PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC  20554
News Media Information  202 / 418-0500
Fax-On-Demand  202 / 418-2830
TTY  202 / 418-2555
Internet:  http://www.fcc.gov
ftp.fcc.gov
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
DA 02-3560
December 20, 2002
LOWER AND UPPER PAGING BANDS AUCTION 
SCHEDULED FOR MAY 13, 2003
Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, 
Upfront Payments and Other Auction Procedures 
Report No. AUC-02-48-B (Auction No. 48)
I. General Information......................................................................................................................... 1
A. Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1
1. Background of Proceeding..................................................................................... 1
2. Licenses to Be Auctioned ...................................................................................... 2
B. Rules and Disclaimers ........................................................................................................ 5
1. Relevant Authority................................................................................................. 5
2. Prohibition of Collusion ........................................................................................ 6
3. Incumbent Licensees.............................................................................................. 8
4. Due Diligence ........................................................................................................ 8
5. Bidder Alerts........................................................................................................ 10
6. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirements............................ 11
C. Auction Specifics.............................................................................................................. 11
1. Auction Date........................................................................................................ 11
2. Auction Title........................................................................................................ 12
3. Bidding Methodology.......................................................................................... 12
4. Pre-Auction Dates and Deadlines........................................................................ 12
5. Requirements For Participation ........................................................................... 12
6. General Contact Information ............................................................................... 13
II. SHORT-FORM (FCC FORM 175) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS..................................... 14
A. License Selection .............................................................................................................. 12
B. Ownership Disclosure Requirements (FCC Form 175 Exhibit A)................................... 14
C. Consortia And Joint Bidding Arrangements (FCC Form 175 Exhibit B) ........................ 14
D. Eligibility .......................................................................................................................... 15
1. Small Business Bidding Credit Eligibility (FCC Form 175 Exhibit C) .............. 15
2. Tribal Land Bidding Credit ................................................................................. 16
3. Applicability of Part 1 Attribution Rules ............................................................ 16
4. Supporting Documentation.................................................................................. 17
E. Provisions Regarding Defaulters and Former Defaulters (FCC Form 175 Exhibit 
D) ...................................................................................................................................... 18
F. Installment Payments ........................................................................................................ 18
G. Other Information (FCC Form 175 Exhibits E and F)...................................................... 18
H. Minor Modifications to Short-Form Applications (FCC Form 175)................................ 19
I. Maintaining Current Information in Short-Form Applications (FCC Form 175)............. 19
III. PRE-AUCTION PROCEDURES .................................................................................................. 19
A. Auction Seminar ............................................................................................................... 19
B. Short-Form Application (FCC Form 175)  Due March 21, 2003................................. 20
1. Electronic Filing .................................................................................................. 20
2. Completion of the FCC Form 175 ....................................................................... 20
3. Electronic Review of FCC Form 175 .................................................................. 20
C. Application Processing and Minor Corrections................................................................ 21
D. Upfront Payments  Due April 14, 2003 ........................................................................ 21
1. Making Auction Payments by Wire Transfer...................................................... 22
2. FCC Form 159 ..................................................................................................... 22
3. Amount of Upfront Payment ............................................................................... 22
4. Applicants Wire Transfer Information for Purposes of Refunds of 
Upfront Payments ................................................................................................ 24
E. Auction Registration......................................................................................................... 24
F. Electronic Bidding ............................................................................................................ 25
G. Mock Auction ................................................................................................................... 25
IV. AUCTION EVENT........................................................................................................................ 25
A. Auction Structure.............................................................................................................. 26
1. Simultaneous Multiple Round Auction ............................................................... 26
2. Maximum Eligibility and Activity Rules............................................................. 26
3. Auction Stages ..................................................................................................... 27
4. Stage Transitions ................................................................................................. 28
5. Activity Rule Waivers and Reducing Eligibility ................................................. 28
6. Auction Stopping Rules....................................................................................... 29
7. Auction Delay, Suspension, or Cancellation ....................................................... 30
B. Bidding Procedures........................................................................................................... 30
1. Round Structure ................................................................................................... 30
2. Reserve Price or Minimum Opening Bid............................................................. 31
3. Minimum Acceptable Bids and Bid Increments.................................................. 32
4. High Bids ............................................................................................................. 34
5. Bidding................................................................................................................. 34
6. Bid Removal and Bid Withdrawal....................................................................... 37
7. Round Results...................................................................................................... 38
8. Auction Announcements...................................................................................... 39
9. Maintaining the Accuracy of FCC Form 175 Information .................................. 39
V. POST-AUCTION PROCEDURES................................................................................................ 39
A. Down Payments and Withdrawn Bid Payments ............................................................... 39
B. Auction Discount Voucher ............................................................................................... 35
C. Long-Form Application .................................................................................................... 40
D. Tribal Land Bidding Credit .............................................................................................. 40
E. Default and Disqualification............................................................................................. 41
F. Refund of Remaining Upfront Payment Balance ............................................................. 41
VI. Attachment A- Licenses to be Auctioned ....................................................................................A-1 
VII. Attachment B- FCC Auction Seminar Registration Form........................................................... B-1
VIII. Attachment C- Electronic Filing and Review of the FCC Form 175........................................... C-1
IX. Attachment D- Guidelines for Completion of FCC Form 175 and Exhibits ...............................D-1
X. Attachment E- Auction-Specific Instructions for FCC Remittance Advice (FCC Form 
159-February 2000 Edition)......................................................................................................... E-1
XI. Attachment F- Summary Listing of Documents from the Commission and the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau Addressing Application of the Anti-Collusion Rules....................F-1
XII.      Attachment G- Due Diligence List of Pending Paging Services Matters.....................................G-1
1
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
A. Introduction
By this public notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announces the procedures and 
minimum opening bids for the upcoming auction of licenses for the lower and upper paging bands 
(Auction No. 48) scheduled for May 13, 2003.  In accordance with the Balanced Budget Act of 1997,1 the 
Bureau released a public notice on November 7, 2002 seeking comment on reserve prices or minimum 
opening bids and the procedures to be used in Auction No. 48.2 The Bureau received two comments3 and 
no reply comments in response to the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice. 
1. Background of Proceeding
In the Paging Second Report and Order, the Commission adopted rules governing geographic licensing 
for exclusive channels in the 35 MHz, 43 MHz, 152 and 158 MHz, 454 MHz and 459 MHz, 929 MHz,
and 931 MHz bands allocated for paging, and competitive bidding procedures for granting mutually 
exclusive applications for non-nationwide geographic area licenses in those bands.4 In order to facilitate 
  
1 Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. No. 105-33, 111 Stat. 251,  3002(a) (1997) (codified at 47 U.S.C.  
 309(j)(4)(F)) (Balanced Budget Act).  The Commissions authority to establish a reserve price or minimum 
opening bid is set forth in 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(c) and (d).
2 See Auction of Licenses for the Lower and Upper Paging Bands Scheduled for May 13, 2003; Comment 
Sought on Reserve Prices or Minimum Opening Bids and Other Auction Procedures, Public Notice, DA 02-1441 
(rel. November 7, 2002) (Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice).
3 See Comments of Pacific Radio Engineering, filed November 11, 2002 (Pacific Radio Comments), and 
Comments of Josephson Engineering, filed December 4, 2002 (Josephson Comments).  In its comments, 
Josephson Engineering (Josephson) suggests that winning bidders of licenses in the 43 MHz band be provided 
with either bidding credits or the ability to defer payment of their bids.  Alternatively, Josephson suggests that we 
waive the Commissions requirement that licensees operate under developmental authority for two years (see 47 
C.F.R. 22.411), or allow both one-way and two-way operations on the 43 MHz channels.  Because the rules 
pertaining to bidding credits and payment of bid amounts, and the Part 22 Paging service rules, have been adopted 
by the Commission in its Part 1 and Part 22 rulemaking proceedings respectively, and were not a matter upon 
which the Bureau sought comment, the Bureau will not address them in this Public Notice.  See supra, notes 4 & 
6. 
4 Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging 
Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act  Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No 96-
18, PP Docket No. 93-253, Second Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 12 FCC Rcd 
2732, 2786 (1997) (Paging Second Report and Order); see Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions 
Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the 
Communications Act  Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No. 96-18, PR Docket No. 93-253, Memorandum 
Opinion and Order on Reconsideration and Third Report and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 10030,   1-117, 171-79 
(1999) (Second Paging Reconsideration Order); Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions Rules to 
Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act 
Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No. 96-18, PR Docket No. 93-253, Memorandum Opinion and Order on 
Reconsideration and Third Report and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 10030,  1-6, 118-179 (1999) (Paging Third Report 
and Order).
2
geographic licensing, the Commission dismissed all pending mutually exclusive paging applications and 
all non-mutually exclusive paging applications filed after July 31, 1996.5 In part, the Commission 
developed a standard methodology for providing protection to incumbent licensees from co-channel 
interference for the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz paging bands to supplement the existing formulas  
for determining interference contours on other paging bands.6
2. Licenses to Be Auctioned
The licenses available in Auction No. 48 include 8,874 lower paging bands (35 MHz, 43 MHz, 152 and 
158 MHz, 454 MHz and 459 MHz, 929 MHz, 931 MHz bands) licenses, as well as 1,328 upper paging 
bands (929-931 MHz) licenses that remained unsold from a previous auction or were defaulted on by a 
winning bidder in a previous auction.  The lower bands licenses will be offered in each of the 175 
geographic areas known as Economic Areas (EAs) and the upper bands licenses will be offered  in all but 
three of the 51 geographic areas known as Major Economic Areas (MEAs).  These EAs and MEAs both 
encompass the United States, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the United States 
Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.  The tables below contain the block/frequency cross-reference list 
for the paging bands. Due to the large volume of licenses in Auction No. 48, the complete list of licenses 
available for this auction will be provided in electronic format only, available as Attachment A to this 
Public Notice at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/48/.
35 MHz Lower Band Paging -- 20 kHz per Block, Unpaired Channels
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
CA 35.20 CE 35.30 CI 35.46 CM 35.58
CB 35.22 CF 35.34 CJ 35.50 CN 35.60
CC 35.24 CG 35.38 CK 35.54 CO 35.62
CD 35.26 CH 35.42 CL 35.56 CP 35.66
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channel to be auctioned in each block.  
  
5 See, generally, Paging Second Report and Order.
6 See, generally, Paging Second Report and Order, Second Paging Reconsideration Order, and Paging 
Third Report and Order.
3
43 MHz Lower Band Paging -- 20 kHz per Block, Unpaired Channels
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency
(MHz)
DA 43.20 DE 43.30 DI 43.46 DM 43.58
DB 43.22 DF 43.34 DJ 43.50 DN 43.60
DC 43.24 DG 43.38 DK 43.54 DO 43.62
DD 43.26 DH 43.42 DL 43.56 DP 43.66
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channel to be auctioned in each block. 
152 and 158 MHz Lower Bands Paging -- 20 kHz per Block, Unpaired Channels
Block Center Frequency (MHz) Block Center Frequency (MHz)
EA 152.24 EC 158.10
EB 152.84 ED 158.70
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channel to be auctioned in each block 
152 and 158 MHz Lower Bands Paging -- 40 kHz per Block, Paired 20 kHz Channels
Block Center Frequencies (MHz) Block Center Frequencies (MHz)
FA 152.03 / 158.49 FJ 152.57 / 157.83
FB 152.06 / 158.52 FK 152.60 / 157.86
FC 152.09 / 158.55 FL 152.63 / 157.89
FD 152.12 / 158.58 FM 152.66 / 157.92
FE 152.15 / 158.61 FN 152.69 / 157.95
FF 152.18 / 158.64 FO 152.72 / 157.98
FG 152.21 / 158.67 FP 152.75 / 158.01
FH 152.51 / 157.77 FQ 152.78 / 158.04
FI 152.54 / 157.80 FR 152.81 / 158.07
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channels to be auctioned in each block. 
4
454 MHz and 459 MHz Lower Bands Paging -- 40 kHz per Block, Paired 20 kHz Channels
Block Center Frequencies (MHz) Block Center Frequencies (MHz)
GA 454.025 / 459.025 GN 454.350 / 459.350
GB 454.050 / 459.050 GO 454.375 / 459.375
GC 454.075 / 459.075 GP 454.400 / 459.400
GD 454.100 / 459.100 GQ 454.425 / 459.425
GE 454.125 / 459.125 GR 454.450 / 459.450
GF 454.150 / 459.150 GS 454.475 / 459.475
GG 454.175 / 459.175 GT 454.500 / 459.500
GH 454.200 / 459.200 GU 454.525 / 459.525
GI 454.225 / 459.225 GV 454.550 / 459.550
GJ 454.250 / 459.250 GW 454.575 / 459.575
GK 454.275 / 459.275 GX 454.600 / 459.600
GL 454.300 / 459.300 GY 454.625 / 459.625
GM 454.325 / 459.325 GZ 454.650 / 459.650
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channels to be auctioned in each block. 
929 MHz Upper Band Paging -- 20 kHz per Block, Unpaired Channels
Block Center Frequency  (MHz) Block Center Frequency  (MHz)
A 929.0125 G 929.4625
B 929.1125 H 929.6375
C 929.2375 I 929.6875
D 929.3125 J 929.7875
E 929.3875 K 929.9125
F 929.4375 L 929.9625
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channel to be auctioned in each block. 
5
931 MHz Upper Band Paging -- 20 kHz per Block, Unpaired Channels
Block
Center 
Frequency  
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency  
(MHz)
Block
Center 
Frequency  
(MHz)
AA 931.0125 AN 931.3375 BA 931.6625
AB 931.0375 AO 931.3625 BB 931.6875
AC 931.0625 AP 931.3875 BC 931.7125
AD 931.0875 AQ 931.4125 BD 931.7375
AE 931.1125 AR 931.4375 BE 931.7625
AF 931.1375 AS 931.4625 BF 931.7875
AG 931.1625 AT 931.4875 BG 931.8125
AH 931.1875 AU 931.5125 BH 931.8375
AI 931.2125 AV 931.5375 BI 931.8625
AJ 931.2375 AW 931.5625 BJ 931.9625
AK 931.2625 AX 931.5875 BK 931.9875
AL 931.2875 AY 931.6125
AM 931.3125 AZ 931.6375
Each frequency listed in this chart is the center frequency of the channel to be auctioned in each block. 
Note: In Auction No. 48, for each block listed in the above tables, licenses are not available in every 
market.  The complete list of licenses available for Auction No. 48 will be provided in electronic format 
only, available as Attachment A  to  this Public Notice at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/48/.  The 
format of the above frequency tables has been modified from the tables presented in the Auction No. 48 
Comment Public Notice, however, the spectrum represented by the tables is the same. 
B. Rules and Disclaimers
1. Relevant Authority
Prospective bidders must familiarize themselves thoroughly with the Commissions rules relating to the 
paging services, contained in Title 47, Part 22 and Part 90 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and those 
relating to application and auction procedures, contained in Title 47, Part 1 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations.  Prospective bidders must also be thoroughly familiar with the procedures, terms and 
conditions (collectively, Terms) contained in this Public Notice; the Auction No. 48 Comment Public 
Notice; the Part 1 Fifth Report and Order7 (as well as prior and subsequent Commission proceedings 
  
7 Amendment of Part 1 of the Commissions RulesCompetitive Bidding Procedures, WT Docket No. 97-
82, Order on Reconsideration of the Third Report and Order, Fifth Report and Order, and Fourth Further Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making, 15 FCC Rcd 15293 (2000) (modified by Erratum, DA 00-2475 (rel. Nov. 3, 2000)) 
(Part 1 Fifth Report and Order) (recons. pending).  The Commission has further amended Section 1.2105 of the 
Competitive Bidding Rules.   In the Matter of Amendment of Part 1 of the Commissions Rules -- Competitive 
6
regarding competitive bidding procedures); the Paging Notice;8 the Paging First Report and Order;9 the 
First Paging Reconsideration Order;10 the Paging Second Report and Order; the Second Paging 
Reconsideration Order; the Paging Third Report and Order; and the Third Paging Reconsideration 
Order.11
The terms contained in the Commissions rules, relevant orders, and public notices are not negotiable.  
The Commission may amend or supplement the information contained in our public notices at any time, 
and will issue public notices to convey any new or supplemental information to bidders.  It is the 
responsibility of all prospective bidders to remain current with all Commission rules and with all public 
notices pertaining to this auction.  Copies of most Commission documents, including public notices, can 
be retrieved from the FCC Auctions Internet site at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions.  Additionally, 
documents are available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours at the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-A257, Washington, DC, 20554 
or may be purchased from the Commissions duplicating contractor, Qualex International, Portals II, 445 
12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554, telephone 202-863-2893, facsimile 202-863-
2898, or via e-mail qualexint@aol.com.  When ordering documents from Qualex, please provide the 
appropriate FCC number (for example, FCC 99-98 for the Paging Third Report and Order).  
2. Prohibition of Collusion
To ensure the competitiveness of the auction process, the Commissions rules prohibit applicants for the 
same geographic license area from communicating with each other during the auction about bids, bidding 
     
