Clearing Target of 114 Megahertz Set for Stage 2 of the Broadcast Television Spectrum Incentive Auction; Stage 2 Bidding in the Reverse Auction Will Start on September 13, 2016, 62886-62888 [2016-22105]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices
staff that are responsible for preparing
and filing the EEO–3. The EEOC now
accounts for time to be spent biennially
on EEO–3 reporting by business agents
and administrative staff, as well as time
spent by attorneys who, in a few cases,
may consult briefly during the reporting
process. The estimated number of
respondents included in the biennial
EEO–3 survey is 1,036 referral unions,
as this is the number of filers from the
2014 reporting cycle. The estimated
hour burden per report will be 2.05
hours, and the estimated total biennial
respondent burden hours will be
2,123.8. Burden hour cost was
calculated using median hourly wage
rates for administrative staff and legal
counsel, and average hourly wage rates
for labor union business agents.1 The
burden hour cost per report will be
$84.54, and the estimated total biennial
burden hour cost will be $87,588.10.
(See Table 1 for calculations.)
TABLE 1—UPDATED ESTIMATE OF BURDEN FOR EEO–3 REPORT
Hourly wage
rate
Local referral union staff
Hours
per local
Cost
per local
Total burden
hours
Total burden
hour cost
Secretaries and administrative assistants ...........................
Business agent ....................................................................
Corporate legal counsel .......................................................
$17.55
64.21
55.69
1
1
0.05
$17.55
64.21
2.7845
1036
1036
51.8
$18,181.80
66,521.56
2,884.74
Total ..............................................................................
........................
2.05
84.5445
2,123.8
87,588.10
These estimates are based on an
assumption of paper reporting.
However, the EEOC has made electronic
filing much easier for respondents
required to file the EEO–3 Report. As a
result, more respondents are using this
filing method. This development, along
with the greater availability of human
resource information software, is
expected to significantly reduce the
actual burden of reporting. The
Commission continues to develop more
reliable estimates of reporting burdens
given the significant increase in
electronic filing and explore new
approaches to make such reporting even
less burdensome. In order to help
reduce survey burden, respondents are
encouraged to report data electronically
whenever possible.
Dated: September 2, 2016.
For the Commission.
Jenny R. Yang,
Chair.
[FR Doc. 2016–21892 Filed 9–12–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6570–01–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
[GN Docket No. 12–268; AU Docket No. 14–
252; WT Docket No. 12–269; DA 16–990]
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Clearing Target of 114 Megahertz Set
for Stage 2 of the Broadcast Television
Spectrum Incentive Auction; Stage 2
Bidding in the Reverse Auction Will
Start on September 13, 2016
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
1 Median hourly wage rates for administrative
staff and legal counsel were obtained from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (see U.S. Dept. of Labor,
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The Incentive Auction Task
Force and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau announce
the spectrum clearing target of 114
megahertz and band plan for Stage 2 of
the incentive auction and that bidding
in Stage 2 of the reverse auction is
scheduled to begin on September 13,
2016. Also announces details and dates
regarding bidding and the availability of
educational and informational materials
for reverse and forward auction bidders
eligible to participate in Stage 2; the
availability of Stage 2 bidding and
timing information in the Incentive
Auction Public Reporting System; and
the importance of bidder contingency
plans and reminds each reverse and
forward auction applicant of its
continuing obligations under the FCC’s
rules.
