***Full Name of System:*** Integrated Spectrum Auctions System (ISAS)

**Acronym:** ISAS

## *Sponsor:* Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB), SMRT

## Contact Information

-   **Project Manager:** LaVonia Connelly

-   **Major Organization/Division of Unit:** FCC, WTB, SMRT

-   **Street Address:** 445 12^th^ Street, S.W.

-   **City:** Washington

-   **State:** D.C.

-   **Zip Code:** 20554

-   **Telephone:** (202) 414-1262

-   **E-Mail:** lavonia.connelly@fcc.gov

-   **Hours of Operation:** M -- F 8:00 -- 4:30 p.m. ET (except Federal
    holidays)

***Brief Abstract/System Description:*** Since 1994, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) has conducted auctions of licenses for
electromagnetic spectrum. These auctions are open to any eligible
company or individual that submits an application and upfront payment,
and is found to be a qualified bidder by the Commission.

FCC auctions are conducted electronically and are accessible over the
Internet. Thus, qualified bidders can place bids from the comfort of
their home or office. Further, anyone with access to a computer with a
web browser can follow the progress of an auction and view the results
of each round.

In 1993, Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which
gave the Commission authority to use competitive bidding to choose from
among two or more mutually exclusive applications for an initial
license. Prior to this historic legislation, the Commission mainly
relied upon comparative hearings and lotteries to select a single
licensee from a pool of mutually exclusive applicants for a license. The
Commission has found that spectrum auctions more effectively assign
licenses than either comparative hearings or lotteries. The auction
approach is intended to award the licenses to those who will use them
most effectively. Additionally, by using auctions, the Commission has
reduced the average time from initial application to license grant to
less than one year, and the public is now receiving the direct financial
benefit from the award of licenses.

In the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress extended and expanded the
FCC\'s auction authority. The Act requires the FCC to use auctions to
resolve mutually exclusive applications for initial licenses unless
certain exemptions apply, including exemptions for public safety radio
services, digital television licenses to replace analog licenses, and
non-commercial educational and public broadcast stations.

The ISAS provides the mechanism for the allocation of spectrum to
commercial entities. It is part of a super-system, headed by the
Universal Licensing System (ULS) and with interfaces to the Commission's
financial systems, that ensures efficient and equitable allocation of
the electromagnetic spectrum. The system provides automated support for
all aspects of the auction process including initial inquiry,
application processing, auction administration, and post auction
processing. The system makes use of the latest designs in both
combinatorial and Vickery auction theory.

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##### Access and Use Constraints: Public access to the system is available through the Internet.

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####### Date of Last Modification to this System Profile: 09/12/2005