Bidding Procedures, Seventh Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 17546, 17555,  17 (2001) (Part 1 Seventh Report 
and Order).  See infra note 21.   On February 8, 2002, the Commission further amended Section 1.2110 of the 
Competitive Bidding Rules.  Amendment of Part 1 of the Commissions Rules  Competitive Bidding Procedures, 
Eighth Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd. 2962 (rel. February 13, 2002).    
8 Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging 
Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act  Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No. 
96-18, PP Docket No. 93-253, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 11 FCC Rcd 3108 (1996) (Paging Notice).
9 Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging 
Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act  Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No. 
96-18, PP Docket No. 93-253, First Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 16570 (1996) (Paging First Report and 
Order).
10 Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging 
Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act  Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No. 
96-18, PP Docket No. 93-253, Order on Reconsideration of First Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 7409 (1996) 
(First Paging Reconsideration Order).
11 Revision of Part 22 and Part 90 of the Commissions Rules to Facilitate Future Development of Paging 
Systems, Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act  Competitive Bidding, WT Docket No.
96-18, PP Docket No. 93-253, Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 01-66 (rel. February 
27, 2001) (Third Paging Reconsideration Order).
7
strategies, or settlements.12 This prohibition begins at the short-form application filing deadline and ends 
at the down payment deadline after the auction.  Bidders competing for licenses in the same geographic 
license areas are encouraged not to use the same individual as an authorized bidder.  A violation of the 
anti-collusion rule could occur if an individual acts as the authorized bidder for two or more competing 
applicants, and conveys information concerning the substance of bids or bidding strategies between the 
bidders he or she is authorized to represent in the auction.  A violation could similarly occur if the 
authorized bidders are different individuals employed by the same organization (e.g., law firm or 
consulting firm).  In such a case, at a minimum, applicants should certify on their applications that 
precautionary steps have been taken to prevent communication between authorized bidders and that 
applicants and their bidding agents will comply with the anti-collusion rule.13
However, the Bureau cautions that merely filing a certifying statement as part of an application will not 
outweigh specific evidence that collusive behavior has occurred, nor will it preclude the initiation of an 
investigation when warranted.14 The Commissions anti-collusion rules allow applicants to form certain 
agreements during the auction, provided the applicants have not applied for licenses covering the same 
geographic areas. Note that in Auction No. 48, applicants for licenses in overlapping EAs and MEAs will 
not be able to take advantage of these rule provisions, even though the licenses are not completely co-
extensive.  For example, assume that one applicant applies for several lower paging bands licenses, i.e., 
licenses covering EAs, in its Auction No. 48 FCC Form 175 and that a second applicant applies for 
licenses in the upper paging bands, i.e., licenses covering MEAs, in its Auction No. 48 FCC Form 175. If 
the first applicant selects licenses for EAs that are within MEAs covered by licenses selected by the 
second applicant, the two parties will have applied for licenses covering the same geographic areas.  
Consequently, unlike applicants who have applied for licenses that do not cover the same geographic 
areas, these two applicants will not be permitted to form a consortium or bid jointly for licenses after they 
file FCC Form 175.15 However, all applicants may enter into bidding agreements before filing FCC Form 
175, as long as they disclose the existence of the agreement(s) in their FCC Form 175.16 If parties agree  
in principle on all material terms prior to the short-form filing deadline, those parties must be identified  
on the short-form application pursuant to Section 1.2105(c), even if the agreement has not been reduced  
to writing.  If the parties have not agreed in principle by the filing deadline, an applicant would not 
include the names of those parties on its application, and may not continue negotiations with other 
  
12 See Amendment of Part 1 of the Commissions Rules  Competitive Bidding Procedures, WT Docket 
No. 97-82, Order on Reconsideration of the Third Report and Order, Fifth Report and Order, and Fourth Further 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making, FCC 00-274 (rel. August 14, 2000) (Part 1 Fifth Report and Order).
13 See In re Application of Nevada Wireless for a License to Provide 800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio 
Service in the Farmington, NM-CO Economic Area (EA-155) Frequency Band A, Memorandum Opinion and 
Order, 13 FCC Rcd. 11973, 11977  11 (1998) (Nevada Wireless).
14 See id., at 11978.
15 See C.F.R.  1.2104 (c)(3) and (4).
16 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(c).  
8
applicants for licenses covering the same geographic areas.17 By signing their FCC Form 175 short-form 
applications, applicants are certifying their compliance with Section 1.2105(c).
In addition, Section 1.65 of the Commissions rules requires an applicant to maintain the accuracy and 
completeness of information furnished in its pending application and to notify the Commission within 30 
days of any substantial change that may be of decisional significance to that application.18 Thus, Sections 
1.65 and 1.2105 require an auction applicant to notify the Commission of any violation of the anti-
collusion rules upon learning of such violation.  Bidders therefore are required to make such notification 
to the Commission immediately upon discovery.19
A summary listing of documents from the Commission and the Bureau addressing the application of the 
anti-collusion rules may be found in Attachment F.
3. Incumbent Licensees
Incumbent (non-geographic) paging licensees operating under their existing authorizations are entitled to 
full protection from co-channel interference.20 Geographic area licensees are likewise afforded co-
channel interference protection from incumbent licensees.21 Adjacent geographic area licensees are 
obligated to resolve possible interference concerns of adjacent geographic area licensees by negotiating a 
mutually acceptable agreement with the neighboring geographic licensee.  Incumbency issues are further 
discussed below.
4. Due Diligence   
Potential bidders are reminded that there are a number of incumbent licensees already licensed and 
operating on frequencies that will be subject to the upcoming auction.  Geographic area licensees in 
accordance with the Commissions Rules must protect such incumbents from harmful interference.   See 
47 C.F.R.  22.503(i).  These limitations may restrict the ability of such geographic area licensees to use 
certain portions of the electromagnetic spectrum or provide service to certain areas in their geographic 
license areas.
In addition, potential bidders seeking licenses for geographic areas adjacent to the Canadian and Mexican 
border should be aware that the use of some or all of the channels they acquire in the auction could be 
  
17 See Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Clarifies Spectrum Auction Anti-Collusion Rules, Public 
Notice, 11 FCC Rcd. 9645 (1995).
18 See 47 C.F.R.  1.65.
19 The Commission amended Section 1.2105 to require auction applicants to report prohibited 
communications in writing to the Commission immediately, but in no case later than five business days after the 
communication occurs.  Part 1 Seventh Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd at 17555,  17.
20 Paging Second Report and Order at  58 and Second Paging Reconsideration Order at  42-44; 47 
C.F.R.  22.503(I).
21 Second Paging Reconsideration Order at  45. 
9
restricted as a result of current or future agreements with Canada or Mexico.  Licensees on the lower 
paging channels must submit a Form 601 to obtain authorization to operate stations north of Line A or  
east of Line C because these channels are subject to the Above 30 Megacycles per Second Agreement with 
Industry Canada.22 Although the upper paging channels do not require coordination with Canada, the 
U.S.-Canada Interim Coordination Considerations for the Band 929-932 MHz, as amended, assigns 
specific 929 and 931 MHz frequencies to the United States for licensing along certain longitudes above 
Line A, and assigns other specific 929 and 931 MHz frequencies to Canada for licensing along certain 
longitudes along the U.S.-Canada border.  In addition, the 929 and 931 MHz frequencies assigned to 
Canada are unavailable for use by U.S. licensees above Line A as set out in the agreement.23 Also, 
licensees in some EAs and MEAs may be required to protect quiet zones.24  
Potential bidders should also be aware that certain applications (including those for modification),  
petitions for rulemaking, requests for special temporary authority (STA), waiver requests, petitions to 
deny, petitions for reconsideration, and applications for review may be pending before the Commission 
and relate to particular applicants or incumbent licensees. In addition, certain judicial proceedings that 
may relate to particular applicants or incumbent licensees, on the licenses available in Auction No. 48  
may be commenced, or may be pending, or may be subject to further review.  We note that resolution of 
these matters could have an impact on the availability of spectrum in Auction No. 48.  Some of these 
matters (whether before the Commission or the Courts) may not be resolved by the time of the auction. 
Potential bidders are solely responsible for identifying associated risks, and investigating and 
evaluating the degree to which such matters may affect their ability to bid on, otherwise acquire, or 
make use of licenses available in Auction No. 48.
To aid potential bidders, Attachment G to this public notice lists paging matters pending before the 
Commission that relate to licenses or applications in the bands being auctioned.  The Commission makes 
no representations or guarantees that the listed matters are the only pending matters that could affect 
spectrum availability in these bands.  
Copies of pleadings from pending cases relating to paging matters identified in Attachment G are 
available for public inspection and copying during normal reference room hours at: Office of Public 
Affairs (OPA), Reference Operations Division, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-C314, Washington, D.C. 
20554.
In addition, potential bidders may research the Bureaus licensing database on the Internet in order to 
determine which frequencies are already licensed to incumbent licensees. The Commission makes no 
representations or guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of information in its databases or 
  
22 Canada Telecommunication: Coordination and Use of Radio Frequencies Above 30 Megacycles per 
Second, October 24, 1962, as amended, June 24, 1965, U.S.-Canada.
23 See February 27, 1997 Protocol Concerning Use of the 929-930 MHz and 931-932 MHz Bands for  
Paging Services along the Common Border with Mexico for paging services using 929-932 MHz spectrum  
within 120 kilometers (75 miles) of the common border; see also 47 C.F.R.  22.531(e). 
24 See 47 C.F.R.  1.923(g), 1.924.
10
any third party databases, including, for example, court docketing systems.  Furthermore, the Commission 
makes no representations or guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of information that has 
been provided by incumbent licensees and incorporated into the database.  Potential bidders are  
strongly encouraged to physically inspect any sites located in, or near, the EA or MEA for which 
they plan to bid.
Licensing records for paging are contained in the Bureaus Universal Licensing System (ULS) and may  
be researched on the Internet at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls.  Potential bidders may query the database 
online and download a copy of their search results if desired.  Detailed instructions on using License 
Search (including frequency searches and the GeoSearch capability) and downloading query results are 
available online by selecting the ? button at the upper right-hand corner of the License Search screen.
Potential bidders should direct questions regarding the search capabilities to the FCC Technical Support 
hotline at (202) 414-1250 (voice) or (202) 414-1255 (TTY), or via e-mail at ulscomm@fcc.gov. The 
hotline is available to assist with questions Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.  In 
order to provide better service to the public, all calls to the hotline are recorded.  
5. Bidder Alerts 
All applicants must certify on their FCC Form 175 applications under penalty of perjury that they are 
legally, technically, financially and otherwise qualified to hold a license, and not in default on any 
payment for Commission licenses (including down payments) or delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to 
any Federal agency.25 Prospective bidders are reminded that submission of a false certification to the 
Commission is a serious matter that may result in severe penalties, including monetary forfeitures, license 
revocations, exclusion from participation in future auctions, and/or criminal prosecution.
The FCC makes no representations or warranties about the use of this spectrum for particular 
services.  Applicants should be aware that an FCC auction represents an opportunity to become an 
FCC licensee in this service, subject to certain conditions and regulations.  An FCC auction does  
not constitute an endorsement by the FCC of any particular services, technologies or products, nor 
does a FCC license constitute a guarantee of business success.  Applicants and interested parties 
should perform their own due diligence before proceeding, as they would with any new business 
venture.
As is the case with many business investment opportunities, some unscrupulous entrepreneurs may 
attempt to use Auction No. 48 to deceive and defraud unsuspecting investors.  Common warning signals 
of fraud include the following:
 The first contact is a cold call from a telemarketer, or is made in response to an inquiry 
prompted by a radio or television infomercial.
  
25 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105.
11
 The offering materials used to invest in the venture appear to be targeted at IRA funds, for 
example, by including all documents and papers needed for the transfer of funds maintained in 
IRA accounts.
 The amount of investment is less than $25,000.
 The sales representative makes verbal representations that:  (a) the Internal Revenue Service 
(IRS), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), 
FCC, or other government agency has approved the investment; (b) the investment is not subject 
to state or federal securities laws; or (c) the investment will yield unrealistically high short-term 
profits.  In addition, the offering materials often include copies of actual FCC releases, or quotes 
from FCC personnel, giving the appearance of FCC knowledge or approval of the solicitation.
Information about deceptive telemarketing investment schemes is available from the FTC at (202) 326-
2222 and from the SEC at (202) 942-7040.  Complaints about specific deceptive telemarketing 
investment schemes should be directed to the FTC, the SEC, or the National Fraud Information Center at 
(800) 876-7060.  Consumers who have concerns about specific proposals regarding Auction No. 48 may 
also call the FCC Consumer Center at (888) CALL-FCC ((888) 225-5322).
6. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Requirements
Licensees must comply with the Commissions rules regarding the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA).26 The construction of a wireless antenna facility is a federal action and the licensee must  
comply with the Commissions NEPA rules for each such facility.27 The Commissions NEPA rules 
require, among other things, that the licensee consult with expert agencies having NEPA responsibilities, 
including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Army Corp of 
Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (through the local authority with jurisdiction 
over floodplains).  The licensee must prepare environmental assessments for facilities that may have a 
significant impact in or on wilderness areas, wildlife preserves, threatened or endangered species or 
designated critical habitats, historical or archaeological sites, Indian religious sites, floodplains, and 
surface features.  The licensee must also prepare environmental assessments for facilities that include high 
intensity white lights in residential neighborhoods or excessive radio frequency emission.
C. Auction Specifics
1. Auction Date
The auction will begin on Tuesday, May 13, 2003.  The initial schedule for bidding will be announced by 
public notice at least one week before the start of the auction.  Unless otherwise announced, bidding on  
all licenses will be conducted on each business day until bidding has stopped on all licenses.
  
26 See 47 C.F.R. Ch. 1, Subpart I.
27 See 47 C.F.R.  1.1305-1.1319.
12
2. Auction Title
Auction No. 48  Lower and Upper Paging 
3. Bidding Methodology
The bidding methodology for Auction No. 48 will be simultaneous multiple round bidding. The 
Commission will conduct this auction over the Internet.  Telephonic bidding will also be available.  As a 
contingency, the FCC Wide Area Network will be available as well.  Qualified bidders are permitted to 
bid telephonically or electronically.
4. Pre-Auction Dates and Deadlines
Auction Seminar ...........................................................................March 6, 2003
Short-Form Application (FCC FORM 175) ..................................March 21, 2003; 6:00 p.m. ET
Upfront Payments (via wire transfer) ...........................................April 14, 2003; 6:00 p.m. ET
Mock Auction ...............................................................................May 8, 2003
Auction Begins...............................................................................May 13, 2003
5. Requirements For Participation
Those wishing to participate in the auction must:
 Submit a short-form application (FCC Form 175) electronically by 6:00 p.m. ET, March 21,  
2003.
 Submit a sufficient upfront payment and an FCC Remittance Advice Form (FCC Form 159) by 
6:00 p.m. ET, April 14, 2003.
 Comply with all provisions outlined in this public notice.
13
6. General Contact Information
GENERAL AUCTION INFORMATION FCC Auctions Hotline 
General Auction Questions (888) 225-5322, Press Option #2
Seminar Registration or direct (717) 338-2888
Hours of service: 8 a.m.  5:30 p.m. ET
AUCTION LEGAL INFORMATION Auctions and Industry Analysis Division
Auction Rules, Policies, Regulations Legal Branch (202) 418-0660
LICENSING INFORMATION Commercial Wireless Division
Rules, Policies, Regulations 
Licensing Issues 
Due Diligence
Incumbency Issues
(202) 418-0620
TECHNICAL SUPPORT FCC Auctions Technical Support Hotline
Electronic Filing (202) 414-1250 (Voice), 
Automated Auction System (202) 414-1255 (TTY) 
Hours of service: Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 
6:00 p.m. ET
PAYMENT INFORMATION FCC Auctions Accounting Branch
Wire Transfers (202) 418-0578 or (202) 418-0496
Refunds (202) 418-2843 (Fax)
TELEPHONIC BIDDING Will be furnished only to qualified bidders
FCC COPY CONTRACTOR Qualex International
Additional Copies of Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Room CY-B402
Commission Documents Washington, DC  20554 
(202) 863-2893
(202) 863-2898 (Fax)
qualexint@aol.com (E-mail)
PRESS INFORMATION Lauren Kravetz  (202) 418-7944
FCC FORMS (800) 418-3676 (outside Washington, DC) 
(202) 418-3676 (in the Washington Area)
http://www.fcc.gov/formpage.html
FCC INTERNET SITES http://www.fcc.gov
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions
http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls
14
II. SHORT-FORM (FCC FORM 175) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Guidelines for completion of the short-form (FCC Form 175) are set forth in Attachment D  to this public 
notice.  The short-form application seeks the applicants name and address, legal classification, status, 
small business bidding credit eligibility, identification of the license(s) sought, the authorized bidders and 
contact persons.  Applicants must certify on their FCC Form 175 applications under penalty of perjury 
that they are legally, technically, financially and otherwise qualified to hold a license and, as discussed 
below in Section II.E (Provisions Regarding Defaulters and Former Defaulters), that they are not in 
default on any payment for Commission licenses (including down payments) or delinquent on any non-
tax debt owed to any Federal agency.
A. License Selection
In Auction No. 48, Form 175 will include a mechanism that allows an applicant to filter the 10,202 
licenses by paging service, frequency band, market area, and/or channel block/license suffix to create 
customized lists of licenses.  The applicant will make selections for one or more of the filter criteria and 
the system will produce a list of licenses satisfying the specified criteria.  The applicant may apply for all 
the licenses in the customized list by using the Select All option; select individual licenses separately 
from the list; or create a second customized list without selecting any of the licenses from the first list.  
Applicants also will be able to select licenses from one customized list and then create a second 
customized list to select additional licenses. 
B. Ownership Disclosure Requirements (FCC Form 175 Exhibit A)
All applicants must comply with the uniform Part 1 ownership disclosure standards and provide 
information required by Sections 1.2105 and 1.2112 of the Commissions rules.  Specifically, in 
completing FCC Form 175, applicants will be required to file an Exhibit A providing a full and 
complete statement of the ownership of the bidding entity. The ownership disclosure standards for the 
short-form are set forth in Section 1.2112 of the Commissions rules.28
C. Consortia And Joint Bidding Arrangements (FCC Form 175 Exhibit B)
Applicants will be required to identify on their short-form applications any parties with whom they have 
entered into any consortium arrangements, joint ventures, partnerships or other agreements or 
understandings which relate in any way to the licenses being auctioned, including any agreements relating 
to post-auction market structure.29 Applicants will also be required to certify on their short-form 
applications that they have not entered into any explicit or implicit agreements, arrangements or 
understandings of any  kind with any parties,  other than  those identified,  regarding the amount  of  their 
  
