[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 178 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49291-49296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24625]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 90

[PR Docket No. 89-552; GN Docket No. 93-252; FCC 98-186]


Geographic Partitioning and Spectrum Disaggregation for the 220-
222 MHz Service

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) amends its rules to allow the holders of licenses in the 
220-222 MHz band to partition their licensed geographic area and 
disaggregate their licensed spectrum.

DATES: Effective November 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott A. Mackoul or Janet L. Sievert, 
Policy and Rules Branch, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-7240.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Fifth 
Report and Order in PR Docket No. 89-552, adopted on August 4, 1998, 
and released on August 6, 1998. The full text of the Fifth Report and 
Order is available for inspection and copying during normal business 
hours in the FCC Reference Center, Room 239, 1919 M Street, NW, 
Washington, DC. The complete text of this decision may also

[[Page 49292]]

be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, 
International Transcription Services, 1231 20th Street, NW, Washington, 
DC 20036, (202) 857-3800. The complete text is also available under the 
name ``fcc98186.wp'' on the Commission's Internet site at http://
www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1998/index.html.
    This Report and Order contains no new or modified information 
collection requirements. The information collections referenced in the 
item are contained in information collections previously approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Synopsis

    1. In 1991, the Commission adopted service rules in PR Docket No. 
89-552 and accepted applications of licenses in the 220-222 MHz band. 
These licensees, referred to as Phase I 220 MHz licensees, were issued 
in 1993-1994. In 1997, the Commission adopted service rules to govern 
the second phase of operation and licensing in the 220-222 MHz band. 
These licensees, referred to as Phase II 220 MHz licenses, will be 
licensed through competitive bidding. As part of the rules governing 
Phase II 220 MHz licenses, the Commission authorized any holder of an 
Economic Area, Regional, or nationwide Phase II license to partition 
portions of its authorization. At the same time, the Commission 
requested comment on proposals to permit partitioning and 
disaggregation for all licensees in the 220 MHz service, and on what 
specific procedural, administrative and operational rules will be 
necessary to implement these options.
    2. This Fifth Report and Order in PR Docket No. 89-552 addresses 
the issues of partitioning and disaggregation in the 220 MHz service. 
The Commission first addressed which licensees would be allowed to 
partition. Already permitting geographic-based Phase II licensees to 
partition their license, the Commission found no compelling reason to 
withhold from site-specific licensees the flexibility gained by having 
the option to partition their license. Although it may be easier to 
partition a license that is based on a geographic area, the Commission 
recognized that a number of non-nationwide Phase I licensees have 
acquired several site-specific licenses that create a contiguous, 
compatible, interconnected system. Consolidation of site-specific 
licenses is more likely to occur since the Commission eliminated the 
forty-mile restriction in the Fourth Report and Order in PR Docket 89-
552. Instead of limiting partitioning through regulation, the 
Commission determined that the marketplace will best decide if 
partitioning is economically or technologically feasible. Moreover, 
finding that the benefits of partitioning outweigh a desire for a 
nationwide license that is used for a single service, the Commission 
concluded that nationwide Phase I licensees will also be allowed to 
geographically partition their licenses.
    3. The one exception to extending partitioning to all 220 MHz 
licensees is in the context of Public Safety and EMRS licensees. The 
Commission concluded that partitioning is unnecessary in the Public 
Safety and EMRS context because those licensees have the options of 