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 or forward auction legal
questions, refer to the contact
information listed in the Incentive
Auction Stage 2 Clearing Target Public
Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
summary of the Incentive Auction Stage
2 Clearing Target Public Notice, GN
Docket No. 12–268, AU Docket No. 14–
252, WT Docket No. 12–269, DA 16–
990, released August 31, 2016. The
complete text of the Incentive Auction
Stage 2 Clearing Target Public Notice is
available for public inspection and
copying from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Eastern Time (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 1000 Web
site at https://www.fcc.gov/auctions/
1000, 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 114 megahertz spectrum
clearing target that has been set by the
Auction System’s optimization
procedure and the associated band plan
for Stage 2 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 Stage 2 of the forward
auction. The Task Force and Bureau
also provide details and specific dates
regarding bidding and the availability of
educational materials and remind
reverse and forward auction applicants
of their continuing obligations.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook
Handbook, https://www/bls.gov/ooh/) and the
average hourly wage rate for a labor union business
agent was obtained from salaryexpert.com (see
https://www.salaryexpert.com/salarysurveydata/
job=labor-union-business-agent/salary).
SUMMARY:
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I. Stage 2 Clearing Target and Band
Plan
2. Auction System’s clearing target
determination procedure has set a
spectrum clearing target of 114
megahertz for Stage 2 of the incentive
auction. Under the band plan associated
with this spectrum clearing target, 90
megahertz, or 90 paired blocks, of
licensed spectrum will be offered in the
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forward auction on a near-nationwide
basis.
3. The generic license blocks offered
in Stage 2 of the forward auction under
this band plan will consist of a total of
3688 Category 1 blocks (zero to 15
percent impairment) and a total of five
Category 2 blocks (greater than 15
percent and up to 50 percent
impairment). Approximately 99.9
percent of the blocks offered will be
Category 1 blocks, and 99.8 percent of
the Category 1 blocks will be zero
percent impaired. Attached to the
Incentive Auction Stage 2 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 clearing target for Stage 2 was
determined by the procedure the
Commission adopted in the Auction
1000 Bidding Procedures Public Notice,
80 FR 61917, October 14, 2015, using
the same objectives as in the initial
clearing target optimization and taking
into account the additional channel in
the TV band and any participating
stations that have dropped out of the
auction in the previous stage. Based on
the new provisional television channel
assignment plan, the nationwide
impaired weighted-pops were
calculated on a 2x2 cell level and the
one-block-equivalent nationwide
standard for impairments was applied.
II. Important Information Concerning
the Reverse Auction (Auction 1001)
5. Online Stage 2 Tutorial. The Task
Force and Bureau will make available
an online tutorial on bidding procedures
specific to Stage 2 of the reverse auction
(and any subsequent stage, if necessary)
on Thursday, September 1, 2016. This
new tutorial will be accessible from the
Auction 1001 Web site through a link
under the ‘‘Education’’ section. Once
posted, it will remain available and
accessible on the Auction 1001 Web site
for reference.
6. Accessing the Auction System for
Stage 2. Starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern
Time (ET) on Wednesday, September 7,
2016, any bidder that had one or more
stations with the status ‘‘Frozen—
Provisionally Winning’’ at the end of the
previous stage can log in to the Reverse
Auction Bidding System for Stage 2 and
view the bidding status, and, where
applicable, the following information
for round 1 of the new stage for each of
the bidder’s stations that qualified to
participate in the clock rounds of the
reverse auction: Initial bid option,
available bid options, vacancy ranges,
and clock price offers.
7. A bidder will need to use the RSA
SecurID® tokens (RSA tokens) it used
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for placing bids in the previous stage to
access the Reverse Auction Bidding
System for Stage 2. RSA tokens with
previously set personal identification
numbers (PINs) may be used without
setting a new PIN. Any authorized
bidder that has not already set a PIN for
his or her designated RSA token (e.g., an
authorized bidder recently identified on
Form 177 or one using a replacement
RSA token) must set a PIN as described
in the materials sent with the Second
Confidential Status Letter. Each bidder
will be able to access the Reverse
Auction Bidding System at the same
web address used during the previous
stage. In addition, the FCC Auction
Bidder Line phone number for Stage 2
will be the same number used for the
previous stage.
8. Returning RSA Tokens. Each bidder
that did not have any stations with the
status ‘‘Frozen—Provisionally Winning’’
at the end of the previous stage will be
sent a pre-addressed, stamped envelope
to return its RSA tokens.