28 47 C.F.R.  1.2105 requires the disclosure on the short-form of the applicants ownership information as 
set forth in 47 C.F.R.  1.2112.  Note that both of these sections were revised in the Part 1 Fifth Report and  
Order.
29 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a)(2)(viii), (c)(1).
15
bids, bidding strategies, or the particular licenses on which they will or will not bid.30 As discussed  
above, if an  applicant has had discussions, but has not reached a joint bidding agreement by the short-
form deadline, it would not include the names of parties to the discussions on its applications and may not 
continue discussions with applicants after the deadline.31 Where applicants have entered into consortia or 
joint bidding arrangements, applicants must submit an Exhibit B to the FCC Form 175.
A party holding a non-controlling, attributable interest in one applicant will be permitted to acquire an 
ownership interest in, form a consortium with, or enter into a joint bidding arrangement with other 
competing applicants provided that (i) the attributable interest holder certifies that it has not and will not 
communicate with any party concerning the bids or bidding strategies of more than one of the applicants 
in which it holds an attributable interest, or with which it has formed a consortium or entered into a joint 
bidding arrangement; and (ii) the arrangements do not result in a change in control of any of the 
applicants.32 While the anti-collusion rules do not prohibit non-auction related business negotiations 
among auction applicants, bidders are reminded that certain discussions or exchanges could touch upon 
impermissible subject matters because they may convey pricing information and bidding strategies.
D. Eligibility
1. Small Business Bidding Credit Eligibility (FCC Form 175 Exhibit C)
In the Paging Second Report and Order, the Commission adopted small business bidding credits to 
promote and facilitate the participation of small businesses in competitive bidding for licenses in the 
paging service.33 In the Second Paging Reconsideration Order, the Commission subsequently increased 
the size of the bidding credits.34
Bidding credits are available to small businesses, or consortia thereof, (as defined in 47 C.F.R  
1.2110(c) and 22.217(a)).  A bidding credit represents the amount by which a bidders winning bids are 
discounted.35  The size of the bidding credit depends on the average of the aggregated annual gross 
revenues for each of the preceding three years of the bidder, its affiliates, its controlling interests, and the 
affiliates of its controlling interests:
 A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues of not more than $15 million for the 
preceding three years receives a 25 percent discount on its winning bids for paging licenses;36
  
30 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a)(2)(ix).
31 See Section I.B.2 Prohibition of Collusion, supra.
32 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(c)(4)(i), (ii).
33 See Paging Second Report and Order at  118.
34 See Second Paging Reconsideration Order at  98; see also 47 C.F.R.  1.2110, 22.217 and 22.223.
35 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(f), 22.217 and 22.223.
36 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(f), 22.217(a) and 22.223(b)(1)(ii).  In the service specific rule making governing 
paging service licenses for sale in Auction No. 48, the Commission declined to adopt bidding credits for entities 
16
 A bidder with attributed average annual gross revenues of not more than $3 million for the preceding 
three years receives a 35 percent discount on its winning bids for paging licenses.37
Bidding credits are not cumulative; a qualifying applicant receives either the 25 percent or the 35 percent 
bidding credit on its winning bids, but not both. 
2. Tribal Land Bidding Credit
To encourage the growth of wireless services in federally recognized tribal lands the Commission has 
implemented a tribal land bidding credit.  See Part V.D. of this Public Notice.
3. Applicability of Part 1 Attribution Rules
Controlling interest standard. On August 14, 2000, the Commission released the Part 1 Fifth Report and 
Order, in which the Commission, inter alia, adopted a controlling interest standard for attributing to 
auction applicants the gross revenues of their investors and affiliates in determining small business 
eligibility for future auctions.38 The Commission observed that the rule modifications adopted in the 
various Part 1 orders would result in discrepancies and/or redundancies between certain of the new Part 1 
rules and existing service-specific rules, and the Commission delegated to the Bureau the authority to 
make conforming edits to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) consistent with the rules adopted in the 
Part 1 proceeding.39 Part 1 rules that superseded inconsistent service-specific rules will control in Auction 
No. 48.40  Accordingly, the controlling interest standard as set forth in the Part 1 rules will be in effect 
for Auction No. 48.
Control. The term control includes both de facto and de jure control of the applicant.  Typically,
ownership of at least 50.1 percent of an entitys voting stock evidences de jure control.  De facto control  
is determined on a case-by-case basis.41 The following are some common indicia of de facto control:
     
with attributable average gross revenues of more than $15 million.  See Third Paging Reconsideration Order at  
10-12; cf. 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(f)(2)(iii) (applicable rule in absence of service specific rules).
37 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(f), 22.217(a) and 22.223(b)(1)(i).
38 The eligibility for small business preferences will be determined based on the attribution rules in effect  
at the short-form application deadline.  See Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 15327,  67.
39 Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 15330,  78.
40 The Bureau recently made conforming edits to service-specific competitive bidding rules and portions of 
the Part 1 general competitive bidding rules.  Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27, 73, 74, 80, 90, 95,  
100, and 101 of the Commission Rules  Competitive Bidding, Order, 17 FCC Rcd 6534 (2002).  These rule 
modifications became effective on August 8, 2002.
41 For further guidance on the issue of de facto control, see the Commissions affiliation rule at 47 C.F.R.  
1.2110(b)(5); see also Ellis Thompson Corp., Summary Decision of Administrative Law Judge Joseph Chachkin, 
10 FCC Rcd. 12554, 12555-56 (1994), in which the Commission identified the following factors used to  
determine control of a business: (1) use of facilities and equipment; (2) control of day-to-day operations; (3) 
17
 the entity constitutes or appoints more than 50 percent of the board of directors or management 
committee;
 the entity has authority to appoint, promote, demote, and fire senior executives that control the 
day-to-day activities of the licensee; or
 the entity plays an integral role in management decisions.
Attribution for small business eligibility. In determining which entities qualify as small businesses, the 
Commission will consider the gross revenues of the applicant, its affiliates, its controlling interests, and 
the affiliates of its controlling interests.  The Commission does not impose specific equity requirements 
on controlling interest holders.  Once the principals or entities with a controlling interest are determined, 
only the revenues of those principals or entities, the affiliates of those principals or entities, the applicant 
and its affiliates, will be counted in determining small business eligibility.
A consortium of small businesses is a conglomerate organization formed as a joint venture between or 
among mutually independent business firms, each of which individually must satisfy the definition of 
small business in Sections 1.2110(f) and 22.223(b).  Thus, each consortium member must disclose its 
gross revenues along with those of its affiliates, its controlling interests, and the affiliates of its 
controlling interests.  We note that although the gross revenues of the consortium members will not be 
aggregated for purposes of determining eligibility for small business credits, this information must be 
provided to ensure that each individual consortium member qualifies for any bidding credit awarded to 
the consortium.
4. Supporting Documentation
Applicants should note that they will be required to file supporting documentation to their FCC Form 175 
short-form applications to establish that they satisfy the eligibility requirements to qualify as small 
businesses (or consortia of small businesses) for this auction.42
Applicants should further note that submission of an FCC Form 175 application constitutes a 
representation by the certifying official that he or she is an authorized representative of the applicant, has 
read the forms instructions and certifications, and that the contents of the application and its attachments 
are true and correct.  Submission of a false certification to the Commission may result in penalties, 
including monetary forfeitures, license forfeitures, ineligibility to participate in future auctions, and/or 
criminal prosecution.
Small business eligibility (Exhibit C). Entities applying to bid as small businesses (or consortia of small 
     
control of policy decisions; (4) personnel responsibilities; (5) control of financial obligations; and (6) receipt of 
monies and profits; Intermountain Microwave, 12 FCC 2d. 559 (1963), and Application of Baker Creek 
Communications, L.P., for Authority to Construct and Operate Local Multipoint Distribution Services in Multiple 
Basic Trading Areas, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC Rcd. 18709 (1998).
42 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105, 22.217, and 22.223.
18
businesses) will be required to disclose on Exhibit C to their FCC Form 175 short-form applications, 
separately and in the aggregate, the gross revenues for the preceding three years of each of the following: 
(1) the applicant, (2) its affiliates, (3) its controlling interests, and (4) the affiliates of its controlling 
interests.  Certification that the average annual gross revenues for the preceding three years do not 
exceed the applicable limit is not sufficient.  A statement of the total gross revenues for the 
preceding three years is also insufficient.  The applicant must provide separately for itself, its 
affiliates, its controlling interests, and the affiliates of its controlling interests, a schedule of gross 
revenues for each of the preceding three years, as well as a statement of total average gross 
revenues for the three-year period. If the applicant is applying as a consortium of small businesses, this 
information must be provided for each consortium member.
E. Provisions Regarding Defaulters and Former Defaulters (FCC Form 175 Exhibit D)
Each applicant must certify on its FCC Form 175 application that it is not in default on any Commission 
licenses and that it is not delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to any Federal agency.43 In addition, each 
applicant must attach to its FCC Form 175 application a statement made under penalty of perjury indicating 
whether or not the applicant, its affiliates, its controlling interests, or the affiliates of its controlling interest 
have ever been in default on any Commission licenses or have ever been delinquent on any non-tax debt owed 
to any Federal agency.  The applicant must provide such information for itself, its affiliates, its controlling 
interests, and the affiliates of its controlling interests, as defined by Section 1.2110 of the Commissions 
rules (as amended in the Part 1 Fifth Report and Order).44  Applicants must include this statement as 
Exhibit D of the FCC Form 175. Prospective bidders are reminded that the statement must be made 
under penalty of perjury and, further, submission of a false certification to the Commission is a serious 
matter that may result in severe penalties, including monetary forfeitures, license revocations, exclusion 
from participation in future auctions, and/or criminal prosecution.
Former defaulters  i.e., applicants, including their attributable interest holders, that in the past have 
defaulted on any Commission licenses or been delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to any Federal 
agency, but that have since remedied all such defaults and cured all of their outstanding non-tax 
delinquencies  are eligible to bid in Auction No. 48, provided that they are otherwise qualified.  
However, as discussed infra in Section III.D.3, former defaulters are required to pay upfront payments 
that are fifty percent more than the normal upfront payment amounts.45
F. Installment Payments
Installment payment plans will not be available in Auction No. 48.
G. Other Information (FCC Form 175 Exhibits E and F)
Applicants owned by minorities or women, as defined in 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(c)(2), may attach an exhibit 
  
43 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a)(2)(x).
44 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a)(2)(xi).
45 47 C.F.R.  1.2106(a).
19
(Exhibit E) regarding this status.  This applicant status information is collected for statistical purposes 
only and assists the Commission in monitoring the participation of designated entities in its auctions.  
Applicants wishing to submit additional information may do so on Exhibit F (Miscellaneous Information) 
to the FCC Form 175.
H. Minor Modifications to Short-Form Applications (FCC Form 175)
After the short-form filing deadline (March 21, 2003), applicants may make only minor changes to their 
FCC Form 175 applications.  Applicants will not be permitted to make major modifications to their 
applications (e.g., change their license selections or proposed service areas, change the certifying official,  
change control of the applicant or change bidding credits).  See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105.  Permissible minor 
changes include, for example, deletion and addition of authorized bidders (to a maximum of three) and 
revision of exhibits.  Applicants must make these modifications to their FCC Form 175 electronically and 
should submit a letter, briefly summarizing the changes, by electronic mail to the attention of Margaret 
Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, at the following address: auction48@fcc.gov. 
The electronic mail summarizing the changes should include a subject or caption referring to Auction No. 
48. The Bureau requests that parties format any attachments to electronic mail as Adobe Acrobat (pdf) 
or Microsoft Word documents. 
A separate copy of the letter should be faxed to the attention of Kathryn Garland at (717) 338-2850.
Questions about other changes should be directed to Rosemary Cabral of the Auctions and Industry 
Analysis Division at (202) 418-0660.
I. Maintaining Current Information in Short-Form Applications (FCC Form 175)
Applicants have an obligation under 47 C.F.R. 1.65, to maintain the completeness and accuracy of 
information in their short-form applications.  Amendments reporting substantial changes of possible 
decisional significance in information contained in FCC Form 175 applications, as defined by 47 C.F.R.  
1.2105(b)(2), will not be accepted and may in some instances result in the dismissal of the FCC Form 175 
application.
III. PRE-AUCTION PROCEDURES
A. Auction Seminar
On Thursday, March 6, 2003, the FCC will sponsor a free seminar for Auction No. 48 at the Federal 
Communications Commission, located at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC.  The seminar will  
provide attendees with information about pre-auction procedures, conduct of the auction, the FCC 
Automated Auction System, and the paging and auction rules.  The seminar will also provide an 
opportunity for prospective bidders to ask questions of FCC staff.
To register, complete the registration form found in Attachment B and submit it by Tuesday, March 4, 
2003.  Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
20
B. Short-Form Application (FCC Form 175)  Due March 21, 2003
In order to be eligible to bid in this auction, applicants must first submit a FCC Form 175 application.  
This application must be submitted electronically and received at the Commission no later than 6:00 p.m. 
ET on March 21, 2003.  Late applications will not be accepted.
There is no application fee required when filing an FCC Form 175.  However, to be eligible to bid, an 
applicant must submit an upfront payment.  See Part III.D, below.
1. Electronic Filing
Applicants must file their FCC Form 175 applications electronically.46 Applications may generally be 
filed at any time beginning at noon ET on March 6, 2003, until 6:00 p.m. ET on March 21, 2003.  
Applicants are strongly encouraged to file early and are responsible for allowing adequate time for filing 
their applications.  Applicants may update or amend their electronic applications multiple times until the 
filing deadline on March 21, 2003.
Applicants must press the  SUBMIT Application button on the Submission page of the electronic 
form to successfully submit their FCC Form 175s.  Any form that is not submitted will not be reviewed 
by the FCC.  Information about accessing the FCC Form 175 is included in Attachment C.  Technical 
support is available at (202) 414-1250 (voice) or (202) 414-1255 (text telephone (TTY)); hours of service 
Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM ET.  In order to provide better service to the public, 
all calls to the hotline are recorded.
Applicants can also contact Technical Support via e-mail.  To obtain the address, click the Support tab  
on the Form 175 Homepage.
2. Completion of the FCC Form 175
Applicants should carefully review 47 C.F.R.  1.2105, and must complete all items on the FCC Form 
175.  Instructions for completing the FCC Form 175 are in Attachment D of this public notice. Applicants 
are encouraged to begin preparing the required attachments for FCC Form 175 prior to submitting the 
form.  Attachments C and D to this public notice provide information on the required attachments and 
appropriate formats.
3. Electronic Review of FCC Form 175
The FCC Form 175 electronic review system may be used to locate and print applicants FCC Form 175 
information.  Applicants may also view other applicants completed FCC Form 175s after the filing 
deadline has passed and the FCC has issued a public notice explaining the status of the applications.  
NOTE: Applicants should not include sensitive information (i.e., TIN/EIN) on any exhibits to their FCC 
  
46 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a).
21
Form 175 applications.  There is no fee for accessing this system.  See Attachment C for details on 
accessing the review system.
C. Application Processing and Minor Corrections
After the deadline for filing the FCC Form 175 applications has passed, the FCC will process all timely-
submitted applications to determine which are acceptable for filing, and subsequently will issue a public 
notice identifying:  (1) those applications accepted for filing; (2) those applications rejected; and (3) those 
applications which have minor defects that may be corrected, and the deadline for filing such corrected 
applications.
As described more fully in the Commissions rules, after the March 21, 2003, short-form filing deadline, 
applicants may make only minor corrections to their FCC Form 175 applications.  Applicants will not be 
permitted to make major modifications to their applications (e.g., change their license selections, change 
the certifying official, change control of the applicant, or change bidding credit eligibility).47
D. Upfront Payments  Due April 14, 2003
In order to be eligible to bid in the auction, applicants must submit an upfront payment accompanied by a 
FCC Remittance Advice Form (FCC Form 159).  After completing the FCC Form 175, filers will have 
access to an electronic version of the FCC Form 159 that can be printed and faxed to Mellon Bank in 
Pittsburgh, PA.  All upfront payments must be received at Mellon Bank by 6:00 p.m. ET on April 14, 
2003. 
Please note that:
 All payments must be made in U.S. dollars.
 All payments must be made by wire transfer.
 Upfront payments for Auction No. 48 go to a lockbox number different from the lockboxes used 
in previous FCC auctions, and different from the lockbox number to be used for post-auction 
payments.
 Failure to deliver the upfront payment by the April 14, 2003, deadline will result in dismissal of 
the application and disqualification from participation in the auction.
  
