# Attachment E {#attachment-e .unnumbered}

HOW TO MONITOR THE FCC AUCTIONS ON-LINE

This document describes the following ways to monitor the auction:

-   View announcements and round results on your Web

-   Download round results data files

-   Obtain round results from touch-tone phone, using FCC's Automated
    Round Results System

-   View or download files containing the text of auction announcements

-   Track the auction using dial-up networking, which can be used in the
    event your Internet Service Provider (ISP) has malfunctioned

**[Conventions]{.underline}**

The instructions in this section use the following typographical
conventions:

**bold** Represents objects on the screen that you click with the mouse
pointer, including buttons, Internet links, icons, tabs, menu items
(e.g., **Cancel** button, **Auctions** link, **Save** option in the File
menu).

*italic* Represents field names or areas of a screen (e.g., *Location*
field, *Selected* *Licenses* area of a screen).

***bold italic*** Represents characters that you must type exactly as
they appear in the instructions. For example, if you are instructed to
type ***http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov***, you should type all of the
characters exactly as they are printed.

## Viewing Announcements and Round Results

> 1\. To access the FCC Bidding System, point your Web browser at
> ***http://wtbwww27.fcc.gov*** and click the appropriate auction.
>
> Alternatively, you can point your Web browser at
> ***http://wtbwww37.fcc.gov.***

2.  To view auction-related announcements, click **Announcements** on
    the Home tab.

3.  Click the **RESULTS** tab at the top of the page to obtain the Round
    Results page.

4.  Click the **Results Explorer** link*.*

> The Results Explorer lets you obtain the results for any preceding
> round and, optionally, filter those results by **License Area,
> Market**, and **Block/Channel**. Using the check box at the bottom,
> you can limit the results to a specific applicant, and view either the
> licenses they selected on their Form 175 or the licenses where they
> are the current high bidder.

5.  When you finish specifying your filter criteria, click the
    **Submit** button to obtain the results.

> This produces the Current Results Set page, which lists the licenses
> that match your search criteria.

## Downloading Round Results Files

You may use your Web browser to download round results from
***auctionresults1.fcc.gov***, or from secondary location
***auctionresults2.fcc.gov***, as described in the following sections.

### Downloading Procedure

1.  Connect to your Internet service provider and start your Web
    browser.

2.  In the *Location* field of the Web browser screen, enter one of the
    following locations: ***http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov*** or
    ***auctionresults2.fcc.gov***

3.  Click the appropriate auction.

4.  For auction round results, click **Results** and then click the
    subdirectory for the type of files you want to use. Note the
    following:

-   Subdirectories **ab**, **hb**, **me**, **wd**, **mxref**, and
    **bxref** provide text (*txt)* and dBASE database (*dbf*) files
    containing the All Bids, High Bids, Maximum Eligibility,
    Withdrawals, Market Cross Reference, and Bidder Cross Reference
    tables, respectively.

-   Subdirectory **zip** has a *zipped* file containing the round
    results text (*txt*) files from the **ab**, **hb**, **me**, and
    **wd** subdirectories.

-   Subdirectory **mdb** contains Microsoft Access database files in
    *zipped* form, for use in the Auction Tracking Tool.

5.  Click the file you want to download.

### Naming Conventions For Round Results Files

> **Note:** The naming conventions described in this section also apply
> to the Mock Auction. The only difference is, the Mock Auction is
> numbered 74 whereas the real auction is numbered 41.

For each round, dBase-compatible database files will be uploaded with
the following naming conventions (where *xxx* represents the round
number):

-   41\_*xxx*s.dbf contains all bids submitted in a particular round

-   41\_*xxx*w.dbf contains all bids withdrawn in a particular round

-   41\_*xxx*e.dbf contains the maximum eligibility and remaining number
    of waivers for each bidder

-   41\_*xxx*h.dbf contains the high bids in a particular round and the
    minimum accepted bids for the next round

We will also upload the following files, which are created only once,
prior to the start of the auction:

-   41_xref.dbf contains bidder cross reference data

-   41_mref.dbf contains market cross reference data

For those who cannot use the dBase-compatible database files, we will
also upload the ASCII text (.txt) version of these files with the same
filenames as above (e.g., 41\_ *xxx*s.txt, 41\_*xxx*e.txt). We also
provide these text files in a zipped file with a name of the form
RR_41\_ *xxx*.zip.

In addition, if you want to use Microsoft Access or you are using the
FCC-provided Auction Tracking Tool (ATT), we upload the MDB access
version of the round results files as a zipped file with a name of the
form 41\_ *xxx*.zip.