9. Clocks Rounds Start Date and
Round Schedule. Bidding in the clock
rounds of Stage 2 of Auction 1001 will
begin on Tuesday, September 13, 2016,
on the following schedule: Bidding
Round (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. ET).
Starting on Wednesday, September 14,
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 adjustment by
announcement in the Reverse Auction
Bidding System during the course of the
auction.
10. Reset Base Clock Price and Clock
Decrement for Round 1 of Stage 2. The
base clock price has been reset to $900
per unit of volume for Stage 2 of the
reverse auction. The price decrement for
round 1 of Stage 2 of the reverse auction
will be five percent of the reset base
clock price.
III. Important Information Concerning
the Forward Auction (Auction 1002)
11. Bidding in Stage 2. Bidding in the
clock phase of Stage 2 of the forward
auction will begin on the next business
day after the close of bidding in Stage
2 of the reverse auction. The schedule
for bidding in Stage 2 of the forward
auction will be announced in the
Forward Auction Bidding System and in
the Incentive Auction Public Reporting
System (PRS). The PRS can be accessed
directly at auctiondata.fcc.gov and from
a link under the Results section of the
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Auction 1001 Web site (www.fcc.gov/
auctions/1001) and the Auction 1002
Web site (www.fcc.gov/auction/1002).
12. Accessing the Forward Auction
Bidding System in Stage 2. Any bidder
that is eligible to bid in Stage 2 of the
forward auction will be able to access
the Forward Auction Bidding System
beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday,
September 8, 2016, using the same RSA
tokens, web address, and instructions
provided in the bidder registration
materials from Stage 1 of the forward
auction. Any bidder with zero eligibility
by the end of Stage 1 will not be eligible
to bid in Stage 2 of the forward auction.
Upon logging in to the Forward Auction
Bidding System, an eligible bidder can
download detailed impairment
information for Stage 2, as well as the
stage transition files. The detailed
impairment information and bidderspecific information, including stage
transition files and Stage 1 bidding
information, are non-public and are
provided only to eligible bidders to help
guide their bidding in Stage 2 of the
forward auction. This information will
not be disclosed publicly until after the
auction concludes.
13. Returning RSA Tokens. Each
bidder that is no longer eligible to
participate in the forward auction (i.e.,
any bidder that has zero eligibility by
the end of Stage 1) will be sent a preaddressed, stamped envelope to return
its RSA tokens.
14. Rule for Round 1 of Stage 2.
Starting in the first round of Stage 2,
each bidder must be active on at least
95 percent of its bidding eligibility to
maintain its bidding eligibility for the
next round. Any changes to the activity
requirement in subsequent rounds will
be announced via the Forward Auction
Bidding System. Prior to the start of
Stage 2 of the forward auction, a bidder
may view its initial eligibility and
required activity for round 1 by
downloading the My Bidder Status file
under the Bid/Status tab.
15. Clock Increment for Round 1 of
Stage 2. An increment of five percent
will be used to set clock prices for
products in round 1 of Stage 2 of the
forward auction. Prior to the
announcement of the forward auction
bidding schedule for Stage 2, a bidder
may view the clock prices for round 1
by downloading the Sample Bids file in
the Forward Auction Bidding System.
IV. Public Reporting System
16. As was the case for Stage 1 of the
incentive auction, publicly available
bidding and timing information for
Stage 2 of the reverse auction and the
forward auction will be accessible
through the PRS. The PRS will display
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
the same types of bidding and other
information for Stage 2 as was available
for Stage 1. For more information about
the types of bidding and other
information available in the PRS, please
see the Public Reporting System Public
Notice.