sharing frequencies and short-spacing their base stations. In addition, 
because applications for Public Safety and EMRS 220 MHz licenses are 
not subject to competitive bidding, the Commission found it 
inappropriate to allow them to partition their licensed geographic area 
for monetary compensation.
    4. In addition, consistent with the partitioning policies in other 
wireless services, the Commission decided to not limit the maximum size 
of geographic area that a 220 MHz licensee may partition and will 
permit partitioning based on any area defined by the parties to the 
partitioning agreement. Finding that areas defined by county lines or 
other geopolitical boundaries may not reflect market realities and may 
instead inhibit partitioning, the Commission concluded that the parties 
to the partitioning agreement are in the best position to know what 
service area will work best for their business needs, which, in turn, 
will allow the marketplace to shape optimal service areas. The 
Commission decided that any other approach would inevitably lead to 
inefficient use of the spectrum by forcing a partitionee to take on 
more area than they are willing or capable of serving.
    5. The Commission also stated that, consistent with other wireless 
services, all proposed partitioning agreements, like disaggregation 
agreements, will be subject to Commission review and approval under the 
public interest standard of section 310 of the Communications Act. The 
Commission will require partitioning applicants to submit, as separate 
attachments to the partial assignment application, a description of the 
partitioned service area and a calculation of the population of the 
partitioned service area and licensed market.
    6. Finding that disaggregation will allow licensees to divest 
themselves of spectrum that may be more efficiently and profitably used 
by another entity or to acquire additional amounts of spectrum to 
satisfy their consumer demands, the Commission permitted all 220 MHz 
licensees, except Public Safety and EMRS licensees. As in the context 
of partitioning, spectrum held by Public Safety and EMRS entities is 
more easily shared than disaggregated, and the Commission found that it 
would be inappropriate for these licensees to disaggregate spectrum for 
monetary compensation. The Commission also concluded that there should 
be no minimum or maximum limits imposed on spectrum disaggregation in 
the 220 MHz service. Instead, the Commission felt the market will best 
determine what amount of spectrum is technically and economically 
feasible to disaggregate and will best accommodate future technology.
    7. Moreover, the Commission permitted 220 MHz licensees to both 
partition their area and disaggregate their spectrum in any 
combination. The Commission found that allowing combinations of 
partitioning and disaggregation will help licensees respond to market 
forces and demands in service relevant to their particular locations 
and service offerings, as well as allow licensees to enter or increase 
their presence in a market. As in other wireless services, in the event 
that there is a conflict in the application of the partitioning and 
disaggregation rules, the partitioning rules will prevail.
    8. In deciding when a 220 MHz licensee may partition or 
disaggregate its license, the Commission separately addressed the 
various type of 220 MHz licensees. First, the Commission stated that 
non-nationwide Phase I licensees may partition or disaggregate only 
after they have fully constructed their base station and placed it into 
operation. Because non-nationwide Phase I licensees were initially 
required to fully construct their base stations and place them into 
operation within eight months of the initial authorization, the 
construction deadline for most of these licensees has already passed. 
However, for those non-nationwide Phase I licensees that have not yet 
been required to construct (i.e., located near the Canadian border), 
the Commission felt that requiring construction as a prerequisite was 
consistent with the rule prohibiting transfer or assignment of non-
nationwide 220 MHz licensees prior to full construction and operation. 
The Commission found that the construction prerequisite will reduce 
potential speculation by persons with no real interest in constructing 
systems, and deter those who would use