47 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105.  See also Two Way Radio of Carolina, Inc., Memorandum, Opinion and Order, 
14 FCC Rcd. 12035 (1999).
22
1. Making Auction Payments by Wire Transfer
Wire transfer payments must be received by 6:00 p.m. ET on April 14, 2003. To avoid untimely 
payments, applicants should discuss arrangements (including bank closing schedules) with their banker 
several days before they plan to make the wire transfer, and allow sufficient time for the transfer to be 
initiated and completed before the deadline.  Applicants will need the following information:
ABA Routing Number:   043000261
Receiving Bank: Mellon Pittsburgh
BENEFICIARY:   FCC/Account #  910-1182
OBI Field:   (Skip one space between each information item)
AUCTIONPAY
FCC REGISTRATION NUMBER (FRN): (same as FCC Form 159, block 11 and/or 21)
PAYMENT TYPE CODE   (same as FCC Form 159, block 24A: A48U)
FCC CODE  1 (same as FCC Form 159, block 28A: 48)
PAYER NAME   (same as FCC Form 159, block 2)
LOCKBOX NO.   # 358415
NOTE: The BNF and Lockbox number are specific to the upfront payments for this auction; do not use 
BNF or Lockbox numbers from previous auctions.
Applicants must fax a completed FCC Form 159 (Revised 2/00) to Mellon Bank at (412) 209-6045 at 
least one hour before placing the order for the wire transfer (but on the same business day).  On the 
cover sheet of the fax, write Wire Transfer  Auction Payment for Auction Event No. 48.  Bidders 
should confirm receipt of their upfront payment at Mellon Bank by contacting their sending 
financial institution.
2. FCC Form 159
A completed FCC Remittance Advice Form (FCC Form 159, Revised 2/00) must be faxed to Mellon 
Bank in order to accompany each upfront payment.  Proper completion of FCC Form 159 (Revised 2/00) 
is critical to ensuring correct credit of upfront payments.  Detailed instructions for completion of FCC 
Form 159 are included in Attachment E to this public notice.  An electronic version of the FCC Form 159 
is available after filing the FCC Form 175.  The FCC Form 159 can be completed electronically, but must 
be filed with Mellon Bank via facsimile.
3. Amount of Upfront Payment
In the Part 1 Order the Commission delegated to the Bureau the authority and discretion to determine 
appropriate upfront payment(s) for each auction.48 In addition, in the Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, the 
  
48 Amendment of Part 1 of the Commissions rules  Competitive Bidding Proceeding, WT Docket No.  
97-82, Order, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 12 FCC Rcd. 5686, 5697-
5698,  16 (1997) (Part 1 Order).
23
Commission ordered that former defaulters, i.e., applicants that have ever been in default on any 
Commission license or have ever been delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to any Federal agency, be 
required to pay upfront payments fifty percent greater than non-former defaulters.49 For purposes of 
this calculation, the applicant includes the applicant itself, its affiliates, its controlling interests, and 
affiliates of its controlling interests, as defined by Section 1.2110 of the Commissions rules (as amended 
in the Part 1 Fifth Report and Order).50
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed that the amount of the upfront payment 
would determine the number of bidding units on which a bidder may place bids.51 In order to bid on a 
license, otherwise qualified bidders that applied for that license on Form 175 must have an eligibility 
level that meets or exceeds the number of bidding units assigned to that license. At a minimum, therefore, 
an applicants total upfront payment must be enough to establish eligibility to bid on at least one of the 
licenses applied for on Form 175, or else the applicant will not be eligible to participate in the auction.  
An applicant does not have to make an upfront payment to cover all licenses for which the applicant has 
applied on Form 175, but rather to cover the maximum number of bidding units that are associated with 
licenses on which the bidder wishes to place bids and hold high bids at any given time.
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, the Bureau proposed setting upfront payments for each 
license equal to the licenses minimum opening bid.  The Bureau further proposed setting the bidding 
units for each license equal to the licenses upfront payment on a bidding unit for dollar basis.52 The 
bidding unit level for each license will remain constant throughout the auction.  We received no 
comments on this issue.  The Bureau adopts its proposed upfront payments.  The specific upfront 
payments and bidding units for each license are set forth in the list of licenses available for Auction No. 
48 (Attachment A), available with this public notice at http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/48/. 
In calculating its upfront payment amount, an applicant should determine the maximum number of 
bidding units on which it may wish to be active (bidding units associated with licenses on which the 
bidder has the standing high bid from the previous round and licenses on which the bidder places a bid in 
the current round) in any single round, and submit an upfront payment covering that number of bidding 
units.  In order to make this calculation, an applicant should add together the upfront payments for all 
licenses on which it seeks to bid in any given round. Bidders should check their calculations carefully, 
as there is no provision for increasing a bidders maximum eligibility after the upfront payment 
deadline.
Former defaulters should calculate their upfront payment for all licenses by multiplying the number of 
bidding units they wish to purchase by 1.5.  In order to calculate the number of bidding units to assign to 
former defaulters, the Commission will divide the upfront payment received by 1.5 and round the result 
  
49 Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 15316-17,  40-42; 47 C.F.R.  1.2106(a); see 47 C.F.R. 
1.2105(a)(2)(xi) 
50 Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 15316-17,  40-42.
51 See Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice at 5.
52 See Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice at 5.
24
up to the nearest bidding unit.
NOTE:  An applicant may, on its FCC Form 175, apply for every applicable license being offered, but its 
actual bidding in any round will be limited by the bidding units reflected in its upfront payment.
4. Applicants Wire Transfer Information for Purposes of Refunds of Upfront 
Payments
The Commission will use wire transfers for all Auction No. 48 refunds. To ensure that refunds of upfront 
payments are processed in an expeditious manner, the Commission is requesting that all pertinent 
information as listed below be supplied to the FCC.  Applicants can provide the information  
electronically during the initial short-form filing window after the form has been submitted.   Wire 
Transfer Instructions can also be manually faxed to the FCC, Financial Operations Center, Auctions 
Accounting Group, ATTN: Tim Dates or Gail Glasser, at (202) 418-2843 by April 14, 2003. All refunds 
will be returned to the payer of record as identified on the FCC Form 159 unless the payer submits written 
authorization instructing otherwise.  For additional information, please call Gail Glasser at (202) 418-
0578 or Tim Dates at (202) 418-0496.
Name of Bank
ABA Number
Contact and Phone Number
Account Number to Credit
Name of Account Holder
FCC Registration Number (FRN)
Taxpayer Identification Number (see below)
Correspondent Bank (if applicable)
ABA Number
Account Number
(Applicants should also note that implementation of the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996 
requires the FCC to obtain a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) before it can disburse refunds.)  
Eligibility for refunds is discussed in Part V.F., below.
E. Auction Registration
Approximately ten days before the auction, the FCC will issue a public notice announcing all qualified 
bidders for the auction.  Qualified bidders are those applicants whose FCC Form 175 applications have 
been accepted for filing and have timely submitted upfront payments sufficient to make them eligible to 
bid on at least one of the licenses for which they applied.
All qualified bidders are automatically registered for the auction.  Registration materials will be 
distributed prior to the auction by two separate overnight mailings, one containing the confidential bidder 
identification number (BIN) required to place bids and the other containing the SecurID cards.  These 
mailings will be sent only to the contact person at the contact address listed in the FCC Form 175.
Applicants that do not receive both registration mailings will not be able to submit bids.  Therefore, any 
25
qualified applicant that has not received both mailings by noon on Tuesday, May 6, 2003, should contact 
the Auctions Hotline at (717) 338-2888.  Receipt of both registration mailings is critical to participating in 
the auction and each applicant is responsible for ensuring it has received all of the registration material.
Qualified bidders should note that lost bidder identification numbers or SecurID cards can be replaced 
only by appearing in person at the FCC Auction Headquarters located at 445 12th St., SW, Washington, 
DC 20554.  Only an authorized representative or certifying official, as designated on an applicants FCC 
Form 175, may appear in person with two forms of identification (one of which must be a photo 
identification) in order to receive replacement codes.  Qualified bidders requiring replacements must call 
technical support prior to arriving at the FCC.
F. Electronic Bidding 
The Commission will conduct this auction over the Internet. Telephonic bidding will also be available.  
As a contingency, the FCC Wide Area Network will be available as well.  Qualified bidders are permitted 
to bid electronically or telephonically, i.e., over the Internet or the FCCs Wide Area Network.  In either 
case, each authorized bidder must have its own Remote Security Access SecurID card, which the FCC 
will provide at no charge.   Each applicant with less than three authorized bidders will be issued two 
SecurID cards, while applicants with three authorized bidders will be issued three cards.  For security 
purposes, the SecurID cards and the FCC Automated Auction System user manual are only mailed to the 
contact person at the contact address listed on the FCC Form 175.  Please note that each SecurID card is 
tailored to a specific auction, therefore, SecurID cards issued for other auctions or obtained from a source 
other than the FCC will not work for Auction No. 48.  The telephonic bidding phone number will be 
supplied in the first overnight mailing, which also includes the confidential bidder identification number.  
Each applicant should indicate its bidding preferenceelectronic or telephonic on the FCC Form 175. 
Please note that the SecurID cards can be recycled, and we encourage bidders to return the cards to the 
FCC.  We will provide pre-addressed envelopes that bidders may use to return the cards once the auction 
is over.
G. Mock Auction
All qualified bidders will be eligible to participate in a mock auction on Thursday, May 8, 2003.  The 
mock auction will enable applicants to become familiar with the FCC Automated Auction System prior to 
the auction. Participation by all bidders is strongly recommended.  Details will be announced by public 
notice.
IV. AUCTION EVENT
The first round of bidding for Auction No. 48 will begin on Tuesday, May 13, 2003.  The initial bidding 
schedule will be announced in a public notice listing the qualified bidders, which is released 
approximately 10 days before the start of the auction.
26
A. Auction Structure
1. Simultaneous Multiple Round Auction
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed to award all licenses in Auction No. 48 in a  
simultaneous multiple round auction.53 We received no comments on this issue.  We conclude that it is 
operationally feasible and appropriate to auction the paging licenses through a simultaneous multiple 
round auction. Unless otherwise announced, bids will be accepted on all licenses in each round of the 
auction.  This approach, we believe, allows bidders to take advantage of any synergies that exist among 
licenses and is administratively efficient.
2. Maximum Eligibility and Activity Rules
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed that the amount of the upfront payment 
submitted by a bidder would determine the initial maximum eligibility (as measured in bidding units) for 
each bidder.54 We received no comments on this issue.
For Auction No. 48 we adopt this proposal.  The amount of the upfront payment submitted by a bidder 
determines the number of bidding units on which a bidder may place bids.  Note again that each license is 
assigned a specific number of bidding units equal to the upfront payment, listed in the license inventory 
available for Auction No. 48 (Attachment A), available with this public notice at 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/48/, on a bidding unit per dollar basis.  The total upfront payment defines 
the maximum number of bidding units on which the applicant will be permitted to bid and hold high bids 
during any given round.  As there is no provision for increasing a bidders eligibility after the upfront 
payment deadline, prospective bidders are cautioned to calculate their upfront payments carefully.  The 
total upfront payment does not affect the total dollar amount a bidder may bid on any given license.
In order to ensure that the auction closes within a reasonable period of time, an activity rule requires 
bidders to bid actively throughout the auction, rather than wait until the end before participating.  Bidders 
are required to be active on a specific percentage of their current eligibility during each round of the 
auction.
A bidders activity level in a round is the sum of the bidding units associated with licenses on which the 
bidder is active.  A bidder is considered active on a license in the current round if it is either the high 
bidder at the end of the previous bidding round and does not withdraw the high bid in the current round, or 
if it submits a bid in the current round (see Bid Increments and Minimum Acceptable Bids in Part 
IV.B.(3), below).  The minimum required activity is expressed as a percentage of the bidders current 
bidding eligibility, and increases by stage as the auction progresses.  Because these procedures have 
proven successful in maintaining the pace of previous auctions (as set forth under Auction Stages in 
Part IV.A.3 and Stage Transitions in Part IV.A.4, below), we adopt them for Auction No. 48.
  
53 Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice at 4.
54 Id. at 5.
27
3. Auction Stages
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed to conduct the auction in three stages and 
employ an activity rule.  We further proposed that, in each round of Stage One, a bidder desiring to 
maintain its current eligibility would be required to be active on licenses encompassing at least 80 percent 
of its current bidding eligibility.55 In each round of Stage Two, a bidder desiring to maintain its current 
eligibility would be required to be active on at least 90 percent of its current bidding eligibility. Finally, 
we proposed that a bidder in Stage Three, in order to maintain its current eligibility, would be required to 
be active on 98 percent of its current eligibility.  We received no comments on this proposal.
We will adopt our proposals for the activity rules. Below are the activity levels for each stage of the 
auction.  The FCC reserves the discretion to further alter the activity percentages before and/or during the 
auction.
Stage One: During the first stage of the auction, a bidder desiring to maintain its current eligibility will 
be required to be active on licenses that represent at least 80 percent of its current bidding eligibility in 
each bidding round.  Failure to maintain the required activity level will result in a reduction in the 
bidders bidding eligibility in the next round of bidding (unless an activity rule waiver is used).  During 
Stage One, reduced eligibility for the next round will be calculated by multiplying the bidders current 
activity (the sum of bidding units of the bidders standing high bids and bids during the current round) by 
five-fourths (5/4).
Stage Two: During the second stage of the auction, a bidder desiring to maintain its current eligibility is 
required to be active on 90 percent of its current bidding eligibility.  Failure to maintain the required 
activity level will result in a reduction in the bidders bidding eligibility in the next round of bidding 
(unless an activity rule waiver is used). During Stage Two, reduced eligibility for the next round will be 
calculated by multiplying the bidders current activity (the sum of bidding units of the bidders standing 
high bids and bids during the current round) by ten-ninths (10/9).
Stage Three: During the third stage of the auction, a bidder desiring to maintain its current eligibility is 
required to be active on 98 percent of its current bidding eligibility.  Failure to maintain the required 
activity level will result in a reduction in the bidders bidding eligibility in the next round of bidding 
(unless an activity rule waiver is used).  In this stage, reduced eligibility for the next round will be 
calculated by multiplying the bidders current activity (the sum of bidding units of the bidders standing 
high bids and bids during the current round) by fifty-fortyninths (50/49).
CAUTION:  Since activity requirements increase in each auction stage, bidders must carefully 
check their current activity during the bidding period of the first round following a stage 
transition.  This is especially critical for bidders that have standing high bids and do not plan to 
submit new bids.  In past auctions, some bidders have inadvertently lost bidding eligibility or  
used an activity rule waiver because they did not re-verify their activity level at stage transitions.  
Bidders may check their activity against the required activity level by using the bidding systems 
bidding module.
  
55 Id. at 5.
28
Because the foregoing procedures have proven successful in maintaining proper pace in previous  
auctions, we adopt them for Auction No. 48.
4. Stage Transitions
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed that the auction would generally advance to 
the next stage (i.e., from Stage One to Stage Two, and from Stage Two to Stage Three) when the auction 
activity level, as measured by the percentage of bidding units receiving new high bids, is below 20 
percent for three consecutive rounds of bidding in each Stage.  We further proposed that the Bureau 
would retain the discretion to change stages unilaterally by announcement during the auction.  This 
determination, we proposed, would be based on a variety of measures of bidder activity, including, but 
not limited to, the auction activity level, the percentages of licenses (as measured in bidding units) on 
which there are new bids, the number of new bids, and the percentage increase in revenue.56 We received 
no comments on this subject.
We adopt our proposal.  Thus, the auction will start in Stage One and will advance to the next stage (i.e., 
from Stage One to Stage Two, and from Stage Two to Stage Three) when, in each of three consecutive 
rounds of bidding, the high bid has increased on 20 percent or less of the licenses being auctioned (as 
measured in bidding units).  In addition, the Bureau will retain the discretion to regulate the pace of the 
auction by announcement.  This determination will be based on a variety of measures of bidding activity, 
including, but not limited to, the auction activity level, the percentages of licenses (as measured in 
bidding units) on which there are new bids,57 the number of new bids, and the percentage increase in 
revenue.  We believe that these stage transition rules, having proven successful in prior auctions, are 
appropriate for use in Auction No. 48.
5. Activity Rule Waivers and Reducing Eligibility
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed that each bidder in the auction would be 
provided five activity rule waivers.  Bidders may use an activity rule waiver in any round during the 
course of the auction.58 We received no comments on this subject.
Based upon our experience in previous auctions, we adopt our proposal that each bidder be provided 
five activity rule waivers that may be used in any round during the course of the auction.  Use of an 
activity rule waiver preserves the bidders current bidding eligibility despite the bidders activity in the 
current round being below the required level.  An activity rule waiver applies to an entire round of 
bidding and not to a particular license. We are satisfied that our practice of providing five waivers over 
the course of the auction provides a sufficient number of waivers and flexibility to the bidders, while 
safeguarding the integrity of the auction.
  
