# Highlights in 931 MHz History

Allocated in **1982**, General Docket 80-183, 40 channels, 3 were
Nationwide

Applicants didn't specify frequency but could request a preferred one.
In major markets, the number of applications often exceeded the number
of available channels, resulting in all applications being treated as
mutually exclusive. There was a 60-day period for filing mutual
exclusive applications. Lotteries were used to choose which applications
would be granted.

In **1983**, the *Interim Coordination Considerations for the Band
929-932 MHz* were signed with Canada.

In **1992**, the *Interim Coordination Considerations for the Band
929-932 MHz* were amended and eliminated the need for coordination with
Canada above lines "A" and "C" for Common Carrier licensees only. An
**Order** to this effect was released November 13, 1992, *In The Matter
of Waiver of Sections 22.117(b) and 22.9(d) of the Commission's Rules
for Common Carriers*.

In **1994**, the *Revision of Part 22 of the Commission's Rules
Governing the Public Mobile Services*, CC Docket No. 92-115, attempted
to change the way 931 MHz paging applications were processed. Applicants
would amend pending 931 MHz applications to specify a frequency instead
of being assigned one by FCC staff. Mutually exclusive applications
would be resolved by competitive bidding. We concluded that pending
petitions and applications for review should be decided under the
existing paging rules and the new rules were stayed. See Order released
January 10, 1995.

In **1995**, unscrupulous characters began soliciting the general public
to "buy" paging licenses.

Also, in **1995**, we began to test the new software algorithm to
process applications

December 19, **1995**, Letter of Understanding Related to the Temporary
Use of the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz Bands for Paging Services Along
the Common Border is signed and announced by Public Notice, January 11,
**1996**.

**Notice of Proposed Rule Making**, WT Docket No. 96-18
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Notices/fcc96052.txt>, released
February 9, **1996**

"Freeze on new applications" Suspended acceptance of new applications
for paging channels (except for nationwide exclusive channels) as of the
adoption date of this *Notice*, but allowed incumbent licensees to add
sites to existing systems or modify existing sites, provided that such
additions or modifications do not expand the interference contour of the
incumbent\'s existing systems. Proposed transition to geographic area
licensing for Common Carrier and Private Carrier Paging channels, and
competitive bidding procedures for resolving mutually exclusive
applications for these licenses.

*FCC Completes First Run of its New Software for the Processing of 931
MHz Paging Applications*, Public Notice is released on February 22,
**1996.**

**First Report and Order,** WT Docket No. 96-18
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1996/fcc96183.txt>, released
April 23, **1996**

First Report and Order was adopted to allow 40-mile expansion
applications to be filed. This Order allowed incumbent paging licensees
on non-nationwide channels to file initial applications to add new sites
to their systems. Each new site had to be located with 65 kilometers (40
miles) of an authorized and operating transmission site operated by the
licensee on the same channel prior to the *Notice* date, February 8,
1996.

**Order on Reconsideration of First Report and Order,** WT Docket No.
96-18 <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/fcc96260.txt>,
released June 11, **1996**

Allows incumbents to expand 65 kilometers (40 miles) from sites for
which applications were filed as of September 30, 1995, whether or not
such applications were granted prior to February 8, 1996.

**The Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking,** WT Docket 96-18

<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1997/fcc97059.txt>, released
February 24, **1997**

Adopted geographic area licensing and competitive bidding procedures for
paging, as follows:

All mutually exclusive applications for non-nationwide 931 MHz channels
and exclusive non-nationwide 929 MHz channels will be subject to
competitive bidding for geographic area licenses for 51 Major Trading
Areas (MTAs) defined in Rand McNally\'s *Commercial Atlas & Marketing
Guide*. In addition to the 47 Rand McNally MTAs for the U.S. territories
of (1) Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, (2) Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands, and (3) American Samoa. We are also licensing
Alaska as a single area separate from the Seattle MTA.

Nationwide 931 MHz and 929 MHz geographic area licenses will be granted
for the nationwide channels. The three nationwide Common Carrier Paging
(CCP) channels are those identified in 47 C.F.R. § 22.531(b). The
nationwide geographic area licenses will not be subject to competitive
bidding.

All remaining CCP channels (*i.e.* 35-36 MHz, 43-44 MHz, 152-159 MHz,
and 454-460 MHz) will be subject to competitive bidding for geographic
area licenses in 172 Economic Areas (EAs) for each channel. The Bureau
of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce has divided the U.S.
into 172 EAs, effective April 10, 1995, to facilitate regional economic
analysis.

All pending mutually exclusive applications for paging licenses filed
with the Commission on or before the adoption date of this *Order* will
be dismissed. All non-mutually exclusive applications filed with the
Commission on or before July 31, 1996 will be processed. All
applications (other than applications on nationwide and shared channels)
filed after July 31, 1996 will be dismissed.

In **1997**, *Protocol Concerning Use of the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz
Bands for Paging Services Along the Common Border* was signed with
Mexico and released February 28, 1997

<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/News_Releases/1997/nrin7005.txt>

Order, *Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commission's Rules to
Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems*, WT Docket 96-18,
<http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1998/da982543.txt>, released
December 14, **1998**, dismissed pending applications that were:
mutually exclusive, received after July 31, 1996, or requested spectrum
previously assigned.

## Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration and Third Report and Order, WT Docket 96-18 <http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Wireless/Orders/1999/fcc99098.txt>, released May 24, 1999

## 

## Changed the geographic area licensing of 929 and 931 MHz paging from MTAs to MEAs. MEAs are composed of Economic Areas (EAs) and EAs will be used to license the lower paging bands. This will enable paging licensees operating in both lower and upper paging bands to operate their systems most efficiently. The Bureau of Economic Analysis of the Department of Commerce has divided the U.S. into 172 EAs, effective April 10, 1995, to facilitate regional economic analysis. Clarified that spectrum will automatically revert to the geographic area licensee in all instances where a non-geographic area incumbent licensee permanently discontinues service.