Initial Clearing Target of 126 Megahertz Set for the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction; Bidding in the Clock Phase of the Reverse Auction (Auction 1001) Will Start on May 31, 2016, 30302-30304 [2016-11432]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other materials, such as
copyrighted material, are publicly
available only in hard copy. Publicly
available docket materials are available
either electronically in
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the ORD Docket in the EPA
Headquarters Docket Center.
Dated: May 3, 2016.
Mary A. Ross,
Deputy Director, National Center for
Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2016–11264 Filed 5–13–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[GN Docket No. 12–268; AU Docket No. 14–
252; WT Docket No. 12–269; DA 16–453]
Initial Clearing Target of 126 Megahertz
Set for the Broadcast Television
Spectrum Incentive Auction; Bidding
in the Clock Phase of the Reverse
Auction (Auction 1001) Will Start on
May 31, 2016
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Incentive Auction Task
Force and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau announce
the initial clearing target of 126
megahertz for the Broadcast Television
Spectrum Incentive Auction and that
the bidding in the clock phase of the
reverse auction is scheduled to begin on
May 31, 2016. This document also
announces the mailing of Final
Confidential Status Letters, the number
of forward auction blocks, and details
and dates regarding the availability of
educational and informational materials
and bidding for reverse auction
applicants that are qualified to bid in
the reverse auction clock phase.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
Auctions and Spectrum Access Division:
For general auction questions, contact
Linda Sanderson at (717) 338–2868. For
reverse auction legal questions, contact
Erin Griffith or Kathryn Hinton at (202)
418–0660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Incentive Auction
Clearing Target Public Notice, GN
Docket No. 12–268, AU Docket No. 14–
252, WT Docket No. 12–269, DA 16–
453, released on April 29, 2016. The
complete text of the Incentive Auction
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Clearing Target Public Notice is
available for public inspection and
copying from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
Monday through Thursday or from 8:00
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 complete
text is also available on the
Commission’s Web site at https://
wireless.fcc.gov, the Auction 1001 Web
site at https://www.fcc.gov/auctions/
1001, or by using the search function on
the ECFS Web page at https://
www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Alternative
formats are available to persons with
disabilities by sending an email to
FCC504@fcc.gov or by calling the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs
Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202)
418–0432 (TTY).
1. The Incentive Auction Task Force
(Task Force) and the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau)
announce the 126 megahertz initial
spectrum clearing target that has been
set by the Auction System’s initial
clearing target determination procedure
and the associated band plan for the
initial stage of the incentive auction, as
well as the number of Category 1 and
Category 2 generic license blocks in
each Partial Economic Area (PEA) that
will be offered in the initial stage during
the forward auction (Auction 1002). The
Task Force and Bureau also announce
that they will send a confidential letter
(the Final Confidential Status Letter) to
inform each applicant that was
permitted to make an initial
commitment in the reverse auction
(Auction 1001) of its status with respect
to the clock phase of the reverse
auction. Finally, the Task Force and
Bureau provide details and specific
dates regarding the availability of
educational materials and the bidding in
the clock phase of the reverse auction.
I. Initial Clearing Target and Band Plan
2. The Auction System’s initial
clearing target determination procedure
has set an initial spectrum clearing
target of 126 megahertz. Under the band
plan associated with this spectrum
clearing target, 100 megahertz, or 10
paired blocks, of licensed spectrum will
be offered in the forward auction on a
near-nationwide basis.
3. The generic license blocks offered
in the initial stage during the forward
auction under this band plan will
consist of a total of 4030 ‘‘Category 1’’
blocks (zero to 15 percent impairment)
and a total of 18 ‘‘Category 2’’ blocks
(greater than 15 percent and up to 50
percent impairment). Approximately 97
percent of the blocks offered for the
forward auction will be ‘‘Category 1’’
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blocks, and 99 percent of the ‘‘Category
1’’ blocks will be zero percent impaired.
Attached to the Incentive Auction
Clearing Target Public Notice as
Appendix A is a list indicating the
number of ‘‘Category 1’’ and ‘‘Category
2’’ blocks available in each PEA.
