DA 00-191
February 3, 2000

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON NEXTEL 
COMMUNICATIONS, INC.'S PETITION REGARDING 
PCS C AND F BLOCK SPECTRUM

EXTENSION OF FILING DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS TO 
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC.'S REQUEST FOR WAIVER

Comment Date: February 14, 2000				Reply Date: February 22, 2000


Nextel Communications, Inc. ("Nextel") has filed a petition requesting expedited rulemaking under Section 
1.401, or in the alternative, waiver of the Commission's rules under Sections 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.   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.   Nextel requests that the Commission allow 
companies other than such entities 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 the F block licenses would 
be auctioned on a market-by-market basis.

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.

We previously released a Public Notice seeking comment on SBC Communications Inc.'s ("SBC") request for 
waiver of the eligibility requirements for PCS C and F block spectrum.   We 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.

Commenters should address the sufficiency of the showings made by SBC and/or Nextel in light of the 
requirements of 47 C.F.R.  1.925 and any other public interest considerations.   All comments should reference 
the DA number of this Public Notice (DA 00-191).  Comments should be filed with the Office of the Secretary, 
Federal Communications Commission, TW B204, 445 12th St. S.W. Washington, DC 20554.  Comments also 
should be provided to Amy Zoslov, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Rm # 4-A624, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th St. S.W. Washington, DC 20554. 

This proceeding has been designated as a "permit-but-disclose" proceeding in accordance with the 
Commission's ex parte rules.  47 C.F.R.  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 C.F.R.  1.1206(b).  Other rules pertaining to 
oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but-disclose proceedings are set forth in section 1.1206(b) of 
the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R.  1.1206(b). 

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., S.W., Washington, DC 20554.  Copies of the request and the 
petition are also available from ITS at 1231 20th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036, or by calling (202) 857-
3800.

For further information, contact Leora Hochstein of the Auctions and Industry Analysis Division at (202) 418-
0660.

By the Chief, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau


-FCC-

  




  47 C.F.R.  1.401, 1.3, and 1.925.

  See "Auction of C and F Block Broadband PCS Licenses, Notice of Auction Scheduled for July 26, 2000," Public Notice, DA 00-49 
(rel. January 12, 2000).

  47 C.F.R.  24.709.

  "Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on SBC Communications Inc.'s Request for Waiver of the Eligibility  
Requirements for Participation in the Upcoming PCS C and F Block Auction," Public Notice, DA 00-145 (rel. January 31, 2000).
 

 
 




 

PUBLIC NOTICE

		Federal Communications Commission
		445 12th St., S.W.
		Washington, D.C. 20554