DA 03-1089

April 9, 2003

**WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES AN AUDIT OF THE
OPERATIONAL STATUS OF CERTAIN 220 -- 222 MHz BAND LICENSES**

**Licensees are Encouraged to Verify the Mailing Address for Each
License Held and to Register with the Commission Registration System
(CORES)**

The Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau (Bureau) will be conducting a license audit of the operational
status of certain site-specific licenses operating in the 220 -- 222 MHz
(220 MHz) band.[^1] The purpose of the audit is to promote intensive use
of the radio spectrum by updating and increasing the accuracy of the
Commission's licensing database for the following services in the 220
MHz band:

-   "QT" -- Non-nationwide 5-channel trunked systems

-   "QD" -- Non-nationwide data

-   "QO" -- Non-nationwide other

**Every licensee in these radio services** **must respond** and certify
that its authorized station(s) has not discontinued operations for one
year or more.[^2] As detailed below, the Bureau urges these licensees,
[prior to the start of this audit]{.underline}, to verify the mailing
address on record for each authorization held and ensure they have
registered with the Commission Registration System (CORES).

**Note**: This audit does not affect geographic-area licenses granted
following the 220 MHz auctions or 220 MHz licenses authorized for public
safety, mutual aid, or emergency medical services.

**Preparing for the Audit**

To prepare for the audit, the Bureau strongly encourages licensees in
the QT, QD, and QO radio services to verify the mailing address and
other contact information for each license held. Licensees can verify
the accuracy of the Commission's information by accessing the Universal
Licensing System's (ULS) internet site at <http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls>
and using the *License Search* function. If the information is
incorrect, the licensee should use ULS to electronically file an
*Administrative Update* application.

Another important step a licensee should take to prepare for the audit
is to ensure that it has registered in CORES and received a FCC
Registration Number (FRN). If a licensee has not already registered in
CORES to receive its FRN, and has not associated the FRN with its
licenses, the Bureau strongly encourages the licensee to do so by May 9,
2003. To register in CORES and associate its call signs with its FRN, a
licensee should take the following steps:

-   Access the ULS internet site at <https://wireless.fcc.gov/uls>

-   Select *Register*, *CORES/Call Sign*

-   Click on *Register Now*

-   Provide all the information requested by CORES and print the page
    containing the 10-digit FRN for future reference

-   Click on *FCC Universal Licensing System* which takes the licensee
    back to ULS to register the licensee's call signs to its FRN

-   Select *Call Sign/ASR Number Registration*

-   Enter the FRN and password

-   Follow the instructions to associate the call signs with the new
    FRN.

**The Audit Process**

During the week of May 12, 2003, the Bureau will send letters to all
licensees operating in the QT, QD, and QO radio services inquiring about
the operational status of each license held. Each letter will include
the call signs of the licensee's authorizations involved in this audit
and will be directed to each licensee at its address of record. A
licensee will receive only one audit letter for all of its QT, QD, and
QO authorizations if the licensee has, by May 9, 2003, verified the
address is listed correctly in ULS, obtained its FRN, and associated its
call signs with the FRN. If the licensee has not ensured the address is
correct in ULS, not obtained its FRN and has not associated its calls
signs with the FRN by May 9, 2003, the Bureau will attempt to include
all of a licensee's call signs subject to this audit in one letter, but
may issue more than one letter for an entity due to slight variations in
licensee name or address in the Commission's records.[^3] If that is the
case, the licensee must respond to **each** letter sent by the
Commission in order to account for all of its call signs that are part
of the audit. If a licensee holds an authorization(s) in any of these
radio services and does not receive an audit letter, the licensee may
still be required to respond to the audit. After the audit letters have
been mailed (scheduled for the week of May 12, 2003), licensees can use
the *Audit Search* at <http://wireless.fcc.gov/licensing/audits/220> to
determine if a particular license is part of the audit. If the *Audit
Search* shows an audit letter was mailed, the licensee is required to
respond to the audit even though the audit letter was not received. For
instructions on how to proceed in this instance, call the Commission at
717-338-2888 or 888-CALLFCC (888-225-5322) and select option #2.

**A response to the audit letter is mandatory**. The Bureau's process
for responding to the audit letter, via the internet, is intended to be
quick, easy, and convenient for licensees. Specific instructions for
responding to the audit, including the internet site, will be included
in the audit letter. Each licensee will be required to electronically
submit its response(s) **[within thirty (30) calendar
days]{.underline}** of the date on the audit letter. **Failure to
provide a timely response may result in the Commission presuming that
the station has been non-operational for more than one year, and thus
the license may be presumed to have automatically cancelled. Failure to
provide a timely response may also result in enforcement action,
including monetary forfeiture, pursuant to Section 503(b)(1)(B) of the
Communications Act and Section 1.80(a)(2) of the Commission's
Rules.**[^4]

For assistance in registering with CORES and associating your call sign
with the FRN, call 717-338-2888 or 888-CALLFCC (888-225-5322) and select
option 2. For additional information on the 220 MHz license audit, visit
the 220 MHz audit web site at
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/licensing/audits/220> or contact Denise Walter
of the Bureau's Commercial Wireless Division at 202-418-0620 or
denise.walter@fcc.gov.

[^1]: This spectrum audit will be the second audit conducted recently by
    the Bureau for licenses authorized under Part 90. *See* Wireless
    Telecommunications Bureau Announces Commencement of an Audit of the
    Construction and Operational Status of Private Land Mobile Radio
    Stations, *Public Notice*, DA 01-1575, 16 FCC Rcd. 14264 (WTB 2001).

[^2]: Under the Commission's rules, if a licensee allows a constructed
    facility to discontinue operations for one year or more, the license
    cancels automatically. *See* 47 C.F.R. § 90.157.

[^3]: In this case, each letter will list different call signs
    associated with that exact licensee name and address.

[^4]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(b); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(a)(2).