*Pages 1--5 from  Microsoft Word - 12756.doc*
 PUBLIC  NOTICE  FEDERAL  COMMUNICATIONS  COMMISSION  445  12TH  ST,  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-  207 
 February  4,  2000 


 Electronic  Filing  Required  for  Certain  Microwave  Licenses  Beginning  March  1,  2000  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  (WTB)  Recommends  that  Microwave  Licensees  Take  Steps  to  Prepare 
 for  Electronic  Filing  Via  the  Universal  Licensing  System  (ULS);  New  Dismissal  Policy  for  Defective 
 Applications  Also  Takes  Effect  on  March  1,  2000 


 In  the  ULS  Report  and  Order  in  WT  Docket  No.  98-  20  1  ,  the  Commission  revised  its  rules  to  require 
 electronic  filing  via  ULS  of  all  applications  (excluding  emergency  requests)  for  certain  Microwave  services, 
 which,  in  general,  consist  of  Part  101  Common  Carrier  Microwave  Services.  This  rule  is  to  take  effect  for 
 certain  Microwave  services  on  March  1,  2000,  as  shown  in  the  table  below. 


 The  WTB  began  use  of  ULS  for  the  Microwave  services  on  August  30,  1999,  but  provided  a  6-  month 
 transition  period  before  requiring  electronic  filing  for  those  services.  2  That  6-  month  transition  period  ends  at 
 midnight  on  February  29,  2000,  at  which  time  mandatory  electronic  filing  will  take  effect.  In  implementing  this 
 rule,  the  Bureau  will  dismiss  without  prejudice  all  manually-  filed  applications  (excluding  emergency  requests) 
 received  on  or  after  March  1,  2000  that  include  radio  service  codes  subject  to  mandatory  electronic  filing.  Also 
 beginning  March  1,  2000,  the  Bureau  will  dismiss  without  prejudice  all  manually-  filed  applications  that  are  filed 
 on  pre-  ULS  forms,  regardless  of  whether  the  applicant  is  permitted  to  continue  to  file  manually. 


 The  WTB  recommends  that  licensees  prepare  for  mandatory  electronic  filing  by,  at  a  minimum,  taking 
 the  steps  listed  below.  As  soon  as  possible,  each  licensee  should: 


 (1)  Make  sure  that  it  is  registered  in  ULS.  Registration  can  be  done  on  the  Internet  at 
 http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  wtb/  uls  by  clicking  the  TIN/  Call  Sign  Registration  button.  See  the  table  below  for 
 the  percentages  of  call  signs  registered  for  each  service  subject  to  mandatory  filing; 


 (2)  Verify  that  it  has  the  correct  hardware  and  software  to  utilize  ULS  License  Search,  Application  Search,  and 
 Online  Filing.  Note:  ULS  search  functions  are  now  available  on  the  Internet  or  via  the  FCC  network,  but 
 online  filing  is  available  only  via  the  FCC  network,  not  the  Internet.  Note:  Detailed  information  on  getting 
 connected  to  ULS  and  accessing  the  FCC  network  are  included  as  Appendices  A  and  B,  respectively,  to  this 
 Public  Notice  (this  information  also  is  available  on  the  ULS  Homepage  at  http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  wtb/  uls, 
 under  the  ULS  Information  Center  heading  by  clicking  on  the  Getting  Connected  to  the  ULS  link  or  by 


 1  Amendment  of  Parts  0,  1,  13,  22,  24,  26,  27,  80,  87,  90,  95,  97,  and  101  of  the  Commissions  Rules  to  Facilitate  the 
 Development  and  Use  of  the  Universal  Licensing  System  in  the  Wireless  Telecommunications  Service,  WT  Docket  No. 
 98-  20,  Report  and  Order,  13  FCC  Rcd.  21027  (1998)  (ULS  Report  and  Order.) 


 2  See  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  to  Begin  Use  of  Universal  Licensing  System  (ULS)  for  Microwave 


 Services  on  August  30,  1999,  Public  Notice,  DA  99-  1543,  released  August  6,  1999. 
1
 2 
 clicking  the  Connecting  to  ULS  button,  the  eighth  button  down  on  the  left  at  the  ULS  Homepage); 
 (3)  Check  the  ULS  Homepage  (http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  wtb/  uls)  for  scheduled  down-  time  so  that  it  may  plan  its 
 filings  accordingly; 


