Closed Auction of Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for July 20, 2010; Auction 88 Applicants Must Provide Supplemental Information by March 12, 2010; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding Procedures for Auction 88, 8070-8076 [2010-3583]
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Total Annual Burden: 1,034,620
hours.
Privacy Act Impact Assessment: N/A.
Nature and Extent of Confidentiality:
The Commission will continue to allow
respondents to certify, on the first page
of each submission, that some data
contained in that submission are
privileged or confidential commercial or
financial information and that
disclosure of such information would
likely cause substantial harm to the
competitive position of the entity
making the submission. If the
Commission receives a request for, or
proposes to disclose the information,
the respondent would be required to
show, pursuant to the Commission’s
rules for withholding from public
inspection information submitted to the
Commission, that the information in
question is entitled to confidential
treatment. We will retain our current
policies and procedures regarding the
confidential treatment of submitted FCC
Form 477 data, including use of
aggregated, non–company specific data
in our published reports.
Need and Uses: The Commission will
submit this information collection to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) during this comment period in
order to obtain the full three year
clearance from them. The Commission
is submitting this information collection
to OMB as an extension (no change in
the reporting requirement). There is a
50,520 hourly burden reduction that is
being reported to OMB. This adjustment
is due to a reduction in the estimated
time per response from the last
submission to the OMB. It is also due to
respondents’ increased familiarity with
the new, online filing procedures and
with the changes in their own systems
that were necessary to comply with this
information collection, which
respondents have gained in experience
during the two filings required during
OMB’s one year approval of the data
collection on a pilot basis.
This collection improves the
Commission’s understanding of the
extent of broadband deployment,
facilitating the development of
appropriate broadband policies and the
Commission’s ability to carry out its
obligation under section 706 of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 to
‘‘determine whether advanced
telecommunications capability is being
deployed to all Americans in a
reasonable and timely fashion.’’ In
addition, the Telecommunications Act
of 1996 directs the Commission to take
actions to open all participants,
including new entrants. A central task
in creating his framework is the opening
of previously monopolized local
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telecommunications markets. By
collecting timely and reliable
information about the pace and extent of
competition for local telephony service
in different geographic areas, including
rural areas, the Commission
significantly improves the ability to
evaluate the effectiveness of actions the
Commission and the states are taking to
facilitate economic competition in those
areas.
The information is used by
Commission staff to prepare reports that
help inform consumers and policy
makers at the federal and state level of
deployment of competition in the local
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deployment of broadband services. The
Commission will continue to use the
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congressionally mandated section 706
reports. The Commission also uses the
data to support this analyses in a variety
of rulemaking proceedings under the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended. Absent this information
collection, the Commission would lack
essential data for assisting it in
determining the effectiveness of its
policies and fulfilling its statutory
responsibilities in accordance with the
Communications Act of 1934, as
amended.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of
Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2010–3541 Filed 2–22–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–S
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[AU Docket No. 10–31; DA 10–125]
Closed Auction of Broadcast
Construction Permits Scheduled for
July 20, 2010; Auction 88 Applicants
Must Provide Supplemental
Information by March 12, 2010;
Comment Sought on Competitive
Bidding Procedures for Auction 88
AGENCY: Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: This document announces the
auction of certain broadcast FM, AM,
and FM Translator construction permits
scheduled to commence on July 20,
2010 (Auction 88). This document also
seeks comments on competitive bidding
procedures for Auction 88.
DATES: Comments are due on or before
February 25, 2010, and reply comments
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are due on or before March 11, 2010.
Auction 88 applicants must provide
supplemental information by March 12,
2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by AU Docket No. 10–31, by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Federal Communications
Commission’s Web Site: https://
fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Paper Filers: Parties who choose to
file by paper must file an original and
four copies of each filing. Filings can be
sent by hand or messenger delivery, by
commercial overnight courier, or by
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal
Service mail. All filings must be
addressed to the Commission’s
Secretary, Attn: WTB/ASAD, Office of
the Secretary, Federal Communications
Commission.
• All hand-delivered or messengerdelivered paper filings for the
Commission’s Secretary must be
delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445
12th St., SW., Room TW–A325,
Washington, DC 20554. All hand
deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes must be disposed of before
entering the building.
• Commercial overnight mail (other
than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail
and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300
East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights,
MD 20743.
• People with Disabilities: Contact the
FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov
or telephone: 202–418–0530 or TTY:
202–418–0432.
• The Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau requests that a copy of all
comments and reply comments be
submitted electronically to the
following address: auction88@fcc.gov.
• People with Disabilities: Contact the
FCC to request reasonable
accommodations (accessible format
documents, sign language interpreters,
CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov
or phone: 202–418–0530 or TTY: 202–
418–0432.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
Auctions and Spectrum Access Division:
For auction legal questions: Lynne
Milne and Howard Davenport at (202)
418–0660. For general auction
questions: Jeff Crooks at (202) 418–0660
or Linda Sanderson at (717) 338–2868.
Media Bureau, Audio Division: For
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service rule questions: Lisa Scanlan or
Tom Nessinger at (202) 418–2700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Auction 88 Comment
Public Notice released on February 4,
2010. The complete text of the Auction
88 Comment Public Notice, including
Attachments A and B, and related
Commission documents, are available
for public inspection and copying from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through
Thursday or from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
ET on Fridays in the FCC Reference
Information Center, 445 12th Street SW.,
Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554.
The Auction 88 Comment Public Notice
and related Commission documents also
may be purchased from the
Commission’s duplicating contractor,
Best Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), 445
12th Street SW., Room CY–B402,
Washington, DC 20554, telephone 202–
488–5300, fax 202–488–5563, or you
may contact BCPI at its Web site:
https://www.BCPIWEB.com. When
ordering documents from BCPI, please
provide the appropriate FCC document
number, for example, DA10–125. The
Auction 88 Comment Public Notice and
related documents also are available on
the Internet at the Commission’s Web
site: https://wireless.fcc.gov/
auctions/88/, or by using the search
function for AU Docket No. 10–31 on
the ECFS Web page at https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
I. Introduction
1. The Wireless Telecommunications
and the Media Bureaus (the Bureaus)
announced an auction of certain
broadcast FM, AM, and FM Translator
construction permits and sought
comment on the procedures to be used
for this auction. The Auction 88
Comment Public Notice also establishes
a deadline for the submission to the
Commission of an FCC Registration
Number (FRN) by each applicant to
permit access to the Commission’s
electronic short-form application filing
and auction bidding systems, and
provides for dismissal of those
application(s) where the applicant fails
to provide its FRN by March 12, 2010.
This auction, which is designated
Auction 88, is scheduled to commence
on July 20, 2010. Auction 88 will be a
closed auction; only those entities listed
in Attachment A to the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice will be eligible
to participate in this auction.
II. Background
2. Auction 88 will resolve pending
closed groups of mutually exclusive
applications for full-power FM and FM
translator construction permits that
have been the subject of various
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Commission and judicial decisions.
Included in these groups are twelve
applications that were recently
amended to specify operation as
commercial broadcast stations. Auction
88 will also resolve mutual exclusivity
between applications for new AM
stations on 640 kHz and 1230 kHz in the
Terre Haute, Indiana, area. The 13 FM
application groups and the two FM
Translator application groups (all of
which are former Mixed Groups), and
the three closed AM application groups
identified in Attachment A of the
Auction 88 Comment Public Notice will
now proceed to auction.
III. Construction Permits in Auction 88
3. Auction 88 will offer construction
permits for 13 commercial FM stations,
two commercial FM translator stations,
and three commercial AM stations as
listed in Attachment A. Attachment A of
the Auction 88 Comment Public Notice
also sets forth proposed minimum
opening bids and upfront payments for
permits being offered in this auction.
4. An applicant listed in Attachment
A of the Auction 88 Comment Public
Notice may become qualified to bid only
if it submits an FRN pursuant to the
instructions set forth in the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice and meets the
additional filing, qualification and
payment requirements, as will be
further described in future public
notices. Each qualified bidder will be
eligible to bid on only those
construction permits specified for that
qualified bidder in Attachment A of the
Auction 88 Comment Public Notice. All
applicants within these groups of
mutually exclusive applications (MX
groups) are directly mutually exclusive
with one another, therefore no more
than one construction permit will be
awarded for each MX group.
IV. Due Diligence
5. Potential bidders are reminded that
they are solely responsible for
investigating and evaluating all
technical and marketplace factors that
may have a bearing on the value of the
construction permits for broadcast
facilities they are seeking in this
auction. Bidders are responsible for
assuring themselves that, if they win a
construction permit, they will be able to
build and operate facilities in
accordance with the Commission’s
rules. The FCC makes no
representations or warranties about the
use of this spectrum for particular
services. Applicants should be aware
that an FCC auction represents an
opportunity to become an FCC
construction permittee in a broadcast
service, subject to certain conditions
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and regulations. An FCC auction does
not constitute an endorsement by the
FCC of any particular service,
technology, or product, nor does an FCC
construction permit or license constitute
a guarantee of business success.
