*Pages 1--2 from  Microsoft Word - 32346*
 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:  October  16,  2003  Chelsea  Fallon  at  (202)  418-  7991 
 FCC  ADOPTS  THIRD  GENERATION  (“  3G”)  RULES  MAKING  90  MHz  OF  SPECTRUM  AVAILABLE  FOR  BROADBAND  AND  ADVANCED  WIRELESS  SERVICES 
 Washington,  D.  C.  –  In  a  Report  and  Order  (Order)  adopted  today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (FCC)  advanced  its  efforts  to  provide  new  and  existing  wireless  operators  with  additional 
 spectrum  resources  and  issued  rules  that  will  enable  wireless  providers  to  offer  an  array  of  innovative  products  and  services,  including  wireless  broadband  Internet  access. 


 Today’s  action  provided  service  rules  for  the  1710-  1755  MHz  and  2110-  2155  MHz  spectrum  bands.  As  determined  by  the  FCC  in  November  2002,  these  bands  can  be  used  to  offer  a  variety  of  new 
 and  advanced  wireless  services,  including  voice,  data,  and  broadband  services  –  popularly  referred  to  as  Third  Generation,  or  “3G,”  services  –  using  high-  speed  fixed  and  mobile  networks. 


 The  rules  adopted  today  include  provisions  for  application  procedures,  licensing,  technical  operations,  and  competitive  bidding.  This  spectrum  will  be  licensed  by  geographic  areas  under  the  FCC’s 
 flexible,  market-  oriented  Part  27  rules,  and  will  be  assigned  by  competitive  bidding.  In  order  to  accommodate  the  needs  of  a  variety  of  providers,  including  large  carriers  as  well  as  small  and  rural 
 providers,  the  band  plan  for  this  spectrum  includes  a  mixture  of  license  sizes  and  geographic  areas. 
 The  1710-  1755  MHz  and  2110-  2155  MHz  spectrum  will  be  licensed  on  the  following  basis: 
 Block  Total  MHz  Pairings  Geographic  Area 
 A  20  1710-  1720  and  2110-  2120  MHz  Economic  Area  (EA)  B  20  1720-  1730  and  2120-  2130  MHz  Regional  Economic  Area  Group  (REAG) 
 C  10  1730-  1735  and  2130-  2135  MHz  REAG  D  10  1735-  1740  and  2135-  2140  MHz  Cellular  Market  Area  (CMA) 
 E  30  1740-  1755  and  2140-  2155  MHz  REAG 
 Maps  of  EAs,  REAGs,  and  CMAs  can  be  found  on  the  FCC’s  website  at  http://  wireless.  fcc.  gov/  auctions/  data/  maps.  html. 


 In  the  Order  adopted  today,  the  FCC  issued  several  other  licensing  and  technical  rules.  The  licenses  for  these  bands  will  have  an  initial  15-  year  term  with  10-  year  renewal  terms.  Licensees  will  be 
 required  to  show  that  they  have  provided  substantial  service  by  the  end  of  the  license  term;  however,  no  interim  construction  requirements  have  been  imposed.  Licensees  will  be  able  to  aggregate  spectrum  in 
 these  bands  and  will  be  able  to  partition  and  disaggregate  their  licenses.  The  licenses  will  be  assigned  via  auction  in  the  future.  Fifteen  percent  bidding  credits  will  apply  for  entities  meeting  the  definition  of  small 
 business  used  in  the  broadband  PCS  auctions,  while  25  percent  bidding  credits  will  apply  for  very  small 
1
 2 
 businesses.  In  this  Order,  potential  licensees  are  provided  information  on  incumbents  in  these  bands  who  will  be  covered  by  clearance  and  reimbursement  rules.  The  Order  also  establishes  rules  to  protect  co-channel 
 and  adjacent  channel  Government  and  non-  Government  operations  from  interference. 
 The  licensing  plan  adopted  today  will  allow  the  marketplace,  rather  than  the  FCC,  to  determine  what  services  are  ultimately  offered  using  this  spectrum  and  what  technologies  are  deployed  to  provide 
 such  services.  This  licensing  framework  will  also  ensure  that  this  spectrum  is  used  efficiently  and  will  foster  the  development  of  new  and  innovative  technologies  for  consumers.  The  decision  brings  the  FCC 
 closer  to  achieving  its  goal  of  widespread  availability  of  broadband  services.  The  greater  availability  of  broadband  services  stimulates  economic  activity,  increases  productivity,  and  improves  education.  The 
 FCC  believes  these  objectives  can  best  be  met  by  implementing  a  market-  based  approach  to  licensing  spectrum  that  provides  greater  certainty,  minimal  regulatory  intervention,  and  greater  benefits  for 
 consumers. 
 Action  by  the  Commission,  October  16,  2003,  by  Report  and  Order  (FCC  03-  251).  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Abernathy,  Martin,  and  Adelstein,  with  Commissioner  Copps  approving  in  part  and 
 concurring  in  part.  Separate  statements  issued  by  Chairman  Powell,  Commissioners  Copps,  Martin,  and  Adelstein. 


 FCC  Contact:  Eli  Johnson,  (202)  418-  1395,  email:  Eli.  Johnson@  fcc.  gov. 
 WT  Docket  No.  02-  353 
2