 (4)  For  filings  with  specific  deadlines  or  filing  dates,  plan  on  completing  all  parts  of  the  application  form  on-  line 
 well  in  advance  of  those  deadlines  so  that  it  only  needs  to  access  the  application  and  hit  the  Submit  button 
 on  the  filing  date.  Note:  Form  602,  FCC  Ownership  Disclosure  Information  for  the  Wireless 
 Telecommunications  Services,  is  not  yet  available  for  electronic  filing.  Until  the  Bureau  issues  a  Public 
 Notice  announcing  the  availability  of  Form  602  for  electronic  filing,  Form  602  must  be  filed  manually; 


 (5)  Use  License  Search  to  verify  license  expiration  and  construction  dates  well  in  advance; 
 (6)  Verify  that  it  has  a  TIN/  SGIN/  password  combination  to  access  each  of  its  call  signs  by  initiating  a  sample 
 Administrative  Update  application  to  ensure  that  each  call  sign  is  present.  The  licensee  must  have  already 
 registered  its  TIN/  SGIN  online  or  manually  using  FCC  Form  606,  and  associated  each  of  its  call  signs  with 
 the  appropriate  TIN/  SGIN  combination.  This  initiation  of  an  application  is  for  the  sole  purpose  of  verifying 
 that  all  call  signs  are  accounted  for.  The  application  does  not  need  to  be  submitted  to  the  FCC.  All 
 applications  in  Saved  status  will  be  automatically  deleted  from  the  system  after  30  days.  Note:  If  you 
 registered  manually  using  FCC  Form  606,  you  must  call  Technical  Support  at  202-  414-  1250  (TTY  202- 
 414-  1255)  to  obtain  a  password; 


 (7)  Read  the  online  Help  files  well  in  advance  regarding  the  type  of  application  it  intends  to  file; 
 (8)  For  applications  where  ULS  location,  file,  and  path  numbers  are  required    e.  g.,  application  purposes 
 Modification  (MD),  Required  Notification  (NT),  Request  for  Extension  of  Time  (EX),  Withdrawal  of 
 Application  (WD),  Amendment  (AM),  and  Renewal/  Modification  (RM)    verify  each  location  and  path 
 number  using  License  Search  and  each  file  number  using  Application  Search; 


 (9)  Start  its  filing  as  early  as  possible  and  keep  a  recent  Print  Preview  of  the  application  in  case  its  computer, 
 software,  or  phone  line  fails.  Ideally,  the  print  preview  will  be  done  at  the  point  where  the  application  is 
 substantially  complete  (e.  g.,  where  only  the  signature  is  missing)  so  that  there  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  intent  of 
 the  filing.  In  lieu  of  printing  a  hard  copy,  applicants  may  want  to  use  the  Adobe  Acrobat  print  driver  to 
 save  an  electronic  copy  of  the  print  preview  in  PDF  format; 


 (10)  If  it  encounters  a  problem  during  filing,  contact  Technical  Support  at  202-  414-  1250  (TTY  202-  414-  1255) 
 as  soon  as  possible,  noting  the  time  and  date  of  the  call,  and  the  Technical  Support  representatives  name; 


 (11)  If  it  plans  to  file  a  non-  pro  forma  ownership  change  (i.  e.,  a  transfer  of  control  of  assignment  of  license),  be 
 aware  that  this  is  a  three-  step  process  requiring  both  parties  to  the  transaction  to  access  the  system  and  fill 
 in  portions  of  the  form.  For  assignments,  the  assignor  fills  out  and  Approves  the  filing,  the  assignee 
 completes  and  Approves  the  filing,  and  the  assignor  signs  and  Submits  the  filing.  Similarly  for 
 transfers,  the  licensee  fills  out  and  Approves  the  filing,  the  transferee  completes  and  Approves  the 
 filing,  and  the  licensee  signs  and  Submits  the  filing.  The  Bureau  recommends  filling  in  the  form  up  to  the 
 third  step  well  in  advance,  so  that  all  that  remains  to  do  on  the  desired  filing  date  is  to  access  the  application 
 and  hit  the  Submit  button; 


 (12)  When  filing  a  transfer  of  control  (purpose  TC),  be  aware  that  the  Licensee  must  use  its 
 TIN/  SGIN/  password  to  access  the  system  and  provide  the  TIN/  SGIN  (but  not  the  password)  of  the 
2
 3 
 Transferor  (may  be  the  same  as  the  licensee)  as  well  as  the  TIN/  SGIN  (not  the  password)  of  the  Transferee. 
 Applicants  should  obtain  the  appropriate  TIN/  SGIN  information  well  in  advance;  and, 


 (13)  When  filing  an  assignment  of  license  (purpose  AA),  be  aware  that  the  Assignor  must  use  its 
 TIN/  SGIN/  password  to  access  the  system  and  provide  the  TIN/  SGIN  (but  not  the  password)  of  the 
 assignee.  Applicants  should  obtain  the  appropriate  TIN/  SGIN  information  well  in  advance.  Note:  For 
 security  reasons,  the  FCC  will  not  release  TINs,  even  to  the  owners  of  the  TINs. 