V. Bidding Contingency Plan
17. The Task Force and Bureau
remind each bidder that it should
develop a comprehensive contingency
plan that can be quickly implemented in
case difficulties arise when participating
in the incentive auction. While the
Commission will correct any problems
with Commission-controlled facilities,
each bidder is solely responsible for
anticipating and overcoming problems
such as bidder computer failures or
other technical issues, loss of or
problems with data connections
(including those used to access and
place bids in the Reverse Auction
Bidding System or the Forward Auction
Bidding System), telephone service
interruptions, adverse local weather
conditions, unavailability of its
authorized bidders, or the loss or breach
of confidential security codes.
18. A bidder should ensure that each
of its authorized bidders can access and
place bids in the Reverse Auction
Bidding System or Forward Auction
Bidding System, and it should not rely
upon the same computer or data
connection to do so. Contingency plans
will ideally include arrangements for
accessing and placing bids in the
Reverse Auction Bidding System or the
Forward Auction Bidding System from
one or more alternative locations. A
bidder’s contingency plan might also
include, among other arrangements,
calling the Auction Bidder Line.
19. Each reverse auction bidder is
further reminded that a failure to submit
a bid for a station with the status
‘‘Bidding’’ is considered to be a missing
bid, and the Reverse Auction Bidding
System will automatically submit a bid
to drop out of the auction for all stations
with missing bids. The status of a
station that bids to drop out of the
auction will be ‘‘Exited—Voluntarily’’
once bid processing is complete for the
round (unless the station first becomes
frozen). Once a station has the status
‘‘Exited,’’ a bidder cannot bid for the
station in any subsequent round or
stage.
20. Each forward auction bidder is
reminded that its failure to submit a bid
during a clock round will be considered
a missing bid and will be treated as a
bid for zero blocks, at the lowest price
in the price range for the round, for any
products in which the bidder had
processed demand from the previous
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round. If there is insufficient excess
demand, the ‘‘missing’’ bid may be
partially applied or not applied at all
and the bidder will continue to have
processed demand for the product in the
next round. If the ‘‘missing’’ bid is
partially or fully applied, that bidder’s
eligibility may be irrevocably reduced in
the next round.
VI. Continuing Obligations
21. Due Diligence. The Task Force and
Bureau remind each reverse and
forward auction bidder that it is solely
responsible throughout the auction for
investigating and evaluating all legal,
technical, and marketplace factors and
risks that may have a bearing on the
bid(s) it submits in the incentive
auction. For more information, each
bidder should review the Auction 1000
Application Procedures Public Notice,
80 FR 66429, October 29, 2015.
22. Prohibited Communications
Reminder. The Task Force and Bureau
remind all full power and Class A
broadcast television licensees, as well as
forward auction applicants, that they
remain subject to the Commission’s
rules prohibiting certain
communications in connection with
Commission auctions. For
communications among broadcasters,
and between broadcasters and forward
auction applicants, the prohibited
communication period ends when the
results of the incentive auction are
announced by public notice. For
communications among forward auction
applicants, the period ends on the
deadline for making down payments on
winning bids. A party that is subject to
the prohibition remains subject to the
prohibition regardless of developments
during the auction process.
23. The Task Force and Bureau
further remind each full power and
Class A broadcast television licensee
that even though communicating
whether or not a party filed an
application to participate in the reverse
auction does not violate the rules
prohibiting certain communications,
communicating that a party ‘‘is not
bidding’’ in or has ‘‘exited’’ the reverse
auction could constitute an apparent
violation that needs to be reported. All
forward auction applicants, including
those that did not qualify to bid and
those that have since lost eligibility to
bid in the forward auction, are also
reminded that they remain subject to the
rules prohibiting certain
communications until the deadline for
making down payments on winning
bids.
24. The Commission’s rules require
covered parties to report violations of
the prohibition of certain
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communications to Margaret W. Wiener,
Chief of the Auctions and Spectrum
Access Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, by the
most expeditious means available. Any
such report should be submitted by
email to Ms. Wiener at the following
email address: auction1000@fcc.gov.