V. FCC Registration Number
Information Required
6. Each applicant is required to
submit its FCC Registration Number
(FRN) by no later than 5 p.m. Eastern
Time (ET) on Friday, March 12, 2010, in
order to be able and eligible to
participate in Auction 88. Failure to
submit an FRN pursuant to the
instructions in the Auction 88 Comment
Public Notice will result in dismissal of
the applicant’s application(s) and will
result in disqualification of the
applicant from Auction 88.
7. The Commission’s rules require all
persons and entities doing business
with the Commission to obtain a unique
identifying number called the FRN and
to provide the FRN with all applications
or feeable filings, as well as with other
transactions with the Commission
involving payment of money.
Accordingly, use of an FRN is
mandatory for all applicants for Auction
88. Submission of an FRN is necessary
to permit each applicant to log in to the
FCC’s Integrated Spectrum Auction
System (ISAS or FCC Auction System)
and continue to participate in the
auction process.
8. Applicants that do not have an FRN
must obtain one by registering using the
FCC’s Commission Registration System
(CORES). To access CORES, point your
web browser to the FCC Auctions page
at https://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/ and
click the CORES link under Related
Sites. Next, follow the directions
provided to register and receive your
FRN. Be sure to retain this number and
password and keep such information
strictly confidential.
9. To submit an FRN, each applicant
listed in Attachment A must provide its
applicant name and FRN in an e-mail to
auction88@fcc.gov or fax this
information to Kathryn Hostetter at
(717) 338–2850. Each applicant’s FRN
submission also must describe the
submitter’s relationship to the applicant
or must describe the basis for the
submitter’s authorization to submit an
FRN on behalf of the applicant. The
Bureaus note that, in some cases, an
individual or entity may have obtained
multiple FRNs during the time that the
applications in Attachment A have been
pending. For those applicants listed in
Attachment A with a short-form
application (FCC Form 175) on file (i.e.,
the closed AM application groups MM–
AM039–640, MM–AM040–1230 and
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MM–AM041–750), the applicant must
submit the FRN associated with the
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
that it used in connection with the
submission of its initially filed shortform application.
10. For further information, contact
the FCC ULS Customer Support Hotline
at (877) 480–3201 option 2, (717) 338–
2888, or (717) 338–2824 (TTY). The
hotline is available to assist with
questions Monday through Friday 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m. ET. In order to provide better
service to the public, all calls to the
hotline are recorded.
VI. Submission of Auction Short-Form
Applications
11. The Bureaus will specify
procedures for Auction 88 applicants to
electronically file short-forms
applications (FCC Form 175) in ISAS in
a future public notice. Those procedures
will include instructions for reporting
changes pursuant to 47 CFR 1.65.
Applicants are reminded that certain
changes may be considered a major
modification of an application and
could result in dismissal of the
application and disqualification of an
applicant from participation in Auction
88.
VII. Bureaus Seek Comment on Auction
Procedures
A. Auction Structure
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i. Simultaneous Multiple-Round
Auction Design
12. The Bureaus proposed to auction
all construction permits included in
Auction 88 using the Commission’s
standard simultaneous multiple-round
(SMR) auction format. This type of
auction offers every construction permit
for bid at the same time and consists of
successive bidding rounds in which
eligible bidders may place bids on
individual construction permits.
Typically, bidding remains open on all
construction permits until bidding stops
on every construction permit. The
Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
ii. Round Structure
13. The Commission will conduct
Auction 88 over the Internet, and
telephonic bidding will be available as
well. The toll-free telephone number for
the Auction Bidder Line will be
provided to qualified bidders. The
initial bidding schedule will be
announced in a public notice to be
released at least one week before the
start of the auction.
14. The auction will consist of
sequential bidding rounds, each
followed by the release of round results.
Details on viewing round results,
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including the location and format of
downloadable round results files, will
be included in the same public notice.
15. The Bureaus proposed to retain
the discretion to change the bidding
schedule in order to foster an auction
pace that reasonably balances speed
with the bidders’ need to study round
results and adjust their bidding
strategies. Under this proposal, the
Bureaus may change the amount of time
for the bidding rounds, the amount of
time between rounds, or the number of
rounds per day, depending upon
bidding activity and other factors. The
Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
Commenters may wish to address the
role of the bidding schedule in
managing the pace of the auction and
the tradeoffs in managing auction pace
by bidding schedule changes, by
changing the activity requirements or
bid amount parameters, or by using
other means.
iii. Stopping Rule
16. The Bureaus have discretion to
establish stopping rules before or during
multiple round auctions in order to
terminate the auction within a
reasonable time. For Auction 88, the
Bureaus proposed to employ a
simultaneous stopping rule approach. A
simultaneous stopping rule means that
all construction permits remain
available for bidding until bidding
closes simultaneously on all
construction permits. More specifically,
bidding will close simultaneously on all
construction permits after the first
round in which no bidder submits any
new bids, applies a proactive waiver, or
withdraws any provisionally winning
bids (if bid withdrawals are permitted in
this auction). Thus, unless the Bureaus
announce alternative procedures,
bidding will remain open on all
construction permits until bidding stops
on every construction permit.
Consequently, it is not possible to
determine in advance how long the
auction will last.
17. Further, the Bureaus proposed to
retain the discretion to exercise any of
the following options during Auction
88: (1) Use a modified version of the
simultaneous stopping rule. The
modified stopping rule would close the
auction for all construction permits after
the first round in which no bidder
applies a waiver, withdraws a
provisionally winning bid (if
withdrawals are permitted in this
auction), or places any new bids on any
construction permit for which it is not
the provisionally winning bidder. Thus,
absent any other bidding activity, a
bidder placing a new bid on a
construction permit for which it is the
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provisionally winning bidder would not
keep the auction open under this
modified stopping rule; (2) Declare that
the auction will end after a specified
number of additional rounds (special
stopping rule). If the Bureaus invoke
this special stopping rule, they will
accept bids in the specified final
round(s), after which the auction will
close; and (3) Keep the auction open
even if no bidder places any new bids,
applies a waiver, or withdraws any
provisionally winning bids (if
withdrawals are permitted in this
auction). In this event, the effect will be
the same as if a bidder had applied a
waiver. The activity rule will apply as
usual, and a bidder with insufficient
activity will either lose bidding
eligibility or use a waiver.
18. The Bureaus proposed to exercise
these options only in certain
circumstances, for example, where the
auction is proceeding unusually slowly
or quickly, there is minimal overall
bidding activity, or it appears likely that
the auction will not close within a
reasonable period of time or will close
prematurely. Before exercising these
options, the Bureaus are likely to
attempt to change the pace of the
auction by, for example, changing the
number of bidding rounds per day and/
or changing minimum acceptable bids.
The Bureaus proposed to retain the
discretion to exercise any of these
options with or without prior
announcement during the auction. The
Bureaus seek comment on these
proposals.
iv. Information Relating to Auction
Delay, Suspension, or Cancellation
19. For Auction 88, the Bureaus
proposed that, by public notice or by
announcement during the auction, the
Bureaus may delay, suspend, or cancel
the auction in the event of natural
disaster, technical obstacle,
administrative or weather necessity,
evidence of an auction security breach
or unlawful bidding activity, or for any
other reason that affects the fair and
efficient conduct of competitive
bidding. In such cases, the Bureaus, in
their sole discretion, may elect to
resume the auction starting from the
beginning of the current round, resume
the auction starting from some previous
round, or cancel the auction in its
entirety. Network interruption may
cause the Bureaus to delay or suspend
the auction. The Bureaus emphasize
that exercise of this authority is solely
within the discretion of the Bureaus,
and its use is not intended to be a
substitute for situations in which
bidders may wish to apply their activity
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ii. Activity Rule
rule waivers. The Bureaus seek
comment on this proposal.
B. Auction Procedures
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i. Upfront Payments and Bidding
Eligibility
20. The Bureaus have delegated
authority and discretion to determine an
appropriate upfront payment for each
construction permit being auctioned,
taking into account such factors as the
efficiency of the auction process and the
potential value of similar spectrum. The
upfront payment is a refundable deposit
made by each bidder to establish
eligibility to bid on construction
permits. Upfront payments related to
the specific spectrum subject to auction
protect against frivolous or insincere
bidding and provide the Commission
with a source of funds from which to
collect payments owed at the close of
the auction. With these considerations
in mind, the Bureaus proposed the
upfront payments set forth in
Attachment A of the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice. The Bureaus
seek comment on this proposal.