 Mandatory  Electronic  Filing 
 Beginning  on  March  1,  2000,  certain  Microwave  licensees  and  applicants  must  electronically  file  Form 
 601,  Application  for  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  Radio  Service  Authorization,  and  Form  603,  FCC 
 Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  Application  for  Assignments  of  Authorization  and  Transfers  of  Control, 
 as  set  forth  below.  3  Where  manual  filing  of  Forms  601  and  603  is  allowed,  the  Bureau  will  accept  manually 
 filed  applications  filed  only  on  the  August  1999  edition  (or  subsequent  editions)  of  Form  601  and  on  the 
 February  1999  (or  subsequent  editions)  of  Form  603.  Forms  415,  415T,  430,  313,  313R,  402R,  701,  702,  703, 
 and  704  will  no  longer  be  accepted  from  Microwave  filers  beginning  March  1,  2000.  The  WTB  strongly 
 recommends  that  all  filers  take  advantage  of  electronic  filing  via  ULS,  which  will  result  in  expedited 
 processing  compared  with  manual  filing. 


 When  sending  attachments  to  applications,  please  note  that: 
 1.  Adobe  PDF  format  for  attachments  is  preferable,  but  all  commonly  used  word  processing  and  spreadsheet 
 formats  are  acceptable.  A  complete  list  of  acceptable  formats  can  be  found  in  the  ULS  help  files. 


 2.  Attached  documents  must  not  be  password  protected. 
 3.  Attachments  should  not  contain  Taxpayer  Identification  Numbers  (TINs),  as  the  FCC  cannot  screen  them 
 from  attachments. 


 4.  When  sending  an  attachment  that  cannot  be  submitted  electronically,  filers  should  mail  the  attachment  as 
 follows: 
 a.  submit  a  separate  attachment  electronically  explaining  that  there  is/  are  attachment(  s)  s  coming  via 
 mail  due  to  the  inability  to  send  it/  them  in  an  electronic  format,  and  list  the  attachments. 
 b.  after  submitting  an  application,  perform  a  print  preview  and  send  the  first  page  of  the  application, 
 along  with  the  attachments,  so  that  the  FCC  will  have  the  correct  file  number. 
 c.  mail  the  attachment(  s)  to  the  FCCs  Gettysburg,  PA  office  at:  Attn:  ULS  Attachments,  1270 
 Fairfield  Road,  Gettysburg,  PA  17325-  7245. 


 3  Pursuant  to    1.913(  b)  of  the  Commissions  Rules,  47  C.  F.  R.    1.913(  b).  After  February  29,  2000,  applications 
 that  contain  both  radio  service  codes  subject  to  mandatory  electronic  filing  and  radio  service  codes  that  may  be  filed 
 manually  as  part  of  the  same  application  must  be  filed  electronically. 
3
 4 
 Radio  Service  Codes 
 Subject  to 
 Mandatory  Electronic  Filing 
 Radio  Service  Codes  That  May  Be  Filed  Electronically  or 
 Manually 
 CE    Common  Carrier 
 DEMS 


 %  of  call  signs  registered:  72 


 PE    Private  DEMS  AI    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 Aural  Intercity  Relay 


 CT    Common  Carrier 
 Local  Television 
 Transmission 


 %  of  call  signs  registered:  83 


 WA    Private  Point-  to-  Point, 
 Eligibility    Aviation 
 AB    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 Aural  Microwave 
 Booster 


 CF    Common  Carrier 
 Point-  to-  Point 


 %  of  call  signs  registered:  55 


 MG    Private  Point-  to-  Point, 
 Eligibility   
 Industrial/  Business 


 AS    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 Aural  Studio 
 Transmitter  Link 


 LD    Local  Multipoint 
 Distribution  Service 


 %  of  call  signs  registered:  100 


 WM    Private  Point-  to-  Point, 
 Eligibility    Marine 
 TI    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 TV  Intercity  Relay 


 TN    39  GHz,  Market  Area 
 %  of  call  signs  registered:  n/  a 
 MW    Private  Point-  to-  Point, 
 Eligibility    Public 
 Safety 


 TB    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 TV  Microwave 
 Booster 
 WR    Private  Point-  to-  Point, 
 Eligibility  - 
 Radiolocation 