56 Id. at 5.
57 When monitoring activity for determining when to change stages, we may consider the percentage of 
bidding units of the licenses receiving new high bids, excluding any FCC-held licenses.
58 Id. at 7.
29
The Automated Auction System assumes that bidders with insufficient activity would prefer to use an 
activity rule waiver (if available) rather than lose bidding eligibility.  Therefore, the system will 
automatically apply a waiver (known as an automatic waiver) at the end of any round where a bidders 
activity level is below the minimum required unless:  (1) there are no activity rule waivers available; or 
(2) the bidder overrides the automatic application of a waiver by reducing eligibility, thereby meeting the 
required activity level.  If a bidder has no waivers remaining and does not satisfy the required activity 
level, the current eligibility will be permanently reduced, possibly eliminating the bidder from the 
auction.
A bidder with insufficient activity that wants to reduce its bidding eligibility rather than use an activity 
rule waiver must affirmatively override the automatic waiver mechanism during the round by using the 
reduce eligibility function in the bidding system.  In this case, the bidders eligibility is permanently 
reduced to bring the bidder into compliance with the activity rules as described in Auction Stages (see 
Part IV.A.3 discussion above).  Once eligibility has been reduced, a bidder will not be permitted to regain 
its lost bidding eligibility.
Finally, a bidder may proactively use an activity rule waiver as a means to keep the auction open without 
placing a bid.  If a bidder submits a proactive waiver (using the proactive waiver function in the 
Automated Auction System) during a round in which no bids are submitted, the auction will remain open 
and the bidders eligibility will be preserved.  However, an automatic waiver triggered during a round in 
which there are no new bids or withdrawals will not keep the auction open.  Note:  Once a proactive 
waiver is placed during a round, that waiver cannot be unsubmitted.
6. Auction Stopping Rules
For Auction No. 48, the Bureau proposed to employ a simultaneous stopping rule approach.59 The 
Bureau also sought comment on a modified version of the stopping rule.  The modified version of the 
stopping rule would close the auction for all licenses after the first round in which no bidder submits a 
proactive waiver, a withdrawal, or a new bid on any license on which it is not the standing high bidder.  
Thus, absent any other bidding activity, a bidder placing a new bid on a license for which it is the 
standing high bidder would not keep the auction open under this modified stopping rule. 
The Bureau further proposed retaining the discretion to keep the auction open even if no new acceptable 
bids or proactive waivers are submitted and no previous high bids are withdrawn in a round.  In this 
event, the effect will be the same as if a bidder had submitted a proactive waiver.  Thus, the activity rule 
will apply as usual, and a bidder with insufficient activity will either use an activity rule waiver (if it has
any left) or lose bidding eligibility.
In addition, we proposed that the Bureau reserve the right to declare that the auction will end after a 
designated number of additional rounds (special stopping rule).  If the Bureau invokes this special 
stopping rule, it will accept bids in the final round(s) only for licenses on which the high bid increased in 
at least one of the preceding specified number of rounds.  We proposed to exercise this option only in 
  
59 Id. at 13.
30
circumstances such as where the auction is proceeding very slowly, where there is minimal overall  
bidding activity or where it appears likely that the auction will not close within a reasonable period of 
time.60 Before exercising this option, the Bureau is likely to attempt to increase the pace of the auction  
by, for example, moving the auction into the next stage (where bidders will be required to maintain a 
higher level of bidding activity), increasing the number of rounds per day and/or adjusting the minimum 
acceptable bids and bid increments for the licenses.
We received no comments concerning the auction stopping rules; therefore, we adopt the above  
proposals.  Auction No. 48 will begin under the simultaneous stopping rule, and the Bureau will retain the 
discretion to invoke the other versions of the stopping rule.  We believe that these stopping rules are most 
appropriate for Auction No. 48, because our experience in prior auctions demonstrates that the auction 
stopping rules balance the interests of administrative efficiency and maximum bidder participation.  
7. Auction Delay, Suspension, or Cancellation
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed that, by public notice or by announcement 
during the auction, the Bureau may delay, suspend, or cancel the auction in the event of natural disaster, 
technical obstacle, evidence of an auction security breach, unlawful bidding activity, administrative or 
weather necessity, or for any other reason that affects the fair conduct of competitive bidding.61
Because this approach has proven effective in resolving exigent circumstances in previous auctions, we  
adopt our proposed auction cancellation rules. By public notice or by announcement during the auction, 
the Bureau may delay, suspend, or cancel the auction in the event of natural disaster, technical obstacle, 
evidence of an auction security breach, unlawful bidding activity, administrative or weather necessity, or 
for any other reason that affects the fair and competitive conduct of competitive bidding.  In such cases, 
the Bureau, in its sole discretion, may elect to resume the auction starting from the beginning of the 
current round, resume the auction starting from some previous round, or cancel the auction in its entirety.  
Network interruption may cause the Bureau to delay or suspend the auction. We emphasize that exercise 
of this authority is solely within the discretion of the Bureau, and its use is not intended to be a substitute 
for situations in which bidders may wish to apply their activity rule waivers.
B. Bidding Procedures
1. Round Structure
The initial bidding schedule will be announced in the public notice listing the qualified bidders, which is 
released approximately 10 days before the start of the auction.  Each bidding round is followed by the 
release of the round results.  Multiple bidding rounds may be conducted in a given day. Details regarding 
round results formats and locations will also be included in the qualified bidders public notice.
The FCC has discretion to change the bidding schedule in order to foster an auction pace that reasonably 
balances speed with the bidders need to study round results and adjust their bidding strategies.  The 
  
60 Id. at 14.
61 Id. at 7.
31
Bureau may increase or decrease the amount of time for the bidding rounds and review periods, or the 
number of rounds per day, depending upon the bidding activity level and other factors.  
2. Reserve Price or Minimum Opening Bid           
Background.  The Balanced Budget Act calls upon the Commission to prescribe methods by which a 
reasonable reserve price will be required or a minimum opening bid established when FCC licenses are 
subject to auction (i.e., because they are mutually exclusive), unless the Commission determines that a 
reserve price or minimum opening bid is not in the public interest.62 Consistent with this mandate, the 
Commission directed the Bureau to seek comment on the use of a minimum opening bid and/or reserve 
price prior to the start of each auction.63 Among other factors, the Bureau should consider the amount of 
spectrum being auctioned, levels of incumbency, the availability of technology to provide service, the size 
of the geographic service areas, the extent of interference with other spectrum bands, and any other 
relevant factors that could have an impact on the spectrum being auctioned.64 The Commission  
concluded that the Bureau should have the discretion to employ either or both of these mechanisms for  
future auctions.65
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, the Bureau proposed to establish minimum opening bids 
for Auction No. 48 and to retain discretion to lower the minimum opening bids.66 Specifically, for 
Auction No. 48, the Bureau proposed the following formula for minimum opening bids:
 For a license being auctioned by MEA, the minimum opening bid will be 20% of the 
average gross high bid received in Auction No. 40 in the same MEA and the same band.
 For a license being auctioned by EA, the minimum opening bid will be 20% of the 
average gross high bid received in Auction No. 40 in the same EA and the same band.
The Bureau will set a floor for minimum opening bids at $500 for licenses in both the upper paging 
bands (929-931 MHz) and the lower paging bands (35 MHz, 43 MHz, 152 and 158 MHz, 454 MHz and 
459 MHz, 929 MHz, 931 MHz).
In the alternative, the Bureau sought comment on whether, consistent with the Balanced Budget Act, the 
public interest would be served by having no minimum opening bid or reserve price.67 We received one 
comment regarding this issue, suggesting that there be no minimum bid on all licenses that remain unsold 
  
62 See Balanced Budget Act, section 3002(a), 47 U.S.C.  309(j)(4)(F).
63 See Part 1 Third Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 374, 455-456  141 (1997).
64 Id.
65 Id.
66 Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice at 8-9.
67 Id. at 9.
32
from a previous auction.68  
After reviewing the comment, the Bureau has concluded that it should adopt its original proposal and the 
minimum opening bids listed in the Auction No. 48 Comment Paging Notice.  The Bureau believes that  
the use of minimum opening bids is in the public interest because parties unable or unwilling to make 
proposed minimum opening bids most likely will be unable or unwilling to use the licenses to provide 
service to the public.  We conclude that the proposed absolute minimum opening bid of $500 will not 
impede any party willing and able to use the license to provide paging service.  Under the Commissions 
current rules, the filing fee for a new paging service license or to make major modifications to an existing 
paging service license is $325.69 This fee is waived for applicants that obtained licenses through the 
auction process.70  Finally, small businesses qualifying for a thirty-five percent (35%) bidding credit 
and winning a lower paging bands license for the minimum opening bid of $500 will have to pay 
$325 for the license. Thus, even absent an auction, service providers would have to meet costs 
comparable to the proposed absolute minimum opening bids in order to obtain a license.
We will adopt minimum opening bids for Auction No. 48, that are reducible at the discretion of the 
Bureau.  We emphasize, however, that such discretion will be exercised, if at all, sparingly and early in 
the auction, i.e., before bidders lose all waivers and begin to lose substantial eligibility.  During the course 
of the auction, the Bureau will not entertain requests to reduce the minimum opening bid on specific 
licenses.
The specific minimum opening bid for each license available in Auction No. 48 is set forth in the list of 
licenses provided in electronic format as Attachment A to this Public Notice at 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/48/.
3. Minimum Acceptable Bids and Bid Increments 
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed to set the minimum acceptable bid as the 
minimum opening bid or the standing high bid plus the defined increment.  Eligible bidders will be able to 
place bids on a given license in any of nine different amounts.  Until a bid has been placed on a license, 
the minimum acceptable bid for that license will be equal to its minimum opening bid.  In the rounds after 
a bid is placed on a license, the minimum acceptable bid for that license will be equal to the standing high 
bid plus the defined increment. With respect to calculating the defined increment, we proposed basing the 
defined increment on a percentage of the standing high bid or, if no standing high bid had been placed, on 
a percentage of the minimum opening bid.  We proposed that at the outset of the auction, we would use 
twenty percent of the standing high bid or minimum opening bid to calculate the increment.  We further 
proposed to retain the discretion to change the percentage used to calculate the defined increment if 
circumstances so dictate and to set a floor for the increment used to calculate the minimum acceptable bid 
  
68 See Pacific Radio Comments at 2. 
69 See 47 C.F.R.  1.1102.
70 See 47 C.F.R.  1.1107(c).
33
at an absolute dollar amount.71 Finally, we proposed that the Bureau have discretion to use a smaller 
percentage to calculate the increment used in setting acceptable bids higher than the minimum acceptable 
bid.  In all other respects, such as rounding, the smaller defined increment would be calculated in the  
same manner as the defined increment used to set the minimum acceptable bid.72
For Auction No. 48, we proposed to use a fixed 20 percent bid increment.  This means that the minimum 
acceptable bid for a license will be approximately 20 percent greater than the previous standing high bid 
received on the license.  The minimum acceptable bid amount will be calculated by multiplying the 
standing high bid times one plus the fixed percentage  i.e., minimum acceptable bid amount = (standing 
high bid) * (1.20){rounded}.  We will round the result using our standard rounding procedure for 
minimum acceptable bid calculations:  results above $10,000 are rounded to the nearest $1,000; results 
below $10,000 but above $1,000 are rounded to the nearest $100; and results below $1,000 are rounded  
to the nearest $10. 
At the start of the auction and until a bid has been placed on a license, the minimum acceptable bid for 
that license will be equal to its minimum opening bid.  Corresponding additional bid amounts will be 
calculated using bid increments defined as the difference between the minimum opening bid times one 
plus the percentage increment, rounded as described above, and the minimum opening bid  i.e., bid 
increment = (minimum opening bid)(1 + percentage increment){rounded} - (minimum opening bid).  At 
the start of the auction and until a bid has been placed on a license, the nine acceptable bid amounts for 
each license consist of the minimum opening bid and additional amounts are calculated using multiple bid 
increments (i.e., the second bid amount equals the minimum opening bid plus the bid increment, the third 
bid amount equals the minimum opening bid plus two times the bid increment, etc.).
Example bid amount calculation for licenses at the start of the auction and without standing high bids:
1st bid amount = minimum opening bid
2nd bid amount = minimum opening bid + (bid increment)
3rd bid amount = minimum opening bid + 2(bid increment)

9th bid amount = minimum opening bid + 8(bid increment)
Once there is a standing high bid on the license, the Automated Auction System will calculate a minimum 
acceptable bid for that license for the following round, as described below.  The difference between the 
minimum acceptable bid and the standing high bid for each license will define the bid incrementi.e., 
bid increment = (minimum acceptable bid)  (standing high bid). The nine acceptable bid amounts for 
each license consist of the minimum acceptable bid (the standing high bid plus one bid increment) and 
additional amounts calculated using multiple bid increments (i.e., the second bid amount equals the 
standing high bid plus two times the bid increment, the third bid amount equals the standing high bid plus 
three times the bid increment, etc.).
  
71 Bids higher than the minimum acceptable bid would be calculated using the current percentage, even if 
the resulting increment is less than the absolute dollar amount imposed on the initial increment.
72 Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice at 10-11.
34
Example bid amount calculation for a license with standing high bids:
1st bid amount (minimum acceptable bid) = standing high bid + bid increment 
2nd bid amount = standing high bid +2(bid increment)
3rd bid amount = standing high bid +3(bid increment)

9th bid amount = standing high bid +9(bid increment)   
The Bureau retains the discretion to change the minimum acceptable bids and bid increments and the 
methodology for determining the minimum acceptable bids and bid increments if it determines 
circumstances so dictate.  The Bureau will do so by announcement in the FCC Automated Auction 
System. The Bureau may also use its discretion to adjust the minimum bid increment without prior notice 
if circumstances warrant. 
We will adopt our proposals contained in the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice. In doing so, we 
will retain the discretion to set the percentages being used.  Advance notice of the Bureaus decision to 
exercise its discretion with regard to acceptable bids in any manner will be announced via the Automated 
Auction System.
4. High Bids
At the end of each bidding round, the high bids will be determined based on the highest gross bid amount 
of the bids received for each license.
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, the Bureau proposed to use a random number generator to 
select a high bid in the event of identical high bids on a license in a given round (i.e., tied bids).  A 
random number will be assigned to each bid.  The tied bid having the highest random number will 
become the standing high bid.  The remaining bidders, as well as the high bidder, will be able to submit a 
higher bid in a subsequent round.  If no bidder submits a higher bid in a subsequent round, the high bid 
from the previous round will win the license.  If any bids are received on the license in a subsequent 
round, the high bid will once again be determined on the highest gross bid amount received for the 
license.  We received no comments on this issue.  Therefore, we adopt our proposal.
5. Bidding
During a round, a bidder may submit bids for as many licenses as it wishes (subject to its eligibility), 
withdraw high bids from previous bidding rounds, remove bids placed in the same bidding round, or 
permanently reduce eligibility.  Bidders also have the option of making multiple submissions and 
withdrawals in each round.  If a bidder submits multiple bids for a single license in the same round, the 
system takes the last bid entered as that bidders bid for the round.  Bidders should note that the bidding 
units associated with licenses for which the bidder has removed or withdrawn its bid do not count towards 
the bidders activity at the close of the round.
Please note that all bidding will take place remotely either through the Automated Auction System or by 
telephonic bidding.  (Telephonic bid assistants are required to use a script when entering bids placed by 
telephone.  Telephonic bidders are therefore reminded to allow sufficient time to bid by placing their calls 
well in advance of the close of a round. Normally, five to ten minutes are necessary to complete a bid 
35
submission.  Due to the large number of licenses in Auction No. 48, bidders may require more time to 
submit their bids than in past auctions.)  There will be no on-site bidding during Auction No. 48.
A bidders ability to bid on specific licenses in the first round of the auction is determined by two factors:  
(1) the licenses applied for on FCC Form 175 and (2) the upfront payment amount deposited.  The bid 
submission screens will allow bidders to submit bids on only those licenses for which the bidder applied 
on its FCC Form 175.
In order to access the bidding functions of the Automated Auction System, bidders must be logged in 
during the bidding round using the bidder identification number provided in the registration materials, 
and the generated SecurID code. Bidders are strongly encouraged to print bid confirmations for each 
round after they have completed all of their activity for that round.
In each round, eligible bidders will be able to place bids on a given license in any of nine different 
amounts.73 For each license, the Automated Auction System interface will list the nine acceptable bid 
amounts in a drop-down box.  Bidders may use the drop-down box to select from among the nine 
acceptable bid amounts.  The Automated Auction System also includes an import function that allows 
bidders to upload text files containing their bid information.
Until a bid has been placed on a license, the minimum acceptable bid for that license will be equal to its 
minimum opening bid.  In the rounds after an acceptable bid is placed on a license, the minimum 
acceptable bid for that license will be equal to the standing high bid plus the defined increment. 
As detailed above, for each license in Auction No. 48, the defined increment for the minimum acceptable 
bid is based on a percentage of the standing high bid on the license or, if no bid has been placed on the 
license, a percentage of the minimum opening bid for the license. Presuming, for example, that the 
percentage being used is 20 percentthe initial value at the start of the auctionand the standing high 
bid for a license is $10,000, the minimum acceptable bid will be $12,000.
In addition, the Bureau proposed discretion to use a smaller defined increment to calculate acceptable bids 
higher than the minimum acceptable bid.  The smaller defined increment would be calculated using a 
smaller percentage than the percentage used to calculate the defined increment that sets the minimum 
acceptable bid.  For example, 20 percent might be used to calculate the defined increment for the 
minimum acceptable bid and 10 percent might be used to calculate the smaller defined increment used to 
calculate higher acceptable bids.  In all other respects, the smaller defined increment would be calculated 
in exactly the manner described above for the initial defined increment, including rounding. In this case, 
for the example above in which the standing high bid for a license is $10,000 and the minimum  
acceptable bid is $12,000, the values for the minimum acceptable bid and higher amounts will be 
calculated as follows:
Defined Increment = (Standing High Bid * 1.2{rounded})  Standing High Bid 
  