21. The Bureaus further proposed that
the amount of the upfront payment
submitted by a bidder will determine
the bidder’s initial bidding eligibility in
bidding units. The Bureaus proposed
that each construction permit be
assigned a specific number of bidding
units equal to the upfront payment
listed in Attachment A of the Auction
88 Comment Public Notice, on a bidding
unit per dollar basis. The number of
bidding units for a given construction
permit is fixed and does not change
during the auction as prices change. A
bidder may place bids on multiple
construction permits, provided that (1)
each such construction permit is
designated for that bidder in
Attachment A of the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice, and (2) the
total number of bidding units associated
with those construction permits does
not exceed the bidder’s current
eligibility. Eligibility cannot be
increased during the auction; it can only
remain the same or decrease. Thus, in
calculating its upfront payment amount
and hence its initial bidding eligibility,
an applicant must determine the
maximum number of bidding units on
which it may wish to bid (or hold
provisionally winning bids) in any
single round, and submit an upfront
payment amount covering that total
number of bidding units. Provisionally
winning bids are bids that would
become final winning bids if the auction
were to close in that given round.
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22. In order to ensure that the auction
closes within a reasonable period of
time, an activity rule requires bidders to
bid actively throughout the auction,
rather than wait until late in the auction
before participating.
23. The Bureaus proposed a single
stage auction with the following activity
requirement: In each round of the
auction, a bidder desiring to maintain
its current bidding eligibility is required
to be active on one hundred (100)
percent of its bidding eligibility. A
bidder’s activity in a round will be the
sum of the bidding units associated with
any construction permits upon which it
places bids during the current round
and the bidding units associated with
any construction permits for which it
holds provisionally winning bids.
Failure to maintain the requisite activity
level will result in the use of an activity
rule waiver, if any remain, or a
reduction in the bidder’s eligibility,
possibly curtailing or eliminating the
bidder’s ability to place additional bids
in the auction. The Bureaus seek
comment on this proposal.
iii. Activity Rule Waivers and Reducing
Eligibility
24. Use of an activity rule waiver
preserves the bidder’s eligibility despite
the bidder’s activity in the current
round being below the required
minimum level. An activity rule waiver
applies to an entire round of bidding,
not to a particular construction permit.
Activity rule waivers can be either
proactive or automatic and are
principally a mechanism for auction
participants to avoid the loss of bidding
eligibility in the event that exigent
circumstances prevent them from
bidding in a particular round.
25. The FCC Auction System assumes
that a bidder that does not meet the
activity requirement would prefer to use
an activity rule waiver (if available)
rather than lose bidding eligibility.
Therefore, the system will automatically
apply a waiver at the end of any bidding
round in which a bidder’s activity level
is below the minimum required unless
(1) the bidder has no activity rule
waivers remaining; or (2) the bidder
overrides the automatic application of a
waiver by reducing eligibility, thereby
meeting the activity requirement. If a
bidder that is eligible to bid on only one
construction permit has no waivers
remaining and does not satisfy the
required activity level, its eligibility will
be permanently reduced, eliminating
the bidder from the auction. If a bidder
that is eligible to bid on more than one
construction permit has no waivers
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remaining and does not satisfy the
required activity level, its current
eligibility will be permanently reduced,
possibly curtailing or eliminating the
bidder’s ability to place additional bids
in the auction.
26. A bidder that is eligible to bid on
more than one construction permit and
has insufficient activity may wish to
reduce its bidding eligibility rather than
use an activity rule waiver. If so, the
bidder must affirmatively override the
automatic waiver mechanism during the
bidding round by using the reduce
eligibility function in the FCC Auction
System. In this case, the bidder’s
eligibility is permanently reduced to
bring the bidder into compliance with
the activity rule. Reducing eligibility is
an irreversible action; once eligibility
has been reduced, a bidder will not be
permitted to regain its lost bidding
eligibility, even if the round has not yet
closed.
27. Under the proposed simultaneous
stopping rule, a bidder may apply an
activity rule waiver proactively as a
means to keep the auction open without
placing a bid. If a bidder proactively
applies an activity rule waiver (using
the apply waiver function in the FCC
Auction System) during a bidding round
in which no bids are placed or
withdrawn (if bid withdrawals are
permitted in this auction), the auction
will remain open and the bidder’s
eligibility will be preserved. An
automatic waiver applied by the FCC
Auction System in a round in which
there are no new bids, withdrawals (if
bid withdrawals are permitted in this
auction), or proactive waivers will not
keep the auction open. A bidder cannot
apply a proactive waiver after bidding
in a round, and applying a proactive
waiver will preclude a bidder from
placing any bids in that round.
Applying a waiver is irreversible; once
a proactive waiver is submitted, that
waiver cannot be unsubmitted, even if
the round has not yet closed.
28. The Bureaus proposed that each
bidder in Auction 88 be provided with
three activity rule waivers that may be
used at the bidder’s discretion during
the course of the auction. The Bureaus
seek comment on this proposal.
iv. Reserve Price or Minimum Opening
Bids
29. The Bureaus proposed to establish
minimum opening bid amounts for
Auction 88. The Bureaus believe a
minimum opening bid amount, which
has been used in other broadcast
auctions, is an effective bidding tool for
accelerating the competitive bidding
process. The Bureaus do not propose to
establish a separate reserve price for the
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construction permits to be offered in
Auction 88.
30. For Auction 88, the Bureaus
proposed minimum opening bid
amounts determined by taking into
account the type of service and class of
facility offered, market size, population
covered by the proposed broadcast
facility, and recent broadcast transaction
data. A proposed minimum opening bid
amount for each construction permit
available in Auction 88 is set forth in
Attachment A of the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice. The Bureaus
seek comment on these proposals.
31. If commenters believe that these
minimum opening bid amounts will
result in unsold construction permits,
are not reasonable amounts, or should
instead operate as reserve prices, they
should explain why this is so, and
comment on the desirability of an
alternative approach. Commenters are
advised to support their claims with
valuation analyses and suggested
amounts or formulas for reserve prices
or minimum opening bids. In
establishing the minimum opening bid
amounts, the Bureaus particularly seek
comment on factors that could
reasonably have an impact on valuation
of the broadcast spectrum, including the
type of service and class of facility
offered, market size, population covered
by the proposed broadcast FM, AM and
FM Translator station and any other
relevant factors.
v. Bid Amounts
32. The Bureaus proposed that, in
each round, eligible bidders be able to
place a bid on a given construction
permit in any of up to nine different
amounts. Under this proposal, the FCC
Auction System interface will list the
acceptable bid amounts for each
construction permit.
33. The first of the acceptable bid
amounts is called the minimum
acceptable bid amount. The minimum
acceptable bid amount for a
construction permit will be equal to its
minimum opening bid amount until
there is a provisionally winning bid for
the construction permit. After there is a
provisionally winning bid for a
construction permit, the minimum
acceptable bid amount will be a certain
percentage higher. That is, the
minimum acceptable bid amount will be
calculated by multiplying the
provisionally winning bid amount times
one plus the minimum acceptable bid
percentage. If, for example, the
minimum acceptable bid percentage is
10 percent, the minimum acceptable bid
amount will equal (provisionally
winning bid amount) * (1.10), rounded.
If bid withdrawals are permitted in this
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16:25 Feb 22, 2010
Jkt 220001
auction, in the case of a construction
permit for which the provisionally
winning bid has been withdrawn, the
minimum acceptable bid amount will
equal the second highest bid received
for the construction permit.
34. The eight additional bid amounts
are calculated using the minimum
acceptable bid amount and a bid
increment percentage, which need not
be the same as the percentage used to
calculate the minimum acceptable bid
amount. The first additional acceptable
bid amount equals the minimum
acceptable bid amount times one plus
the bid increment percentage, rounded.
If, for example, the bid increment
percentage is 5 percent, the calculation
is (minimum acceptable bid amount) *
(1 + 0.05), rounded, or (minimum
acceptable bid amount) * 1.05, rounded;
the second additional acceptable bid
amount equals the minimum acceptable
bid amount times one plus two times
the bid increment percentage, rounded,
or (minimum acceptable bid amount) *
1.10, rounded; etc. The Bureaus will
round the results using the
Commission’s standard rounding
procedures for auctions.
35. For Auction 88, the Bureaus
proposed to use a minimum acceptable
bid percentage of 10 percent. This
means that the minimum acceptable bid
amount for a construction permit will be
approximately 10 percent greater than
the provisionally winning bid amount
for the construction permit. To calculate
the additional acceptable bid amounts,
the Bureaus proposed to use a bid
increment percentage of 5 percent.
36. The Bureaus retain the discretion
to change the minimum acceptable bid
amounts, the minimum acceptable bid
percentage, the bid increment
percentage, and the number of
acceptable bid amounts if the Bureaus
determine that circumstances so dictate.
Further, the Bureaus retain the
discretion to do so on a construction
permit-by-construction permit basis.
