FCC LMS, PCS C Block, LMDS and 220 MHz Auctions

Location and Monitoring Service Auction

LMS refers to advanced radio technologies designed to facilitate the growth of systems intended improve the safety and efficiency of our nation's highways. There are two type of LMS. Multilateration LMS systems are designed to locate vehicles or other objects by measuring the difference in time of arrival, or difference in phase, of signals transmitted from a unit to a number of fixed points or from a number of fixed points to the unit to be located. Non-Multilateration LMS systems simply do not use Multilateration technology. A non-Multilateration system will use narrowband technology, a device placed in a vehicle transfers information to and from that vehicle when the vehicle passes near one of the systems' stations.

LMS frequencies are the 902-928 MHz band. this band is allocated for primary use by the Federal Government radiolocation systems. Industrial, Scientific and Medical devices also operate in this band and are second in priority only to the Federal Government radiolocation systems. LMS and Federal Government fixed and mobile systems are secondary to the radiolocation and ISM uses. Last in priority, but still permitted to use the band are licensed amateur operations and unlicensed Part 15 equipment

There will be 528 multilateration LMS licenses to auctioned. the country will be divided into 176 Economic Areas (EA), and three licenses will be auctioned per EA.

Location and Monitoring Service Auction Schedule
Short Form Application Due January 25, 1999, 5:30 p.m.
Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) February 8, 1999, 6:00 p.m.
Auction Begins February 23, 1999

While the FCC extended the deadline to enter the auction to January 25, that still does not give you a whole lot of time to prepare. Start now thinking critically about your business and your service offerings. It's not enough in these days of completing with monoliths to decide that you're "just a two-way guy" or "just a dispatch girl". There are new services, new technologies, and best of all, new ways for you to make money - if you're savvy enough to embrace opportunity.

Congress has decreed hat there will be no new offerings of spectrum without an auction, so don't be put off by the auction process. If you intend to grow your business, odds are you will have to obtain spectrum by auction. Look into the auction process now, familiarize yourself with it. That way, when the time comes to participate in an auction, you'll be prepared.

Auction Formerly Known as PCS C Block

Includes PCS C, D, E and F Block licenses. Any of these blocks being auctioned were designated by the FCC as "entrepreneur's blocks. Applicant's must have gross revenues of less than $125 million for each of the past two years and have total assets of less that $500 million. Please note that you must include all affiliates in your calculations.

A list of the specific licenses being offered, along with the corresponding required upfront payment and minimum opening bid, are available by calling Kate Kaercher at (202) 223-8837.

PCS Auction '99 Auction Schedule
Auction Seminar Feb. 3, 1999
Short Form App. Due Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m.
Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) March 1, 6:00 p.m.
Orders for Remote Bidding Software March 9
Mock Auction March 18
Auction Begins March, 23


FCC Schedules LMDS Reauction

If you you've been paying attention, you know that the FCC's first Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS auction resulted in a number of licenses "going back to the Commission." these licenses were either not purchased during the auction, or returned to the Commission via applicant default. There are only 168 licenses being offered during this auction, and may not be available in all markets, but a savvy applicant might be able to get a good deal on some spectrum.

LMDS licenses are divided into two blocks of spectrum:

LMDS Auction Spectrum
Frequency Block Amount of Spectrum Frequency Range
Block A 1150 MHz 27,500 28,350 MHz
29,100 - 29,250 MHz
31,075 - 31,225 MHz
Block B 150 MHz 31,000 - 31,075 MHz
31,225 - 31,300 MHz

One license will be awarded for each spectrum block in each of 122 Block A Basic Trading Areas and 46 Block B BTA's. A list of specific markets in available upon request. Following is the schedule for the LMDS auction:

Local Multipoint Distribution Service Auction Schedule
Short Form ApplicationDue March 29, 1999, 5:30 p.m.
Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) April 12, 1999, 6:00 p.m.
Auction BeginsApril 27, 1999


If nobody bids on a license in your market, the Commission will re-auction it later. You will not be able to apply for it outside the auction.

Phase II of the FCC's 220 MHz Phase II Auction

The FCC decided to reauction in 1999 the licenses which did not sell at the Phase II 220 MHz auction even though the licenses have not been granted for the first Phase II 220 MHz auction.


Phase II of the FCC's 220 MHz Phase II Auction Schedule
Short Form App. Due May 10, 1999, 5:30 p.m.
Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) May 24, 6:00 p.m.
Auction Begins June 8


Information provided by Brown and Schwaninger (202) 223-8837


Small Business in Telecommunications
1835 K Street N.W.
Suite 650
Washington, DC 20006
Phone (202) 223-8728
e-mail contact@sbthome.org


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