73 Bidders must have sufficient eligibility to place a bid on the particular license.  See Section III.D.3
Amount of Upfront Payment, infra.
36
= ($10,000 * 1.2{rounded})  $10,000
= ($12,000{rounded})  $10,000
= $12,000  $10,000
= $2,000
Smaller Defined Increment = (Standing High Bid * 1.1{rounded})  Standing High Bid
= ($10,000 * 1.1{rounded})  $10,000
= ($11,000{rounded})  $10,000
= $11,000  $10,000
= $1,000
Minimum Acceptable Bid = Standing High Bid + Defined Increment
= $10,000 + $2,000
= $12,000
One Increment Higher Than Minimum Acceptable Bid
= Minimum Acceptable Bid + (Smaller Defined Increment * 1)
= $12,000 + ($1,000 * 1)
= $12,000 + $1,000
= $13,000
Two Increments Higher Than Minimum Acceptable Bid
= Minimum Acceptable Bid + (Smaller Defined Increment * 2)
= $12,000 + ($1,000 * 2)
= $12,000 + $2,000
= $14,000
This procedure would enable bidders unwilling to raise the standing high bid by twice the defined 
increment to place bids higher than the minimum acceptable bid.  Thus, in the above example, a bidder 
wanting to bid above the minimum acceptable bid but unwilling to raise the standing high bid of $10,000 
by twice the defined increment of $2,000 ($4,000 or 40 percent) would have the flexibility to bid 
$13,000, raising the standing high bid by $3,000. In the case of a license for which the standing high bid 
has been withdrawn,74 the minimum acceptable bid will equal the second highest bid received for the 
license.  The additional bid amounts are calculated using the defined increment, as stated above. The 
Bureau will adopt these proposals for Auction No. 48.
Finally, bidders are cautioned in selecting their bid amounts because, as explained in the following 
section, bidders who withdraw a standing high bid from a previous round, even if mistakenly or 
erroneously made, are subject to bid withdrawal payments.
  
74 See Section IV.B.6 Bid Removal and Bid Withdrawal, infra.
37
6. Bid Removal and Bid Withdrawal
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed bid removal and bid withdrawal procedures.75
With respect to bid withdrawals, we proposed limiting each bidder to withdrawals in no more than two 
rounds during the course of the auction.  The two rounds in which withdrawals are utilized, we proposed, 
would be at the bidders discretion.  We received no comments on this issue.
Procedures. Before the close of a bidding round, a bidder has the option of removing any bids placed in 
that round.  By using the remove bid function in the bidding system, a bidder may effectively 
unsubmit any bid placed within that round.  A bidder removing a bid placed in the same round is not 
subject to withdrawal payments.  Removing a bid will affect a bidders activity for the round in which it 
is removed, i.e., a bid that is subsequently removed does not count toward the bidders activity 
requirement.  This procedure, about which we received no comments, will enhance bidder flexibility 
during the auction.  Therefore, we will adopt these procedures for Auction No. 48.
Once a round closes, a bidder may no longer remove a bid.  However, in later rounds, a bidder may 
withdraw standing high bids from previous rounds using the withdraw bid function in the Automated 
Auction System (assuming that the bidder has not exhausted its withdrawal allowance).  A high bidder 
that withdraws its standing high bid from a previous round during the auction is subject to the bid 
withdrawal payments specified in 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(g).  Note: Once a withdrawal is placed during a 
round, that withdrawal cannot be unsubmitted.
In previous auctions, we have detected bidder conduct that, arguably, may have constituted strategic 
bidding through the use of bid withdrawals.  While we continue to recognize the important role that bid 
withdrawals play in an auction, i.e., reducing risk associated with efforts to secure various licenses in 
combination, we conclude that, for Auction No. 48, adoption of a limit on their use to two rounds per 
bidder is the most appropriate outcome.  By doing so we believe we strike a reasonable compromise that 
will allow bidders to use withdrawals.  Our decision on this issue is based upon our experience in prior 
auctions, particularly the PCS D, E and F block auctions, and 800 MHz SMR auction, and is in no way a 
reflection of our view regarding the likelihood of any speculation or gaming in this auction.
The Bureau will therefore limit the number of rounds in which each bidder may place withdrawals to two 
rounds.  These rounds will be at the bidders discretion, and there will be no limit on the number of bids 
that may be withdrawn in either of these rounds.  Withdrawals during the auction will still be subject to 
the bid withdrawal payments specified in 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(g).  Bidders should note that abuse of the 
Commissions bid withdrawal procedures could result in the denial of the ability to bid on a market.  
If a high bid is withdrawn, the minimum acceptable bid will equal the second highest bid received for the 
license, which may be less than, or equal to, in the case of tied bids, the amount of the withdrawn bid.76  
To set the additional bid amounts, the second highest bid also will be used in place of the standing high 
  
75 Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice at 12-13.
76 The Bureau retains the discretion to lower the minimum acceptable bid on such licenses in the next round 
or in later rounds.
38
bid in the formula used to calculate bid increments.  The Commission will serve as a place holder high 
bidder on the license until a new bid is submitted on that license.
Calculation. Generally, the Commission imposes payments on bidders that withdraw high bids during 
the course of an auction.77 If a bidder withdraws its bid and there is no higher bid in the same or 
subsequent auction(s), the bidder that withdrew its bid is responsible for the difference between its 
withdrawn bid and the net high bid in the same or subsequent auction(s).  In the case of multiple bid 
withdrawals on a single license, within the same or subsequent auctions(s), the payment for each bid 
withdrawal will be calculated based on the sequence of bid withdrawals and the amounts withdrawn.  No 
withdrawal payment will be assessed for a withdrawn bid if either the subsequent winning bid or any of 
the intervening subsequent withdrawn bids, in either the same or subsequent auctions(s), equals or 
exceeds that withdrawn bid.  Thus, a bidder that withdraws a bid will not be responsible for any 
withdrawal payments if there is a subsequent higher bid in the same or subsequent auction(s).  This policy 
allows bidders most efficiently to allocate their resources as well as to evaluate their bidding strategies 
and business plans during an auction while, at the same time, maintaining the integrity of the auction 
process.  The Bureau retains the discretion to scrutinize multiple bid withdrawals on a single license for 
evidence of anti-competitive strategic behavior and take appropriate action when deemed necessary.
In the Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, the Commission modified Section 1.2104(g)(1) of the rules 
regarding assessments of interim bid withdrawal payments.78 As amended, Section 1.2104(g)(1) provides 
that in instances in which bids have been withdrawn on a license that is not won in the same auction, the 
Commission will assess an interim withdrawal payment equal to 3 percent of the amount of the 
withdrawn bids.  The 3 percent interim payment will be applied toward any final bid withdrawal payment 
that will be assessed after subsequent auction of the license.  Assessing an interim bid withdrawal 
payment ensures that the Commission receives a minimal withdrawal payment pending assessment of any 
final withdrawal payment. The Part 1 Fifth Report and Order provides specific examples showing 
application of the bid withdrawal payment rule79
7. Round Results
In the Auction No. 48 Comment Public Notice, we proposed disclosing all information relating to the bids 
during Auction No. 48 after each round of bidding closes, including all bids and withdrawals placed in 
each round, the identity of the bidder placing each bid or withdrawal, and the net and gross amounts of 
each bid or withdrawal.  Accordingly, the Bureau will adopt the proposal in the Auction No. 48 Comment 
Public Notice.
Bids placed during a round will not be published until the conclusion of that bidding period.  After a 
round closes, the Bureau will compile reports of all bids placed, bids withdrawn, current high bids, new 
minimum acceptable bids, and bidder eligibility status (bidding eligibility and activity rule waivers), and 
post the reports for public access.  Reports reflecting bidders identities and bidder identification numbers 
  
77 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(g), 1.2109.
78 See Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 15302,  15; 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(g)(1).
79 See Part 1 Fifth Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd at 15302,  15.
39
for Auction No. 48 will be available before and during the auction.  Thus, bidders will know in advance  
of this auction the identities of the bidders against which they are bidding.
8. Auction Announcements
The FCC will use auction announcements to announce items such as schedule changes and stage 
transitions.  All FCC auction announcements will be available by clicking a link on the Automated 
Auction System. 
9. Maintaining the Accuracy of FCC Form 175 Information
As noted in Part II.H., after the short-form filing deadline, applicants may make only minor changes to 
their FCC Form 175 applications.  For example, permissible minor changes include deletion and addition 
of authorized bidders (to a maximum of three) and certain revision of exhibits.  Applicants must make 
these modifications to their FCC Form 175 electronically and submit a letter, briefly summarizing the 
changes, by electronic mail to the attention of Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis 
Division at the following address: auction48@fcc.gov.  The electronic mail summarizing the changes 
should include a subject or caption referring to Auction No. 48.  The Bureau requests that parties format 
any attachments to electronic mail as Adobe Acrobat (pdf) or Microsoft Word documents. 
A separate copy of the letter should be faxed to the attention of Kathryn Garland at (717) 338-2850.  
Questions about other changes should be directed to Rosemary Cabral of the Auctions and Industry 
Analysis Division at (202) 418-0660.
V. POST-AUCTION PROCEDURES
A. Down Payments and Withdrawn Bid Payments
After bidding has ended, the Commission will issue a public notice declaring the auction closed, 
identifying winning bidders, down payments and any withdrawn bid payments due.
Within ten business days after release of the auction closing notice, each winning bidder must submit 
sufficient funds (in addition to its upfront payment) to bring its total amount of money on deposit with the 
Government to 20 percent of its net winning bids (actual bids less any applicable small business bidding 
credits).  See 47 C.F.R.  1.2107(b).  In addition, by the same deadline all bidders must pay any bid 
withdrawal payments due under 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(g), as discussed in Bid Removal and Bid 
Withdrawal, Part IV.B.6.  (Upfront payments are applied first to satisfy any withdrawn bid liability, 
before being applied toward down payments.)
B. Auction Discount Voucher   
On June 8, 2000, the Commission awarded Qualcomm, Inc. a transferable Auction Discount Voucher 
(ADV) in the amount of $125,273,878.00.80 This ADV may be used by Qualcomm or its transferee, in 
  
80  In the Matter of Qualcomm Incorporated Petition for Declaratory Ruling Giving Effect to the Mandate of the 
District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, Order, 16 FCC Rcd 4042 (2000).
40
whole or in part, to adjust a winning bid in any spectrum auction prior to June 8, 2003, subject to terms 
and conditions set forth in the Commissions Order.81 Qualcomm transferred $10,848,000.00 of the ADV 
to a winning bidder in FCC Auction No. 35 and the transferee used its portion of the ADV to pay a  
portion of one of its winning bids in Auction No. 35.82 The remaining portion of Qualcomms ADV  
could be used to adjust winning bids in another FCC auction, including Auction No. 48.
C. Long-Form Application
Within ten business days after release of the auction closing notice, winning bidders must electronically 
submit a properly completed long-form application (FCC Form 601) and required exhibits for each 
license won through Auction No. 48.  Winning bidders that are small businesses must include an exhibit 
demonstrating their eligibility for small business bidding credits.  See 47 C.F.R.  1.2112(b), 
24.709(c)(2)(i).  Further filing instructions will be provided to auction winners at the close of the auction.
D. Tribal Land Bidding Credit
A winning bidder that intends to use its license(s) to deploy facilities and provide services to federally-
recognized tribal lands that are unserved by any telecommunications carrier or that have a telephone 
service penetration rate equal to or below 70 percent is eligible to receive a tribal land bidding credit as 
set forth in 47 C.F.R.  1.2107 and 1.2110(f).  A tribal land bidding credit is in addition to, and separate 
from, any other bidding credit for which a winning bidder may qualify.
Unlike other bidding credits that are requested prior to the auction, a winning bidder applies for the tribal 
land bidding credit after winning the auction when it files its long-form application (FCC Form 601).  
When filing the long-form application, the winning bidder will be required to advise the Commission 
whether it intends to seek a tribal land bidding credit, for each market won in the auction, by checking the 
designated box(es).  After stating its intent to seek a tribal land bidding credit, the applicant will have 90 
days from the close of the long-form filing window to amend its application to select the specific tribal 
lands to be served and provide the required tribal government certifications.  Licensees receiving a tribal 
land bidding credit are subject to performance criteria as set forth in 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(f).
For additional information on the tribal land bidding credit, including how the amount of the credit is 
calculated, applicants should review the Commissions rule making proceeding regarding tribal land 
  
81 Id.  See also Qualcomm, Inc. Petition for Waiver of Certain Terms and Conditions of its Auction  
Discount Voucher, Order, FCC 02-321, WT Docket No. 02-234 (WTB, rel. Nov. 27, 2002).
82  See Supplement to Public Notice Released August 22, 2001 By Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
Announcing It Is Prepared to Grant Four C and F Block Broadband Personal Communications Services (PCS) 
Licenses Upon Full and Timely Payment, Auction Event No. 35, DA 01-2071, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 16,025 
(2001).  All of the terms and conditions applicable to Qualcomms use of the ADV shall apply to its use by a 
transferee, except that a transferee may not transfer the ADV to an entity other than back to Qualcomm.  See In the 
Matter of Qualcomm Incorporated Petition for Declaratory Ruling Giving Effect to the Mandate of the District of 
Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals, Order, 16 FCC Rcd 4042 (2000); see also Letter from Thomas J. Sugrue, Chief, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, to Veronica M. Ahern, Attorney for 
Qualcomm Incorporated (December 22, 2000).
41
bidding credits and related public notices.83 Relevant documents can be viewed on the Commissions 
web site by going to http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions and clicking on the Tribal Land Credits link.
E. Default and Disqualification
Any winning bidder that defaults or is disqualified after the close of the auction (i.e., fails to remit the 
required down payment within the prescribed period of time, fails to submit a timely long-form 
application; fails to make full payment, or is otherwise disqualified) will be subject to the payments 
described in 47 C.F.R.  1.2104(g)(2). In such event the Commission may re-auction the license or offer 
it to the next highest bidder (in descending order) at its final bid.84 In addition, if a default or 
disqualification involves gross misconduct, misrepresentation, or bad faith by an applicant, the 
Commission may declare the applicant and its principals ineligible to bid in future auctions, and may take 
any other action that it deems necessary, including institution of proceedings to revoke any existing 
licenses held by the applicant.85
F. Refund of Remaining Upfront Payment Balance
All applicants that submitted upfront payments but were not winning bidders for a license in Auction No. 
48 may be entitled to a refund of their remaining upfront payment balance after the conclusion of the 
auction.  No refund will be made unless there are excess funds on deposit from that applicant after any 
applicable bid withdrawal payments have been paid.  All refunds will be returned to the payer of record, 
as identified on the FCC 159, unless the payer submits written authorization instructing otherwise.
Bidders that drop out of the auction completely may be eligible for a refund of their upfront payments 
before the close of the auction.  Qualified bidders that have exhausted all of their activity rule waivers, 
have no remaining bidding eligibility, and have not withdrawn a high bid during the auction must submit 
a written refund request.  If you have completed the refund instructions electronically, then only a written 
request for the refund is necessary.  If not, the request must also include wire transfer instructions, 
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and FCC Registration Number (FRN).  Send refund request to:
Federal Communications Commission
  
