Fact Sheet

Date:

Auction 5 began on 12/18/1995 and closed on 5/6/1996.

Round 184. (See PN DA 96-716)
 
 
Licenses:
493 licenses. One in each of 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs)
(See Basic Trading Area (BTA) map (pdf))
Spectrum

1895-1910; 1975-1990 MHz

Bandwidth:
Block C - 30.0 MHz ea. (2 x 15 MHz paired) in 493 BTA's
Total bandwidth: 30.0 MHz (30,000 kHz)
See PCS Bandplan (pdf)
Winning Bidders:
89 small business bidders won 493 licenses
Rounds:
184
Qualified Bidders
255
Licenses Won:
493
Total Licenses:
493
Net Bids
$10,071,708,842
Gross Bids:
$13,428,945,122

 
 
 
General information and associated licensing parameters are provided below. Public Notices provide specific information regarding this auction. This fact sheet includes:

Key Dates

 

Event Date
Pre-Auction Seminar
11/29/1995
Form 175 (Short Form) Application Filing Deadline
11/6/1995; 5:30 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline (Cashiers Check)
12/1/1995; 11:59 pm ET
Upfront Payments Deadline (Wire Transfer)
12/1/1995; 3:00 pm ET
Orders for Remote Bidding Software
12/8/1995
Auction Start
12/18/1995
Auction Closed
5/6/1996
 

Licenses Offered

A total of 493 licenses. One in each of 493 Basic Trading Areas (BTAs). These licenses authorized service on 30 MHz of spectrum in each of the 493 basic trading areas (BTAs) in the United States and territories. Frequency block C encompasses 1895-1910 MHz paired with 1975-1990 MHz. The C block spectrum licenses are designated as Entrepreneur’s Blocks and are only available for those bidders designated as such. To qualify as an entrepreneur, bidders must have gross revenues of less than $125 million in each of the last two years and total assets of less than $500 million at the time the FCC Form 175 application was filed).

Permissible Operations

Licensees use broadband Personal Communications Service (PCS) spectrum for a variety of mobile and fixed radio services, also called wireless services. Mobile broadband PCS services include both voice and advanced two-way data capabilities that are generally available on small, mobile multifunction devices. The Commission and other wireless industry representatives often refer to these services as "Mobile Telephone Services" and "Mobile Data Services." Many broadband PCS licensees offer these services in competition with existing cellular and SMR licensees. Examples of entities holding a significant amount of broadband PCS spectrum include AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS.

License Period

Licenses are issued for a ten-year term from the initial license grant date.

Installment Payments

Installment payments were offered. See the Bidders Information Package for more information on this subject.

Bidding Credits

Qualifying applicants in Auction No. 5 were eligible for a bidding credit on C block licenses that represents the amount by which a bidder's winning bids are discounted. The size of the bidding credit depends on the average gross revenues for the preceding three years of the bidder, as provided in 47 C.F,R. § Section 24.709 and §24.720(b).
The definitions of very small business and small business (or a consortium of very small or small businesses; including calculation of average gross revenues) are set forth in 47 C.F.R. § 24.720(b).
Winning bidders of C licenses should note that transfer and assignment restrictions and unjust enrichment provisions apply to winning bidders that use bidding credits and subsequently assign or transfer control of their licenses to an entity not qualifying for the same levels of bidding credits.