order (“ Order”) in ET Docket No. 00- 258, the Commission allocated two contiguous 45 megahertz frequency bands located at 1710- 1755 MHz and 2110- 2155 MHz. Both bands are allocated for fixed and mobile wireless services. In a companion Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ Notice”) in WT Docket No. 02- 353, the FCC also proposes licensing and service rules that permit these bands to be used for any service consistent with the bands’ fixed and mobile allocations, including the provision of AWS. These actions will benefit the public by fostering the development of new wireless services that will provide American consumers with additional communications options and capabilities. Second Report and Order The Order allocated a total of 90 megahertz to the fixed and mobile services. This allocation consists of two contiguous 45 megahertz blocks suitable for the provision of AWS. The spectrum at 1710- 1755 MHz is currently used for Federal Government operations and is scheduled to be transferred to Federal Government/ non- Federal Government mixed use. The spectrum at 2110- 2155 MHz largely consists of spectrum previously identified as suitable for new services as part of the Commission’s Emerging Technologies proceeding. The Commission will use existing relocation rules to provide for the migration of incumbent point- to- point microwave licensees that are currently licensed in the 2110- 2150 MHz band. To provide for a contiguous 45 megahertz block of spectrum, the Order also allocated 5 megahertz of spectrum currently licensed to the Multipoint Distribution Service (MDS) at 2150- 2155 MHz. This spectrum is part of a 10 megahertz block (12 megahertz in larger markets) that is allocated to MDS in the 2150- 2160/ 62 MHz band. The Commission will consider relocation spectrum and propose relocation procedures for MDS operations in this band in a future proceeding. By providing two 45 megahertz blocks of contiguous spectrum that can be paired, the Order allocated a significant amount of spectrum that can be used to support a wide variety of AWS applications, including those associated with “3G” and “IMT- 2000” technologies. In keeping with the Commission’s flexible use policies, this allocation could be used by current licensees to expand their capacity for offering wireless voice and data services. Alternately, it could be used by either current licensees or new entrants to support the development of entirely new applications that are distinct from existing wireless offerings. 1 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking The Notice seeks comment on licensing, technical, and operational rules to govern the use of the 1710- 1755 MHz and 2110- 2155 MHz bands allocated for AWS. The Commission seeks to provide licensees in these bands with flexibility to use these bands to provide any service that is consistent with the bands’ fixed and mobile allocation. The Commission proposes to license these bands under Part 27 of the Commission’s rules. Part 27 provides a flexible regulatory framework that includes basic licensing requirements and sets out certain technical requirements to prevent interference. In the Notice, the Commission also proposes to assign licenses in these bands through competitive bidding and seeks comment on a number of auction- related issues, including the use of bidding credits, in connection with these licensing procedures. In addition, the Notice asks for comment on what geographic areas should be used to license this spectrum, whether the bands should be divided into particular blocks of spectrum, and, if so, what size the blocks should be and what pairings are appropriate for this spectrum. Among other things, the Notice proposes ten- year license terms, to permit post- auction disaggregation and partitioning, and seeks comment on possible construction requirements. The Notice also seeks comment on a variety of technical issues, including on how best to control in- band and out- of- band interference, appropriate power limits, RF safety limits, and Canadian and Mexican coordination. Actions by the Commission on November 7, 2002, by Second Report and Order in ET Docket No. 00- 258 (FCC 02- 304) and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in WT Docket No. 02- 353 (FCC 02- 305); Chairman Powell, Commissioners Copps and Martin issuing separate statements. Contacts: Second Report and Order: Jamison Prime (Office of Engineering and Technology) at (202) 418- 7474, e- mail: jprime@ fcc. gov; Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: John Spencer (Wireless Telecommunications Bureau) at (202) 418- 1310, e- mail: jspencer@ fcc. gov or Eli Johnson (Wireless Telecommunications Bureau) at (202) 418- 1310, e- mail: ejohnson@ fcc. gov. ET Docket No. 00- 258 WT Docket No. 02- 353 - FCC - 2