**PUBLIC NOTICE**![](media/image1.png){width="0.7388888888888889in"
height="0.7458333333333333in"}

**FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION**

**1919 M STREET, N.W.**

**WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554**

News Media Information: (202) 418-0500

Fax-On-Demand: (202) 418-2830

Internet: http://www.fcc.gov

ftp.fcc.gov

**DA 99-283**

**February 11, 1999**

**AUCTION OF 528 MULTILATERATION**

**LOCATION AND MONITORING SERVICE LICENSES**

**5 Qualified Bidders**

**Report No. AUC-21-H (Auction No. 21)**

This *Public Notice* identifies the 5 applicants that have been found
qualified to bid for 528 Multilateration Location and Monitoring Service
(\"LMS\") licenses in Auction No. 21, which is scheduled to begin on
Tuesday, February 23, 1999. This *Public Notice* also contains bidding
instructions and other important information regarding the auction.

**Attachment A** lists each of the 5 qualified bidders, their upfront
payments, and maximum eligibility in bidding units.

**Attachment B** lists the licenses that were listed on each qualified
bidder\'s FCC Form 175.

**Attachment C** lists those applicants that submitted FCC Form 175
applications, but did not qualify to bid in this auction.

**Attachment D** is a current version of the FCC Remote Bidding System
Hardware and Software Requirements (Attachment D of the *Status of
Applications Public Notice*[^1]).

**Attachment E** contains software downloading/installing instructions
for participation in the mock auction.

**Attachment F** contains round results file formats for use during the
auction.

**Attachment G** contains instructions for accessing the FCC Network
using Windows 95/98.

In order to participate effectively in the auction, qualified bidders
should re-familiarize themselves with the auction rules and other
information contained in the *Bidder Information Package* and the
*Public Notices* released for this auction.[^2] The following
information provides additional guidance.

***Registration.*** Qualified bidders have been automatically registered
for the auction. For security reasons, the Commission will confirm
registration by two separate mailings of registration materials, both
sent to the contact person at the address identified in the bidder\'s
FCC Form 175. The two mailings will include the Bidder Identification
Number, Login ID, Login Password and the FCC Account Number. The second
mailing will also include the remote bidding system software, if
ordered. Upon receipt of both mailings, each bidder should be in
possession of the following information:

•FCC Account Number (as assigned by FCC)

• Bidder Identification Number (supplied by FCC mailing)

• Login ID (supplied by FCC mailing)

• Login Password (supplied by FCC mailing)

• Remote bidding system software, if ordered (supplied by FCC mailing)

• FCC Bidder Line Telephone Number

**Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring the security of their
computer systems, the security of their bidding codes, and that only
authorized bidders place bids on their behalf. The FCC assumes no
responsibility or liability for these matters.**

**WARNING: Any unauthorized person or entity accessing or tampering with
an FCC or other government computer will be prosecuted to the full
extent of the law.**

Any applicant listed as a qualified bidder in Attachment A to this
*Public Notice* that has not received both registration mailings **by
noon on Thursday, February 18, 1999**, should contact the Auctions
Hotline at (717) 338-2888. It is each applicant\'s responsibility to
ensure that all registration information has been received on time.

Lost Login IDs, Login Passwords and Bidder Identification Numbers can be
replaced only at the FCC Auction Headquarters, located at 2
Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Washington, D.C. If replacement is
necessary, either an authorized representative or the certifying
official (as designated on the applicant\'s FCC Form 175) must appear in
person with two forms of identification, one of which must be a photo
identification.

***Electronic Bidding Software.*** In order to bid electronically, each
qualified bidder that filed its FCC Form 175 electronically must
purchase the Commission\'s electronic bidding software. The software has
been updated for the LMS auction. Bidders are advised to review the
software manual included in the registration materials and participate
in the mock auction to become familiar with this software. For software
backup, bidders are advised to duplicate the software for use by
authorized representatives at different locations. However, the FCC
Remote Bidding System will not accept electronic bids from qualified
bidders that are not registered purchasers of the bidding software.

***Bidding Contingency Plan.*** Bidders should develop comprehensive
contingency plans they can implement quickly in case they experience
difficulty participating in the auction. While the FCC will correct any
problems within Commission‑controlled facilities, bidders are solely
responsible for anticipating and overcoming problems such as bidder
technical failures, local telephone service interruptions, adverse local
weather conditions, unavailability of authorized bidders, or loss or
breach of confidential security codes.