In the event an error occurs with the MDB file creation process only,
the zipped file will not be generated. However, if such a failure
occurs, we will upload text files that contain the MDB round results
data. For details, refer to *Round Results Text Files Produced In Case
of ATT Processing Failure* at the end of this section.

> ***File Formats:*** For a description of the internal formats of the
> round results files, refer to *Round Results File Formats* at the end
> of this document.

#### Locations of Uploaded Files

The newest round results are uploaded to functional subdirectories
within the *Results* directory.

**On the primary location, *auctionresults1.fcc.gov*:**

-   *All Bids:* http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/ab/

-   *High Bids*: http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/hb/

-   *Maximum Eligibility*:
    http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/me/

-   *Withdrawals*: http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/wd/

-   *Bidder Cross Reference*:
    http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/bxref/

-   *Market Cross Reference*:
    http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/mxref/

> **Note:** Below each of the preceding subdirectories are two
> lower-level directories containing database (dbf) files and text (txt)
> files.

-   *Zipped Database Files*:
    http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/mdb/

-   *Zipped Text Files*:
    http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov/Auction_41/Results/zip/

> **Note:** The preceding directory paths also apply to the Mock
> Auction. However, the Mock Auction results are in subdirectory
> Auction_74 instead of subdirectory Auction_41.

If you cannot access these files at the preceding primary location, you
can access the same files at the following secondary location,
***auctionresults2.fcc.gov/.***

#### Round Results Text Files Produced In Case of ATT Processing Failure

In the event an error occurs with the MDB file creation process, and the
MDB files are not created, we will initiate a backup process to provide
a temporary solution for bidders who normally would rely on the Auction
Tracking Tool data to analyze round results. Specifically, we will
upload tab-delimited ASCII (.txt) files that contain the same round
results data as the MDB files, but in a flat file format.

There will be one .txt file for each Auction Tracking Tool table, and
they will have names of the following general forms (where *xxx* is the
round number):

-   All Bids: 41*\_xxx*a.txt

-   Bidders: 41*\_xxx*b.txt

-   Bidders Raising Own High Bid: 41*\_xxx*c.txt

-   Bidders Who Reduced: 41*\_xxx*r.txt

-   Increment Statistics: 41*\_xxx*i.txt

-   Markets: 41*\_xxx*m.txt

-   Round Statistics: 41*\_xxx*u.txt

-   Waiver Statistics: 41*\_xxx*v.txt

-   Withdrawal Statistics: 41*\_xxx*d.txt

For example, 41_001a.txt is the All Bids table file for Round 1.

These text files will be uploaded to the same location as the MDB zipped
file, as described under the preceding section titled *Locations of
Uploaded Files*. Bidders will then have all of the table data that is
normally supplied with the MDB files. However, bidders will not be able
to import the .txt file into the Auction Tracking Tool. Instead, they
will have to use Notepad, Wordpad, Excel, or some other application that
can work with text files.

Once the processing error has been corrected, the MDB files will be
created and posted to the Internet, replacing the temporary text files.
Bidders will receive a message that the files have been updated. The
updated zip file can then be loaded into the Auction Tracking Tool.

## Tracking the Auction From a Touch-tone Phone

High Bid round results are also available from a touch-tone phone. To
access this system, dial 800-432-2110 from outside the Washington DC
area or 202-414-1260 from within the Washington DC area. Once the system
has been activated, you will follow the voice prompts. You will need to
know the name of the license you want by market and frequency block,
such as NWA255 18.

## Downloading Auction Announcements

You may use your Web browser to view or download announcements from
***auctionresults1.fcc.gov***, or from secondary location
***auctionresults2.fcc.gov***, as described in the following sections.

### Access Procedure

1.  Connect to your Internet service provider and start your Web
    browser.

2.  In the *Location* field of the Web browser screen, enter one of the
    following locations: ***http://auctionresults1.fcc.gov*** or
    ***auctionresults2.fcc.gov***

3.  Click **Auction 41***.*

4.  Click **Announcements**.

5.  To download a bid import template file, click **Announcements**,
    then select **template.txt**.

6.  Click the file you want to download.

### Naming Conventions For Announcement Files

The announcement files will use the naming convention *aa_xxx.nnn,*
where *aa* is the auction number, *xxx* is the round number and *nnn* is
the announcement number. For example, 41_002.007 would represent an
announcement for Auction 41 that was posted during round two and was the
seventh announcement for the auction.