4. The initial clearing target was
determined by the procedure the
Commission adopted in the Auction
1000 Bidding Procedures Public Notice,
80 FR 61917, October 14, 2015. Based
on the initial commitments made by
broadcast applicants seeking to bid in
the clock phase of Auction 1001, the
procedure identified a provisional
assignment of eligible television stations
to channels for each possible clearing
target with the primary objective of
minimizing impairments to forward
auction licenses, consistent with the
Commission’s statutory obligation to
make all reasonable efforts to preserve
stations’ populations served and
coverage areas and its international
arrangements with Canada and Mexico.
The initial clearing target announced is
the highest possible clearing target and
associated band plan for which the
provisional assignment satisfies the
optimization objectives and the nearnationwide standard for impairments. If
a subsequent stage is necessary, the
clearing target determination procedure
will be applied to select a new clearing
target and corresponding band plan.
II. Final Confidential Status Letters for
Reverse Auction Applicants
5. The Bureau will send to the contact
person for each applicant that was
permitted to make an initial
commitment in Auction 1001 a Final
Confidential Status Letter to inform the
applicant of its status. The letter will
notify the applicant, for each station
included in the application, either that
(1) the station is qualified to participate
in the clock phase of the reverse
auction; (2) the station is not qualified
because no initial commitment was
made for that station; (3) the station is
not qualified because the
commitment(s) made by the applicant
for that station could not be
accommodated; or (4) the station is not
qualified because the Auction System
determined that the station is not
needed to meet the initial or any
subsequent clearing target.
6. Applicants with one or more
qualified stations will be deemed
qualified bidders for the clock phase of
Auction 1001 and will be automatically
registered for the auction. The initial
commitment is the station’s
unconditional, irrevocable offer to fulfill
the terms of the commitment, which if
accepted by the Commission, becomes a
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asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices
binding obligation on the applicant. In
determining the initial clearing target,
the Auction System assigned each
qualified station to an initial
relinquishment option corresponding to
an initial commitment made for the
station. Qualified bidders will need to
log in to the bidding system when it
becomes available during the preview
period to see the initial relinquishment
option each qualified station is assigned
to at the start of the clock phase of the
reverse auction. They will also receive
instructions with the Final Confidential
Status Letter for participating in the
mock auction and for placing bids in the
clock phase of the reverse auction, using
their previously received RSA SecurID®
tokens.
7. Receipt of the registration mailing
is critical to participating in both the
mock auction and the clock phase of the
reverse auction. Therefore, any
applicant that has not received the Final
Confidential Status Letter package by
12:00 noon Eastern Time (ET) on
Wednesday, May 4, 2016, should
contact the Auctions Hotline at (717)
338–2868. The contact person for each
applicant is responsible for ensuring
that each authorized bidder receives all
of the information and materials.
8. If the Final Confidential Status
Letter indicates that the Auction System
has determined that a station is not
qualified, the applicant will not be
permitted to make any bids for that
station in the reverse auction clock
phase. Applicants without any qualified
stations will not be deemed qualified
bidders and will receive along with the
Final Confidential Status Letter
instructions for returning their RSA
SecurID® tokens. The Task Force and
Bureau remind all full power and Class
A broadcast television licensees,
including applicants that are not
deemed qualified bidders, that they
remain subject to the Commission’s
rules prohibiting certain
communications in connection with
Commission auctions until the
completion of the forward auction as
announced by the Commission by
public notice. A party that is subject to
the prohibition remains subject to the
prohibition regardless of developments
during the auction process. In addition,
though communicating whether or not a
party filed an application does not
violate the rules, communicating that a
party ‘‘is not bidding’’ in the auction
could constitute an apparent violation
that needs to be reported. In other
words, an applicant that is not qualified
to bid may nevertheless violate the
prohibition by communicating its status
to another covered party, regardless of
the reason that it is not qualified.
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III. Important Upcoming Events and
Dates for Auction 1001
9. FCC Incentive Auction Reverse
Auction Bidding System User Guide.
The Task Force and Bureau will make
available an ‘‘FCC Incentive Auction
Reverse Auction Bidding System User
Guide,’’ which will describe the features
of the Auction System that will be used
to bid in the clock phase of the reverse
auction. This user guide will be emailed
to each authorized bidder on May 5,
2016. It will also be made available on
the Commission’s Auction 1001 Web
page through a link in the ‘‘Education’’
section on May 5, 2016. Once posted,
the user guide will remain available and
accessible on the Auction 1001 Web
page (www.fcc.gov/auctions/1001) for
reference.
