03-9828. Audit of Operational Status of Certain 220-222 MHz Band Licenses

AGENCY:

Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In this document the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announces a license audit of the operational status of certain site-specific licenses operating in three commercial radio services in the 220-222 MHz band. To prepare for the audit, the Bureau is encouraging licensees to verify their mailing addresses on record for each license held and, where appropriate, update the information. In addition, the Bureau is asking each licensee to ensure it has registered with the Commission Registration System (CORES) to receive its FCC Registration Number (FRN) and has associated with the FRN with each license held. The purpose of the audit is to promote intensive use of the spectrum in 220 MHz.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Denise D. Walter, Commercial Wireless Division, at 202-418-0620.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This is a summary of the Federal Communications Commission's Public Notice, DA 03-1089, released on April 9, 2003. The full text of this document is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the Federal Communications Commission Reference Center, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20554. The complete text may be purchased from the Federal Communications Commission's copy contractor, Qualex International, 445 12th Street, SW., Room CY-B402, Washington, DC 20554. The full text may also be downloaded at http://wireless.fcc.gov. Alternative formats are available to persons with disabilities by contacting Brian Millin at [phone] or TTY [phone] or at [e-mail].

1. The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) will be conducting a license audit of the operational status of certain licenses operating in the 220-222 MHz (220 MHz) band in the following radio services: “QT”—non-nationwide 5-channel trunked systems, “QD”—non-nationwide data, and “QO”—non-nationwide other. Every licensee in these radio services must respond to the audit letter and certify that its authorized station(s) has not discontinued operations for one year or more. The Bureau is performing the audit to promote intensive use of the radio spectrum by updating and increasing the accuracy of the Commission's licensing database.

2. To prepare for the audit, the Bureau strongly encourages licensees in these three radio services to verify the mailing address for each license held prior to May 9, 2003. Licensees can verify the accuracy of the Commission's information by accessing the License Search function in the Universal Licensing System (ULS) at http://wireless.fcc.gov/​uls. If the information is incorrect, the licensee should use ULS to electronically file an Administrative Update application.

3. Another important step a licensee should take to prepare for the audit is to ensure that it has registered in CORES, received an FRN, and associated the FRN with all licenses held. This should be done by May 9, 2003.

4. The Bureau will send letters to all licensees operating in the QT, QD, and QO radio services inquiring about the operational status of each license held. The letters will be mailed during the week of May 12, 2003. Each letter will include the call signs of the licensee's authorizations involved in this audit and will be directed to each licensee at its address of record. A licensee will receive only one audit letter if the licensee has, by May 9, 2003, verified the address is listed correctly in ULS, obtained its FRN, and associated its call signs with the FRN. If the licensee has not performed these activities by May 9, 2003, the Bureau will attempt to include all of a licensee's call signs subject to this audit in one letter, but may issue more than one letter for an entity due to slight variations in licensee name or address in the Commission's licensing records. If a licensee receives multiple letters, the licensee must respond to each letter in order to account for all its call signs that are part of this audit. If a licensee holds authorizations in one of these radio services and does not receive an audit letter, the licensee may still be required to respond to the audit. In order to determine if a particular license is a part of the audit, licensees should use Audit Search at http://wireless.fcc.gov/​licensing/​audits/​220 after the audit letters have been mailed (scheduled for the week of May 12, 2003). If the search shows an audit letter was mailed, the licensee is required to respond to the audit using the audit reference number. For instructions on how to proceed in this instance, licensees can call the Commission at 717-338-2888 or 888-CALLFCC (888-225-5322) and select option 2.

5. A response to the audit letter is mandatory. The process for responding to the audit and the internet site will be included in the audit letter. Each licensee is required to submit its response electronically within thirty (30) calendar days of the date on the audit letter. Failure to provide a timely response may result in the Commission presuming that the station has been non-operational for one year or more, and thus the license may be presumed to have automatically cancelled. Failure to provide a timely response may also result in an enforcement action, including monetary forfeiture, pursuant to section 503(b)(1)(B) of the Communications Act and 47 CFR 1.80(a)(2).

Federal Communications Commission.

William W. Kunze,

Chief, Commercial Wireless Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.