Go To Auction: Select an Auction... Scheduled Auctions 37: FM Broadcast 58: Broadband PCS Not Yet Scheduled 31: Upper 700 MHz Band 81: LPTV 83: FM Translator 84: AM Filing Window 218-219 MHz AWS Lower 700 Blks A, B, & E Completed Auctions 1: PCS Narrowband Nation 2: IVDS 3: PCS Narrowband Region 4: PCS A & B Block 5: PCS C Block 6: MDS 7: 900 MHz SMR 8: DBS (110W) 9: DBS (148W) 10: PCS C Block Reauction 11: PCS D, E, F Block 12: Cellular Unserved 14: WCS 15: DARS 16: 800 MHz SMR 17: LMDS 18: 220 MHz 20: VHF Public Coast 21: LMS 22: PCS 23: LMDS 24: 220 MHz 25: Closed Broadcast 26: 929 and 931 Paging 27: Broadcast 28: Broadcast 30: 39 GHz 32: AM Broadcast Stations 33: Upper 700 MHz Guard 34: 800 MHz SMR General 35: PCS C & F Block 36: 800 MHz SMR Lower 38: Upper 700 MHz Guard 39: Public Coast & LMS 40: Paging 41: Narrowband PCS 42: Multiple Address Sys 43: Multi-Radio Service 44: Lower 700 MHz Band 45: Cellular RSA 46: 1670-1675 MHz Band 48: Lower & Upper Paging 49: Lower 700 MHz Band 50: Narrowband PCS 51: Narrowband PCS 52: Direct Broadcast Sat. 53: MVDDS 54: Closed Broadcast 55: 900 MHz SMR 56: 24 GHz 57: AMTS 80: Broadcast 82: New Analog Telev.

Auction 31: Upper 700 MHz Band
Fact Sheet

General information and associated licensing parameters are provided below. Public Notices provide specific information regarding this auction. This fact sheet includes:

• Key Dates
• Licenses Offered
• Permissible Operations
• License Period and Construction Requirements
• Bidding Credits
• Tribal Land Bidding Credit
• Incumbents
• Licensing Rules

Key Dates

Licenses Offered

A total of 12 licenses will be awarded. One 20 megahertz license (consisting of paired 10 MHz blocks) and one 10 megahertz license (consisting of paired 5 MHz blocks) will be offered in six regions to be known as 700 MHz band economic area groupings (700 MHz Band EAGs).

Permissible Operations

By Congressional direction the Commission has reallocated thirty-six megahertz for commercial use including fixed, mobile, and broadcasting services. Six of the thirty- six megahertz have been identified as Guard Bands to provide protection to public safety users, and have been licensed in a separate proceeding. This spectrum offers potential to deploy new methods of providing high speed internet access, and is suitable for new fixed wireless in underserved areas, as well as next generation high speed mobile services.

License Period and Construction Requirements

In light of continued use of this spectrum by broadcasters until 12/31/2006 or later, licenses will be issued for a period extending eight years beyond the date which incumbent broadcasters are required to have relocated to other portions of the spectrum, that is, until 1/1/2015. However, if a licensee commences new broadcast-type operations on or before 1/1/2006, the licensee will be required to seek renewal of its license at the end of the eight-year term following commencement of such broadcast operations. All licensees meeting the substantial service requirement (see First Report and Order, WT99-168, ¶ 70, released 1/7/2000) will be deemed to have met this element of the renewal expectancy requirement regardless of which construction options the licensee has chosen. Under the amended performance requirement, a licensee must provide "substantial service" to its service area no later than January 1, 2015. (See 27.14(a) of the Commission's Rules)

Bidding Credits

Bidding credits are available to small and very small businesses (or consortia of small or very small businesses) as set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 27.502. A bidding credit represents the amount by which a bidder’s winning bids are discounted. The size of the bidding credit depends on the average gross revenues for the preceding three years of the bidder and its controlling interests and affiliates:

• A bidder with average gross revenues of not more than $40 million for the preceding three years receives a 15 percent discount on its winning bids for Upper 700 MHz Guard Bands manager licenses (“small business”);
  
• A bidder with average gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the preceding three years receives a 25 percent discount on its winning bids for Upper 700 MHz Guard Bands manager licenses (“very small business”).

Bidding credits are not cumulative. A qualifying applicant receives either the 15 percent or 25 percent bidding credit, but not both.

Tribal Land Bidding Credit

A winning bidder that intends to use its license(s) to deploy facilities and provide services to federally-recognized tribal lands that are unserved by any telecommunications carrier or that have a telephone service penetration rate equal to or below 70 percent is eligible to receive a tribal land bidding credit as set forth in 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2107 and 1.2110(f). A tribal land bidding credit is in addition to, and separate from, any other bidding credit for which a winning bidder may qualify.

Unlike other bidding credits that are requested prior to the auction, a winning bidder applies for the tribal land bidding credit after winning the auction when it files its long-form application (FCC Form 601). In order for a winning bidder to be awarded a tribal land bidding credit, it must provide specific certifications regarding the servicing of tribal lands and is subject to specific performance criteria as set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 1.2110(f). Additional information on the tribal land bidding credit, including how the amount of the credit is calculated, can be found on the Commission's web site

Incumbents

Licensing Rules

No eligibility restrictions
No spectrum aggregation limit
Regions can be aggregated into nationwide licenses
Incumbent licensees present in the band
Licensed in six regions to be known as the 700 MHz Band Economic Area Groupings (700 MHz Band EAGs) which include the Gulf of Mexico
Partitioning and/or disaggregation permitted

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Last reviewed/updated on 11/04/2003