## Tracking the Auction via the FCC Wide Area Network

To participate as a bidder in an FCC auction or view the auction's
announcements and round results, the FCC recommends accessing the
Bidding System via the Internet. As a contingency, you may access the
Bidding System via the FCC Wide Area Network.

### Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements

The following minimum hardware and software is required to use the FCC
Remote Access System:

-   CPU: Pentium 133 or above

-   RAM: 32 MB (64 MB recommended)

-   Monitor: VGA or above

-   Mouse or other pointing device

-   Operating System: Microsoft® Windows™ 95™, 98™, 2000™, ME™, NT™

-   Modem: 28.8 Kbps Hayes© compatible modem or faster (56.6 Kbps
    recommended)

-   Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) Dialer: Use the Dial-Up Networking
    feature included with the operating system

-   Web Browser, either of the following:

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher (recommended)

```{=html}
<!-- -->
```
-   Netscape® Communicator™ 4.0 or higher, with Java Plug-In Version
    1.3.1 (available for downloading at
    ***http://java.sun.com/products/plugin/***)

### Connecting to the FCC Network

To connect to the FCC Network, you must use Dial-Up Networking. Dial-Up
Networking establishes a point‑to‑point connection from your PC to the
FCC Network. *This point‑to‑point connection is not routed through the
Internet*.

To access the FCC Bidding System, configure your dial-up network to dial
***900-555-5335***. (Alternatively, you can configure your dial-up
network to dial ***900-555-5554***.) The first minute of connection time
to the 900 number service is at no charge, but additional time is billed
at a charge of \$2.30 per minute. In addition, when configuring your
TCP/IP settings, specify ***165.135.241.149*** as the Primary DNS and
***165.135.79.95*** as the Secondary DNS.

For technical assistance with using FCC software, contact the FCC
Technical Support Hotline at (202) 414‑1250 (V) or (202) 414-1255 (TTY).
The FCC Technical Support Hotline is generally available Monday through
Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, and
Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. ET. *All calls to the FCC Technical
Support Hotline are recorded.*

When you have finished, exit your Web browser, then disconnect from the
FCC Network.

## Round Results File Formats

This section describes the formats for the round results files that will
be uploaded to the FCC Internet site after each round of the auction.
There are three sets of results files. The first set of files is in
Microsoft Access 97 *mdb* format and contains the data tables for the
FCC Auction Tracking Tool. The other files are in *dbf* and *txt* format
and contain the raw output of the auction data.

### Auction Tracking Tool File Format

There will be a single Auction Tracking Tool *.zip* file for each round
of the auction. The following layout describes the tables and fields
within the mdb round file. The mdb files are for use with the FCC
Auction Tracking Tool.

#### All Bids table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

License Name Text(15)

Market Text(6)

Block Text(2)

Submarket Number(Long Integer)

Bidder Text(50)

Increments of Bid Number(Long Integer)

Gross Bid Amount Currency

Net Bid Amount Currency

Date Text(10)

Random No Text(30)

#### Bidders table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

Bidder Text(50)

FCC Acct Text(10)

Bidding Credit Number(Single)

Initial Eligibility Number(Long Integer)

Current Eligibility Number(Long Integer)

Change in Eligibility Number(Long Integer)

Waiver Type Text(4)

New Bids Number(Long Integer)

Gross Bids Currency

Net Bids Currency

Total High Bids Number(Long Integer)

Gross High Bids Currency

Net High Bids Currency

Current Activity Number(Long Integer)

Additional Activity Required Number(Long Integer)

Unused Elig Number(Long Integer)

Waivers Remaining Number(Long Integer)

Withdrawals Remaining Number(Long Integer)

#### Bidders Raising Own High Bid table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

License Name Text(15)

Major Grouping Text(6)

Minor Grouping Text(6)

Block Text(2)

Submarket Number(Long Integer)

Bidder Text(50)

Increments of Bid Number(Long Integer)

Gross Bid Amount Currency

Net Bid Amount Currency

Date Text(10)

#### Bidders Who Reduced table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

Bidder Who Reduced Text(50)

Reduction Amt Number(Long Integer)

Current Eligibility Number(Long Integer)

#### Increment Statistics table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

1 Number(Long Integer)

2 Number(Long Integer)

3 Number(Long Integer)

4 Number(Long Integer)

5 Number(Long Integer)

6 Number(Long Integer)

7 Number(Long Integer)

8 Number(Long Integer)

9 Number(Long Integer)

#### Markets table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

License Name Text(15)