[[Page 49293]]

partitioning or disaggregation to speculate. Moreover, since 
construction will be complete before any partitioning or disaggregation 
is allowed, no construction requirement will be imposed on a 
partitionee or disaggregatee.
    9. Second, consistent with the restriction on the transfer or 
assignment of nationwide Phase I 220 MHz licenses, the Commission will 
require a nationwide Phase I licensee to meet the four-year 
construction benchmark before it may partition or disaggregate. Again, 
the transfer or assignment restriction was created to reduce any 
potential speculation or trafficking in licenses by persons who have no 
real interest in constructing systems, and the Commission believed 
keeping the current rule will clearly demonstrate the licensees' 
commitment to promptly implementing nationwide 220 MHz networks.
    10. As for when Phase II licenses may be partitioned, the 
Commission found that the different application and licensing processes 
between Phase I and Phase II licensees allow it to permit an eligible 
Phase II licensee (i.e., non-Public Safety or EMRS) that wishes to 
partition or disaggregate to do so once it receives its license. Phase 
I licenses were distributed on a random selection basis, where the only 
up-front cost to the applicant was the application fee. In contrast, 
covered Phase II applicants will have to bid for the licenses, and will 
have the financial incentive to develop their 220 MHz systems in order 
to recover the costs of the auction. The Commission concluded that this 
financial incentive that Phase II licensees have to build-out their 
system will mitigate the concern that partitioning and disaggregation 
might be used as a means to delay construction.
    11. The Commission also addressed the post-assignment construction 
requirements of both the assignor and assignee(s). While the goal of 
post-assignment construction requirements is to ensure that the 
spectrum is used to the same degree that would have been required had 
the partitioning or disaggregation transaction not taken place, the 
Commission also desired to give licensees and their assignees certain 
flexibility to determine how the construction requirements will be met. 
Because only nationwide Phase I licensees and non-Public Safety/EMRS 
Phase II licensees are allowed to partition or disaggregate before 
fully constructing, the Commission addressed how each of these entities 
will be able to meet the construction requirements. First, the 
Commission decided that it will combine the number of constructed base 
stations of the nationwide Phase I licensee and their assignee(s) to 
determine if they collectively meet the six and ten year construction 
benchmarks. The Commission concluded that this approach is consistent 
with the original development of nationwide 220 MHz systems, and serves 
the public interest the same as if no assignment had occurred. If the 
combined construction fails to meet the construction requirements, both 
the original licensee and the assignee(s) would be subject to 
cancellation according to the Commission's original rules for 
nationwide Phase I 220 MHz licensees.
    12. Second, the Commission allowed the parties to the assignment 
agreement involving an eligible Phase II license to negotiate and 
choose who will be responsible for satisfying the Commission's 
construction requirements. The Commission believed that the parties 
involved should have the flexibility to determine their respective 
responsibilities for satisfying the Commission's construction 
requirements, and that, as long as the parties' collective obligations 
provide the requisite system coverage, the public interest in having 
the system built-out will be met. Specifically, if the assignee 
certifies that it will satisfy the same construction requirements as 
the original licensee, then the assignee must meet the prescribed 
service requirements in its partitioned area (or for its disaggregated 
spectrum) while the original licensee would be responsible for meeting 
those requirements in the area (or for the spectrum) it has retained. 
Alternatively, if one party (generally the original licensee) certifies 
that it will meet all future construction requirements, the other party 
need only demonstrate that it is providing ``substantial service'' (as 
defined in the Commission's rules) for its remaining license. Moreover, 
consistent with other wireless services, in the event that both parties 
agree to share the responsibility for meeting the construction 
requirement and either party fails to do so, both parties' licenses 
will be subject to forfeiture. If one party agrees to take 
responsibility for meeting the construction requirement and later fails 
to do so, that party's license will be subject to forfeiture, but the 
other party's license will not be affected.
    13. Finally, the Commission also addressed a number of minor issues 
surrounding partitioning and disaggregation. First, the Commission 
decided that partitionees and disaggregatees will hold their license 
for the remainder of the original licensee term and will be eligible 
for the same renewal expectancy as the original licensee. Second, if a 
220 MHz licensee that received a small or very small business credit in 
the auction partitions or disaggregates to a entity that would not be 
eligible for the same credit, the unjust enrichment rules established 
in 47 CFR part 1 must be applied. Third, the Commission stated that 
because it considers partitioning and disaggregation transactions to be 
essentially partial assignments of a license, it will eliminate the 
rule that forbids partial assignment of Phase I 220 MHz licenses and 
adopt the partial assignment procedures for commercial mobile radio 
stations to review all 220 MHz partitioning and disaggregation 
transactions, both commercial and non-commercial. As with most 
assignments and transfers, Commission review and approval is necessary 
to ensure compliance with the Commission's rules. This process includes 
placing all partial assignment applications on public notice and making 
them subject to public comment. The Commission believes the public 
notice process is even more important in the context of partitioning 
and disaggregation because of the potential interference conflicts such 
transactions can create.
    14. The Fifth Report and Order in PR Docket No. 89-552 also 
contained a Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis pursuant to the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 604. It is as follows:

A. Need for and Purpose of This Action

    15. In the Fifth R&O, the Commission modifies the 220-222 MHz band 
service (220 MHz) rules to permit partitioning and disaggregation for 
all 220 MHz licensees. With more open partitioning and disaggregation, 
additional entities, including small businesses, may participate in the 
provision of the 220 MHz service without needing to acquire wholesale 
an existing license (with all of the rights currently associated with 
the existing license). Acquiring ``less'' than the current license will 
presumably be a more flexible and less expensive alternative for 
entities desiring to enter these services.

B. Summary of Issues Raised in Response to the Initial Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis

    16. None of the commenters submitted comments that were 
specifically in response to the IRFA.

C. Description and Number of Small Entities Involved

    17. The rules adopted in the Fifth R&O will affect all small 
businesses which avail themselves of these rule changes, including 
small businesses that

[[Page 49294]]

will obtain 220 MHz licenses through auction and subsequently decide to 
partition or disaggregate, and small businesses who may acquire 
licenses through partitioning and/or disaggregation.