10. Online Bidding Tutorial. An
online tutorial regarding bidding in the
clock phase of the reverse auction will
be available on May 18, 2016. The
online tutorial will be accessible from
the Auction 1001 Web page through a
link in the ‘‘Education’’ section. Once
posted, the tutorial will remain
available and accessible on the Auction
1001 Web page for reference.
11. Bidding Preview Period. The
Auction System will be available during
a preview period that will open at 10:00
a.m. ET on May 23, 2016, and close at
6:00 p.m. ET on May 24, 2016. During
this preview period, authorized bidders
can log in and view the list of stations
for which they may make bids in the
clock phase, each station’s bidding
status, the initial relinquishment option
assigned to the station, and, where
applicable, available bid options with
associated vacancy ranges and next
round clock price offers.
12. Clock Phase Workshop. On May
24, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. ET to 1:00
p.m. ET, the Task Force, in conjunction
with the Media and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureaus (the
Bureaus), will host a public workshop
on the bidding system that will be used
for bidding in the clock phase of
Auction 1001. Details about the
workshop and remote viewing will be
released at a later date. After the event,
a recording of the clock phase workshop
will be accessible from the Auction
1001 Web page through a link in the
‘‘Education’’ section. Once posted, the
clock phase workshop will remain
available and accessible on the Auction
1001 Web page for reference.
13. Mock Auction and Mock Auction
Preview Period. The Task Force and
Bureaus will conduct one mock auction
for all bidders qualified to bid in the
clock phase of Auction 1001 beginning
on May 25, 2016, and ending on May
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26, 2016. The schedule of rounds for the
mock auction is as follows. On May 25,
2016: Mock Bidding Round 1 (10:00
a.m.—12:00 p.m. ET) and Mock Bidding
Round 2 (3:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m. ET). On
May 26, 2016: Mock Bidding Round 3
(10:00 a.m.—11:00 a.m. ET); Mock
Bidding Round 4 (1:00 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
ET); and Mock Bidding Round 5 (4:00
p.m.—5:00 p.m. ET).
14. The mock auction will allow
qualified bidders to become familiar
with the clock phase bidding system
and to ask Commission auction and
technical support staff questions about
the system and auction conduct. The
Auction System will provide each
bidder with a number and variety of
stations for the mock auction similar to
what the bidder will have during the
actual clock phase of the reverse
auction. The station(s) assigned to a
bidder in the mock auction will be
hypothetical, rather than the bidder’s
actual station(s) that it is qualified to bid
for in the clock phase of the reverse
auction, and the price offers that bidders
see in the mock auction will not be the
same as the actual price offers they see
in the reverse auction itself. The mock
auction will simulate the start of the
auction, and each bidder will be
allowed to submit bids for the stations
shown. If a bidder does not make bids
for a station, the station will be
eliminated from further bidding in the
mock auction. A bidder should take
advantage of the mock auction to
practice taking actions it may wish to
take during actual bidding in the clock
phase of Auction 1001 and to further
familiarize itself with the bidding
software.
15. The Task Force and Bureaus will
conduct the mock auction over the
Internet and provide the option of
bidding by telephone. During a preview
period that will open on the first day of
the mock auction, May 25, 2016, at 9:00
a.m. ET and remain open until 10:00
a.m. ET, authorized bidders will be able
to log in and view the list of stations for
which they may make bids during the
mock auction. A qualified bidder will be
able to access the mock auction during
the preview period at the link provided
in the materials that accompany the
Final Confidential Status Letter. That
link will also be used to bid in the mock
auction. The Task Force and Bureaus
strongly recommend that all qualified
bidders participate in the mock auction.
16. Clocks Rounds Start Date and
Round Schedule. Bidding in the clock
phase of Auction 1001 will begin on
May 31, 2016, on the following
schedule: May 31, 2016: Bidding Round
(10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. ET) and June 1,
2016: Bidding Round (10:00 a.m.–2:00
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 94 / Monday, May 16, 2016 / Notices
p.m. ET). Starting on June 2, 2016, and
continuing until further notice, the
schedule will be: Bidding Round (10:00
a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET) and Bidding Round
(3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. ET). The Bureau
may adjust the number and length of
bidding rounds based upon its
monitoring of the bidding and
assessment of the reverse auction’s
progress. The Bureau will provide
notice of any adjustments by
announcement in the Auction System
during the course of the auction.