83 See Extending Wireless Telecommunications Services to Tribal Lands, WT Docket No. 99-266, Report 
and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 15 FCC Rcd 11794 (2000); Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau Announces Availability of Bidding Credits For Providing Wireless Services To 
Qualifying Tribal Lands, Public Notice, 15 FCC Rcd 18351 (2000); Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
Releases Additional Information Regarding the Procedures for Obtaining a Tribal Lands Bidding Credit and List  
of Tribal Lands, Public Notice, DA 00-2836, (rel. December 14, 2000); Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
Announces Enhancements to the Universal Licensing System to Help Winning Bidders of FCC Auctions File for 
Tribal Land Bidding Credits, Public Notice, DA 01-613, (rel. March 8, 2001).
84 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2109(b) and (c).
85 See 47 C.F.R.  1.2109(d).
42
Financial Operations Center
Auctions Accounting Group
Gail Glasser or Tim Dates
445 12th Street, SW, Room 1-C863
Washington, DC  20554
Bidders are encouraged to file their refund information electronically using the refund information portion 
of the FCC Form 175, but bidders can also fax their information to the Auctions Accounting Group at 
(202) 418-2843.  Once the information has been approved, a refund will be sent to the party identified in 
the refund information.
NOTE:  Refund processing generally takes up to two weeks to complete.  Bidders 
with questions about refunds should contact Tim Dates at (202) 418-0496 or Gail 
Glasser at  (202) 418-0578.
Media Contact: Lauren Kravetz at (202) 418-7944
Auctions and Industry Analysis Division: Rosemary Cabral, Legal Branch, at (202) 418-0660; Roy 
Knowles or Barbara Sibert , Auctions Operations Branch, at (717) 338-2888
Commercial Wireless Division: Amal Abdallah, Policy and Rules Branch, at (202) 418-7307; Bettye 
Woodward or Dwain Livingston, Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch, at (202) 4180620
- FCC -
A-1
-
VI. ATTACHMENT A  (LICENSE SUMMARY*) 
Totals By Frequency Band
License Band Total 
Number
of Licenses
Total Bidding
Units 
Total Upfront 
Payment
Total of 
Minimum 
Opening Bids
Lower Bands
35 MHz 2,093 1,046,700 $1,046,700 $1,046,700 
43 MHz 2,767 1,383,500 $1,383,500 $1,383,500 
152 and 158 MHz Paired 1,712 863,170 $863,170 $863,170 
152 and 158 MHz Unpaired 363 182,650 $182,650 $182,650 
454 and 459 MHz Paired  1,939 982,360 $982,360 $982,360 
Total Lower Bands 8,874 4,458,380 $4,458,380 $4,458,380 
Upper Bands
929 MHz 283 141,500 $141,500 $141,500 
931 MHz 1,045 528,150 $528,150 $528,150 
Total Upper Bands 1,328 669,650 $669,650 $669,650 
Total Lower and Upper 
Paging Bands
10,202 5,128,030 $5,128,030 $5,128,030 
*Due to the large volume of licenses in Auction No. 48, the complete list of licenses available for this 
auction will be provided in electronic format only, available as Attachment A to this Public Notice at 
http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/48/.
B-1
VII. ATTACHMENT B       
FCC AUCTION SEMINAR REGISTRATION FORM
Auction No. 48
The FCC will sponsor a one-day seminar for Auction No. 48 applicants.  The seminar is free of charge 
and will provide information about pre-auction procedures, service and auction rules, conduct of the 
auction, and the Automated Auction System. 
A maximum of two representatives from each company may attend on a reservation basis, first-come 
first-served until room capacity is filled.  Additional seating may be available on a stand-by basis the day 
of the seminar.  The seminar will be held:
Thursday, March 6, 2003
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC  20554
Registration 9:30 a.m.  10:00 a.m.
Seminar 10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.
If hotel accommodations are needed
Please contact 1-888-225-5322 (option #2) for a list of hotels in the area
**********************************
To register, complete the form below and
return no later than
Tuesday, March 4, 2003, by fax to:
FCC Auction 48
Auctions Operations Branch
1270 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, PA  17325-7245
FAX:  717-338-2850
Phone:  717-338-2888
_______________________________________________________
I/We will attend the Auction No. 48 Seminar, scheduled for Thursday, March 6, 2003.
Name of attendee: _____________________________________________________
Name of attendee: _____________________________________________________
Company name:  ______________________________________________________
Phone: __________________________   Fax: ______________________________
  C-1
VIII. ATTACHMENT C  
ELECTRONIC FILING AND REVIEW
OF THE FCC FORM 175
Applicants must submit their FCC Form 175 applications electronically.  The FCC recommends 
submitting your Form 175 via the Internet.  As a contingency, you can submit via the FCC Wide-Area 
Network.  FCC Form 175 applications must be submitted and confirmed by 6:00 p.m. ET on Friday, 
March 21, 2003. Late applications or unconfirmed submissions of electronic data will not be accepted.  
Applicants must click the SUBMIT Application button on the Submission page to successfully submit 
their FCC Form 175.  The electronic filing process consists of an initial filing period and a resubmission 
period to make minor corrections.  During each filing period, submitted applications may be updated and 
amended multiple times until the filing deadline.
A. Software Requirements
Applicants will need to meet the following minimum software requirements:
 Web Browser, either of the following:
 Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher (recommended). Your browser must have either 
Microsoft VM or Java Plug-In Version 1.3.1 installed.
 Netscape Communicator 4.0 or higher, with Java Plug-In Version 1.3.1.
Java Plug-In Version 1.3.1 is available for downloading at 
http://java.sun.com/getjava/download.html.
 PDF Viewer:  Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher (available at http://www.adobe.com)
 If you wish to use the download feature on the Search Results page, you will need a .tar 
file extraction utility, e.g., Winzip (available at http://www.winzip.com) or Pkzip for 
Windows (available at http://www.pkware.com/shareware). 
B. Submitting FCC Form 175 Applications
You can submit FCC Form 175 applications electronically via the Internet.  Start your web browser 
and point it to either https://auctions.fcc.gov/ (primary location) or https://auctions2.fcc.gov/
(secondary location).  On the FCC Auctions page, click Form 175 Application & Search to 
obtain the Form 175 Homepage.
Note: As a contingency, you may submit FCC Form 175 application amendments via the FCC Wide 
Area Network, using Dial-Up Networking.  To access the Wide Area Network, configure your dial-up 
network to dial either 202-408-7835 or 717-338-0735.  These phone numbers are located in the 
Washington, DC, and Gettysburg, PA, metropolitan areas, respectively. Thus, they may be long-distance 
calls, depending on where you reside. 
  C-2
1. Logging On
The Form 175 Homepage has a Form 175 Logon area at the top right.  This area provides fields that let 
you identify yourself to the system.  In these fields, type your assigned FRN (without the hyphens) and 
the password you created in CORES, respectively, then click the Logon button.
Once you have logged on with your FRN, you can click the New Form link to obtain the Profile page for 
the auction.  
2. Uploading Attachments
When uploading attachments from the Form 175 Attachments page, you may use a variety of file 
formats--including Word 2000 or earlier, WordPerfect 6.x or earlier, Adobe PDF, and ASCII 
text--and you should verify that the files contain all exhibit information.  Also note the following 
about files to be uploaded:
 Files may be no larger than 1.5 Mb.
 Graphics files (e.g., .bmp, .tiff, .jpg) and spreadsheets (e.g., Excel, Lotus) are not 
supported. 
 Word processing files that are uploaded may not contain graphic images. 
 You may include hyphens (-) and underscore (_) symbols in the name of a file to be 
uploaded, but do not use other punctuation marks or blank spaces.   The FCC system will 
not be able to convert that file.  
 The path to a file (i.e., the file name and its directory) must not exceed 60 characters.
 Do not upload a password-protected file.  The FCC system will not be able to open it or 
convert it.
 Do not include your TIN in any attachment to be uploaded.  Contents of attachments 
become public once the Status PN is released.
The system converts each uploaded attachment to PDF format.  (The conversion process
generally completes within 30 minutes.)  Until the system has converted your file to PDF format, the 
description field shows Not converted. 
Repeat this procedure for each additional attachment you want to add.  When you have finished adding 
attachments, click the Continue to CERTIFICATION button to obtain the Certification page.
a. Unreadable Attachment Files
If you are unable to read an attachment file after it has been converted, please do the following:
1. Re-upload the attachment.
  C-3
2. If the file still has not been converted properly, then simplify the formatting of the file.  
For example, if you are using a Table structure in a WordPerfect document, remove the Table 
structure and leave the contents of the table, then re-upload the attachment.
After you have successfully re-uploaded an attachment, please delete the old, unreadable 
attachment files using their Delete links.
3. Completing the Submission Procedure
Applicants must press the SUBMIT Application button on the Submission page to successfully 
submit their FCC Form 175.  Pressing SUBMIT Application produces a Submission 
Confirmation page showing the assigned FCC Account Number.  During each filing period, 
submitted applications may be updated and amended multiple times until the filing deadline.
C. Reviewing FCC Form 175 Applications
Once the FCC has completed the 175 Review process, you can view FCC Form 175 applications 
electronically by searching for them in the FCC database.  Start your web browser and point it to 
either https://auctions.fcc.gov/ (primary location) or https://auctions2.fcc.gov/ (secondary location). 
Click the Form 175 Application & Search link, then click the SEARCH link at the top of the 
page. When the Form 175 Search page appears, select the search criteria you want and then click 
the Submit button.
D. 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 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.  All calls to the FCC Technical Support 
Hotline are recorded.  
You can also contact Technical Support via e-mail.  To obtain the address, click the Support tab 
on the Form 175 Homepage.
D-1
IX. ATTACHMENT D
GUIDELINES FOR COMPLETION OF FCC FORM 175 AND EXHIBITS
A. FCC Form 175
Because of the significance of the FCC Form 175 application to the auction, bidders should especially 
note the following: 
Company: Name given is used as your bidder name in the auction.
Address: Applicants must provide a street address (not a Post Office box number) for the applicant, 
suitable for mail or private parcel delivery. 
Legal Classification: Applicants must indicate their legal classification.  The FCC Form 175 requires 
the applicant to classify itself as an individual, joint venture, partnership, trust, corporation, consortium, 
association, limited liability corporation (LLC) or government entity.  
Applicant Status: Applicants are also requested to indicate their status as a rural telephone company, 
minority- and/or women-owned business, so that the FCC can monitor its performance in promoting
economic opportunities for these designated entities.
Contact person/address: If the Commission wishes to communicate with the applicant by telephone or 
fax, those communications will be directed to the contact person identified on the FCC Form 175.  Space 
is provided for an address, telephone number, fax number, and e-mail address.  All written 
communication and registration information will be directed to the applicants contact person at the 
address specified on the FCC Form 175.  Applicants must provide a street address; no P.O. Box 
addresses may be used.
Authorized Bidders: Applicants must list the name(s) of the person(s) (no more than three) authorized to 
represent them at the auction.  Only those individuals listed on the FCC Form 175 will be authorized to 
place or withdraw bids for the applicant during the auction. 
Bidding Credit Eligibility: Applicants that qualify for a small business bidding credit must select the 
applicable bidding credit (25 percent or 35 percent) in the bidding credit eligibility item on the Form 175.  
Applicants are advised that this is the sole opportunity applicants have to elect small business status and 
bidding credit level (if applicable).  There is no opportunity to change the election once the short-form 
filing deadline passes on March 21, 2003. 
Telephonic or Electronic Bidding Options: Bidders may participate in the auction either electronically  
or telephonically, and must specify their preference.  To participate in the auction, every authorized 
bidder must have a SecurID card, which the FCC will provide free of charge.
License Selection: Applicants should select all licenses on which they want to be eligible to bid in the 
auction.  Be advised that there is no opportunity to change this list once the short-form filing deadline 
passes on March 21, 2003.  It is critically important that you confirm the licenses that you have selected 
because the auction system will not accept a bid on licenses for which an applicant has not applied on its 
FCC Form 175. 
D-2
The online Form 175 application provides filters that enable you to generate a list of licenses having a 
specific service, market, or channel block.  Once you obtain this customized list, you can use it to select 
the licenses you are interested in.
B. Exhibits and Attachments
In addition to the FCC Form 175 itself, applicants must submit additional information required by the 
FCCs rules.  If attachments are not uploaded, the FCC Form 175 submission process cannot be 
completed.  Although the FCC does not require a particular format for this information, it has developed 
the following guidelines that will facilitate the processing of short-form applications.  The FCC 
encourages applicants to submit this information using the following format.
If you find that an attachment has not converted properly to Adobe PDF format, take the following 
steps:
1)  Simplify the formatting of the file.  For example, if using a Table structure in a WordPerfect document, 
remove the Table structure leaving the contents of the table, re-save the document.
2)  Re-upload the attachment.
3)  When the re-uploaded attachment has successfully converted, delete the failed attachment.
NOTE: Applicants should not include sensitive information (i.e., TIN/EIN) on any exhibits to their 
FCC Form 175s.
Exhibit A -- Applicant Identity and Ownership Information: 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a)(2)(ii) requires each 
applicant to fully disclose the real party or parties-in-interest in an exhibit to its FCC Form 175 application. 
Each member of an applicant applying to bid as a small business consortium must provide this information.  
The following information is required:
1. General Information
Applicant Status Required Information
General Partnership Name, citizenship, and address of all partners, and the share or interest 
participation of each partner
Limited Partnership Name, citizenship, and address of each limited partner whose interest in 
the applicant is equal to or greater than 10 percent  (as calculated 
according to the percentage of equity paid in and the percentage of 
distribution of profits and losses) 
Corporation Corporate name and address; and name, title, and citizenship of a 
responsible officer or director
Limited Liability Corporation Corporate name and address; name, address, and citizenship of all 
members whose interest in the applicant is equal to or greater than 10 
percent (as calculated according to the percentage of equity paid in and 
the percentage of distribution of profits and losses)
Trust Name, citizenship, and address of trustee
None of the above Name, citizenship, title or other relation to the applicant, and address of a 
D-3
Applicant Status Required Information
principal or other responsible person
2. Ownership Information
Applicant Status Required Information
All applicants Name, citizenship, and address of all controlling interests of the applicant 
as discussed in Section 1.2110 of the Commissions rules.
All applicants Name, citizenship, and address of all parties holding 10 percent or more 
of each class of stock, warrants, options or debt securities and the amount 
and percentage held.
All applicants Name of all parties holding a 10 percent or greater interest in the 
applicant and the specific amount held.
All applicants List of all parties holding indirect ownership interests in the applicant that 
equals 10 percent or more, as determined by successive multiplication of 
the ownership percentages in each link of the vertical ownership chain, 
except that if the ownership percentage for any link in the chain exceeds 
50 percent or represents actual control, it shall be reported as if it were a 
100 percent interest.
Example. Company A owns 10% of Company B, which owns 60% of 
Company C, which owns 25% of the applicant.  Company Bs interest in 
the applicant would be 25% (the same as Company Cs interest since 
Company Bs interest in Company C exceeds 50%), and Company As 
interest in the applicant would be 2.5% (0.1 * 0.25).  Under the 10% 
attribution benchmark, Company Bs interest in the applicant must be 
reported on the applicants FCC Form 175 Exhibit A, while Company 
As interest in the applicant need not be reported.  However, if Company 
A owned 40% of Company B in the above example, then Company As 
interest in the applicant would be 10% (0.4 * 0.25), and the applicant 
would need to report it on the applicants FCC Form 175 Exhibit A
All applicants List of any FCC-licensed entity or applicant for an FCC license, in 
which
a. the applicant; 
b. any party with a 10 percent or greater interest in the applicant; or 
c. a controlling interest (as discussed in Section 1.2110 of the 
Commissions rules) 
owns a 10 percent or greater interest of the applicant or 10 percent or 
more of any class of stock, warrants, options or debt securities of the 
applicant. (See also 47 C.F.R.  1.2110)  This list must include a 
description of each such entities principal business and a description 
D-4
Applicant Status Required Information
of each such entities relationship to the applicant. 
Example of a. The applicant owns 10 percent of Company A (an FCC 
licensed entity or an applicant for an FCC license).  The applicant must 
list Company A on its FCC Form 175 Exhibit A and provide the required 
information.
Example of b. Company A owns 10 percent of the applicant and 10 
percent of Company B (an FCC licensed entity or an applicant for an 
FCC license).  The applicant must list both Company A and Company B 
on its FCC Form 175 Exhibit A and provide the required information.
Example of c. Company A owns 55% of the applicant and owns 10 
percent of Company B (an FCC licensed entity or an Applicant for an 
FCC license).  The applicant must list both Company A and Company B 
on its FCC Form 175 Exhibit A and provide the required information.
Exhibit B  Agreements with Other Parties/Joint Bidding Arrangements: Applicants must attach an 
exhibit identifying all parties with which they have entered into any agreements, arrangements or 
understandings which relate in any way to the licenses being auctioned, including any relating to the post-
auction market structure.  See 47 C.F.R. 1.2105(a)(2)(viii).
Be aware that pursuant to Certification (4) on the FCC Form 175, the applicant certifies that it will not enter 
into any explicit or implicit agreements or understandings of any kind with parties not identified in the 
application regarding bid amounts, bidding strategies, or the particular licenses on which the applicant will or 
will not bid.  See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(a)(2)(ix).  To prevent collusion, the Commission's Rules generally 
prohibit competing applicants from communicating concerning bids, bidding strategies, or settlements during 
the period between the initial short-form applications filing deadline and the deadline for down payments on 
licenses won in the auction. 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(c).
Exhibit C Status as a Small Business: Applicants claiming status as a small business must attach an exhibit 
providing the following information regarding this status.
Entity Required Information
Applicant Average annual gross revenues for the preceding three years set forth 
both separately (e.g., for each of the preceding three years individually) 
and in the aggregate (for all of the preceding three years combined).  
Certification that the average of the aggregated annual gross revenues 
for the preceding three years do not exceed the required limit, or 
providing average gross revenues for the 3-year period without 
providing the gross revenues for each of the preceding three years, is 
insufficient. 
Applicants Affiliates
See 47 CFR  1.2110, 1.2112
Same information required as discussed above
Applicants Controlling Interests Same information required as discussed above
D-5
Entity Required Information
See 47 CFR  1.2110, 1.2112.
Example. The applicant had gross revenues of $500,000 in 1999, 
$1,000,000 in 2000, and $3,000,000 in 2001, with average gross 
revenues for that time period of $1,500,000.  The applicant owns 60% 
of Company A, making Company A an affiliate of the applicant under 
Section 1.2110(c)(5)(i)(B).  Company B owns 52% of the applicant, 
making Company B a controlling interest of the applicant, as defined in 
Part II.D.3 of this public notice.  Company B owns 100% of Company 
C, making Company C an affiliate of the applicants controlling interest, 
under Section 1.2110(c)(5)(i)(C). The applicants Exhibit C would look 
like this:
Applicant Name
1999 gross revenues $ 500,000
2000 gross revenues $ 1,000,000
2001 gross revenues $ 3,000,000
Average gross revenues for 
the preceding 3 years
$ 
1,500,000
Company A (an affiliate of the applicant)
1999 gross revenues $    enter amount
2000 gross revenues $    enter amount
2001 gross revenues $    enter amount
Average gross revenues for 
the preceding 3 years
$    
enter amount
Company B (a controlling interest in the applicant)
1999 gross revenues $    enter amount
2000 gross revenues $    enter amount 
2001 gross revenues $    enter amount  
Average gross revenues for 
the preceding 3 years
$    
enter amount
Company C (an affiliate of the applicants controlling interest)
1999 gross revenues $    enter amount
2000 gross revenues $    enter amount
D-6
Entity Required Information
2001 gross revenues $    enter amount
 Average gross revenues for 
the preceding 3 years
$    enter amount
NOTE: Each member of an applicant that is applying to bid as a consortium of small businesses must 
provide this information and qualify for the claimed status.
Exhibit D  Information Required of All Applicants Regarding Prior Defaults and Prior Delinquencies:
Each applicant must include as Exhibit D a statement made under penalty of perjury indicating whether or not 
the applicant, its affiliates, its controlling interests, or the affiliates of its controlling interest have ever been in 
default on any Commission licenses or have ever been delinquent on any non-tax debt owed to any Federal 
agency.  The applicant must provide such information for itself, its affiliates, its controlling interests, and 
the affiliates of its controlling interests as defined by Section 1.2110 of the Commissions rules (as 
amended in the Part 1 Fifth Report and Order).  
Exhibit E -- Information Requested of Designated Entities: Applicants owned by minorities or women, as 
defined in 47 C.F.R.  1.2110(c), or that are rural telephone companies, may attach an exhibit regarding this 
status.  This information, in conjunction with the information requested on the FCC Form 175, will assist the 
Commission in monitoring the participation of these designated entities in its auctions.
Exhibit F -- Miscellaneous Information: Applicants wishing to submit additional information should 
include it in Exhibit F.
Waivers: Applicants requesting waiver of any rules must submit a statement of reasons sufficient to justify 
the waiver sought.  See 47 C.F.R.  1.3, 1.925.
Certifications: Applicants should carefully read the list of certifications on the FCC Form 175.  These 
certifications help to ensure a fair and competitive auction and require, among other things, disclosure to 
the Commission of certain information on applicant ownership and agreements or arrangements 
concerning the auction.  Submission of an FCC Form 175 application constitutes a representation by the 
certifying official that he or she is an authorized representative of the applicant, has read the forms 
instructions and certifications, and that the contents of the application and its attachments are true and 
correct.  Submission of a false certification to the Commission may result in penalties, including  
monetary forfeitures, license forfeitures, ineligibility to participate in future auctions, and/or criminal 
prosecution.
Completeness: Applicants must submit all information required by the FCC Form 175 and by applicable 
rules.  Failure to submit required information by the resubmission date will result in dismissal of the 
application and inability to participate in the auction.  See 47 C.F.R.  1.2105(b).
NOTE: Applicants must press the SUBMIT Application button on the Submission page to 
successfully submit their FCC Form 175.
Continuing Accuracy: Each applicant is responsible for the continuing accuracy and completeness of 
information furnished in the FCC Form 175 and its exhibits. See 47 C.F.R.  1.65.  It is the FCCs 
position that during the conduct of an auction, thirty business days from a reportable change is a 
reasonable period of time.  Applicants are reminded that they consent to be audited in the certification 
section of the FCC Form 175 (see certification item number 6). 
D-7
Applicants are reminded that all information required in connection with applications to participate in 
spectrum auctions is necessary to determine the applicants qualifications, and as such will be available for 
public inspection.  Required proprietary information may be redacted, or confidentiality may be requested, 
following the procedures set forth in 47 C.F.R.  0.459. Such requests must be submitted by electronic mail to 
the attention of Margaret Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, at the following address: 
auction48@fcc.gov, in which case the applicant must indicate in Exhibit F that it has filed a confidentiality 
request.  Because the required information bears on applicants qualifications, the FCC envisions that 
confidentiality requests will not be routinely granted.  
The electronic mail summarizing the changes must include a subject or caption referring to Auction No. 
48. The Bureau requests that parties format any attachments to electronic mail as Adobe Acrobat (pdf) 
or Microsoft Word documents. 
A separate copy of the letter should be faxed to the attention of Kathryn Garland at (717) 338-2850.
E- 1
X. ATTACHMENT E
AUCTION-SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR
FCC REMITTANCE ADVICE (FCC FORM 159-February 2000 edition)
A. Upfront Payments
The following information supplements the standard instructions for FCC Form 159 (Revised 2/00), and 
is provided to help ensure correct completion of FCC Form 159 for upfront payments for Auction No. 48.  
Applicants need to complete FCC Form 159 carefully, since:
 Mistakes may affect their bidding eligibility; and
 Lack of consistency between information set forth in FCC Form 159 (Revised 2/00), 
FCC Form 175, long-form application, and correspondence about an application may 
cause processing delays.
Therefore appropriate cross-references between the FCC Form 159 Remittance Advice and the FCC 
Form 175 Short Form Application are described below:
Block 
Number Required Information                            
1 LOCKBOX # - Enter 358415      
2 Payer Name - Enter the name of the person or company making the payment.
If the applicant itself is the payer, this entry would be the same as FCC Form 175.
3 Total Amount Paid - Enter the amount of the upfront payment associated with the
4 FCC Form 159 (Revised 2/00).
4-8 Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code - Enter the street mailing address (not Post Office 
box number) where mail should be sent to the payer.  If the applicant is the payer, these 
entries would be the same as FCC Form 175 from the Applicant Information section.
9 Daytime Telephone Number - Enter the telephone number of a person knowledgeable 
about this upfront payment.
10 Country Code  - For addresses outside the United States, enter the appropriate postal 
country code (available from the Mailing Requirements Department of the U.S. Postal 
Service).
11  Payer FRN  Enter the payers ten-digit FCC Registration Number (FRN)  
registered in the Commission Registration System (CORES).  
12 Payer TIN  Enter the payers nine-digit Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).  
24A Payment Type Code - Enter A48U
E-2
25A Quantity - Enter the number 1
26A Fee Due - Amount of Upfront Payment
27A Total Fee - Will be the same amount as 26A.
28A FCC Code 1 - Enter the number 48 (indicating Auction No. 48).
 