 TS    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 TV  Studio 
 Transmitter  Link 
 TP    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 TV  Pickup 
 TT    Broadcast  Auxiliary 
 TV  Translator  Relay 


 Unified  Policy  for  Reviewing  Microwave  License  Applications  and  Pleadings 
 Also  beginning  March  1,  2000,  the  Bureau  will  implement  its  unified  policy  for  dismissing  and 
 returning  applications,  as  well  as  pleadings  related  to  such  applications  (unified  policy),  for  the  Microwave 
 services.  The  unified  policy  takes  effect  for  all  radio  services  for  which  electronic  filing  has  been  available  for 
 more  than  6  months.  Under  the  unified  policy,  applications  or  pleadings  that  are  defective  will  be  dismissed, 
 rather  than  returned  to  the  applicant  for  correction,  except  as  described  previously  by  the  Bureau.  4 


 To  find  out  more  about  the  Unified  Dismissal  Policy,  consult  the  Public  Notice  titled  Wireless 
 Telecommunications  Bureau  Revises  and  Begins  Phased  Implementation  of  its  Unified  Policy  for  Reviewing 
 License  Applications  and  Pleadings,  available  on  the  Bureaus  ULS  Homepage 
 (http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  wtb/  uls)  via  the  ULS  Releases  link. 


 4  See  Wireless  Telecommunications  Bureau  Revises  and  Begins  Phased  Implementation  of  Its  Unified  Policy 
 For  Reviewing  License  Applications  and  Pleadings  Public  Notice,  DA  99-  1267,  released  June  28,  1999. 
4
 5 
 Finding  Basic  Information  About  Microwave  Filings  in  ULS 
 On  August  6,  1999,  the  Bureau  released  a  Public  Notice  containing  an  overview  of  the  use  of  ULS  for 
 licensing  in  the  Microwave  Services,  as  well  as  a  detailed  description  of  the  procedures  licensees  need  to  follow 
 in  order  to  make  filings  and  check  on  the  status  of  their  applications.  This  document,  titled  Wireless 
 Telecommunications  Bureau  to  Begin  Use  of  Universal  Licensing  System  (ULS)  for  Microwave  Services  on 
 August  30,  1999,  DA  99-  1543,  is  available  on  the  Bureaus  ULS  Homepage  (http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  wtb/  uls) 
 under  ULS  Headlines. 


 For  Further  Information  or  Assistance 
 For  general  information  about  ULS,  including  answers  to  frequently  asked  questions 
 regarding  submitting  applications,  finding  the  status  of  pending  applications,  and  searching  the 
 ULS  database,  the  Commission  recommends  first  consulting  the  ULS  web  page  at 
 http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  wtb/  uls.  Those  having  specific  questions  not  addressed  on  the  web  page  may 
 contact  Commission  staff  via  phone  or  e-  mail  as  described  below. 


 FCC  Technical  Support  Hotline:  202-  414-  1250  (TTY  202-  414-  1255),  or  via  e-  mail  at  ulscomm@  fcc.  gov. 
 Contact  the  Technical  Support  Hotline  about  questions  concerning  computer  access  to  ULS,  TIN  registration, 
 uploading  files,  or  submitting  attachments  in  ULS.  The  hotline  is  available  Monday  through  Friday,  from  8  a.  m. 
 to  6  p.  m.  Eastern  Time.  In  order  to  provide  better  service  to  ULS  users  and  ensure  the  security  of  the  electronic 
 filing  system,  all  calls  to  the  hotline  are  recorded. 


 ULS  Licensing  Support  and  Forms  Information:  1-  888-  CALLFCC  (225-  5322),  choose 
 option  #2.  E-  mail  questions  may  be  sent  to  ulshelp@  fcc.  gov.  Contact  Licensing  Support  with 
 questions  about  which  application  purpose(  s)  are  appropriate  for  a  particular  filing,  what 
 information  is  being  requested  on  a  ULS  form  or  schedule,  or  any  other  ULS-  related  licensing 
 matter.  ULS  Licensing  Support  is  available  Monday  through  Friday,  from  8:  00  am  to  5:  30  pm 
 Eastern  Time. 


 Obtaining  Forms:  The  FCC  offers  several  ways  to  obtain  forms  (including  pre-  ULS  forms).  Forms  can  be 
 acquired  via  the  FCC  forms  page  at  http://  www.  fcc.  gov/  formpage.  html;  via  the  Forms  Request  System  (forms 
 are  mailed  to  those  who  request  them)  at  1-  800-  418-  Form  (3676);  and  via  the  Fax  on  Demand  System  at  202- 
 418-  0177. 
5