Federal Communications Commission.
Gary D. Michaels,
Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access
Division, WTB.
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting
Federal
Maritime Commission.
TIME AND DATE: May 19, 2016; 10:00 a.m.
PLACE: 800 N. Capitol Street NW., First
Floor Hearing Room, Washington, DC.
STATUS: The first portion of the meeting
will be held in Open Session; the
second in Closed Session.
AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:
Matters To Be Considered
Open Session
1. Docket No. 16–06: Update of Existing
and Addition of New User Fees
[FR Doc. 2016–11432 Filed 5–13–16; 8:45 am]
Closed Session
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
1. Staff Briefing on the COSCON/KL/
YMUK/Hanjin/ELJSA Slot
Allocation and Sailing Agreement,
FMC Agreement No. 012300
2. Staff Briefing on West Coast MTO
Discussion Agreement, FMC
Agreement No 201143
FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION
Sunshine Act Meeting
AGENCY:
Federal Election Commission.
DATE AND TIME:
Thursday, May 19, 2016
at 10:00 a.m.
Karen V. Gregory, Secretary, (202) 523
5725.
BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
[FR Doc. 2016–11602 Filed 5–12–16; 4:15 pm]
This meeting will be open to the
BILLING CODE 6731–AA–P
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
public.
Items To Be Discussed
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Draft Advisory Opinion 2016–04: Grand
Trunk Western Railroad Co.—Illinois
Railroad Co. Political Action
Committee
Draft Final Rule and Explanation and
Justification for Technical
Amendments to 2015 CFR
Proposed Statement of Policy Regarding
the Public Disclosure of Closed
Enforcement Files
Management and Administrative
Matters
Individuals who plan to attend and
require special assistance, such as sign
language interpretation or other
reasonable accommodations, should
contact Shawn Woodhead Werth,
Secretary and Clerk, at (202) 694–1040,
at least 72 hours prior to the meeting
date.
PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION:
Judith Ingram, Press Officer, Telephone:
(202) 694–1220.
Shelley E. Garr,
Deputy Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2016–11636 Filed 5–12–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6715–01–P
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18:48 May 13, 2016
Jkt 238001
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, May 10, 2016.
Michael J. Lewandowski,
Associate Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 2016–11421 Filed 5–13–16; 8:45 am]
Karen V. Gregory,
Secretary.
999 E Street NW., Washington,
DC (Ninth Floor).
PLACE:
STATUS:
CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:
nonbanking company complies with the
standards in section 4 of the BHC Act
(12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise
noted, nonbanking activities will be
conducted throughout the United States.
Unless otherwise noted, comments
regarding each of these applications
must be received at the Reserve Bank
indicated or the offices of the Board of
Governors not later than June 9, 2016.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
(Colette A. Fried, Assistant Vice
President) 230 South LaSalle Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60690–1414:
1. Central Bancshares, Inc.,
Muscatine, Iowa; to acquire 100 percent
of the outstanding shares of Brimfield
Bank, Brimfield, Illinois.
B. Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis (Jacquelyn K. Brunmeier,
Assistant Vice President) 90 Hennepin
Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55480–0291:
1. J&B Financial Holdings, Inc.,
Minneapolis; to acquire 100 percent of
1st United Bank, Faribault, Minnesota.
Formations of, Acquisitions by, and
Mergers of Bank Holding Companies
The companies listed in this notice
have applied to the Board for approval,
pursuant to the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)
(BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR part
225), and all other applicable statutes
and regulations to become a bank
holding company and/or to acquire the
assets or the ownership of, control of, or
the power to vote shares of a bank or
bank holding company and all of the
banks and nonbanking companies
owned by the bank holding company,
including the companies listed below.
The applications listed below, as well
as other related filings required by the
Board, are available for immediate
inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank
indicated. The applications will also be
available for inspection at the offices of
the Board of Governors. Interested
persons may express their views in
writing on the standards enumerated in
the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the
proposal also involves the acquisition of
a nonbanking company, the review also
includes whether the acquisition of the
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Change in Bank Control Notices;
Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or
Bank Holding Company
The notificants listed below have
applied under the Change in Bank
Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and
§ 225.41 of the Board’s Regulation Y (12
CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank
or bank holding company. The factors
that are considered in acting on the
notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of
the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
The notices are available for
immediate inspection at the Federal
Reserve Bank indicated. The notices
also will be available for inspection at
the offices of the Board of Governors.