Any report in hard copy must be
delivered only to Margaret W. Wiener,
Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access
Division, Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, Federal Communications
Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room
6–C217, Washington, DC 20554. Failure
to make a timely report under the rule
constitutes a continuing violation of the
rule, with attendant consequences.
25. For a thorough discussion of the
prohibition of certain communications
during the incentive auction, please
refer to the Prohibited Communications
Public Notice, 80 FR 63216, October 19,
2015.
26. Making Modifications to
Applications. The Task Force and
Bureau remind each reverse and
forward auction applicant that the
Commission’s rules require an applicant
to maintain the accuracy and
completeness of information furnished
in its application to participate in
Auctions 1001 and 1002, respectively.
Each applicant should amend its
application to furnish additional or
corrected information within five days
of a significant occurrence, or no more
than five days after the applicant
becomes aware of the need for
amendment. Any applicant that needs
to make changes must do so using the
procedures described in the Auction
1000 Application Procedures Public
Notice and the Auction 1002 Qualified
Bidders Public Notice.
27. To make changes to an FCC Form
177 or FCC Form 175 while the Auction
System is available, the applicant must
make those changes electronically using
the Auction System and submit a letter
briefly summarizing the changes to its
FCC Form 177 by email to
auction1001@fcc.gov, or to its FCC Form
175 by email to auction1002@fcc.gov.
To make changes at a time when the
Auction System is unavailable, the
applicant must make those changes
using the procedures described in the
Auction 1000 Application Procedures
Public Notice.
Federal Communications Commission.
Gary D. Michaels,
Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access
Division, WTB.
[FR Doc. 2016–22105 Filed 9–9–16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62886-62888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22105]
=======================================================================
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
[GN Docket No. 12-268; AU Docket No. 14-252; WT Docket No. 12-269; DA
16-990]
Clearing Target of 114 Megahertz Set for Stage 2 of the Broadcast
Television Spectrum Incentive Auction; Stage 2 Bidding in the Reverse
Auction Will Start on September 13, 2016
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Incentive Auction Task Force and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau announce the spectrum clearing target of 114
megahertz and band plan for Stage 2 of the incentive auction and that
bidding in Stage 2 of the reverse auction is scheduled to begin on
September 13, 2016. Also announces details and dates regarding bidding
and the availability of educational and informational materials for
reverse and forward auction bidders eligible to participate in Stage 2;
the availability of Stage 2 bidding and timing information in the
Incentive Auction Public Reporting System; and the importance of bidder
contingency plans and reminds each reverse and forward auction
applicant of its continuing obligations under the FCC's rules.
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 or
forward auction legal questions, refer to the contact information
listed in the Incentive Auction Stage 2 Clearing Target Public Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Incentive Auction
Stage 2 Clearing Target Public Notice, GN Docket No. 12-268, AU Docket
No. 14-252, WT Docket No. 12-269, DA 16-990, released August 31, 2016.
The complete text of the Incentive Auction Stage 2 Clearing Target
Public Notice is available for public inspection and copying from 8:00
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (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 1000 Web site at https://www.fcc.gov/auctions/1000, 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 114 megahertz spectrum
clearing target that has been set by the Auction System's optimization
procedure and the associated band plan for Stage 2 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 Stage 2 of the forward auction. The Task Force and Bureau also
provide details and specific dates regarding bidding and the
availability of educational materials and remind reverse and forward
auction applicants of their continuing obligations.
I. Stage 2 Clearing Target and Band Plan
2. Auction System's clearing target determination procedure has set
a spectrum clearing target of 114 megahertz for Stage 2 of the
incentive auction. Under the band plan associated with this spectrum
clearing target, 90 megahertz, or 90 paired blocks, of licensed
spectrum will be offered in the
[[Page 62887]]
forward auction on a near-nationwide basis.
3. The generic license blocks offered in Stage 2 of the forward
auction under this band plan will consist of a total of 3688 Category 1
blocks (zero to 15 percent impairment) and a total of five Category 2
blocks (greater than 15 percent and up to 50 percent impairment).
