DA 04-2596

August 24, 2004

**WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES AN AUDIT OF THE
OPERATIONAL STATUS OF STATIONS AUTHORIZED IN THE PAGING AND
RADIOTELEPHONE SERVICE (PART 22) AND STATIONS AUTHORIZED ON 929-930 MHz
PRIVATE CARRIER PAGING EXCLUSIVE CHANNELS (PART 90)**

**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 all site-specific licenses operating under Part 22, Paging and
Radiotelephone Service, Subpart E, with a "CD" radio service code and
all site-specific licenses operating in the 929-930 MHz band on the
exclusive channels with a "GS" radio service code.[^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:

-   "CD" -- Part 22, Paging and Radiotelephone Service, Subpart E

-   "GS" -- Part 90, Paging Operations, Subpart P,
    [exclusive]{.underline} channels

**Note**: This audit does not affect geographic-area licenses granted
following an FCC auction or licenses authorized on the 929 MHz private
carrier paging shared channels under Section 90.494.[^2]

**Every licensee in the "CD" radio service and every licensee on
exclusive channels in the "GS" radio service** **must respond** and
certify that its authorized station(s) has not permanently discontinued
operations from the date of initial construction and operation.[^3] As
detailed below, the Bureau urges these licensees, [prior to the start of
this audit]{.underline}, to verify the mailing address on record, in
ULS, for each authorization held and ensure they have registered with
the Commission Registration System (CORES).

**Preparing for the Audit**

To prepare for the audit, the Bureau strongly encourages licensees in
the "CD" and "GS" (exclusive channels) radio services to verify the
mailing address and other contact information in ULS for each license
held. Licensees can verify the accuracy of the Commission's information
by accessing the 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 application to
update the incorrect information.

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
September 25, 2004. 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 licensee should also verify that the FRN associated with each call
sign is accurate. Once the audit begins, and until the audit is
completed, licensees will not be able to change the FRN associated with
their call signs.

**The Audit Process**

During the week commencing September 27, 2004, the Bureau will send
letters to all licensees operating in the "CD" and "GS" (exclusive
channels) 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 in ULS. If the licensee has, by
September 25, 2004, verified the address is listed correctly in ULS,
obtained its FRN, and associated its call signs with the FRN, it will
receive only one audit letter for all of its authorizations. However, 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 September
25, 2004, 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.[^4] 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 the "CD" or "GS" (exclusive
channels) radio service and does not receive an audit letter, the
licensee must still respond to the audit.** After the audit letters have
been mailed (scheduled for the week of September 27, 2004), licensees
can use the *Audit Search* at http://wireless.fcc.gov/licensing/audits
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 forty-five (45) 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(s) has permanently discontinued operations as described
under 22.317, 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.**[^5]

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 this license audit contact
Denise Walter of the Bureau's Mobility Division at 202-418-0620 or
denise.walter@fcc.gov.

[^1]: This spectrum audit will be the third audit conducted by the
    Bureau. *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 (2001) and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
    Announces an Audit of the Operational Status of Certain 220-222 MHz
    Band Licenses, *Public Notice,* DA 03-1089 (April 9, 2003).

[^2]: The shared channels are 929.0375 MHz, 929.0625 MHz, 929.0875 MHz,
    929.1625 MHz, and 929.2625 MHz. *See* 47 C.F.R. § 90.494.

[^3]: Section 22.317 of the Commission's rules provides that: "any
    station that has not provided service to subscribers for 90
    continuous days is considered to have been permanently discontinued,
    unless the applicant notified the FCC otherwise prior to the end of
    the 90 day period and provided a date on which operation will
    resume, which date must not be in excess of 30 additional days."
    *See* 47 C.F.R. § 22.317.

[^4]: In this case, each letter will have a unique audit reference
    number and will list the call signs associated with that exact
    licensee name and address.

[^5]: *See* 47 U.S.C. § 503(b)(1)(b); 47 C.F.R. § 1.80(a)(2).