Interested persons may express their
views in writing to the Reserve Bank
indicated for that notice or to the offices
of the Board of Governors. Comments
must be received not later than May 31,
2016.
A. Federal Reserve Bank of
Philadelphia (William Lang, Senior Vice
President) 100 North 6th Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105–
1521:
1. Patriot Financial Partners, GP, L.P.,
Patriot Financial Partners, L.P., Patriot
Financial Partners Parallel, L.P., Patriot
Financial Partners GP, LLC, Patriot
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 94 (Monday, May 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30302-30304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11432]
=======================================================================
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[GN Docket No. 12-268; AU Docket No. 14-252; WT Docket No. 12-269; DA
16-453]
Initial Clearing Target of 126 Megahertz Set for the Broadcast
Television Spectrum Incentive Auction; Bidding in the Clock Phase of
the Reverse Auction (Auction 1001) Will Start on May 31, 2016
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Incentive Auction Task Force and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau announce the initial clearing target of 126
megahertz for the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction and
that the bidding in the clock phase of the reverse auction is scheduled
to begin on May 31, 2016. This document also announces the mailing of
Final Confidential Status Letters, the number of forward auction
blocks, and details and dates regarding the availability of educational
and informational materials and bidding for reverse auction applicants
that are qualified to bid in the reverse auction clock phase.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
Auctions and Spectrum Access Division: For general auction questions,
contact Linda Sanderson at (717) 338-2868. For reverse auction legal
questions, contact Erin Griffith or Kathryn Hinton at (202) 418-0660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Incentive Auction
Clearing Target Public Notice, GN Docket No. 12-268, AU Docket No. 14-
252, WT Docket No. 12-269, DA 16-453, released on April 29, 2016. The
complete text of the Incentive Auction Clearing Target Public Notice is
available for public inspection and copying from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ET Monday through Thursday or from 8:00 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 complete text is also available
on the Commission's Web site at https://wireless.fcc.gov, the Auction
1001 Web site at https://www.fcc.gov/auctions/1001, or by using the
search function on the ECFS Web page at https://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/.
Alternative formats are available to persons with disabilities by
sending an email to FCC504@fcc.gov or by calling the Consumer &
Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice), (202) 418-0432
(TTY).
1. The Incentive Auction Task Force (Task Force) and the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announce the 126 megahertz initial
spectrum clearing target that has been set by the Auction System's
initial clearing target determination procedure and the associated band
plan for the initial stage of the incentive auction, as well as the
number of Category 1 and Category 2 generic license blocks in each
Partial Economic Area (PEA) that will be offered in the initial stage
during the forward auction (Auction 1002). The Task Force and Bureau
also announce that they will send a confidential letter (the Final
Confidential Status Letter) to inform each applicant that was permitted
to make an initial commitment in the reverse auction (Auction 1001) of
its status with respect to the clock phase of the reverse auction.
Finally, the Task Force and Bureau provide details and specific dates
regarding the availability of educational materials and the bidding in
the clock phase of the reverse auction.
I. Initial Clearing Target and Band Plan
2. The Auction System's initial clearing target determination
procedure has set an initial spectrum clearing target of 126 megahertz.
Under the band plan associated with this spectrum clearing target, 100
megahertz, or 10 paired blocks, of licensed spectrum will be offered in
the forward auction on a near-nationwide basis.
3. The generic license blocks offered in the initial stage during
the forward auction under this band plan will consist of a total of
4030 ``Category 1'' blocks (zero to 15 percent impairment) and a total
of 18 ``Category 2'' blocks (greater than 15 percent and up to 50
percent impairment). Approximately 97 percent of the blocks offered for
the forward auction will be ``Category 1'' blocks, and 99 percent of
the ``Category 1'' blocks will be zero percent impaired. Attached to
the Incentive Auction Clearing Target Public Notice as Appendix A is a
list indicating the number of ``Category 1'' and ``Category 2'' blocks
available in each PEA.