Approximately 99.9 percent of the blocks offered will be Category 1
blocks, and 99.8 percent of the Category 1 blocks will be zero percent
impaired. Attached to the Incentive Auction Stage 2 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 clearing target for Stage 2 was determined by the procedure
the Commission adopted in the Auction 1000 Bidding Procedures Public
Notice, 80 FR 61917, October 14, 2015, using the same objectives as in
the initial clearing target optimization and taking into account the
additional channel in the TV band and any participating stations that
have dropped out of the auction in the previous stage. Based on the new
provisional television channel assignment plan, the nationwide impaired
weighted-pops were calculated on a 2x2 cell level and the one-block-
equivalent nationwide standard for impairments was applied.
II. Important Information Concerning the Reverse Auction (Auction 1001)
5. Online Stage 2 Tutorial. The Task Force and Bureau will make
available an online tutorial on bidding procedures specific to Stage 2
of the reverse auction (and any subsequent stage, if necessary) on
Thursday, September 1, 2016. This new tutorial will be accessible from
the Auction 1001 Web site through a link under the ``Education''
section. Once posted, it will remain available and accessible on the
Auction 1001 Web site for reference.
6. Accessing the Auction System for Stage 2. Starting at 10:00 a.m.
Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday, September 7, 2016, any bidder that had
one or more stations with the status ``Frozen--Provisionally Winning''
at the end of the previous stage can log in to the Reverse Auction
Bidding System for Stage 2 and view the bidding status, and, where
applicable, the following information for round 1 of the new stage for
each of the bidder's stations that qualified to participate in the
clock rounds of the reverse auction: Initial bid option, available bid
options, vacancy ranges, and clock price offers.
7. A bidder will need to use the RSA SecurID[supreg] tokens (RSA
tokens) it used for placing bids in the previous stage to access the
Reverse Auction Bidding System for Stage 2. RSA tokens with previously
set personal identification numbers (PINs) may be used without setting
a new PIN. Any authorized bidder that has not already set a PIN for his
or her designated RSA token (e.g., an authorized bidder recently
identified on Form 177 or one using a replacement RSA token) must set a
PIN as described in the materials sent with the Second Confidential
Status Letter. Each bidder will be able to access the Reverse Auction
Bidding System at the same web address used during the previous stage.
In addition, the FCC Auction Bidder Line phone number for Stage 2 will
be the same number used for the previous stage.
8. Returning RSA Tokens. Each bidder that did not have any stations
with the status ``Frozen--Provisionally Winning'' at the end of the
previous stage will be sent a pre-addressed, stamped envelope to return
its RSA tokens.
9. Clocks Rounds Start Date and Round Schedule. Bidding in the
clock rounds of Stage 2 of Auction 1001 will begin on Tuesday,
September 13, 2016, on the following schedule: Bidding Round (10:00
a.m.-2:00 p.m. ET). Starting on Wednesday, September 14, 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 adjustment by
announcement in the Reverse Auction Bidding System during the course of
the auction.
10. Reset Base Clock Price and Clock Decrement for Round 1 of Stage
2. The base clock price has been reset to $900 per unit of volume for
Stage 2 of the reverse auction. The price decrement for round 1 of
Stage 2 of the reverse auction will be five percent of the reset base
clock price.
III. Important Information Concerning the Forward Auction (Auction
1002)
11. Bidding in Stage 2. Bidding in the clock phase of Stage 2 of
the forward auction will begin on the next business day after the close
of bidding in Stage 2 of the reverse auction. The schedule for bidding
in Stage 2 of the forward auction will be announced in the Forward
Auction Bidding System and in the Incentive Auction Public Reporting
System (PRS). The PRS can be accessed directly at auctiondata.fcc.gov
and from a link under the Results section of the Auction 1001 Web site
(www.fcc.gov/auctions/1001) and the Auction 1002 Web site (www.fcc.gov/auction/1002).