The FCC Remote Bidding System requires access to a 900 service telephone
line. Bidders should verify in advance that the telephone systems they
will be using to submit electronic bids permit access to 900 service
telephone numbers, and should consult their telephone administrators if
they need assistance.

All filers will be supplied with a telephone number for telephonic
bidding in their registration packet. Electronic bidders may use this
telephone number as an alternate method of bidding in the event they are
not able to submit their bids electronically.

***Bidding Schedule.*** The bidding schedule for Tuesday, February 23,
1999 will be:

Bidding Period 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. ET

Round Results 10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. ET

Bidding Period 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET

Round Results 3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. ET

The bidding schedule for Wednesday, February 24, 1999, and continuing
until further notice, will be:

Bidding Period 9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. ET

Round Results 9:45 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. ET

Bidding Period 11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. ET

Round Results 11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. ET

Bidding Period 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. ET

Round Results 2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. ET

Bidding Period 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. ET

Round Results 4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. ET

The FCC will set the pace of the auction based upon its monitoring of
the bidding and its assessment of the auction\'s progress. Generally, at
the end of each week of the auction, the FCC will announce the bidding
schedule for the following week.

***Minimum Opening Bids.*** There will be a minimum opening bid for each
license in the LMS auction, calculated in accordance with the formulas
we have previously announced.[^3] The minimum opening bid amount is
subject to reduction at the discretion of the Commission. Bidders should
be aware, however, that the FCC will not entertain requests to lower
minimum opening bids. The agency will exercise its discretion, if at
all, independent of any communications from bidders.

***Messages and Announcements.*** The FCC will post pertinent auction
information as messages and announcements on the FCC Remote Bidding
System, on its Internet site and on its Bulletin Board System (BBS).
Bidders should routinely check for messages and announcements each time
they enter the Remote Bidding System, and should read this information
carefully.

***Bidder Questions during the Auction.*** FCC auction officials and
technical support staff will be available during the course of the
auction to answer questions from bidders. Bidders should identify
themselves as a bidder with time sensitive auction questions when
calling any number. Help can be obtained through the following telephone
numbers:

FCC Bidder Line Use telephonic bid number

(telephonic bidding, auction conduct supplied in registration mailing

questions)

FCC Technical Support Hotline (202) 414-1250

(all technical questions, software and

hardware)

FCC Auctions Division (legal questions) (202) 418-0660

***Monitoring Round Results.*** Attachment F to this *Public Notice*
provides instructions for reviewing and downloading round results, and
other material related to the LMS auction released by the Commission
during the course of the auction.

***Auction Tracking Tool.*** The FCC has developed a tool for tracking
the results of its auctions. Bidders wishing to familiarize themselves
with the tool will be able to download the tool with a sample database
when it becomes available. This tool will be utilized in the LMS auction
and will be able to be used with both the mock auction and real auction.
The FCC Auction Tracking Tool will be made available on Wednesday,
February 17, 1999 via the Internet at
http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/auctions/lms1.html, which will include a specific
link to the tracking tool. The FCC Auction Tracking Tool will also be
available via the FCC Auctions Bulletin Board System.

The FCC Auction Tracking Tool is a stand-alone application which runs on
Windows 95/98 and NT operating systems and does not require any other
software, although some advanced features do require Microsoft Excel 97.
The tool will allow users to import round result files and analyze
bidding results after each round of the auction. For installation and
use instructions see the README file and on-line help system that
accompany the FCC Auction Tracking Tool.

> **User Requirements.** This software is designed to be used by a wide
> range of users. For most effective use of the tool, users should be
> familiar with:
>
> \* Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT
>
> \* Microsoft Excel 97
>
> \* The FCC simultaneous multiple round auction format
>
> **Software and Hardware Requirements.** At a minimum, you will need
> the following:
>
> \* Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or NT.
>
> \* Up to 40-50 MB of available hard disk space. For the application
> itself, only 2-3 MB will be necessary, but the auction database can
> grow quite large.
>
> \* 16 MB RAM and Pentium based processor are required with 32 MB RAM
> and a Pentium 166 or higher are strongly recommended.
>
> \* Some advanced features of the tool will require Microsoft Excel 97,
> but the majority of the tool\'s features can be used without Excel.

