# Highlights in 929 MHz History

Allocated in **1982**, General Docket 80-183, 40 channels, all were
shared, 30 channels were originally designated for private internal use
and 10 channels for Private Carrier Paging (PCP) use. Applicants could
select their own frequency through the use of a frequency coordinator or
by an independent study.

In **1983**, *the Interim Coordination Considerations for the Band
929-932 MHz* were signed with Canada.

In **1985**, the PCP allocation was increased to 20 channels, and PCPs
were authorized to share the non-commercial channels. *Amendment of the
Commission's Rules to Make Additional Channels Available for Private
Carrier Paging Operations in the 929-930 MHz Band*, **Report and Order*,
***PR Docket 85-102.

In **1991, DA 91-1257,** *Acceptance of 929-930 MHz One-Way Paging
Applications* was released, effective October 5, **1991**.

**Report and Order**, PR Docket 93-35, PCP Exclusivity Order adopted
March 29, **1993**.

Heavy congestion in private radio lower band channels lead to adopting
35 channels for exclusive use. Adopted height/power table similar to 931
MHz for separation criteria. Incumbents and new licensees could earn
exclusivity by constructing 6 contiguous transmitters for local
exclusivity (except in NY, LA, and Chicago, they had to have 18 within
25 miles) 70 (in no more than 12 adjacent states) for regional
exclusivity, and 300 (serving 50 markets, including 25 of the top 50
markets, and 2 markets in each of the 7 RBOC regions) for nationwide
exclusivity. The remaining incumbents were grandfathered allowing them
to continue operating without being forced to change channels or
location.

In **1993,** PR Docket 93-38, *Amendment of the Commission's Rules to
Permit Private Carrier Paging Licensees to Provide Service to
Individuals*, allowed PCP operators to provide service to the public on
virtually the same unrestricted basis as CCP operators.

**1993** Omnibus Reconciliation Act amended the Communications Act to
divide all mobile services into two categories, CMRS and PMRS, and
mandated that "substantially similar" mobile services receive comparable
regulatory treatment. In the CMRS Third Report and Order, it was
determined that PCP and CCP were substantially similar and that
geographic licensing should be considered for both services.

In **1994**, Public Notice **DA 94-546**, released May 27, 1994,
announced the 929-930 MHz Paging Operators Qualifying for Local,
Regional, and Nationwide Exclusivity.

In **1995**, unscrupulous characters began soliciting the general public
to "buy" paging licenses.

December 19, **1995**, Letter of Understanding Related to the Temporary
Use of the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz Bands for Paging Services Along
the Common Border is signed and announced by Public Notice, January 11,
**1996**.

**Notice of Proposed Rule Making**, WT Docket No. 96-18
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Notices/fcc96052.txt>, released
February 9, **1996**

"Freeze on new applications." Suspended acceptance of new applications
for paging channels (except for nationwide exclusive channels) as of the
adoption date, but allowed incumbent licensees to add sites to existing
systems or modify existing sites, provided that such additions or
modifications do not expand the interference contour of the incumbent\'s
existing systems. Proposed transition to geographic area licensing for
Common Carrier and Private Carrier Paging channels, and competitive
bidding procedures for resolving mutually exclusive applications for
these licenses.

**First Report and Order,** WT Docket No. 96-18
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1996/fcc96183.txt>, released
April 23, **1996**

First Report and Order was adopted to allow 40-mile expansion
applications to be filed. This Order allowed incumbent paging licensees
on non-nationwide channels to file initial applications to add new sites
to their systems. Each new site had to be located with 65 kilometers (40
miles) of an authorized and operating transmission site operated by the
licensee on the same channel prior to the *Notice* date, February 8,
1996.

*Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces 929-930 MHz Paging
Licensees That Have Met Construction Requirements for Nationwide
Exclusivity*, Public Notice
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Public_Notices/1996/da960748.txt>
released May 10, **1996**.

**Order on Reconsideration of First Report and Order,** WT Docket No.
96-18 <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/fcc96260.txt>,
released June 11, **1996**

Allows incumbents to expand 65 kilometers (40 miles) from sites for
which applications were filed as of September 30, 1995, whether or not
such applications were granted prior to February 8, 1996.

**The Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking,** WT Docket 96-18

<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1997/fcc97059.txt>, released
February 24, **1997**

Adopted geographic area licensing and competitive bidding procedures for
paging, as follows:

All mutually exclusive applications for non-nationwide 931 MHz channels
and exclusive non-nationwide 929 MHz channels will be subject to
competitive bidding for geographic area licenses for 51 Major Trading
Areas (MTAs) defined in Rand McNally\'s *Commercial Atlas & Marketing
Guide*. In addition to the 47 Rand McNally MTAs for the U.S. territories
of (1) Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, (2) Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and (3) American Samoa. We are also licensing
Alaska as a single area separate from the Seattle MTA.

Nationwide 931 MHz and 929 MHz geographic area licenses will be granted
for the nationwide channels. The 23 nationwide 929 MHz channels are
those channels where a licensee had sufficient authorizations as of
February 8, 1996 to qualify for nationwide exclusivity in 47 C.F.R. §
90.945. The nationwide geographic area licenses will not be subject to
competitive bidding.

Shared Part 90 paging channels will not be subject to geographic area
licensing or competitive bidding.

All pending mutually exclusive applications for paging licenses filed
with the Commission on or before the adoption date of this *Order* will
be dismissed. All non-mutually exclusive applications filed with the
Commission on or before July 31, 1996 will be processed. All
applications (other than applications on nationwide and shared channels)
filed after July 31, 1996 will be dismissed.

In **1997**, *Protocol Concerning Use of the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz
Bands for Paging Services Along the Common Border* was signed with
Mexico and released February 28, **1997**

<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/News_Releases/1997/nrin7005.txt>

## Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration and Third Report and Order, WT Docket 96-18 <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1999/fcc99098.txt>, released May 24, 1999

## 

## Changed the geographic area licensing of 929 and 931 MHz paging from MTAs to MEAs. MEAs are composed of Economic Areas (EAs) and EAs will be used to license the lower paging bands. This will enable paging licensees operating in both lower and upper paging bands to operate their systems most efficiently. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce has divided the U.S. into 172 EAs, effective April 10, 1995, to facilitate regional economic analysis. Clarified that spectrum will automatically revert to the geographic area licensee in all instances where a non-geographic area incumbent licensee permanently discontinues service.