NOTES:
 Do not use Remittance Advice (Continuation Sheet), FCC Form 159-C, for upfront payments.
 If applicant is different from the payer, complete blocks 13 through 22 for the applicant, using the 
same information shown on FCC Form 175. Otherwise leave them blank.
 Since credit card payments will not be accepted for this auction, leave Section E blank.
B. Winning Bidder Requirements, Down Payments and Final Payments
Specific information regarding down payments and final payments will be included in a post-auction 
public notice announcing the winning bidders.
F-1
XI. ATTACHMENT F
SUMMARY LISTING OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE COMMISSION
AND THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU
ADDRESSING APPLICATION OF THE ANTI-COLLUSION RULES
A. Commission Decisions:
Second Report and Order in PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-61, 9 FCC Rcd. 2348, 2386-2388 (1994), 
paragraphs 221-226.
Fifth Report and Order in PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-178, 9 FCC Rcd. 5532, 5570-5571 (1994),
paragraphs 91-92.
Fourth Memorandum Opinion and Order in PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-264, 9 FCC Rcd. 6858, 
6866-6869 (1994), paragraphs 47-60.
Second Memorandum Opinion and Order in PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-215, 9 FCC Rcd. 7245, 
7253-7255 (1994), paragraphs 48-55.
Memorandum Opinion and Order in PP Docket No. 93-253, FCC 94-295, 9 FCC Rcd. 7684, 7687-7689 
(1994), paragraphs 8-12.
In re Commercial Realty St. Pete, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 10 FCC Rcd. 4277 (1995), 
In re Commercial Realty St. Pete, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 11 FCC Rcd. 15,374 (1996).
In re Applications of Mercury PCS II, LLC, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, 12 FCC Rcd. 
17,970 (1997) (petition for partial reconsideration pending).
Amendment of Part 1of the Commissions rules -- Competitive Bidding Procedures, Allocation of 
Spectrum Below 5 GHz Transferred from Federal Government Use, 4660-4685 MHz, WT Docket No. 
97-82, ET Docket No. 94-32, FCC 97-413, Third Report and Order and Second Further Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making, 13 FCC Rcd. 374, 463-469 (1997), paragraphs 155-166.
In re Application of US West Communications, Inc., Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture,13 FCC 
Rcd 8286 (1998); In the Matter of Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture of US West 
Communications, Inc., Order, FCC 99-90 (May 7, 1999).
In re Application of Western PCS BTA I Corporation, Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture, FCC 
98-42 (March 16, 1998); In the Matter of Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture of Western PCS 
BTA 1 Corporation, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 14 FCC Rcd 21571, 21577-78,  20 (rel. Dec. 13, 
1999).
In the Matter of Amendment of Part 1 of the Commissions RulesCompetitive Bidding Procedures, 
Seventh Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 17546 (2001).
F-2
B. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Decisions:
Amendment of Parts 21 and 74 of the Commissions rules with Regard to Filing Procedures in the 
Multipoint Distribution Service and in the Instructional Television Fixed Service, Order, 11 FCC Rcd. 
9655 (Wireless Tel. Bur. 1995).
In re Applications of GWI PCS, Inc. For Authority to Construct and Operate Broadband PCS Systems 
Operating on Frequency Block C, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 12 FCC Rcd. 6441 (Wireless Tel. 
Bur. 1997).
In re Applications of Mercury PCS II, LLC, For Facilities in the Broadband Personal Communications 
Services in the D, E, and F Blocks, Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration, 12 FCC Rcd. 
18,093 (Wireless Tel. Bur. 1997).
In the Matter of Applications of High Plains Wireless, L.P., For Authority to Construct and Operate 
Broadband PCS Systems on Frequency Blocks D, E, and F, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 12 FCC 
Rcd. 19,627 (Wireless Tel. Bur. 1997).
In the Matter of Applications of Mercury PCS II, LLC, For Authority to Construct and Operate 
Broadband PCS Systems on Frequency Blocks D, E, and F, Memorandum Opinion and Order, 13 FCC 
Rcd. 5756 (Wireless Tel. Bur. 1997).
1. Public Notices:
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Clarifies Spectrum Auction Anti-Collusion Rules, Public Notice, 
11 FCC Rcd. 9645 (1995).
FCC Staff Clarifies Application of Anti-Collusion Rule to Broadband PCS C Block Reauction, Public 
Notice, 11 FCC Rcd. 7031 (1996).
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Provides Guidance on the Anti-Collusion Rule for D, E and F 
Block Bidders, Public Notice, 11 FCC Rcd. 10,134 (1996).
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Responds to Questions About the Local Multipoint Distribution 
Service Auction, Public Notice, DA 98-37 (rel. January 9, 1998).
2. Letters from the Office of General Counsel and the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau:
Letter to Gary M. Epstein and James H. Barker from William E. Kennard, General Counsel, Federal 
Communications Commission (released October 25, 1994).
Letter to Alan F. Ciamporcero from William E Kennard, General Counsel, Federal Communications 
Commission (released October 25, 1996).
Letter to R. Michael Senkowski from Rosalind K. Allen, Acting Chief, Commercial Radio Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (released December 1, 1994).
Letter to Leonard J. Kennedy from Rosalind K. Allen, Acting Chief, Commercial Radio Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau (released December 14, 1994).
F-3
Letter to Jonathan D. Blake and Robert J. Rini from Kathleen OBrien Ham, Chief, Auctions Division, 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, DA 95-2404 (released November 28, 1995).
Letter to Mark Grady from Kathleen OBrien Ham, Chief, Auctions Division, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, 11 FCC Rcd. 10,895 (1996).
Letter to David L. Nace mojester8
from Kathleen OBrien Ham, Chief, Auctions Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 11 FCC 
Rcd. 11,363 (1996).
Letter to Elliott J. Greenwald from Christopher J. Wright, General Counsel, Federal Communications 
Commission (released April 6, 1998).
Letter to Robert Pettit, Wiley, Rein & Fielding from Margaret W. Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Industry 
Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, DA 00-2905 (released December 26, 2000).
3. Civil Actions Initiated by U.S. Department of Justice:
U.S. v. Omnipoint Corp., Proposed Final Judgements and Competitive Impact Statements, Department of 
Justice, 63 FR 65,228 (November 25, 1998).
Justice Department Sues Three Firms Over FCC Auction Practices, Press Release, U.S. Department of 
Justice (November 10, 1998).
Complaint, U.S. v. Omnipoint Corp., No. 1:98CV02750 (D.D.C. November 10, 1998).
Complaint, U.S. v. Mercury PCS II, L.L C., No. 1:98CV02751 (D.D.C. November 10, 1998).
Complaint, U.S. v. 21st Century Bidding Corp., No. 1:98CV02752 (D.D.C. November 10, 1998).
How to Obtain Copies of the Anti-Collusion Decisions:  
Many of the documents listed in this attachment can be retrieved from the following Commission web 
site:  http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/anticollusion.  
The documents may be located by using our search engine (select the link search).  Documents 
retrieved from the web site are available in various formats including Word, WordPerfect, Acrobat 
Reader, Excel, and ASCII Text.  To review a document in its entirety, including footnotes, it is necessary 
to access the document in WordPerfect, MS Word, or Acrobat Reader.  
Additionally, all of the documents can be ordered in hard copy for a fee from the Commissions 
contractor, Qualex International at (202) 863-2893
G-1
XII. ATTACHMENT G 
DUE DILIGENCE LIST: PENDING PAGING SERVICES MATTERS FILED BEFORE 
12/19/02
Service Code Action Type Title Start Date Comments
Paging CD Informal Request Champion Communications, Inc. 10/21/02
Paging CZ Waiver Request Wharton Telecom Holdings, Inc. 1/11/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Waiver Request Telephone and Two-Way, Inc. 1/10/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Waiver Request UHF-DE, LLC 1/10/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Waiver Request Selectpath Holdings Inc. 1/10/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Waiver Request City Page & Cellular Services, Inc. 1/9/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Waiver Request Gabriel Wireless LLC 1/10/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Waiver Request Beeper Network Inc. 12/27/01 Auction 40
Paging CZ Petition to Deny Western Communications Services, Inc 4/17/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ Petition to Deny Starpage, Inc. 4/17/02 Auction 40
Paging CZ
Petition for 
Reconsideration 
Non-Routine Teletouch Licenses, Inc. 6/2/02
Paging CZ Petition to Deny
FTC Paging, Inc. d/b/a Florida Telephone & Air 
Paging Wireless 6/6/02
Paging CZ Waiver Request Golden Arrow Paging, Inc 1/11/02 Auction 40
Paging GS
Petition for 
Reconsideration 
Non-Routine Trompex Corporation 12/3/01 Auction 26
Paging GS
Petition for 
Revocation of 
Licenses
Airpaging Communications Corp. aka Super 
Beeper Electronic II, Inc. 2/19/02