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 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). 
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 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  January  30,  2003  Lisa  Gaisford  (202)  418-  7280 
 FCC  REALLOCATES  SPECTRUM  FOR  NEW  WIRELESS  SERVICES 
 Washington,  DC  –  The  Federal  Communications  Commission  has  reallocated  spectrum  that  can  be  used  to  provide  a  variety  of  new  wireless  services,  including  advanced  wireless 
 services  (AWS),  commonly  referred  to  as  “Third  Generation”  or  “IMT-  2000.”  The  Commission  reallocated  30  megahertz  of  spectrum  from  the  2  GHz  Mobile  Satellite  Service  (2  GHz  MSS)  to 
 fixed  and  mobile  services.  The  Commission  also  sought  comment  on  potential  uses  of  an  additional  15  megahertz  of  spectrum  previously  identified  for  new  wireless  services  and  on 
 increased  flexibility  in  the  Unlicensed  Personal  Communications  Service  (UPCS)  band.  These  actions  will  facilitate  more  efficient  use  of  existing  spectrum  and  enable  an  expanded  array  of 
 innovative  products  and  services  for  consumers. 
 In  a  Third  Report  and  Order  (“  Order”),  the  Commission  allocated  for  fixed  and  mobile  wireless  services  the  1990-  2000  MHz,  2020-  2025  MHz,  and  2165-  2180  MHz  bands.  The 


 Commission  concluded  that  2  GHz  MSS  –  which  is  currently  authorized  to  operate  in  the  1990-  2025  MHz  and  2165-  2200  MHz  bands  –  can  operate  in  less  than  the  70  megahertz  of  spectrum  it 
 had  previously  been  allocated.  The  Commission’s  action  retains  40  megahertz  of  spectrum  for  2  GHz  MSS  in  the  2000-  2020  MHz  and  2180-  2200  MHz  bands.  MSS  providers  are  also  operating 
 elsewhere  below  3  GHz. 
 In  a  Third  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking  (“  Notice”)  the  FCC  sought  further  comment  on  use  of  the  1910-  1920  MHz  band.  This  band  is  currently  available  for  UPCS  asynchronous 


 (generally  data)  applications,  but  at  present  is  unused.  This  band  –  or  a  portion  thereof  –  could  be  paired  with  the  1990-  2000  MHz  band  to  support  the  development  of  AWS,  or  could  be  used 
 to  support  the  relocation  of  other  wireless  licensees.  The  Commission  concluded  that  the  1920-  1930  MHz  band  should  be  retained  for  UPCS  use  and  sought  comment  on  whether  it  should 
 provide  for  additional  flexibility  in  that  band,  as  well  as  any  additional  spectrum  retained  for  UPCS  use  in  the  1910-  1920  MHz  band.  In  the  Notice,  the  Commission  also  sought  additional 
 comment  on  potential  uses  for  spectrum  in  the  2155-  2160/  62  MHz  band  that  is  currently  used  by  the  Multipoint  Distribution  Service  (MDS),  and  the  2160-  2165  MHz  band  identified  for 
 emerging  technology  use.  The  Commission  also  sought  comment  on  suitable  relocation  spectrum  for  MDS  licensees  currently  operating  in  the  2150-  2160/  62  MHz  band,  and  asked  what  portions 
 of  the  2155-  2180  MHz  band  could  be  suitable  for  AWS  use. 
 In  a  Second  Memorandum  Opinion  and  Order,  the  Commission  denied  a  petition  for  reconsideration  seeking  reallocation  of  the  entire  2  GHz  MSS  band  for  terrestrial  wireless  use. 
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 Action  by  the  Commission  on  January  29,  2003,  by  Third  Report  and  Order,  Third  Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking,  and  Second  Memorandum  Opinion  and  Order  in  ET  Docket 
 No.  00-  258  (FCC  03-  16).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Martin,  Adelstein  with  Commissioner  Copps  approving  in  part,  dissenting  in  part.  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners 
 Copps  and  Adelstein  issuing  statements. 
 -  FCC  - 


 Office  of  Engineering  and  Technology  Contacts:  Geraldine  Matise  202-  418-  2322,  e-  mail:  gmatise@  fcc.  gov  or  Jamison  Prime  202-  418-  7474,  e-  mail:  jprime@  fcc.  gov. 
 ET  Docket  No.  00-  258 
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