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 NEWS  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).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  December  11,  2002  Chelsea  Fallon  at  202-  418-  7991 
 FCC  ASKS  FOR  INFORMATION  ON  WIRELESS  SERVICES  IN  RURAL  AREAS 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  In  its  efforts  to  promote  wireless  services  in  rural  America,  the  FCC  today  sought  comment  on  the  effectiveness  of  regulatory  tools  it  currently  has  in  place  to 
 facilitate  the  delivery  of  wireless  service  to  rural  communities  across  the  United  States.  The  Commission's  Notice  of  Inquiry  asks  whether  the  Commission  should  modify  its  policies  to 
 promote  the  provision  of  more  spectrum-  based  services  in  rural  areas,  what  types  of  wireless  services  are  being  provided  in  rural  areas,  and  what  obstacles  exist  to  the  provision  of  wireless 
 services  in  rural  areas.  The  Commission  also  asked  for  input  on  the  extent  to  which  rural  telephone  companies,  and  others  desiring  to  serve  rural  areas,  have  opportunities  to  acquire 
 spectrum  for  this  purpose. 
 The  Commission  also  requested  comment  on  the  effectiveness  of  several  specific  policies  that  are  intended,  in  part,  to  encourage  the  provision  of  spectrum-  based  services  to  rural  areas, 
 such  as:  (1)  small  business  bidding  credits  in  spectrum  auctions;  (2)  variation  in  the  sizes  of  geographic  service  areas  for  spectrum  licenses;  (3)  the  availability  of  geographic  partitioning  and 
 spectrum  disaggregation  arrangements  with  existing  licensees;  and  (4)  the  use  of  construction  benchmarks  as  performance  requirements.  In  addition,  the  Commission  asked  whether,  and  in 
 what  ways,  its  technical  and  operational  rules,  band  manager  licensing,  and  unlicensed  spectrum  bands  can  be  used  to  further  the  provision  of  wireless  services  to  rural  areas. 


 The  information  received  will  help  guide  future  Commission  decisions  with  respect  to  rural  areas  and  rural  service  providers. 
 Action  by  the  Commission  December  11,  2002,  by  Notice  of  Inquiry  (FCC  02-  325).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps  and  Martin,  with  Commissioner  Adelstein 
 not  participating,  and  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Copps  and  Martin  issuing  separate  statements. 


 Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  Contact:  Robert  Krinsky  at  (202)  418-  2909  or  e-  mail:  rkrinsky@  fcc.  gov.  TTY:  (202)  418-  7233. 
 WT  Docket  No.  02-  381 
 -  FCC  - 
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