[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2170-2171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-969]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 1 and 24

[WT Docket No. 97-82, FCC 98-2]


Installment Payment Financing for Personal Communications 
Services (PCS) Licensees

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; establishing a deadline.

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SUMMARY: The Commission previously established January 15, 1998 as the 
deadline for broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) C block 
licensees to elect to continue under their existing installment payment 
plan or to elect one of the three options. The Commission believes that 
moving the election date will serve the public interest by permitting 
licensees to submit their election after final disposition of arguments 
raised on reconsideration and provides regulatory stability so that C 
block licensees and potential bidders can proceed with their plans to 
finance their business.

DATES: Effective January 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W., Room 
222, Washington, D.C. 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Shiffrin, Auctions and Industry 
Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-
0660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a synopsis of an Order in WT Docket 
No. 97-82, FCC 98-2 which was adopted on January 7, 1998 and released 
on January 7, 1998. A copy of the complete item is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20554. The complete text may be purchased from the Commission's copy 
contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc., 1231 20th 
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036, (202) 857-3800. The complete 
Order also is available on the Commission's Internet home page (http://
www.fcc.gov).

Summary of Action

I. Background

    1. On September 25, 1997, the Commission adopted the Second Report 
and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 62 FR 55348, 
October 24, 1997 (``Second Report and Order''), establishing January 
15, 1998 as the deadline for broadband Personal Communications Services 
(PCS) C block licensees to elect to continue under their existing 
installment payment plan or to elect one of the three options. C block 
licensees must file a written notice of their election with the 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau on or before January 15, 1998. 
Second Report and Order at para. 70. The requirements for the contents 
of the election notice vary depending upon which election is made. Id. 
at paras. 72-76. For licensees electing the prepayment option, any new 
monies that will be applied toward the prepayment of retained licenses 
must be submitted with the election notice on the election date. Id. at 
para. 75.
    2. Pursuant to section 1.3 of the Commission's rules, the 
Commission hereby changes the election date from January 15, 1998 to 
February 26, 1998. 47 CFR 1.3. Moving the election date will serve the 
public interest by permitting licensees to submit their election after 
final disposition of arguments raised on reconsideration. We believe 
that it is important to provide regulatory stability so that C block 
licensees and potential bidders can proceed with their plans to finance 
their business. Licensees are cautioned that this change in the 
election date is in no way an indication that the Commission plans to 
depart in any material way from the decisions set forth in the Second 
Report and Order. We are changing the election date solely in the 
interest of fairness to all parties.
    3. We take this opportunity to announce that the C block reauction 
will begin on September 29, 1998. At the appropriate time, we will 
announce the reauction procedures. We also take this opportunity to 
clarify that our delegation of authority to the Chief of the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau ``to prescribe and set forth procedures for 
the implementation of the provisions'' that were adopted in the Second 
Report and Order includes the authority to provide for electronic 
filing of an election notice specified in

[[Page 2171]]

paragraph 70 of the Second Report and Order and other procedures and 
instructions to reduce paperwork burdens. See Second Report and Order 
at para. 112.
    4. Accordingly, it is ordered that, pursuant to sections 4(i), 
303(r), and 309(j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 
U.S.C. 154(i), 303(r), and 309(j), and section 1.3 of the Commission's 
rules, 47 CFR 1.3, the date for C block licensees to file a written 
election notice, in accordance with the requirements set forth in the 
Second Report and Order, is changed to February 26, 1998. Pursuant to 
section 1.427(b) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.427(b), this 
change will become effective on January 14, 1998. It is necessary for 
this change to become effective before January 15, 1998, the deadline 
initially set for C block licensees to file their election.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-969 Filed 1-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P