4. The initial clearing target was determined by the procedure the
Commission adopted in the Auction 1000 Bidding Procedures Public
Notice, 80 FR 61917, October 14, 2015. Based on the initial commitments
made by broadcast applicants seeking to bid in the clock phase of
Auction 1001, the procedure identified a provisional assignment of
eligible television stations to channels for each possible clearing
target with the primary objective of minimizing impairments to forward
auction licenses, consistent with the Commission's statutory obligation
to make all reasonable efforts to preserve stations' populations served
and coverage areas and its international arrangements with Canada and
Mexico. The initial clearing target announced is the highest possible
clearing target and associated band plan for which the provisional
assignment satisfies the optimization objectives and the near-
nationwide standard for impairments. If a subsequent stage is
necessary, the clearing target determination procedure will be applied
to select a new clearing target and corresponding band plan.
II. Final Confidential Status Letters for Reverse Auction Applicants
5. The Bureau will send to the contact person for each applicant
that was permitted to make an initial commitment in Auction 1001 a
Final Confidential Status Letter to inform the applicant of its status.
The letter will notify the applicant, for each station included in the
application, either that (1) the station is qualified to participate in
the clock phase of the reverse auction; (2) the station is not
qualified because no initial commitment was made for that station; (3)
the station is not qualified because the commitment(s) made by the
applicant for that station could not be accommodated; or (4) the
station is not qualified because the Auction System determined that the
station is not needed to meet the initial or any subsequent clearing
target.
6. Applicants with one or more qualified stations will be deemed
qualified bidders for the clock phase of Auction 1001 and will be
automatically registered for the auction. The initial commitment is the
station's unconditional, irrevocable offer to fulfill the terms of the
commitment, which if accepted by the Commission, becomes a
[[Page 30303]]
binding obligation on the applicant. In determining the initial
clearing target, the Auction System assigned each qualified station to
an initial relinquishment option corresponding to an initial commitment
made for the station. Qualified bidders will need to log in to the
bidding system when it becomes available during the preview period to
see the initial relinquishment option each qualified station is
assigned to at the start of the clock phase of the reverse auction.
They will also receive instructions with the Final Confidential Status
Letter for participating in the mock auction and for placing bids in
the clock phase of the reverse auction, using their previously received
RSA SecurID[supreg] tokens.
7. Receipt of the registration mailing is critical to participating
in both the mock auction and the clock phase of the reverse auction.
Therefore, any applicant that has not received the Final Confidential
Status Letter package by 12:00 noon Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, May
4, 2016, should contact the Auctions Hotline at (717) 338-2868. The
contact person for each applicant is responsible for ensuring that each
authorized bidder receives all of the information and materials.
8. If the Final Confidential Status Letter indicates that the
Auction System has determined that a station is not qualified, the
applicant will not be permitted to make any bids for that station in
the reverse auction clock phase. Applicants without any qualified
stations will not be deemed qualified bidders and will receive along
with the Final Confidential Status Letter instructions for returning
their RSA SecurID[supreg] tokens. The Task Force and Bureau remind all
full power and Class A broadcast television licensees, including
applicants that are not deemed qualified bidders, that they remain
subject to the Commission's rules prohibiting certain communications in
connection with Commission auctions until the completion of the forward
auction as announced by the Commission by public notice. A party that
is subject to the prohibition remains subject to the prohibition
regardless of developments during the auction process. In addition,
though communicating whether or not a party filed an application does
not violate the rules, communicating that a party ``is not bidding'' in
the auction could constitute an apparent violation that needs to be
reported. In other words, an applicant that is not qualified to bid may
nevertheless violate the prohibition by communicating its status to
another covered party, regardless of the reason that it is not
qualified.
III. Important Upcoming Events and Dates for Auction 1001
9. FCC Incentive Auction Reverse Auction Bidding System User Guide.
The Task Force and Bureau will make available an ``FCC Incentive
Auction Reverse Auction Bidding System User Guide,'' which will
describe the features of the Auction System that will be used to bid in
the clock phase of the reverse auction. This user guide will be emailed
to each authorized bidder on May 5, 2016. It will also be made
available on the Commission's Auction 1001 Web page through a link in
the ``Education'' section on May 5, 2016. Once posted, the user guide
will remain available and accessible on the Auction 1001 Web page
(www.fcc.gov/auctions/1001) for reference.