12. Accessing the Forward Auction Bidding System in Stage 2. Any
bidder that is eligible to bid in Stage 2 of the forward auction will
be able to access the Forward Auction Bidding System beginning at 10:00
a.m. ET on Thursday, September 8, 2016, using the same RSA tokens, web
address, and instructions provided in the bidder registration materials
from Stage 1 of the forward auction. Any bidder with zero eligibility
by the end of Stage 1 will not be eligible to bid in Stage 2 of the
forward auction. Upon logging in to the Forward Auction Bidding System,
an eligible bidder can download detailed impairment information for
Stage 2, as well as the stage transition files. The detailed impairment
information and bidder-specific information, including stage transition
files and Stage 1 bidding information, are non-public and are provided
only to eligible bidders to help guide their bidding in Stage 2 of the
forward auction. This information will not be disclosed publicly until
after the auction concludes.
13. Returning RSA Tokens. Each bidder that is no longer eligible to
participate in the forward auction (i.e., any bidder that has zero
eligibility by the end of Stage 1) will be sent a pre-addressed,
stamped envelope to return its RSA tokens.
14. Rule for Round 1 of Stage 2. Starting in the first round of
Stage 2, each bidder must be active on at least 95 percent of its
bidding eligibility to maintain its bidding eligibility for the next
round. Any changes to the activity requirement in subsequent rounds
will be announced via the Forward Auction Bidding System. Prior to the
start of Stage 2 of the forward auction, a bidder may view its initial
eligibility and required activity for round 1 by downloading the My
Bidder Status file under the Bid/Status tab.
15. Clock Increment for Round 1 of Stage 2. An increment of five
percent will be used to set clock prices for products in round 1 of
Stage 2 of the forward auction. Prior to the announcement of the
forward auction bidding schedule for Stage 2, a bidder may view the
clock prices for round 1 by downloading the Sample Bids file in the
Forward Auction Bidding System.
IV. Public Reporting System
16. As was the case for Stage 1 of the incentive auction, publicly
available bidding and timing information for Stage 2 of the reverse
auction and the forward auction will be accessible through the PRS. The
PRS will display
[[Page 62888]]
the same types of bidding and other information for Stage 2 as was
available for Stage 1. For more information about the types of bidding
and other information available in the PRS, please see the Public
Reporting System Public Notice.
V. Bidding Contingency Plan
17. The Task Force and Bureau remind each bidder that it should
develop a comprehensive contingency plan that can be quickly
implemented in case difficulties arise when participating in the
incentive auction. While the Commission will correct any problems with
Commission-controlled facilities, each bidder is solely responsible for
anticipating and overcoming problems such as bidder computer failures
or other technical issues, loss of or problems with data connections
(including those used to access and place bids in the Reverse Auction
Bidding System or the Forward Auction Bidding System), telephone
service interruptions, adverse local weather conditions, unavailability
of its authorized bidders, or the loss or breach of confidential
security codes.
18. A bidder should ensure that each of its authorized bidders can
access and place bids in the Reverse Auction Bidding System or Forward
Auction Bidding System, and it should not rely upon the same computer
or data connection to do so. Contingency plans will ideally include
arrangements for accessing and placing bids in the Reverse Auction
Bidding System or the Forward Auction Bidding System from one or more
alternative locations. A bidder's contingency plan might also include,
among other arrangements, calling the Auction Bidder Line.
19. Each reverse auction bidder is further reminded that a failure
to submit a bid for a station with the status ``Bidding'' is considered
to be a missing bid, and the Reverse Auction Bidding System will
automatically submit a bid to drop out of the auction for all stations
with missing bids. The status of a station that bids to drop out of the
auction will be ``Exited--Voluntarily'' once bid processing is complete
for the round (unless the station first becomes frozen). Once a station
has the status ``Exited,'' a bidder cannot bid for the station in any
subsequent round or stage.