The Bureaus also retain the discretion to
limit (a) the amount by which a
minimum acceptable bid for a
construction permit may increase
compared with the corresponding
provisionally winning bid, and (b) the
amount by which an additional bid
amount may increase compared with
the immediately preceding acceptable
bid amount. For example, the Bureaus
could set a $10,000 limit on increases in
minimum acceptable bid amounts over
provisionally winning bids. Thus, if
calculating a minimum acceptable bid
using the minimum acceptable bid
percentage results in a minimum
acceptable bid amount that is $12,000
higher than the provisionally winning
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Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
bid on a construction permit, the
minimum acceptable bid amount would
instead be capped at $10,000 above the
provisionally winning bid. The Bureaus
seek comment on the circumstances
under which the Bureaus should
employ such a limit, factors the Bureaus
should consider when determining the
dollar amount of the limit, and the
tradeoffs in setting such a limit or
changing other parameters, such as
changing the minimum acceptable bid
percentage, the bid increment
percentage, or the number of acceptable
bid amounts. If the Bureaus exercise this
discretion, they will alert bidders by
announcement in the FCC Auction
System during the auction. The Bureaus
seek comment on these proposals.
vi. Provisionally Winning Bids
37. Provisionally winning bids are
bids that would become final winning
bids if the auction were to close in that
given round. At the end of a bidding
round, a provisionally winning bid for
each construction permit will be
determined based on the highest bid
amount received for the construction
permit. In the event of identical high bid
amounts being submitted on a
construction permit in a given round
(i.e., tied bids), the Bureaus will use a
random number generator to select a
single provisionally winning bid from
among the tied bids. (Each bid is
assigned a random number, and the tied
bid with the highest random number
wins the tiebreaker.) The remaining
bidders, as well as the provisionally
winning bidder, can submit higher bids
in subsequent rounds. However, if the
auction were to end with no other bids
being placed, the winning bidder would
be the one that placed the provisionally
winning bid. If any bids are received on
the construction permit in a subsequent
round, the provisionally winning bid
again will be determined by the highest
bid amount received for the
construction permit.
38. A provisionally winning bid will
remain the provisionally winning bid
until there is a higher bid on the
construction permit at the close of a
subsequent round, unless the
provisionally winning bid is withdrawn
(if bid withdrawals are permitted in this
auction). Bidders are reminded that
provisionally winning bids count
toward activity for purposes of the
activity rule.
vii. Bid Removal and Bid Withdrawal
39. For Auction 88, the Bureaus
proposed the following bid removal
procedures. Before the close of a
bidding round, a bidder has the option
of removing any bid placed in that
E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM
23FEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2010 / Notices
8075
if a construction permit for which a bid
has been withdrawn does not receive a
subsequent higher bid or winning bid in
the same auction, the final withdrawal
payment cannot be calculated until a
corresponding construction permit
receives a higher bid or winning bid in
a subsequent auction. When that final
payment cannot yet be calculated, the
bidder responsible for the withdrawn
bid is assessed an interim bid
withdrawal payment, which will be
applied toward any final bid withdrawal
payment that is ultimately assessed.
43. The Commission’s rules provide
that, in advance of each auction, a
percentage shall be established between
three percent and twenty percent of the
withdrawn bid to be assessed as an
interim bid withdrawal payment. The
Commission has indicated that the level
of the interim withdrawal payment in a
particular auction will be based on the
nature of the service and the inventory
of the construction permits being
offered. The Commission noted that it
may impose a higher interim
withdrawal payment percentage to deter
the anti-competitive use of withdrawals
when, for example, there are few
synergies to be captured by combining
construction permits.
44. Applying the reasoning that a
higher interim withdrawal payment
percentage is appropriate when
aggregation of construction permits is
not expected, as with the construction
permits subject to competitive bidding
in Auction 88, if the Bureaus allow bid
withdrawals in this auction, the Bureaus
proposed the maximum interim
withdrawal payment allowed under the
current rules. Specifically, the Bureaus
proposed to establish an interim bid
withdrawal payment of twenty percent
of the withdrawn bid for this auction.
The Bureaus seek comment on this
proposal.
the subsequent winning bid, whichever
is less.
46. The Commission’s rules provide
that, in advance of each auction, a
percentage shall be established between
three percent and twenty percent of the
applicable bid to be assessed as an
additional default payment. The
Commission has indicated that the level
of the additional payment in a particular
auction will be based on the nature of
the service and the inventory of the
construction permits being offered. As
the Commission has indicated, the level
of this payment in each case will be
based on the nature of the service and
the inventory of the construction
permits being offered.
47. As previously noted by the
Commission, defaults weaken the
integrity of the auction process and may
impede the deployment of service to the
public, and an additional default
payment of more than the previous
three percent will be more effective in
deterring defaults. In light of these
considerations for Auction 88, the
Bureaus proposed an additional default
payment of twenty percent of the
relevant bid. The Bureaus seek comment
on this proposal.
48. This proceeding has been
designated as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding in accordance with the
Commission’s ex parte rules. Persons
making oral ex parte presentations are
reminded that memoranda summarizing
the presentations must contain
summaries of the substance of the
presentations and not merely a listing of
the subjects discussed. More than a one
or two sentence description of the views
and arguments presented is generally
required. Other rules pertaining to oral
and written ex parte presentations in
permit-but-disclose proceedings are set
forth in 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
C. Post-Auction Payments
ii. Additional Default Payment
Percentage
i. Interim Withdrawal Payment
Percentage
42. If withdrawals are allowed in this
auction, the Bureaus seek comment on
the appropriate percentage of a
withdrawn bid that should be assessed
as an interim withdrawal payment, in
the event that a final withdrawal
payment cannot be determined at the
close of the auction. In general, the
Commission’s rules provide that a
bidder that withdraws a bid during an
auction is subject to a withdrawal
payment equal to the difference between
the amount of the withdrawn bid and
the amount of the winning bid in the
same or a subsequent auction. However,
45. Any winning bidder that defaults
or is disqualified after the close of an
auction (i.e., fails to remit the required
down payment within the prescribed
period of time, fails to submit a timely
long-form application, fails to make full
payment, or is otherwise disqualified) is
liable for a default payment under 47
CFR 1.2104(g)(2). This payment consists
of a deficiency payment, equal to the
difference between the amount of the
bidder’s bid and the amount of the
winning bid the next time a
construction permit covering the same
spectrum is won in an auction, plus an
additional payment equal to a
percentage of the defaulter’s bid or of
Albert Benavides
Amor Radio Group Corp.
Aritaur Communications, Inc.
Arkansas Valley Broadcasting, LLC
BBK Broadcasting
Big Sky Company
Birach Broadcasting Corporation
Boat Of Steam Broadcasting
Bott Broadcasting Company
Central Michigan University
Colorado Alpine Broadcasting Company
Contemporary Media Inc.
Coyote Communications, Inc.
CTS Communications Development
Corp.
Darby Radio Enterprises
David Fleisher & Melissa Krantz
Directel Inc.
EB Needles LLC
Educational Media Foundation
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
round. By removing selected bids in the
FCC Auction System, a bidder may
effectively unsubmit any bid placed
within that round. In contrast to the bid
withdrawal provisions a bidder
removing a bid placed in the same
round is not subject to a withdrawal
payment. Once a round closes, a bidder
may no longer remove a bid. The
Bureaus seek comment on this bid
removal proposal.
40. The Bureaus also seek comment
on whether bid withdrawals should be
permitted in Auction 88. When
permitted in an auction, bid
withdrawals provide a bidder with the
option of withdrawing bids placed in
prior rounds that have become
provisionally winning bids. A bidder
may withdraw its provisionally winning
bids using the withdraw bids function
in the FCC Auction System. If
permitted, a bidder that withdraws its
provisionally winning bid(s) is subject
to the bid withdrawal payment
provisions of the Commission rules.
41. In Auction 88, bidders will have
limited opportunity to aggregate
construction permits because of the preestablished closed MX Groups.
Moreover, bid withdrawals, particularly
those made late in Auction 88, could
result in delays in licensing new
broadcast FM, AM and FM Translator
stations and attendant delays in the
offering of new broadcast service to the
public. The Commission also has noted
that in some instances bidders may seek
to withdraw bids for improper purposes.
Based on this Commission guidance, on
the experience of the Bureaus with past
broadcast auctions, and on the potential
for delays in providing broadcast service
to the public, for this auction the
Bureaus proposed to prohibit bidders
from withdrawing any bids after the
round has closed in which bids were
placed. The Bureaus seek comment on
this proposal.
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:25 Feb 22, 2010
Jkt 220001
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Frm 00045
Fmt 4703
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Auction 88 Applicants
E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM
23FEN1
8076
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 35 / Tuesday, February 23, 2010 / Notices
Eric P. Straus
Evandel Ministries Inc.
Evangel Ministries, Incorporated
Fort Bend Broadcasting Company Inc.
Four Corners Broadcasting LLC
George S. Flinn, Jr.
Good News Media Inc.
Grace Communications L.C.
Harry Media
Hawkeye Communications, Inc.
Jem Broadcasting Co., Inc.
KM Communications, Inc.
KRJ Company
La Capra Corporation
Lancer Media
Marist College
Metro Broadcasters-Texas Inc.
Metro North Communications Inc.
Michael R. Walton Jr.
Mid-America Radio Group Inc.
MTD, Inc.
