Geographic Information Systems

This website gives you the tools to create, view, query and print customized maps showing FCC licensing data, regulated towers and market area boundaries. These maps can be extremely helpful in conducting analysis on current service and need/feasibility studies for new services.

The download files are provided in shapefile format which is compatible with either of the free GIS software packages, ArcExplorer2^® or ArcExplorer9^® produced by ESRI, Inc. (other viewers compatible with the shapefile format can be used). In order to get started you must download and install one of the software packages.

• ArcExplorer2 and ArcExplorer9 can be downloaded from the ESRI download page.   You can learn more about ArcExplorer at the ESRI site. Questions and technical support for the program should be directed to ArcExplorer Support.

• After succesfully installing the software return to this site to download the various US boundaries/features, FCC market boundary, and database extract files.

From this site, you can download mapping files of the following:

FCC licensing database extracts
FCC licensing market boundaries
US boundaries/features

With these data sets, you will be able to determine the locations and limited technical details of existing towers the FCC collects data on (i.e. Cellular, Paging, Microwave, AM, FM, etc...).  This information can be extremely helpful in conducting analysis such as; current service deployment, need/feasibility determinations of new services, co-location of antenna structures, inventorying of structures, network planning, etc...

This combination of data and software will allow you to view, query, and thematically create your own maps based on FCC licensing and/or your own compatible data sets. Click on the links below to view actual screenshots:

Cellular, Antenna Structure Registration, AM and FM databases on one map.
Identify a particular Cellular site.
All sites, backdropped by US Interstates, States and Virginia City boundaries.
LMDS reauctionable markets, identify details of auctionable market.
Tower Registration - ID tower.
LMDS "A" block reauctionable markets, upfront payment.

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Last reviewed/updated on 10/15/2004.