D. Summary of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping and Other Compliance 
Requirements

    18. The rules adopted in the Fifth R&O will impose reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements on small businesses seeking licenses through 
partitioning and disaggregation. The information requirements will be 
used to determine whether the licensee is a qualifying entity to obtain 
a partitioned license or disaggregated spectrum. This information will 
be given in a one-time filing by any applicant requesting such a 
license. The information will be submitted on the FCC Form 430 which is 
currently in use and has already received Office of Management and 
Budget clearance. The Commission estimates that the average burden on 
the applicant is three hours for the information necessary to complete 
these forms. The Commission estimates that 75 percent of the 
respondents (which may include small businesses) will contract out the 
burden of responding. The Commission estimates that it will take 
approximately 30 minutes to coordinate information with those 
contractors. The remaining 25 percent of respondents (which may include 
small businesses) are estimated to employ in-house staff to provide the 
information.

E. Steps Taken To Minimize Burdens on Small Entities

    19. The rules adopted in the Fifth R&O are designed to implement 
Congress' goal of giving small businesses, as well as other entities, 
the opportunity to participate in the provision of spectrum-based 
services and are consistent with the Communications Act's mandate to 
identify and eliminate market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and 
small businesses in the provision and ownership of telecommunications 
services.
    20. Allowing non-restricted partitioning and disaggregation will 
facilitate market entry by parties who may lack the financial resources 
for participation in auctions, including small businesses. Some small 
businesses may have been unable to obtain 220 MHz licensees through 
auction due to high bidding. By allowing open partitioning and 
disaggregation, small businesses will be able to obtain licenses for 
smaller service areas and smaller amounts of spectrum at presumably 
reduced costs, thereby providing a method for small businesses to enter 
the 220 MHz service marketplace.
    21. Allowing geographic partitioning of 220 MHz licenses by areas 
defined by the parties will provide an opportunity for small businesses 
to obtain partitioned 220 MHz license areas designed to serve smaller, 
niche markets. This will permit small businesses to enter the 220 MHz 
service marketplace by reducing the overall cost of acquiring a 
partitioned 220 MHz license.
    22. Allowing disaggregation of spectrum in any amount will also 
promote participation by small businesses who may seek to acquire a 
smaller amount of 220 MHz spectrum tailored to meet the needs of their 
proposed service.

F. Significant Alternatives Considered and Rejected

    23. The Commission considered and rejected the following 
alternative proposals concerning 220 MHz partitioning and 
disaggregation.
    24. The Commission tentatively concluded in the Fifth NPRM to not 
adopt partitioning for non-nationwide Phase I licensees and non-covered 
Phase II licensees because their licenses were awarded on a site-
specific basis rather than for a geographic area. However, the 
Commission rejected this proposal because it found no compelling reason 
to withhold from site-specific licensees the flexibility gained by 
having the option to partition their license. The Commission noted that 
a number of non-nationwide Phase I licensees have acquired several 
site-specific licenses and that such consolidation is more likely since 
the prohibition of a Phase I licensee operating more than one 220 MHz 
station within a 40-mile geographic area has been eliminated. Both of 
these developments have created contiguous, compatible and 
interconnected 220 MHz systems from non-nationwide Phase I licenses. 
Therefore, the Commission concluded that non-nationwide Phase I 
licensees should be allowed the same opportunity to partition their 
systems and will allow that the marketplace to determine if 
partitioning is economically or technically feasible for those systems. 
The Commission did, however, maintain that non-covered Phase II 
licensees, as well as those Phase I licensees that are Public Safety or 
EMRS entities, do not need partitioning or disaggregation, but rather 
should continue to share their licensed spectrum in accordance with 
Sec. 90.179 of the Commission's rules.
    25. The Commission declined to create a minimum standard for the 
amount of spectrum that a 220 MHz licensee can disaggregate. In place 
of regulation, the Commission found that the marketplace will best 
determine the amount of disaggregated spectrum that is economically or 
technically feasible and that any minimum standard would not allow for 
future technology.
    26. The Commission rejected the proposal of Rush Network Corp. 
(Rush) that all construction requirements be eliminated and, in their 
place, allow the market to dictate when construction will occur. 
Recognizing that the most of the 220 MHz licensees have the incentive 
to construction, the Commission, nonetheless, reaffirmed that 
construction requirements play a vital role in encouraging rapid 
deployment of the 220 MHz system and avoid inefficient use of the 
spectrum.
    27. Along the same lines, the Commission declined permitting 
nationwide Phase I licensees to partition or disaggregate before 
meeting the four-year construction benchmark. Current rules prohibit 
the transfer or assignment of nationwide Phase I licenses prior to the 
build out of 40 percent of their system to reduce any potential 
speculation or trafficking in licenses by persons who have no real 
interest in constructing systems. The Commission concluded that this 
rationale should also apply to partial assignments, especially for 
Phase I licensees which received their licenses by lottery and thus 
lack the financial incentive to recoup their upfront costs.
    28. The Commission also rejected the proposal by American Mobile 
Telephone Association (AMTA) to convert the six-and ten-year 
construction requirements for nationwide Phase I licensees to 
population-based criteria. The Commission found that AMTA's approach 
would be unnecessarily confusing and inconsistent because those 
nationwide Phase I licensees that decided to partition or disaggregate 
would have one set of requirements, while those that did not would have 
different requirements. Moreover, the Commission found no public 
benefit to switching the construction requirement criteria after the 
licenses had already been granted.
    29. Finally, the Commission rejected the recommendation by Rush to 
eliminate the public notice requirements in licensing partial 
assignments. The Commission believed that any delay or extra work 
created by putting the partial assignment applications on public notice 
would be outweighed by the benefits of public