Music Express Broadcasting, Corp.
Music Ministries, Inc.
Oxford Radio Inc.
Peace Broadcasting Network
Penn-Jersey Educational Radio Corp.
Poor Mountain Broadcasting
Positive Alternative Radio, Inc.
Powell Meredith Communications
Company
Radio Rosendale
Ramar Communications Inc.
Ramsey Leasing, Inc.
Robert Durango LLC
Robert M. McDaniel
Rocky Mountain Radio Company LLC
Romar Communications, Inc.
Rosen Broadcasting, Inc.
S.I. Broadcasting
Sacred Heart University, Inc.
Salija Bokram/Michael J. St. Cyr
Sarkes Tarzian Inc.
South Shore Broadcasting, inc.
Southern Cultural Foundation
Steven Dinetz
The MacDonald Broadcasting Company
Tri-County Radio, Incorporated
William S. Poorman
Willtronics Broadcasting Co.
Word Power, Inc.
WTCM Radio, Inc.
Yampa Valley Broadcasting Inc.
Federal Communications Commission.
William W. Huber,
Associate Chief, Auctions and Spectrum
Access Division, WTB.
[FR Doc. 2010–3583 Filed 2–22–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Renewal of a Currently
Approved Collection (3064–0127);
Comment Request
AGENCY: Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC).
ACTION: Notice and request for comment.
SUMMARY: In accordance with
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), the FDIC may not conduct or
sponsor, and the respondent is not
required to respond to, an information
collection unless it displays a currently
valid Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) control number. The FDIC
hereby gives notice that it is seeking
public comment on the proposed
renewal of its Occasional Qualitative
Surveys information collection (OMB
No. 3064–0127). At the end of the
comment period, any comments and
recommendations received will be
Number of
surveys
FDIC document
analyzed to determine the extent to
which the FDIC should modify the
collection prior to submission to OMB
for review and approval.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before April 26, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties are
invited to submit written comments. All
comments should refer to the name of
the collection. Comments may be
submitted by any of the following
methods:
• https://www.FDIC.gov/regulations/
laws/federal/notices.html.
• E-mail: comments@fdic.gov.
• Mail: Gary A. Kuiper
(202.898.3877), Counsel, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, F–1072,
550 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20429.
• Hand Delivery: Comments may be
hand-delivered to the guard station at
the rear of the 550 17th Street Building
(located on F Street), on business days
between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
A copy of the comments may also be
submitted to the FDIC Desk Officer,
Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, New Executive Office Building,
Room 10235, Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information about this renewal,
please contact Gary A. Kuiper, by
telephone at 202.898.3877 or by mail at
the address identified above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FDIC
is proposing to renew this collection:
Title: Occasional Qualitative Surveys.
Estimated Number of Respondents
and Burden Hours:
Hours per survey
Number of respondents
Burden hours
15
1
850
12,750
Total ..........................................................................................................
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Occasional Qualitative Surveys .......................................................................
15
1
850
12,750
General Description of Collection: The
information collected in these surveys is
anecdotal in nature, that is, samples are
not necessarily random, the results are
not necessarily representative of a larger
class of potential respondents, and the
goal is not to produce a statistically
valid and reliable database. Rather, the
surveys are expected to yield anecdotal
information about the particular
experiences and opinions of members of
the public, primarily staff at respondent
banks or bank customers. The
information is used to improve the way
FDIC relates to its clients, to develop
agendas for regulatory or statutory
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:25 Feb 22, 2010
Jkt 220001
change, and in some cases to simply
learn how particular policies or
programs are working, or are perceived
in particular cases.
Current Action: The FDIC is
proposing to renew this information
collection.
Request for Comment
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
this collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of
the FDIC’s functions, including whether
the information has practical utility; (b)
the accuracy of the estimate of the
burden of the information collection,
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the information collection on
respondents, including through the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
All comments will become a matter of
public record.
E:\FR\FM\23FEN1.SGM
23FEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 23, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8070-8076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3583]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[AU Docket No. 10-31; DA 10-125]
Closed Auction of Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for
July 20, 2010; Auction 88 Applicants Must Provide Supplemental
Information by March 12, 2010; Comment Sought on Competitive Bidding
Procedures for Auction 88
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document announces the auction of certain broadcast FM,
AM, and FM Translator construction permits scheduled to commence on
July 20, 2010 (Auction 88). This document also seeks comments on
competitive bidding procedures for Auction 88.
DATES: Comments are due on or before February 25, 2010, and reply
comments are due on or before March 11, 2010. Auction 88 applicants
must provide supplemental information by March 12, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by AU Docket No. 10-31,
by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Federal Communications Commission's Web Site: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/. Follow the instructions for submitting
comments.
Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and four copies of each filing. Filings can be sent by
hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by
first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All filings must be
addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Attn: WTB/ASAD, Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at
445 12th St., SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. All hand
deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any
envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building.
Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov or telephone: 202-
418-0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
The Wireless Telecommunications Bureau requests that a
copy of all comments and reply comments be submitted electronically to
the following address: auction88@fcc.gov.
People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language
interpreters, CART, etc.) by e-mail: FCC504@fcc.gov or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
Auctions and Spectrum Access Division: For auction legal questions:
Lynne Milne and Howard Davenport at (202) 418-0660. For general auction
questions: Jeff Crooks at (202) 418-0660 or Linda Sanderson at (717)
338-2868. Media Bureau, Audio Division: For
[[Page 8071]]
service rule questions: Lisa Scanlan or Tom Nessinger at (202) 418-
2700.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Auction 88 Comment
Public Notice released on February 4, 2010. The complete text of the
Auction 88 Comment Public Notice, including Attachments A and B, and
related Commission documents, are available for public inspection and
copying from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Thursday or from 8
a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET on Fridays in the FCC Reference Information
Center, 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. The
Auction 88 Comment Public Notice and related Commission documents also
may be purchased from the Commission's duplicating contractor, Best
Copy and Printing, Inc. (BCPI), 445 12th Street SW., Room CY-B402,
Washington, DC 20554, telephone 202-488-5300, fax 202-488-5563, or you
may contact BCPI at its Web site: https://www.BCPIWEB.com. When ordering
documents from BCPI, please provide the appropriate FCC document
number, for example, DA10-125. The Auction 88 Comment Public Notice and
related documents also are available on the Internet at the
Commission's Web site: https://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/88/ auctions/88/, or by
using the search function for AU Docket No. 10-31 on the ECFS Web page
at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
I. Introduction
1. The Wireless Telecommunications and the Media Bureaus (the
Bureaus) announced an auction of certain broadcast FM, AM, and FM
Translator construction permits and sought comment on the procedures to
be used for this auction. The Auction 88 Comment Public Notice also
establishes a deadline for the submission to the Commission of an FCC
Registration Number (FRN) by each applicant to permit access to the
Commission's electronic short-form application filing and auction
bidding systems, and provides for dismissal of those application(s)
where the applicant fails to provide its FRN by March 12, 2010. This
auction, which is designated Auction 88, is scheduled to commence on
July 20, 2010. Auction 88 will be a closed auction; only those entities
listed in Attachment A to the Auction 88 Comment Public Notice will be
eligible to participate in this auction.
II. Background
2. Auction 88 will resolve pending closed groups of mutually
exclusive applications for full-power FM and FM translator construction
permits that have been the subject of various Commission and judicial
decisions. Included in these groups are twelve applications that were
recently amended to specify operation as commercial broadcast stations.
Auction 88 will also resolve mutual exclusivity between applications
for new AM stations on 640 kHz and 1230 kHz in the Terre Haute,
Indiana, area. The 13 FM application groups and the two FM Translator
application groups (all of which are former Mixed Groups), and the
three closed AM application groups identified in Attachment A of the
Auction 88 Comment Public Notice will now proceed to auction.
III. Construction Permits in Auction 88
3. Auction 88 will offer construction permits for 13 commercial FM
stations, two commercial FM translator stations, and three commercial
AM stations as listed in Attachment A. Attachment A of the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice also sets forth proposed minimum opening bids and
upfront payments for permits being offered in this auction.
4. An applicant listed in Attachment A of the Auction 88 Comment
Public Notice may become qualified to bid only if it submits an FRN
pursuant to the instructions set forth in the Auction 88 Comment Public
Notice and meets the additional filing, qualification and payment
requirements, as will be further described in future public notices.
Each qualified bidder will be eligible to bid on only those
construction permits specified for that qualified bidder in Attachment
A of the Auction 88 Comment Public Notice. All applicants within these
groups of mutually exclusive applications (MX groups) are directly
mutually exclusive with one another, therefore no more than one
construction permit will be awarded for each MX group.
IV. Due Diligence
5. Potential bidders are reminded that they are solely responsible
for investigating and evaluating all technical and marketplace factors
that may have a bearing on the value of the construction permits for
broadcast facilities they are seeking in this auction. Bidders are
responsible for assuring themselves that, if they win a construction
permit, they will be able to build and operate facilities in accordance
with the Commission's rules. The FCC makes no representations or
warranties about the use of this spectrum for particular services.
