Auction 110 Procedures Public Notice
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PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 45 L Street, NE News Media Information: 202-418-0500 Internet: www.fcc.gov Washington, DC 20554 TTY: 888-835-5322 DA 21-655 Released: June 9, 2021 AUCTION OF FLEXIBLE-USE SERVICE LICENSES IN THE 3.45–3.55 GHz BAND FOR NEXT-GENERATION WIRELESS SERVICES NOTICE AND FILING REQUIREMENTS, MINIMUM OPENING BIDS, UPFRONT PAYMENTS, AND OTHER PROCEDURES FOR AUCTION 110 BIDDING IN AUCTION 110 SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 5, 2021 AU Docket No. 21-62 TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Paragraph # I. GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................1 A. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................1 B. Background and Relevant Authority ................................................................................................3 C. Description of Licenses to Be Offered in Auction 110.....................................................................7 D. Auction Specifics ............................................................................................................................10 1. Auction Title and Start Date.....................................................................................................10 2. Auction Dates and Deadlines ...................................................................................................13 3. Requirements for Participation.................................................................................................14 II. APPLYING TO PARTICIPATE IN AUCTION 110 ...........................................................................15 A. General Information Regarding Short-Form Applications .............................................................15 B. License Area Selection ...................................................................................................................25 C. Disclosure of Agreements and Bidding Arrangements...................................................................26 D. Ownership Disclosure Requirements..............................................................................................34 E. Foreign Ownership Disclosure Requirements ................................................................................36 F. Information Procedures During the Auction Process .....................................................................37 G. Prohibited Communications and Compliance with Antitrust Laws ...............................................43 1. Entities Subject to Section 1.2105(c) .......................................................................................44 2. Prohibition Applies Until Down Payment Deadline ................................................................46 3. Scope of Prohibition on Certain Communications; Prohibition on Joint Bidding Agreements...............................................................................................................................47 4. Communicating with Third Parties ..........................................................................................56 5. Section 1.2105(c) Certifications...............................................................................................60 6. Duty to Report Prohibited Communications ............................................................................61 7. Procedures for Reporting Prohibited Communications............................................................62 8. Winning Bidders Must Disclose Terms of Agreements...........................................................65 9. Additional Information Concerning Prohibition on Certain Communications in Commission Auctions ..............................................................................................................66 10. Antitrust Laws ..........................................................................................................................67 Federal Communications Commission DA 21-655 H. Provisions for Small Businesses and Rural Service Providers .......................................................69 1. Small Business Bidding Credit.................................................................................................72 2. Rural Service Provider Bidding Credit.....................................................................................76 3. Caps on Bidding Credits...........................................................................................................78 4. Attributable Interests ................................................................................................................82 I. Provisions Regarding Former and Current Defaulters....................................................................93 J. Optional Applicant Status Identification ........................................................................................98 K. Modifications to FCC Form 175.....................................................................................................99 1. Only Minor Modifications Allowed.........................................................................................99 2. Duty to Maintain Accuracy and Completeness of FCC Form 175 ........................................100 3. Modifying an FCC Form 175.................................................................................................101 III. PREPARING FOR BIDDING IN AUCTION 110 .............................................................................108 A. Due Diligence ...............................................................................................................................108 B. Licensing Considerations..............................................................................................................114 1. Transition of Incumbent Operations.......................................................................................114 2. International Coordination......................................................................................................125 3. Environmental Review Requirements....................................................................................127 4. Spectrum Aggregation Limit..................................................................................................128 C. Bidder Education ..........................................................................................................................131 D. Short-Form Applications: Due Before 6:00 p.m. ET on July 21, 2021 .......................................134 E. Application Processing and Minor Modifications ........................................................................137 1. Public Notice of Applicants’ Initial Application Status and Opportunity for Minor Modifications..........................................................................................................................137 2. Public Notice of Applicants’ Final Application Status After Upfront Payment Deadline..................................................................................................................................140 F. Upfront Payments .........................................................................................................................141 1. Making Upfront Payments by Wire Transfer for Auction 110 ..............................................142 2. Completing and Submitting FCC Form 159 ..........................................................................148 3. Upfront Payments and Bidding Eligibility.............................................................................150 G. Auction Registration .....................................................................................................................157 H. Remote Electronic Bidding via the FCC Auction Bidding System..............................................160 I. Mock Auction ...............................................................................................................................164 J. Auction Delay, Suspension, or Cancellation ................................................................................166 K. Fraud Alert ....................................................................................................................................167 IV. BIDDING PROCEDURES .................................................................................................................170 A. Clock Phase...................................................................................................................................172 1. Clock Auction Design ............................................................................................................172 2. Generic License Blocks in Two Bidding Categories .............................................................176 3. Bidding Rounds......................................................................................................................182 4. Stopping Rule .........................................................................................................................186 5. Availability of Bidding Information.......................................................................................187 6. Activity Requirement, Contingent Bidding Limit, and Missing Bids....................................191 7. Acceptable Bids......................................................................................................................200