Source: http://www.fcc.gov/document/intelligent-transportation-and-monitoring-wireless-amts-consortium
Timestamp: 2013-12-19 14:33:14
Document Index: 143266502

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 22', '§ 1', 'art 22', 'arts 1', 'arts 1', '§ 1', '§ 22', 'art 22', 'arts 1', 'arts 1']

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Intelligent Transportation and Monitoring Wireless & AMTS Consortium
FCC 12-66
Intelligent Transportation and Monitoring Wireless )LLC and AMTS Consortium, LLC ))
Petition for Declaratory Ruling and Motion for )
Stay of Auction No. 65 ))
Auction 65 Public Notice Regarding Long Form/
FCC Form 601 Applications Accepted for Filing
Application of AC BidCo LLC for Authorization )
FCC File No. 0002653156
To Provide Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service in )the 800 MHz Band
Application of LiveTV LLC for Authorization To )
FCC File No. 0002658043
Provide Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service in the )800 MHz Band
1. In this Memorandum Opinion and Order, we deny an application for review of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s denial of a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed jointly by two Auction 65applicants controlled by Warren Havens, as well as their challenge to the auction itself.1 The two applicants seek reversal of a series of staff-level decisions responding to their request for clarification of section 22.853 of our rules. This rule prohibits any individual or entity from holding a controlling interest in more than three megahertz of spectrum in the 800 MHz commercial aviation Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service frequency bands, the spectrum available in Auction 65. The two applicants further seek to overturn the results of the auction, and they challenge the long-form applications of the winning bidders. We find that the staff correctly rejected the applicants’ earlier requests for relief and conclude that further clarification of section 22.853 is unnecessary and that the challenge to Auction 65 is without merit.
1 See Intelligent Transportation and Monitoring Wireless LLC and AMTS Consortium LLC, Application for Review, filed April 8, 2007 (“Application for Review”).
2. On February 22, 2005, the Commission released the Air-Ground Order, in which it adopted a flexible regulatory approach to determine the future band configuration of the four megahertz of spectrum in the 800 MHz commercial Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service.2 Based on the band configuration proposals submitted by interested parties in the proceeding, the Commission decided to assign nationwide air-ground licenses under one of three alternative band configurations, to be determined by the band plan receiving the highest gross aggregate bid in an auction.3 In light of specific circumstances relating to this spectrum, the Commission prohibited any party from obtaining a controlling interest, either at auction or by a post-auction transaction, in more than three megahertz of spectrum in the 800 MHz air-ground band,4thereby preventing a party from holding a controlling interest in more than one of the two licenses offered in Auction 65.5
3. The Commission incorporated this eligibility restriction, along with guidance for determining controlling interest, into its rules for the Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service as section 22.853:6
No individual or entity may hold, directly or indirectly, a controlling interest in licenses authorizing the use of more than three megahertz of spectrum (either shared or exclusive) in the 800 MHz commercial aviation Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service frequency bands (see § 22.857). Individuals and entities with either de jure or de facto control of a licensee in these bands will be considered to have a controlling interest in its license(s). For purposes of this rule, the definitions of “controlling interests” and “affiliate” set forth in paragraphs (c)(2) and (c)(5) of § 1.2110 of this chapter shall apply.7
4. On December 9, 2005, the Commission released the Air-Ground Reconsideration Order and
Report and Order, resolving petitions for reconsideration of the Air-Ground Order and adoptingcompetitive bidding rules for the 800 MHz commercial Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service.8 On January 10, 2006, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (“Bureau”) announced that Auction 65, the auction of 2 Amendment of Part 22 of the Commission’s Rules to Benefit the Consumers of Air-Ground Telecommunications Services, Biennial Regulatory Review – Amendment of Parts 1, 22, and 90 of the Commission’s Rules, Amendment of Parts 1 and 22 of the Commission’s Rules to Adopt Competitive Bidding Rules for Commercial and General Aviation Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service, Report and Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 20 FCC Rcd 4403, 4403 ¶ 1 (2005) (“Air-Ground Order”). 3 Id. at 4405-06 ¶ 1, 4418-22 ¶¶ 24-32. 4Id. at 4423-27 ¶¶ 37-44. 5 Id. at 4405-07 ¶ 1, 4420-21 ¶ 29, 4426-27 ¶ 43. The Commission also requested comment on competitive bidding rules for the 800 MHz commercial Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service. Id. at 4464-69 ¶¶ 169-79.6 Id. at 4482. See id. at 4427 ¶ 44; 47 C.F.R. § 1.2110(c)(2), (c)(5).7 47 C.F.R. § 22.853.8 Amendment of Part 22 of the Commission’s Rules to Benefit the Consumers of Air-Ground Telecommunications Services, Biennial Regulatory Review – Amendment of Parts 1, 22, and 90 of the Commission’s Rules, Amendment of Parts 1 and 22 of the Commission’s Rules to Adopt Competitive Bidding Rules for Commercial and General Aviation Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service, Order on Reconsideration and Report and Order, 20 FCC Rcd 19663 (2005). Federal Communications Commission
new licenses in the 800 MHz Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service, would begin on May 10, 2006, and sought comment on various procedures for the auction.9
5. On February 21, 2006, the Bureau released its Auction 65 Procedures Public Notice,
announcing procedures and deadlines for applicants wishing to participate in Auction 65.10 The Bureauexplained that two nationwide commercial licenses in the 800 MHz band would be offered in each of three alternative band configurations11 and that two licenses in only one of the three mutually incompatible band configurations would be awarded.12 The Bureau established a short-form application filing deadline of March 24, 2006, and an upfront payment deadline of April 17, 2006.13 On April 28, 2006, the Bureau released a public notice identifying the nine bidders that had qualified to participate in Auction 65, among which were Intelligent Transportation and Monitoring Wireless LLC and AMTS Consortium LLC (together, the “Havens Parties”),14 both controlled by Warren Havens.15
6. Auctions Division Order. On May 1, 2006, nine days prior to the scheduled start date for Auction 65, the Havens Parties filed a combined petition for declaratory ruling regarding Auction 65 and motion to stay the auction (“Petition for Declaratory Ruling” and “Motion for Stay”).16 They requestedan explanation of section 22.853 and portions of the Air-Ground Order discussing the license eligibility restriction, as well as a stay of the auction until at least 21 days after the release of a public notice providing the explanation or the release of any subsequent related public notice. The Havens Partiesposed four questions about the license eligibility restriction. Two of the questions asked how the restriction would affect bidding agreements among otherwise qualified Auction 65 applicants,17 and the other two questions concerned the meaning of “controlling interest” as used in section 22.853 and in the Air-Ground Order’s discussion of the license eligibility restriction.18
7. On May 4, 2006, th