Applicants should be aware that an FCC auction represents an
opportunity to become an FCC construction permittee in a broadcast
service, subject to certain conditions and regulations. An FCC auction
does not constitute an endorsement by the FCC of any particular
service, technology, or product, nor does an FCC construction permit or
license constitute a guarantee of business success.
V. FCC Registration Number Information Required
6. Each applicant is required to submit its FCC Registration Number
(FRN) by no later than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on Friday, March 12,
2010, in order to be able and eligible to participate in Auction 88.
Failure to submit an FRN pursuant to the instructions in the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice will result in dismissal of the applicant's
application(s) and will result in disqualification of the applicant
from Auction 88.
7. The Commission's rules require all persons and entities doing
business with the Commission to obtain a unique identifying number
called the FRN and to provide the FRN with all applications or feeable
filings, as well as with other transactions with the Commission
involving payment of money. Accordingly, use of an FRN is mandatory for
all applicants for Auction 88. Submission of an FRN is necessary to
permit each applicant to log in to the FCC's Integrated Spectrum
Auction System (ISAS or FCC Auction System) and continue to participate
in the auction process.
8. Applicants that do not have an FRN must obtain one by
registering using the FCC's Commission Registration System (CORES). To
access CORES, point your web browser to the FCC Auctions page at https://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/ and click the CORES link under Related
Sites. Next, follow the directions provided to register and receive
your FRN. Be sure to retain this number and password and keep such
information strictly confidential.
9. To submit an FRN, each applicant listed in Attachment A must
provide its applicant name and FRN in an e-mail to auction88@fcc.gov or
fax this information to Kathryn Hostetter at (717) 338-2850. Each
applicant's FRN submission also must describe the submitter's
relationship to the applicant or must describe the basis for the
submitter's authorization to submit an FRN on behalf of the applicant.
The Bureaus note that, in some cases, an individual or entity may have
obtained multiple FRNs during the time that the applications in
Attachment A have been pending. For those applicants listed in
Attachment A with a short-form application (FCC Form 175) on file
(i.e., the closed AM application groups MM-AM039-640, MM-AM040-1230 and
[[Page 8072]]
MM-AM041-750), the applicant must submit the FRN associated with the
Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) that it used in connection with
the submission of its initially filed short-form application.
10. For further information, contact the FCC ULS Customer Support
Hotline at (877) 480-3201 option 2, (717) 338-2888, or (717) 338-2824
(TTY). The hotline is available to assist with questions Monday through
Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. In order to provide better service to the
public, all calls to the hotline are recorded.
VI. Submission of Auction Short-Form Applications
11. The Bureaus will specify procedures for Auction 88 applicants
to electronically file short-forms applications (FCC Form 175) in ISAS
in a future public notice. Those procedures will include instructions
for reporting changes pursuant to 47 CFR 1.65. Applicants are reminded
that certain changes may be considered a major modification of an
application and could result in dismissal of the application and
disqualification of an applicant from participation in Auction 88.
VII. Bureaus Seek Comment on Auction Procedures
A. Auction Structure
i. Simultaneous Multiple-Round Auction Design
12. The Bureaus proposed to auction all construction permits
included in Auction 88 using the Commission's standard simultaneous
multiple-round (SMR) auction format. This type of auction offers every
construction permit for bid at the same time and consists of successive
bidding rounds in which eligible bidders may place bids on individual
construction permits. Typically, bidding remains open on all
construction permits until bidding stops on every construction permit.
The Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
ii. Round Structure
13. The Commission will conduct Auction 88 over the Internet, and
telephonic bidding will be available as well. The toll-free telephone
number for the Auction Bidder Line will be provided to qualified
bidders. The initial bidding schedule will be announced in a public
notice to be released at least one week before the start of the
auction.
14. The auction will consist of sequential bidding rounds, each
followed by the release of round results. Details on viewing round
results, including the location and format of downloadable round
results files, will be included in the same public notice.
15. The Bureaus proposed to retain the discretion to change the
bidding schedule in order to foster an auction pace that reasonably
balances speed with the bidders' need to study round results and adjust
their bidding strategies. Under this proposal, the Bureaus may change
the amount of time for the bidding rounds, the amount of time between
rounds, or the number of rounds per day, depending upon bidding
activity and other factors. The Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
Commenters may wish to address the role of the bidding schedule in
managing the pace of the auction and the tradeoffs in managing auction
pace by bidding schedule changes, by changing the activity requirements
or bid amount parameters, or by using other means.
iii. Stopping Rule
16. The Bureaus have discretion to establish stopping rules before
or during multiple round auctions in order to terminate the auction
within a reasonable time. For Auction 88, the Bureaus proposed to
employ a simultaneous stopping rule approach. A simultaneous stopping
rule means that all construction permits remain available for bidding
until bidding closes simultaneously on all construction permits. More
specifically, bidding will close simultaneously on all construction
permits after the first round in which no bidder submits any new bids,
applies a proactive waiver, or withdraws any provisionally winning bids
(if bid withdrawals are permitted in this auction). Thus, unless the
Bureaus announce alternative procedures, bidding will remain open on
all construction permits until bidding stops on every construction
permit. Consequently, it is not possible to determine in advance how
long the auction will last.
17. Further, the Bureaus proposed to retain the discretion to
exercise any of the following options during Auction 88: (1) Use a
modified version of the simultaneous stopping rule. The modified
stopping rule would close the auction for all construction permits
after the first round in which no bidder applies a waiver, withdraws a
provisionally winning bid (if withdrawals are permitted in this
auction), or places any new bids on any construction permit for which
it is not the provisionally winning bidder. Thus, absent any other
bidding activity, a bidder placing a new bid on a construction permit
for which it is the provisionally winning bidder would not keep the
auction open under this modified stopping rule; (2) Declare that the
auction will end after a specified number of additional rounds (special
stopping rule). If the Bureaus invoke this special stopping rule, they
will accept bids in the specified final round(s), after which the
auction will close; and (3) Keep the auction open even if no bidder
places any new bids, applies a waiver, or withdraws any provisionally
winning bids (if withdrawals are permitted in this auction). In this
event, the effect will be the same as if a bidder had applied a waiver.
The activity rule will apply as usual, and a bidder with insufficient
activity will either lose bidding eligibility or use a waiver.
18. The Bureaus proposed to exercise these options only in certain
circumstances, for example, where the auction is proceeding unusually
slowly or quickly, there is minimal overall bidding activity, or it
appears likely that the auction will not close within a reasonable
period of time or will close prematurely. Before exercising these
options, the Bureaus are likely to attempt to change the pace of the
auction by, for example, changing the number of bidding rounds per day
and/or changing minimum acceptable bids. The Bureaus proposed to retain
the discretion to exercise any of these options with or without prior
announcement during the auction. The Bureaus seek comment on these
proposals.
iv. Information Relating to Auction Delay, Suspension, or Cancellation
19. For Auction 88, the Bureaus proposed that, by public notice or
by announcement during the auction, the Bureaus may delay, suspend, or
cancel the auction in the event of natural disaster, technical
obstacle, administrative or weather necessity, evidence of an auction
security breach or unlawful bidding activity, or for any other reason
that affects the fair and efficient conduct of competitive bidding. In
such cases, the Bureaus, in their sole discretion, may elect to resume
the auction starting from the beginning of the current round, resume
the auction starting from some previous round, or cancel the auction in
its entirety. Network interruption may cause the Bureaus to delay or
suspend the auction. The Bureaus emphasize that exercise of this
authority is solely within the discretion of the Bureaus, and its use
is not intended to be a substitute for situations in which bidders may
wish to apply their activity
[[Page 8073]]
rule waivers. The Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
B. Auction Procedures
i. Upfront Payments and Bidding Eligibility
20. The Bureaus have delegated authority and discretion to
determine an appropriate upfront payment for each construction permit
being auctioned, taking into account such factors as the efficiency of
the auction process and the potential value of similar spectrum. The
upfront payment is a refundable deposit made by each bidder to
establish eligibility to bid on construction permits. Upfront payments
related to the specific spectrum subject to auction protect against
frivolous or insincere bidding and provide the Commission with a source
of funds from which to collect payments owed at the close of the
auction. With these considerations in mind, the Bureaus proposed the
upfront payments set forth in Attachment A of the Auction 88 Comment
Public Notice. The Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
21. The Bureaus further proposed that the amount of the upfront
payment submitted by a bidder will determine the bidder's initial
bidding eligibility in bidding units. The Bureaus proposed that each
construction permit be assigned a specific number of bidding units
equal to the upfront payment listed in Attachment A of the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice, on a bidding unit per dollar basis. The number
of bidding units for a given construction permit is fixed and does not
change during the auction as prices change. A bidder may place bids on
multiple construction permits, provided that (1) each such construction
permit is designated for that bidder in Attachment A of the Auction 88
Comment Public Notice, and (2) the total number of bidding units
associated with those construction permits does not exceed the bidder's
current eligibility. Eligibility cannot be increased during the
auction; it can only remain the same or decrease. Thus, in calculating
its upfront payment amount and hence its initial bidding eligibility,
an applicant must determine the maximum number of bidding units on
which it may wish to bid (or hold provisionally winning bids) in any
single round, and submit an upfront payment amount covering that total
number of bidding units. Provisionally winning bids are bids that would
become final winning bids if the auction were to close in that given
round.
ii. Activity Rule
22. In order to ensure that the auction closes within a reasonable
period of time, an activity rule requires bidders to bid actively
throughout the auction, rather than wait until late in the auction
before participating.
