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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  29,  2004  Lauren  Patrich  at  (202)  418-  7944 
 E-  mail:  Lauren.  Patrich@  fcc.  gov 
 FCC  TO  COMMENCE  SPECTRUM  AUCTION  THAT  WILL  PROVIDE  AMERICAN  CONSUMERS  NEW  WIRELESS  BROADBAND  SERVICES 


 Washington,  D.  C.  –  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  (Commission)  formally  notified  the  National  Telecommunications  and  Information  Administration  (NTIA)  of 
 the  U.  S.  Department  of  Commerce  that  the  Commission  intends  to  auction  licenses  for  certain  Advanced  Wireless  Services  –  also  called  “3G”  –  as  early  as  June  2006. 


 In  a  letter  to  Assistant  Secretary  for  Communications  and  Information  Michael  D.  Gallagher,  FCC  Chairman  Michael  K.  Powell  stated  that  the  Commission  intends  to  commence 
 an  auction  for  Advanced  Wireless  Services  licenses  in  the  1710-  1755  MHz  and  2110-  2155  MHz  bands  as  early  as  June  2006.  The  1710-  1755  MHz  band  is  currently  occupied  by  federal 
 government  users  that  would  be  relocated  pursuant  to  the  recently  enacted  Commercial  Spectrum  Enhancement  Act.  That  Act  requires  the  Commission  to  notify  NTIA  at  least  18  months  in 
 advance  of  beginning  an  auction  of  spectrum  transferred  from  federal  government  to  commercial  use.  It  also  requires  NTIA  to  provide  the  Commission  the  estimated  costs  and  timelines  for  the 
 relocation  of  Federal  entities  from  the  bands  at  least  6  months  prior  to  the  auction. 
 Chairman  Powell  stated,  “I  am  very  pleased  that  the  President  has  signed  this  important  legislation.  The  spectrum  relocation  fund  mechanism  that  Congress  has  established  will  result  in 
 successful  auctions,  smooth  relocation  of  important  government  operations  and,  most  important,  competitive  high  quality  communications  services  being  provided  to  American  consumers.  For 
 all  of  us  who  believe  in  the  future  of  wireless  broadband,  it  is  truly  a  banner  day.  My  congratulations  go  out  to  Michael  Gallagher  who  spearheaded  the  Administration’s  successful 
 effort  to  win  passage.  We  look  forward  to  working  closely  with  NTIA  to  ensure  the  swift  implementation  of  this  legislation.” 


 Chairman  Powell’s  letter  also  stated  the  Commission’s  intention  to  auction  spectrum  at  1432-  1435  MHz  in  July  or  August  2006.  NTIA  previously  notified  the  Commission  that  there 
 are  no  relocation  costs  associated  with  this  band. 


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