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notice, especially because of the potential interference conflicts that 
partitioning and disaggregation may create.

G. Report to Congress

    30. The Commission shall include a copy of this Final Regulatory 
Flexibility Analysis, along with this Fifth R&O, in a report to be sent 
to Congress pursuant to the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

Ordering Clauses

    31. Accordingly, It is Ordered That, pursuant to the authority of 
sections 4(i), 303(g), 303(r), and 332(a) of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(g), 303(r), and 332(a), 
Sec. 90.709 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 90.709, is amended. 
    32. It is further ordered that, pursuant to the authority of 
Sections 4(i), 303(g), 303(r), and 332(a) of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(g), 303(r), and 332(a), 
Sec. 90.725 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 90.725, is amended.
    33. It is further ordered that, pursuant to the authority of 
Sections 4(i), 303(g), 303(r), and 332(a) of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(g), 303(r), and 332(a), 
Sec. 90.1019 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 90.1019, is amended.
    34. It is further ordered that the rule change adopted herein shall 
become effective sixty days after date of publication in the Federal 
Register. This action is taken pursuant to sections 4(i) and 303(r) of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i) and 
303(r).
    35. It is further ordered that the Office of Public Affairs, 
Reference Operations Division, shall send a copy of this Fifth Report 
and Order, including the Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration, in 
accordance with section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 
U.S.C. 601(a).

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 90

    Business and industry, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble of part 90 of Title 47 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is amended as follows:

PART 90--PRIVATE LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICES

    1. The authority citation for part 90 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: Secs. 4, 251-2, 303, 309, and 332, 48 Stat. 1066, 
1082, as amended; 47 U.S.C. 154, 251-2, 303, 309 and 332, unless 
otherwise noted.

    2. Section 90.709 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 90.709  Special limitations on amendment of applications and on 
assignment or transfer of authorizations licensed under this subpart.

* * * * *
    (d) A licensee may partially assign any authorization in accordance 
with Sec. 90.1019.
* * * * *
    3. Section 90.725 is amended by revising paragraph (a) introductory 
text to read as follows:


Sec. 90.725  Construction requirements for Phase I licensees.

    (a) Licensees granted commercial nationwide authorizations will be 
required to construct base stations and placed those base stations in 
operation as follows:
* * * * *
    4. Section 90.1019 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 90.1019  Partitioning and disaggregation.