23. The Bureaus proposed a single stage auction with the following
activity requirement: In each round of the auction, a bidder desiring
to maintain its current bidding eligibility is required to be active on
one hundred (100) percent of its bidding eligibility. A bidder's
activity in a round will be the sum of the bidding units associated
with any construction permits upon which it places bids during the
current round and the bidding units associated with any construction
permits for which it holds provisionally winning bids. Failure to
maintain the requisite activity level will result in the use of an
activity rule waiver, if any remain, or a reduction in the bidder's
eligibility, possibly curtailing or eliminating the bidder's ability to
place additional bids in the auction. The Bureaus seek comment on this
proposal.
iii. Activity Rule Waivers and Reducing Eligibility
24. Use of an activity rule waiver preserves the bidder's
eligibility despite the bidder's activity in the current round being
below the required minimum level. An activity rule waiver applies to an
entire round of bidding, not to a particular construction permit.
Activity rule waivers can be either proactive or automatic and are
principally a mechanism for auction participants to avoid the loss of
bidding eligibility in the event that exigent circumstances prevent
them from bidding in a particular round.
25. The FCC Auction System assumes that a bidder that does not meet
the activity requirement would prefer to use an activity rule waiver
(if available) rather than lose bidding eligibility. Therefore, the
system will automatically apply a waiver at the end of any bidding
round in which a bidder's activity level is below the minimum required
unless (1) the bidder has no activity rule waivers remaining; or (2)
the bidder overrides the automatic application of a waiver by reducing
eligibility, thereby meeting the activity requirement. If a bidder that
is eligible to bid on only one construction permit has no waivers
remaining and does not satisfy the required activity level, its
eligibility will be permanently reduced, eliminating the bidder from
the auction. If a bidder that is eligible to bid on more than one
construction permit has no waivers remaining and does not satisfy the
required activity level, its current eligibility will be permanently
reduced, possibly curtailing or eliminating the bidder's ability to
place additional bids in the auction.
26. A bidder that is eligible to bid on more than one construction
permit and has insufficient activity may wish to reduce its bidding
eligibility rather than use an activity rule waiver. If so, the bidder
must affirmatively override the automatic waiver mechanism during the
bidding round by using the reduce eligibility function in the FCC
Auction System. In this case, the bidder's eligibility is permanently
reduced to bring the bidder into compliance with the activity rule.
Reducing eligibility is an irreversible action; once eligibility has
been reduced, a bidder will not be permitted to regain its lost bidding
eligibility, even if the round has not yet closed.
27. Under the proposed simultaneous stopping rule, a bidder may
apply an activity rule waiver proactively as a means to keep the
auction open without placing a bid. If a bidder proactively applies an
activity rule waiver (using the apply waiver function in the FCC
Auction System) during a bidding round in which no bids are placed or
withdrawn (if bid withdrawals are permitted in this auction), the
auction will remain open and the bidder's eligibility will be
preserved. An automatic waiver applied by the FCC Auction System in a
round in which there are no new bids, withdrawals (if bid withdrawals
are permitted in this auction), or proactive waivers will not keep the
auction open. A bidder cannot apply a proactive waiver after bidding in
a round, and applying a proactive waiver will preclude a bidder from
placing any bids in that round. Applying a waiver is irreversible; once
a proactive waiver is submitted, that waiver cannot be unsubmitted,
even if the round has not yet closed.
28. The Bureaus proposed that each bidder in Auction 88 be provided
with three activity rule waivers that may be used at the bidder's
discretion during the course of the auction. The Bureaus seek comment
on this proposal.
iv. Reserve Price or Minimum Opening Bids
29. The Bureaus proposed to establish minimum opening bid amounts
for Auction 88. The Bureaus believe a minimum opening bid amount, which
has been used in other broadcast auctions, is an effective bidding tool
for accelerating the competitive bidding process. The Bureaus do not
propose to establish a separate reserve price for the
[[Page 8074]]
construction permits to be offered in Auction 88.
30. For Auction 88, the Bureaus proposed minimum opening bid
amounts determined by taking into account the type of service and class
of facility offered, market size, population covered by the proposed
broadcast facility, and recent broadcast transaction data. A proposed
minimum opening bid amount for each construction permit available in
Auction 88 is set forth in Attachment A of the Auction 88 Comment
Public Notice. The Bureaus seek comment on these proposals.
31. If commenters believe that these minimum opening bid amounts
will result in unsold construction permits, are not reasonable amounts,
or should instead operate as reserve prices, they should explain why
this is so, and comment on the desirability of an alternative approach.
Commenters are advised to support their claims with valuation analyses
and suggested amounts or formulas for reserve prices or minimum opening
bids. In establishing the minimum opening bid amounts, the Bureaus
particularly seek comment on factors that could reasonably have an
impact on valuation of the broadcast spectrum, including the type of
service and class of facility offered, market size, population covered
by the proposed broadcast FM, AM and FM Translator station and any
other relevant factors.
v. Bid Amounts
32. The Bureaus proposed that, in each round, eligible bidders be
able to place a bid on a given construction permit in any of up to nine
different amounts. Under this proposal, the FCC Auction System
interface will list the acceptable bid amounts for each construction
permit.
33. The first of the acceptable bid amounts is called the minimum
acceptable bid amount. The minimum acceptable bid amount for a
construction permit will be equal to its minimum opening bid amount
until there is a provisionally winning bid for the construction permit.
After there is a provisionally winning bid for a construction permit,
the minimum acceptable bid amount will be a certain percentage higher.
That is, the minimum acceptable bid amount will be calculated by
multiplying the provisionally winning bid amount times one plus the
minimum acceptable bid percentage. If, for example, the minimum
acceptable bid percentage is 10 percent, the minimum acceptable bid
amount will equal (provisionally winning bid amount) * (1.10), rounded.
If bid withdrawals are permitted in this auction, in the case of a
construction permit for which the provisionally winning bid has been
withdrawn, the minimum acceptable bid amount will equal the second
highest bid received for the construction permit.
34. The eight additional bid amounts are calculated using the
minimum acceptable bid amount and a bid increment percentage, which
need not be the same as the percentage used to calculate the minimum
acceptable bid amount. The first additional acceptable bid amount
equals the minimum acceptable bid amount times one plus the bid
increment percentage, rounded. If, for example, the bid increment
percentage is 5 percent, the calculation is (minimum acceptable bid
amount) * (1 + 0.05), rounded, or (minimum acceptable bid amount) *
1.05, rounded; the second additional acceptable bid amount equals the
minimum acceptable bid amount times one plus two times the bid
increment percentage, rounded, or (minimum acceptable bid amount) *
1.10, rounded; etc. The Bureaus will round the results using the
Commission's standard rounding procedures for auctions.
35. For Auction 88, the Bureaus proposed to use a minimum
acceptable bid percentage of 10 percent. This means that the minimum
acceptable bid amount for a construction permit will be approximately
10 percent greater than the provisionally winning bid amount for the
construction permit. To calculate the additional acceptable bid
amounts, the Bureaus proposed to use a bid increment percentage of 5
percent.
36. The Bureaus retain the discretion to change the minimum
acceptable bid amounts, the minimum acceptable bid percentage, the bid
increment percentage, and the number of acceptable bid amounts if the
Bureaus determine that circumstances so dictate. Further, the Bureaus
retain the discretion to do so on a construction permit-by-construction
permit basis. The Bureaus also retain the discretion to limit (a) the
amount by which a minimum acceptable bid for a construction permit may
increase compared with the corresponding provisionally winning bid, and
(b) the amount by which an additional bid amount may increase compared
with the immediately preceding acceptable bid amount. For example, the
Bureaus could set a $10,000 limit on increases in minimum acceptable
bid amounts over provisionally winning bids. Thus, if calculating a
minimum acceptable bid using the minimum acceptable bid percentage
results in a minimum acceptable bid amount that is $12,000 higher than
the provisionally winning bid on a construction permit, the minimum
acceptable bid amount would instead be capped at $10,000 above the
provisionally winning bid. The Bureaus seek comment on the
circumstances under which the Bureaus should employ such a limit,
factors the Bureaus should consider when determining the dollar amount
of the limit, and the tradeoffs in setting such a limit or changing
other parameters, such as changing the minimum acceptable bid
percentage, the bid increment percentage, or the number of acceptable
bid amounts. If the Bureaus exercise this discretion, they will alert
bidders by announcement in the FCC Auction System during the auction.
