[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