    (a) Definitions.
    Disaggregation. The assignment of discrete portions or ``blocks'' 
of spectrum licensed to a geographic licensee or qualifying entity.
    Partitioning. The assignment of geographic portions of a licensee's 
authorized service area along geopolitical or other geographic 
boundaries.
    (b) Eligibility. (1) Phase I non-nationwide licensees may apply to 
partition their licensed geographic service area or disaggregate their 
licensed spectrum after constructing their systems and placing their in 
operation or commencing service in accordance with the provisions in 
Sec. 90.725(f) of this part.
    (2) Phase I nationwide licensees may apply to partition their 
licensed geographic service area or disaggregate their licensed 
spectrum after constructing at least 40 percent of the geographic areas 
designated in their applications in accordance with the provisions in 
Sec. 90.725(a) of this part.
    (3) Phase II licensees may apply to partition their licensed 
geographic service area or disaggregate their licensed spectrum at any 
time following the grant of their licenses.
    (4) Phase I and Phase II licensees authorized to operate on 
Channels 161 through 170 or Channels 181 through 185 are not eligible 
to partition their geographic service area or disaggregate their 
licensed spectrum.
    (5) Parties seeking approval for partitioning and disaggregation 
shall request authorization for partial assignment of a license 
pursuant to Sec. 90.709 of this part, as amended.
    (c) Technical Standards--(1) Partitioning. In the case of 
partitioning, requests for authorization for partial assignment of a 
license must include, as an attachment, a description of the 
partitioned service area. The partitioned service area shall be defined 
by coordinate points at every 3 degrees along the partitioned service 
area agreed to by both parties, unless either an FCC-recognized service 
area is utilized (i.e., Major Trading Area, Basic Trading Area, 
Metropolitan Service Area, Rural Service or Economic Area) or county 
lines are followed. The geographical coordinates must be specified in 
degrees, minutes and seconds to the nearest second latitude and 
longitude, and must be based upon the 1983 North American Datum 
(NAD83). In the case where an FCC-recognized service area or county 
lines are utilized, applicants need only list the specific area(s) 
through use of FCC designations or county names that constitute the 
partitioned area. In such partitioning cases where an unjust enrichment 
payment is owed the Commission, the request for authorization for 
partial assignment of a license must include, as an attachment, a 
calculation of the population of the partitioned service area and 
licensed geographic service area.
    (2) Disaggregation. Spectrum may be disaggregated in any amount.
    (3) Combined Partitioning and Disaggregation. The Commission will 
consider requests for partial assignment of licenses that propose 
combinations of partitioning and disaggregation. In the event that 
there is a conflict in the application of the partitioning and 
disaggregation rules, the partitioning rules take precedence.
    (d) License Term. The license term for a partitioned license area 
and for disaggregated spectrum shall be the remainder of the original 
licensee's license term.
    (e) Construction requirements--(1) Requirements for partitioning. 
Phase II EA, Regional or nationwide licensees seeking authority to 
partition must meet one of the following construction requirements:
    (i) The partitionee may certify that it will satisfy the applicable 
construction

[[Page 49296]]

requirements set forth in Secs. 90.767 or 90.769 of this part, as 
applicable, for the partitioned license area; or
    (ii) The original licensee may certify that it has or will meet its 
five-year construction requirement and will meet the ten-year 
construction requirement, as set forth in Secs. 90.767 or 90.769 of 
this part, as applicable, for the entire license area. In that case, 
the partitionee must only satisfy the requirements for ``substantial 
service,'' as set forth in Sec. 90.743(a)(1) of this part, for the 
partitioned license area by the end of the original ten-year license 
term of the licensee.
    (iii) Applications requesting partial assignments of license for 
partitioning must include a certification by each party as to which of 
the above construction options they select.
    (iv) Partitionees must submit supporting documents showing 
compliance with the respective construction requirements within the 
appropriate five-year and ten-year construction benchmarks set forth in 
Sec. 90.767 or 90.769 of this part, as applicable.
    (v) Failure by any partitionee to meet its respective construction 
requirements will result in the automatic cancellation of the 
partitioned license without further Commission action.
    (2) Requirements for disaggregation. Parties seeking authority to 
disaggregate spectrum from a Phase II EA, Regional or nationwide 
license, must submit with their partial assignment application a 
certification signed by both parties stating which of the parties will 
be responsible for meeting the five-year and ten-year construction 
requirements for the particular market as set forth in Sec. 90.767 or 
90.769 of this part, as applicable. Parties may agree to share 
responsibility for meeting the construction requirements. If one party 
accepts responsibility for meeting the construction requirements and 
later fails to do so, then its license will cancel automatically 
without further Commission action. If both parties accept 
responsibility for meeting the construction requirements and later fail 
to do so, then both their licenses will cancel automatically without 
further Commission action.

[FR Doc. 98-24625 Filed 9-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P