**PUBLIC NOTICE**

**FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION**

**445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W.; TW-A325**

**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 00-1276**

# **Released: June 12, 2000**

**WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU REMINDS BROADBAND PERSONAL
COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES (PCS) LICENSEES OF FIVE-YEAR CONSTRUCTION
BENCHMARK**

### *Notifications must be submitted electronically via the Universal Licensing System (ULS)* 

On March 13, 1995, the Commission completed its first Broadband PCS
auction and issued licenses shortly thereafter. On or before July 10,
2000, many of the Broadband PCS licensees will be required to notify the
Bureau as to whether or not they have met their five-year construction
benchmarks.[^1] This Public Notice serves to remind licensees of their
responsibility to notify the Bureau regarding construction, and to
reiterate that these construction notifications, as well as requests for
extension of time to meet the benchmark, must be filed electronically
via the Bureau's ULS. Licensees should check the 5-year construction
deadline listed on their licenses to ensure that it comports with the
Bureau's records available on the internet at
<http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls>.

Section 24.203 of the Commission\'s rules requires Broadband PCS
licensees (30 MHz blocks) to serve with a signal level sufficient to
provide adequate service to at least one-third of the population in
their licensed area within five years of being licensed. Licensees must
file maps and other supporting documents showing that they have met the
five-year benchmark. Because 2000 census data is not yet available,
licensees must use 1990 census data to show compliance with the
benchmark. Failure to meet the benchmark will result in forfeiture of
the license and the licensee will be ineligible to regain it.[^2]

Licensees must file their notifications of construction electronically
via the Bureau\'s ULS no later than 15 days after the five-year deadline
shown on their licenses.[^3] Likewise, in the event a licensee wishes to
request an extension of time to meet the five-year benchmark, it must
file the extension request electronically via ULS. The Bureau will
dismiss without prejudice all manually-filed notifications of
construction and requests for extension of time.[^4]

##  

To notify the Bureau of meeting their construction benchmarks, licensees
should access the ULS, provide their Taxpayer Identification Number
(TIN), Sub Group Identification Number (SGIN) if applicable, and
password, and select "Required Notification" as the Application Purpose.
Likewise, to request an extension of time to meet the benchmark,
licensees should select \"Extension of Time\" as the Application
Purpose. In addition to filling out the form online, licensees will have
an opportunity to upload electronic files containing information
necessary for the Bureau to evaluate the notification of construction.
With this in mind, licensees should have electronic versions of the
necessary documents on hand when filing. For example, applicants may
upload text files in ASCII format, text files in popular word processor
formats such as Microsoft Word and Wordperfect, spreadsheets in
Microsoft Excel format, and maps or other graphical images in PDF
format. Attachment A to this Public Notice describes how to submit a
Required Notification electronically and upload necessary attachments.
Detailed instructions on accessing the ULS are available via the
internet at .

For further information contact Michael Ferrante of the Bureau's
Commercial Wireless Division at (202) 418-0620 or mferrant@fcc.gov.

**ATTACHMENT A**

**SUBMITTING A REQUIRED NOTIFICATION VIA ULS**

The instructions below supplement the instructions for FCC Form 601, and
provide context for licensees filing notifications of construction. To
file a "Required Notification" electronically via ULS, follow the
instructions described below. Please note that licensees may file
individually for each call sign, or file a single application for all
call signs associated with a particular TIN.

1)  Establish a Dial-up connection to the FCC Network, open your web
    browser, and point it toward the following URL ; or access the
    internet and point your web browser toward the following URL
    <http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/uls>.

2)  Select the **Online Filing** button in the left frame.

3)  Enter your TIN, SGIN (if applicable), and Password and select
    **Continue**.

4)  Choose **Select New Filing**.

5)  Select purpose of application = Required Notification and select
    **Continue**.

6)  Select purpose of submission = 1 and select **Continue** (Note:
    select \"2\" if you are notifying that you have also met the
    ten-year benchmark.)

7)  Enter the applicable Call Sign(s) and scroll to the bottom of the
    page.

8)  Enter the name and title of the authorized representative signing
    the form, and select **Continue**.

9)  At this point, you may upload attachments (electronic files) in
    support of your notification (*e.g*., word processor documents,
    scanned documents). Select the appropriate attachment type. If none
    apply, choose **Other**. Click the **Browse** button and locate the
    file you wish to upload. Type in a short description of the file you
    wish to upload. Select **Upload** to upload the file.

10) Repeat step (9) for each file to be uploaded. Select **List** at any
    time to see a summary list of files you have uploaded as attachments
    to this application.

11) After you have uploaded all attachments, select **Continue** and
    select **OK** on the warning screen.

12) You may Print Preview the application, or proceed and select the
    **Submit** button to file the Required Notification with the
    Commission. After you file the Required Notification, a confirmation
    screen and file number will appear. Again, you will have an
    opportunity to Print Preview the application.

[^1]: The five-year construction deadline for a majority of these
    licensees is June 23, 2000. Notifications must be file with the
    Commission within 15 days (*i.e*., July 8, 2000) pursuant to 47
    C.F.R. § 1.946.

[^2]: *See* 47 C.F.R. § 24.203.

[^3]: *See* 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.913 and 1.946.

[^4]: *See* Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Reminds Licensees of
    Mandatory Electronic Filing Via the Universal Licensing System
    Beginning July 1, 1999, *Public Notice* DA 99-1080 (June 3, 1999),
    and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Recommends Licensees Take
    Steps to Prepare for Electronic Filing Via the Universal Licensing
    System, *Public Notice* DA 99-1228 (June 23, 1999.)