20. Each forward auction bidder is reminded that its failure to
submit a bid during a clock round will be considered a missing bid and
will be treated as a bid for zero blocks, at the lowest price in the
price range for the round, for any products in which the bidder had
processed demand from the previous round. If there is insufficient
excess demand, the ``missing'' bid may be partially applied or not
applied at all and the bidder will continue to have processed demand
for the product in the next round. If the ``missing'' bid is partially
or fully applied, that bidder's eligibility may be irrevocably reduced
in the next round.
VI. Continuing Obligations
21. Due Diligence. The Task Force and Bureau remind each reverse
and forward auction bidder that it is solely responsible throughout the
auction for investigating and evaluating all legal, technical, and
marketplace factors and risks that may have a bearing on the bid(s) it
submits in the incentive auction. For more information, each bidder
should review the Auction 1000 Application Procedures Public Notice, 80
FR 66429, October 29, 2015.
22. Prohibited Communications Reminder. The Task Force and Bureau
remind all full power and Class A broadcast television licensees, as
well as forward auction applicants, that they remain subject to the
Commission's rules prohibiting certain communications in connection
with Commission auctions. For communications among broadcasters, and
between broadcasters and forward auction applicants, the prohibited
communication period ends when the results of the incentive auction are
announced by public notice. For communications among forward auction
applicants, the period ends on the deadline for making down payments on
winning bids. A party that is subject to the prohibition remains
subject to the prohibition regardless of developments during the
auction process.
23. The Task Force and Bureau further remind each full power and
Class A broadcast television licensee that even though communicating
whether or not a party filed an application to participate in the
reverse auction does not violate the rules prohibiting certain
communications, communicating that a party ``is not bidding'' in or has
``exited'' the reverse auction could constitute an apparent violation
that needs to be reported. All forward auction applicants, including
those that did not qualify to bid and those that have since lost
eligibility to bid in the forward auction, are also reminded that they
remain subject to the rules prohibiting certain communications until
the deadline for making down payments on winning bids.
24. The Commission's rules require covered parties to report
violations of the prohibition of certain communications to Margaret W.
Wiener, Chief of the Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, by the most expeditious means available. Any
such report should be submitted by email to Ms. Wiener at the following
email address: auction1000@fcc.gov. Any report in hard copy must be
delivered only to Margaret W. Wiener, Chief, Auctions and Spectrum
Access Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal
Communications Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room 6-C217,
Washington, DC 20554. Failure to make a timely report under the rule
constitutes a continuing violation of the rule, with attendant
consequences.
25. For a thorough discussion of the prohibition of certain
communications during the incentive auction, please refer to the
Prohibited Communications Public Notice, 80 FR 63216, October 19, 2015.
26. Making Modifications to Applications. The Task Force and Bureau
remind each reverse and forward auction applicant that the Commission's
rules require an applicant to maintain the accuracy and completeness of
information furnished in its application to participate in Auctions
1001 and 1002, respectively. Each applicant should amend its
application to furnish additional or corrected information within five
days of a significant occurrence, or no more than five days after the
applicant becomes aware of the need for amendment. Any applicant that
needs to make changes must do so using the procedures described in the
Auction 1000 Application Procedures Public Notice and the Auction 1002
Qualified Bidders Public Notice.
27. To make changes to an FCC Form 177 or FCC Form 175 while the
Auction System is available, the applicant must make those changes
electronically using the Auction System and submit a letter briefly
summarizing the changes to its FCC Form 177 by email to
auction1001@fcc.gov, or to its FCC Form 175 by email to
auction1002@fcc.gov. To make changes at a time when the Auction System
is unavailable, the applicant must make those changes using the
procedures described in the Auction 1000 Application Procedures Public
Notice.
Federal Communications Commission.
Gary D. Michaels,
Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access Division, WTB.
[FR Doc. 2016-22105 Filed 9-9-16; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P