***Amendments to FCC Form 175s.*** Applicants are responsible for
maintaining the accuracy and completeness of information furnished in
their FCC Form 175 and exhibits. *See* 47 C.F.R § 1.65. It is the
staff\'s position that applicants should amend their applications within
ten business days from the occurrence of a reportable change. Filers
should make modifications to their FCC Form 175s electronically, and
submit a letter briefly summarizing the changes to:

Amy Zoslov

Chief, Auctions & Industry Analysis Division

Wireless Telecommunications Bureau

Federal Communications Commission

Room 5202

2025 M St., NW

Washington, DC 20554

with a courtesy copy to Kenneth Burnley at the same address. As
described in the Commission\'s Rules, applicants may make only minor
corrections to their FCC Form 175 applications; major modifications
(*e.g.*, changing the markets applied for, changing control of the
applicant, changing the certifying official or signing a manual
application) will not be accepted. *See* 47 C.F.R. § 1.2105(b).

***Due Diligence.*** Bidders are reminded that they should continue to
conduct due diligence examinations regarding incumbents and other legal
developments with respect to the licenses for which they bid during the
course of the auction.[^4]

***Mock Auction.*** The FCC will conduct a mock auction on Friday,
February 19, 1999, to allow qualified bidders to familiarize themselves
with the electronic bidding software. The mock auction will be open only
to qualified bidders. Telephonic bidding will also be available during
the mock auction. Qualified bidders wishing to place telephonic bids
should use the telephone number supplied in the registration materials
for the auction. Pre-registration is not required to participate in the
mock auction.

This mock auction will include all LMS licenses, and will follow the
rules governing the LMS auction. The mock auction will be identified as
Auction No. 74. The software will assume that each bidder applied for
all licenses and submitted upfront payments of \$175,000, corresponding
to 175,000 bidding units. The auction will simulate the start of Stage
One, so bidders will be required to be active on at least 80 percent of
their bidding units, or risk having a waiver automatically applied
unless bidding eligibility is reduced.

The mock auction bidding schedule for Friday, February 19, 1999 will be:

Round 1

Bidding Period 9:00 a.m. ‑ 10:00 a.m. ET

Round Results 10:00 a.m. ‑ 10:30 a.m. ET

Round 2

Bidding Period 10:30 a.m. ‑ 11:30 a.m. ET

Round Results 11:30 a.m. ‑ 12:00 p.m. ET

Lunch 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET

Round 3

Bidding Period 1:00 p.m. ‑ 1:30 p.m. ET

Round Results 1:30 p.m. ‑ 2:00 p.m. ET

Round 4

Bidding Period 2:00 p.m. ‑ 2:30 p.m. ET

Round Results 2:30 p.m. ‑ 3:00 p.m. ET

Round 5

Bidding Period 3:00 p.m. ‑ 3:30 p.m. ET

Round Results 3:30 p.m. ‑ 4:00 p.m. ET

Round 6

Bidding Period 4:00 p.m. ‑ 4:30 p.m. ET

Round Results 4:30 p.m. ‑ 5:00 p.m. ET

Eligible LMS bidders who wish to participate in the mock auction using
electronic bidding must establish a PPP connection to the FCC Auction
Network through either an 800 or a 900 number, as selected through the
mock auction software. (The FCC strongly encourages participants to test
their ability to connect using the 900 number, in order to identify any
potential problems such as a 900-number telephone block. There will be
no access charge for the first minute of the 900-number connection
time.)

When participants establish the PPP connection and start the Mock
Bidding System, they will register for the mock auction by entering
their FCC Account Number. The Login names, Login passwords, and Bidder
Identification Numbers (BINs) will be pre-filled. Note: Pre-filled codes
are for the mock auction only. For the actual LMS auction, valid Login
codes and BINs will be mailed to qualified bidders with their
registration materials.

Remote bidding software for the mock auction will be available via the
FCC\'s Internet and Bulletin Board System beginning Wednesday, February
17, 1999. *See* Attachment E for downloading/installing instructions.
This software is specifically designed for this simulation, and is not
adaptable to any other FCC spectrum auction. As part of the software,
the Commission has established a suggestion box and welcomes your
comments regarding the software.

**OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION**

**Long-Form Applications:** Applicants that claim status as a small or
very small business should be aware that at the long-form application
stage, they will be subject to the more extensive reporting requirements
contained in the Commission\'s Part 1 ownership disclosure rule. *See*
47 C.F.R. § 1.2112(b). Also, applicants with foreign ownership interests
will be required to comply with 47 U.S.C. § 310(b)(4) at the long-form
application stage.

For additional information regarding this *Public Notice*, please
contact Kathryn Garland, Auctions Operations Branch, Auctions & Industry
Analysis Division, at (717) 338-2801 or Kenneth Burnley, Legal Branch,
Auctions & Industry Analysis Division, at (202) 418-0660. Questions
about software or hardware should be directed to Technical Support at
(202) 414-1250.

**\--FCC\--**

[^1]: ^?^ *See* \"Auction of 528 Multilateration Location and Monitoring
    Service Licenses, Status of Applications to Participate in the
    Auction, Bureau Reminds Bidders of Responsibilities under NEPA
    Provisions,\" *Public Notice*, DA 99-249 (rel. January 29, 1999)
    (\"*Status of Applications Public Notice*\"), Attachment D.

[^2]: ^?^ *See* \"Location and Monitoring Service Spectrum Auction
    Scheduled for December 15, 1998, Comment Sought on Reserve Prices or
    Minimum Opening Bids and Other Auction Procedural Issues,\" *Public
    Notice*, DA 98-1616 (released August 13, 1998), 63 Fed. Reg. 44,456
    (August 19, 1998); \"Auction of Location and Monitoring Service
    Licenses, Auction Notice and Filing Requirements for 528
    Multilateration Location and Monitoring Service Licenses Scheduled
    for December 15, 1998, Minimum Opening Bids and Other Procedural
    Issues,\" *Public Notice*, DA 98-1879 (released September 23, 1998),
    63 Fed. Reg. 54,693 (October 13, 1998) (\"*Auction Notice and Filing
    Requirements Public Notice*\"); \"Correction to Attachment A of
    Public Notice, Auction of Location and Monitoring Service
    Licenses,\" *Erratum* (released October 7, 1998) (\"*Correction to
    Auction Notice and Filing Requirements Public Notice*\"); \"Wireless
    Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Request for Stay of
    Location and Monitoring Service Auction, *Public Notice*, DA 98-2144
    (released October 23, 1998), 63 Fed. Reg. 57,688 (October 28, 1998);
    \"Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Postpones December 15, 1998
    Auction Date for 528 Multilateration Location and Monitoring Service
    Licenses, Commencement of the Auction postponed to February 23,
    1999, *Public Notice*, DA 98-2246 (released November 10, 1998), 63
    Fed. Reg. 63,730 (November 16, 1998); \"Wireless Telecommunications
    Bureau Announces Revised Pre-Auction Deadlines for the Auction of
    528 Multilateration Location and Monitoring Service Licenses,
    902-928 MHz Band Deployment and Technical Information Compiled by
    the National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
    *Public Notice*, DA 98-2394 (released November 25, 1998);
    \"Electronic Filing Requirement Waived for the Location and
    Monitoring Service Auction, *Public Notice*, DA 98-2582 (released
    December 23, 1998); \"Hennepin County Application for Location and
    Monitoring Service License and Waiver under Section 337 of the
    Communications Act, *Public Notice*, DA 99-177 (released January 21,
    1999); *Status of Applications Public Notice*. *See also* In the
    Matter of Amendment of Part 90 of the Commission\'s Rules to Adopt
    Regulations for Automatic Vehicle Monitoring Systems, *Second Report
    and Order*, FCC 98-157 (released July 14, 1998), 63 Fed. Reg. 40,659
    (July 30, 1998).

[^3]: ^?^ *See Auction Notice and Filing Requirements Public Notice* at
    24-29. For information on the minimum opening bid for each of the
    528 multilateration LMS licenses, see *Correction to Auction Notice
    and Filing Requirements Public Notice.*

[^4]: ^?^ *See Auction Notice and Filing Requirements Public Notice* at
    4 and Attachment B.