Major Grouping Text(6)

Minor Grouping Text(6)

Block Text(2)

Submarket Number(Long Integer)

License Size (MHz) Number(Double)

Market Name Text(50)

BUs Number(Long Integer)

Population Number(Long Integer)

Number of Bids Number(Long Integer)

High Bidder Text(50)

Round of High Bid Number(Long Integer)

Increments of Bid Number(Long Integer)

Gross Currency

Bidding Credit Number(Single)

Net Currency

Date Text(10)

Min Acceptable Bid Currency

Bid Increment Currency

Prev High Bidder Text(50)

Round of Prev High Bid Number(Long Integer)

Prev Gross Currency

Prev Bidding Credit Number(Single)

Prev Net Currency

Selected Number(Long Integer)

All Selected Number(Long Integer)

#### Round Statistics table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

Round Date Text(10)

Stage Number(Long Integer)

New Bids Number(Long Integer)

Total High Bids Number(Long Integer)

Pctg of BUs for All Bids Number(Single)

Pctg of BUs for High Bids Number(Single)

Gross Bids Currency

Net Bids Currency

Dollar Change in Net Bids Currency

Pctg Change in Net Bids Number(Single)

Eligible Bidders Number(Long Integer)

Bidders At Risk Number(Long Integer)

Number Reduced Number(Long Integer)

BUs Reduced Number(Double)

Eligibility Ratio Number(Single)

Pctg of Covered BUs Number(Single)

Waivers Number(Long Integer)

Withdrawals Number(Long Integer)

FCC Held Licenses Number(Long Integer)

Pctg of Covered Pops Number(Single)

Pctg of the Covered Pops

with Bidding Credit Number(Single)

#### Waiver Statistics table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

Bidder Text(50)

Waiver Type Text(1)

Remaining Waivers Number(Long Integer)

#### Withdrawal Statistics table

Auction ID Number(Long Integer)

Withdrawal Number Number(Long Integer)

Bidder Text(50)

License Name Text(15)

Market Text(6)

Block Text(2)

Submarket Number(Long Integer)

BUs Number(Long Integer)

Population Number(Long Integer)

Round Number(Long Integer)

Gross Currency

Net Currency

Date Text(10)

Min Bid Currency

New High Bidder Text(50)

New High Bid Round Number(Long Integer)

Gross High Bid Currency

Net High Bid Currency

### Round Results File Format

The round results files were used by the previous Excel based tracking
tool produced by the FCC and are still being distributed for those
bidders who use them for their own tracking purposes. The following
layouts are for the dbf files. The txt files will have character field
types.

#### ALL_BIDS file

market char(6)

freq_block char(2)

round_num numeric

bid_amt numeric

bidder_num numeric

fcc_acct char(10)

date char(10)

net_bid_amt numeric

sort_col_1 numeric

sort_col_2 numeric

sub_market numeric

random_num double

#### HIGH_BIDS file

market char(6)

freq_block char(2)

bid_round numeric

bid_amt numeric

bidder_num numeric

fcc_acct char(10)

date char(10)

net_bid_amt numeric

min_accept numeric

num_of_bids numeric

min_incr_2 double

sort_col_1 numeric

sort_col_2 numeric

sub_market numeric

#### MAXIMUM_ELIGIBILITY file

round_num numeric

bidder_num numeric

fcc_acct char(10)

max_elig numeric

rmng_waivr numeric

waivr_ind char(1)

rmng_withdrawals numeric

required_act numeric

current_act numeric

#### WITHDRAWALS file

market char(6)

freq_block char(2)

bid_round numeric

bid_amt numeric

bidder_num numeric

fcc_acct char(10)

date char(10)

net_bid_amt numeric

sort_col_1 numeric

sort_col_2 numeric

sub_market numeric

#### BIDDER_CROSS_REFERENCE file

bidder_num numeric

fcc_acct char(10)

co_name char(50)

bidding_credit_pctg numeric

#### MARKET_CROSS_REFERENCE file

license_name char(15)

market char(6)

freq_block char(2)

sub_market numeric

license char(11)

market_Desc char(50)

bid_units int

population int

## Help

For technical assistance with using FCC software, contact the FCC
Technical Support Hotline at (202) 414‑1250 (V) or (202) 414-1255 (TTY).
The FCC Technical Support Hotline is generally available Monday through
Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, and
Sunday from 12 noon to 6 p.m. ET. *All calls to the FCC Technical
Support Hotline are recorded.*