The Bureaus seek comment on these proposals.
vi. Provisionally Winning Bids
37. Provisionally winning bids are bids that would become final
winning bids if the auction were to close in that given round. At the
end of a bidding round, a provisionally winning bid for each
construction permit will be determined based on the highest bid amount
received for the construction permit. In the event of identical high
bid amounts being submitted on a construction permit in a given round
(i.e., tied bids), the Bureaus will use a random number generator to
select a single provisionally winning bid from among the tied bids.
(Each bid is assigned a random number, and the tied bid with the
highest random number wins the tiebreaker.) The remaining bidders, as
well as the provisionally winning bidder, can submit higher bids in
subsequent rounds. However, if the auction were to end with no other
bids being placed, the winning bidder would be the one that placed the
provisionally winning bid. If any bids are received on the construction
permit in a subsequent round, the provisionally winning bid again will
be determined by the highest bid amount received for the construction
permit.
38. A provisionally winning bid will remain the provisionally
winning bid until there is a higher bid on the construction permit at
the close of a subsequent round, unless the provisionally winning bid
is withdrawn (if bid withdrawals are permitted in this auction).
Bidders are reminded that provisionally winning bids count toward
activity for purposes of the activity rule.
vii. Bid Removal and Bid Withdrawal
39. For Auction 88, the Bureaus proposed the following bid removal
procedures. Before the close of a bidding round, a bidder has the
option of removing any bid placed in that
[[Page 8075]]
round. By removing selected bids in the FCC Auction System, a bidder
may effectively unsubmit any bid placed within that round. In contrast
to the bid withdrawal provisions a bidder removing a bid placed in the
same round is not subject to a withdrawal payment. Once a round closes,
a bidder may no longer remove a bid. The Bureaus seek comment on this
bid removal proposal.
40. The Bureaus also seek comment on whether bid withdrawals should
be permitted in Auction 88. When permitted in an auction, bid
withdrawals provide a bidder with the option of withdrawing bids placed
in prior rounds that have become provisionally winning bids. A bidder
may withdraw its provisionally winning bids using the withdraw bids
function in the FCC Auction System. If permitted, a bidder that
withdraws its provisionally winning bid(s) is subject to the bid
withdrawal payment provisions of the Commission rules.
41. In Auction 88, bidders will have limited opportunity to
aggregate construction permits because of the pre-established closed MX
Groups. Moreover, bid withdrawals, particularly those made late in
Auction 88, could result in delays in licensing new broadcast FM, AM
and FM Translator stations and attendant delays in the offering of new
broadcast service to the public. The Commission also has noted that in
some instances bidders may seek to withdraw bids for improper purposes.
Based on this Commission guidance, on the experience of the Bureaus
with past broadcast auctions, and on the potential for delays in
providing broadcast service to the public, for this auction the Bureaus
proposed to prohibit bidders from withdrawing any bids after the round
has closed in which bids were placed. The Bureaus seek comment on this
proposal.
C. Post-Auction Payments
i. Interim Withdrawal Payment Percentage
42. If withdrawals are allowed in this auction, the Bureaus seek
comment on the appropriate percentage of a withdrawn bid that should be
assessed as an interim withdrawal payment, in the event that a final
withdrawal payment cannot be determined at the close of the auction. In
general, the Commission's rules provide that a bidder that withdraws a
bid during an auction is subject to a withdrawal payment equal to the
difference between the amount of the withdrawn bid and the amount of
the winning bid in the same or a subsequent auction. However, if a
construction permit for which a bid has been withdrawn does not receive
a subsequent higher bid or winning bid in the same auction, the final
withdrawal payment cannot be calculated until a corresponding
construction permit receives a higher bid or winning bid in a
subsequent auction. When that final payment cannot yet be calculated,
the bidder responsible for the withdrawn bid is assessed an interim bid
withdrawal payment, which will be applied toward any final bid
withdrawal payment that is ultimately assessed.
43. The Commission's rules provide that, in advance of each
auction, a percentage shall be established between three percent and
twenty percent of the withdrawn bid to be assessed as an interim bid
withdrawal payment. The Commission has indicated that the level of the
interim withdrawal payment in a particular auction will be based on the
nature of the service and the inventory of the construction permits
being offered. The Commission noted that it may impose a higher interim
withdrawal payment percentage to deter the anti-competitive use of
withdrawals when, for example, there are few synergies to be captured
by combining construction permits.
44. Applying the reasoning that a higher interim withdrawal payment
percentage is appropriate when aggregation of construction permits is
not expected, as with the construction permits subject to competitive
bidding in Auction 88, if the Bureaus allow bid withdrawals in this
auction, the Bureaus proposed the maximum interim withdrawal payment
allowed under the current rules. Specifically, the Bureaus proposed to
establish an interim bid withdrawal payment of twenty percent of the
withdrawn bid for this auction. The Bureaus seek comment on this
proposal.
ii. Additional Default Payment Percentage
45. Any winning bidder that defaults or is disqualified after the
close of an auction (i.e., fails to remit the required down payment
within the prescribed period of time, fails to submit a timely long-
form application, fails to make full payment, or is otherwise
disqualified) is liable for a default payment under 47 CFR
1.2104(g)(2). This payment consists of a deficiency payment, equal to
the difference between the amount of the bidder's bid and the amount of
the winning bid the next time a construction permit covering the same
spectrum is won in an auction, plus an additional payment equal to a
percentage of the defaulter's bid or of the subsequent winning bid,
whichever is less.
46. The Commission's rules provide that, in advance of each
auction, a percentage shall be established between three percent and
twenty percent of the applicable bid to be assessed as an additional
default payment. The Commission has indicated that the level of the
additional payment in a particular auction will be based on the nature
of the service and the inventory of the construction permits being
offered. As the Commission has indicated, the level of this payment in
each case will be based on the nature of the service and the inventory
of the construction permits being offered.
47. As previously noted by the Commission, defaults weaken the
integrity of the auction process and may impede the deployment of
service to the public, and an additional default payment of more than
the previous three percent will be more effective in deterring
defaults. In light of these considerations for Auction 88, the Bureaus
proposed an additional default payment of twenty percent of the
relevant bid. The Bureaus seek comment on this proposal.
48. This proceeding has been designated as a permit-but-disclose
proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. Persons
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda
summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance
of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects
discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and
arguments presented is generally required. Other rules pertaining to
oral and written ex parte presentations in permit-but-disclose
proceedings are set forth in 47 CFR 1.1206(b).
Auction 88 Applicants
Albert Benavides
Amor Radio Group Corp.
Aritaur Communications, Inc.
Arkansas Valley Broadcasting, LLC
BBK Broadcasting
Big Sky Company
Birach Broadcasting Corporation
Boat Of Steam Broadcasting
Bott Broadcasting Company
Central Michigan University
Colorado Alpine Broadcasting Company
Contemporary Media Inc.
Coyote Communications, Inc.
CTS Communications Development Corp.
Darby Radio Enterprises
David Fleisher & Melissa Krantz
Directel Inc.
EB Needles LLC
Educational Media Foundation
[[Page 8076]]
Eric P. Straus
Evandel Ministries Inc.
Evangel Ministries, Incorporated
Fort Bend Broadcasting Company Inc.
Four Corners Broadcasting LLC
George S. Flinn, Jr.
Good News Media Inc.
Grace Communications L.C.
Harry Media
Hawkeye Communications, Inc.
Jem Broadcasting Co., Inc.
KM Communications, Inc.
KRJ Company
La Capra Corporation
Lancer Media
Marist College
Metro Broadcasters-Texas Inc.
Metro North Communications Inc.
Michael R. Walton Jr.
Mid-America Radio Group Inc.
MTD, Inc.
Music Express Broadcasting, Corp.
Music Ministries, Inc.
Oxford Radio Inc.
Peace Broadcasting Network
Penn-Jersey Educational Radio Corp.
Poor Mountain Broadcasting
Positive Alternative Radio, Inc.
Powell Meredith Communications Company
Radio Rosendale
Ramar Communications Inc.
Ramsey Leasing, Inc.
Robert Durango LLC
Robert M. McDaniel
Rocky Mountain Radio Company LLC
Romar Communications, Inc.
Rosen Broadcasting, Inc.
S.I. Broadcasting
Sacred Heart University, Inc.
Salija Bokram/Michael J. St. Cyr
Sarkes Tarzian Inc.
South Shore Broadcasting, inc.
Southern Cultural Foundation
Steven Dinetz
The MacDonald Broadcasting Company
Tri-County Radio, Incorporated
William S. Poorman
Willtronics Broadcasting Co.
Word Power, Inc.
WTCM Radio, Inc.
Yampa Valley Broadcasting Inc.
Federal Communications Commission.
William W. Huber,
Associate Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, WTB.
[FR Doc. 2010-3583 Filed 2-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P