10. Online Bidding Tutorial. An online tutorial regarding bidding
in the clock phase of the reverse auction will be available on May 18,
2016. The online tutorial will be accessible from the Auction 1001 Web
page through a link in the ``Education'' section. Once posted, the
tutorial will remain available and accessible on the Auction 1001 Web
page for reference.
11. Bidding Preview Period. The Auction System will be available
during a preview period that will open at 10:00 a.m. ET on May 23,
2016, and close at 6:00 p.m. ET on May 24, 2016. During this preview
period, authorized bidders can log in and view the list of stations for
which they may make bids in the clock phase, each station's bidding
status, the initial relinquishment option assigned to the station, and,
where applicable, available bid options with associated vacancy ranges
and next round clock price offers.
12. Clock Phase Workshop. On May 24, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. ET to
1:00 p.m. ET, the Task Force, in conjunction with the Media and
Wireless Telecommunications Bureaus (the Bureaus), will host a public
workshop on the bidding system that will be used for bidding in the
clock phase of Auction 1001. Details about the workshop and remote
viewing will be released at a later date. After the event, a recording
of the clock phase workshop will be accessible from the Auction 1001
Web page through a link in the ``Education'' section. Once posted, the
clock phase workshop will remain available and accessible on the
Auction 1001 Web page for reference.
13. Mock Auction and Mock Auction Preview Period. The Task Force
and Bureaus will conduct one mock auction for all bidders qualified to
bid in the clock phase of Auction 1001 beginning on May 25, 2016, and
ending on May 26, 2016. The schedule of rounds for the mock auction is
as follows. On May 25, 2016: Mock Bidding Round 1 (10:00 a.m.--12:00
p.m. ET) and Mock Bidding Round 2 (3:00 p.m.--5:00 p.m. ET). On May 26,
2016: Mock Bidding Round 3 (10:00 a.m.--11:00 a.m. ET); Mock Bidding
Round 4 (1:00 p.m.--2:00 p.m. ET); and Mock Bidding Round 5 (4:00
p.m.--5:00 p.m. ET).
14. The mock auction will allow qualified bidders to become
familiar with the clock phase bidding system and to ask Commission
auction and technical support staff questions about the system and
auction conduct. The Auction System will provide each bidder with a
number and variety of stations for the mock auction similar to what the
bidder will have during the actual clock phase of the reverse auction.
The station(s) assigned to a bidder in the mock auction will be
hypothetical, rather than the bidder's actual station(s) that it is
qualified to bid for in the clock phase of the reverse auction, and the
price offers that bidders see in the mock auction will not be the same
as the actual price offers they see in the reverse auction itself. The
mock auction will simulate the start of the auction, and each bidder
will be allowed to submit bids for the stations shown. If a bidder does
not make bids for a station, the station will be eliminated from
further bidding in the mock auction. A bidder should take advantage of
the mock auction to practice taking actions it may wish to take during
actual bidding in the clock phase of Auction 1001 and to further
familiarize itself with the bidding software.
15. The Task Force and Bureaus will conduct the mock auction over
the Internet and provide the option of bidding by telephone. During a
preview period that will open on the first day of the mock auction, May
25, 2016, at 9:00 a.m. ET and remain open until 10:00 a.m. ET,
authorized bidders will be able to log in and view the list of stations
for which they may make bids during the mock auction. A qualified
bidder will be able to access the mock auction during the preview
period at the link provided in the materials that accompany the Final
Confidential Status Letter. That link will also be used to bid in the
mock auction. The Task Force and Bureaus strongly recommend that all
qualified bidders participate in the mock auction.
16. Clocks Rounds Start Date and Round Schedule. Bidding in the
clock phase of Auction 1001 will begin on May 31, 2016, on the
following schedule: May 31, 2016: Bidding Round (10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
ET) and June 1, 2016: Bidding Round (10:00 a.m.-2:00
[[Page 30304]]
p.m. ET). Starting on June 2, 2016, and continuing until further
notice, the schedule will be: Bidding Round (10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. ET)
and Bidding Round (3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. ET). The Bureau may adjust the
number and length of bidding rounds based upon its monitoring of the
bidding and assessment of the reverse auction's progress. The Bureau
will provide notice of any adjustments by announcement in the Auction
System during the course of the auction.
Federal Communications Commission.
Gary D. Michaels,
Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, WTB.
[FR Doc. 2016-11432 Filed 5-13-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P