[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 34 (Friday, February 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8363-8364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3921]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[DA 00-145 and DA 00-191]


Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on SBC 
Communications Inc.'s (SBC) and Nextel Communications, Inc.'s (Nextel) 
Petitions Regarding PCS C and F Block Spectrum

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Wireless Telecommunication Bureau (Bureau) seeks comment 
on SBC's request for waiver of the eligibility requirements regarding 
PCS C and F block spectrum. The Bureau also seeks comment on Nextel's 
petition for expedited rule making or waiver of the Commission's rules 
regarding PCS C and F block eligibility for licenses and license 
configuration.

DATES: Comments are due February 14, 2000, and reply comments are due 
February 22, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission, TW B204, 445 12th St. SW., 
Washington, DC 20554. Comments also should be provided to Amy Zoslov, 
Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Room # 4-A624, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th 
St. SW Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leora Hochstein of the Auctions and 
Industry Analysis Division at (202) 418-0660.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of two Public Notices, DA 
00-145 released January 31, 2000, and DA 00-191 released February 3, 
2000. The complete text of the public notices, including all 
attachments, is available for inspection and copying during normal 
business hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room CY A257), 445 12th 
Street, SW., Washington, DC. It may also be purchased from the 
Commission's copy contractor, International Transcription Services, 
Inc. (ITS, Inc.) 1231 20th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 857-
3800. It is also available on the Commission's website at http://www.fcc.gov.
    1. SBC Communications Inc. (``SBC'') has filed a request for waiver 
of the eligibility requirements in Sec. 24.709 of the Commission's 
rules. Section 24.709 of the Commission's rules restricts the 
eligibility for C and F block licenses to entities with total assets 
and gross revenues below specified levels. SBC requests a waiver under 
Sec. 1.925 of the Commission's rules to allow companies other than such 
entities to participate in the upcoming C and F block auction.
    2. SBC argues that granting its waiver request and allowing it to 
participate in the auction would serve the public interest by speeding 
the delivery of wireless services to the public and enhancing 
competition in numerous market areas.
    3. Nextel Communications, Inc. (``Nextel'') has filed a petition 
requesting expedited rulemaking under Sec. 1.401, or in the 
alternative, waiver of the Commission's rules under Secs. 1.3 and 
1.925. Nextel seeks modification or waiver of the Commission's 
eligibility and bidding rules with respect to PCS C and F block 
spectrum. Nextel requests that the Commission allow companies other 
than entities with total assets and gross revenues below specified 
levels to participate in the upcoming C and F block auction. In 
addition, Nextel urges the Commission to auction one block of spectrum 
at the end of May 2000 on a ``bulk bidding'' basis. Under this proposal 
the Commission would reconfigure the 30 MHz C block licenses into 
separate 20 MHz and 10 MHz authorizations and offer the new 20 MHz and 
the available 15 MHz PCS licenses on a bulk bid basis, subject to 
expedited build-out requirements. Further, the new 10 MHz C block and F 
block licenses would be auctioned on a market-by-market basis.
    4. Nextel argues that adopting its proposed rule modifications, or 
granting its waiver request, would serve the public interest by 
speeding the delivery of wireless services to the public, particularly 
to rural and underserved areas, and enhancing competition in wireless 
services.
    5. The Public Notice, DA 00-145, seeking comment on SBC's request 
for waiver of the eligibility requirements for PCS C and F block 
spectrum stated that comments were due on February 10, 2000 and reply 
comments were due on February 15, 2000. In light of Nextel's filing, we 
broaden our request to include comments addressing any issues raised by 
SBC and/or Nextel. Further, we extend the deadline for filing comments 
to SBC's waiver request and/or Nextel's petition to February 14, 2000 
for comments and February 22, 2000 for reply comments.
    6. Commenters should address the sufficiency of the showings made 
by SBC and/or Nextel in light of the requirements of 47 CFR 1.925 and 
any other public interest considerations. All comments should reference 
DA 00-191.
    7. This proceeding has been designated as a ``permit-but-disclose'' 
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. 47 CFR 
1.1200(a), 1.1206. Persons making oral ex parte presentations are 
reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain 
summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a 
listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence 
description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. 
See 47 CFR 1.1206(b). Other rules pertaining to oral and written ex 
parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in 
Sec. 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
    8. Both SBC's waiver request and Nextel's petition are available 
for public inspection and copying in the Reference Center, Room CY 
A257, 445 12th St., SW., Washington, DC 20554. Copies of the Public 
Notices and its petition are also available from ITS at 1231 20th St. 
NW., Washington, DC 20036, or by calling (202) 857-3800.


[[Page 8364]]


    Federal Communications Commission.
Louis J. Sigalos,
Deputy Chief, Auctions & Industry Analysis Division.
[FR Doc. 00-3921 Filed 2-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P