FCC Record, Volume 26, No. 19, Pages 14991 to 15893, October 24 - November 10, 2011 Page: 15,009

area licenses in the WCS service. In the auction, which commenced on April 15, 1997 and closed on
April 25, 1997, there were seven bidders that won 31 licenses that qualified as very small business
entities, and one bidder that won one license that qualified as a small business entity.
20. 700 MHz Guard Band Licenses. In the 700 MI: Guard Band Order, the Commission
adopted size standards for "small businesses" and "very small businesses" for purposes of determining
their eligibility for special provisions such as bidding credits and installment payments." A small
business in this service is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average
gross revenues not exceeding $40 million for the preceding three years.i" Additionally, a "very small
business" is an entity that, together with its affiliates and controlling principals, has average gross
revenues that are not more than $S15 million for the preceding three years.' SBA approval of these
definitions is not required." In 2000, the Commission conducted an auction of 52 Major Economic Area
("MEA") licenses.> Of the 104 licenses auctioned, 96 licenses were sold to nine bidders. Five of these
bidders were small businesses that won a total of 26 licenses. A second auction of 700 MHz Guard Band
licenses commenced and closed in 2001. All eight of the licenses auctioned were sold to three bidders.
One of these bidders was a small business that won a total of two licenses.>
21. Upper 700 MHz Band Licenses. In the 700 MHz Second Report and Order, the
Commission revised its rules regarding Upper 700 MHz licenses." On January 24, 2008, the
Commission commenced Auction 73 in which several licenses in the Upper 700 MHz band were
available for licensing: 12 Regional Economic Area Grouping licenses in the C Block, and one
nationwide license in the D Block."7 The auction concluded on March 18, 2008, with 3 winning bidders
claiming very small business status (those with attributable average annual gross revenues that do not
SSee Letter to Amy Zoslo,, Chief, Auctions and Industry Analysis Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration,
dated December 2, 1998.
0 Service Rules for the 746-764 Mliz Bands, and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commision's Rules, Second Report
and Order, 15 FCC Red 5299 (2000). Service rules were amended in 2007, but no changes were made to small
business size categories. See Service Rules for the 698-746, 747-762 and 777-792 MHz Bands. WT Docket No. 06-
150, Revision of the Commission's Rules to Ensure Compatibility with Enhanced 911 Emergency Calling Systems,
CC Docket No. 94-102, Section 68.4(a) of the ('ommission's Rules Governing IHtearing Aid-Compatible
Telephones, WT Docket No. 01-309, Biennial Regulatory Review Amendment of Parts 1, 22. 24, 27, and 90 to
Streamline and Harmonize Various Rules Affecting Wireless Radio Services, WT Docket 03-264, Former Nextel
Communications, Inc. Upper 700 Mliz Guard Band Licenses and Revisions to Part 27 of the Commission's Rules,
WT Docket No. 06-169, Implementing a Nationwide, Broadband, Interoperable Public Safety Network in the 700
MHz Band, PS Docket No. 06-229, Development of Operational, Technical and Spectrum Requirements for
Meeting Federal, State and Local Public Safety Communications Requirements Through the Year 20 10. WT Docket
No. 96-86, Report and Order andm Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. 22 FCC Rcd 8064 (2007).
"'Id. at 5343 1 108.
(2
Id.
Idl. at 5343 1 108 n.246 (for the 746-764 MWlz and 776-704 MHz bands, the Commission is exempt from 15
U.S.('. 632, which requires Federal agencies to obtain Small Business Administration approval before adopting
small business size standards).
SSee "700 MIll Guard Bands Auction Closes: Winning Bidders Announced," Pub/ie Notice, 15 FCC Red 18026
(2000).
"s See "700 Ml/ Guard Bands Auction Closes: Winning Bidders Announced," Public Notce, 16 FCC Red 4590
(WTB 2001)
700 MH: Second Report turd Or(cer. 22 FCC Red 15289.
See Auction of 700 Mll Band Licenses ('loses, Public o twice, 23 FCC Red 4572 (WTB 2008).

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Federal Communications Commission

DA 11-1707