81_FR_63063 81 FR 62886 - 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

81 FR 62886 - 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

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 177 (September 13, 2016)

Page Range62886-62888
FR Document2016-22105

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.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 177 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 177 (Tuesday, September 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62886-62888]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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 http://wireless.fcc.gov, the Auction 1000 Web site at http://www.fcc.gov/auctions/1000, or by using the search function on the ECFS Web page at 
http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Alternative formats are available to 
persons with disabilities by sending an email to [email protected] 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: [email protected]. 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 
[email protected], or to its FCC Form 175 by email to 
[email protected]. 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



                                             62886                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices

                                             staff that are responsible for preparing                                   respondents included in the biennial                            calculated using median hourly wage
                                             and filing the EEO–3. The EEOC now                                         EEO–3 survey is 1,036 referral unions,                          rates for administrative staff and legal
                                             accounts for time to be spent biennially                                   as this is the number of filers from the                        counsel, and average hourly wage rates
                                             on EEO–3 reporting by business agents                                      2014 reporting cycle. The estimated                             for labor union business agents.1 The
                                             and administrative staff, as well as time                                  hour burden per report will be 2.05                             burden hour cost per report will be
                                             spent by attorneys who, in a few cases,                                    hours, and the estimated total biennial                         $84.54, and the estimated total biennial
                                             may consult briefly during the reporting                                   respondent burden hours will be                                 burden hour cost will be $87,588.10.
                                             process. The estimated number of                                           2,123.8. Burden hour cost was                                   (See Table 1 for calculations.)

                                                                                                TABLE 1—UPDATED ESTIMATE OF BURDEN FOR EEO–3 REPORT
                                                                                                                                           Hourly wage                 Hours              Cost            Total burden    Total burden
                                                                      Local referral union staff                                              rate                    per local         per local            hours         hour cost

                                             Secretaries and administrative assistants ...........................                                     $17.55                     1          $17.55               1036       $18,181.80
                                             Business agent ....................................................................                        64.21                     1           64.21               1036        66,521.56
                                             Corporate legal counsel .......................................................                            55.69                  0.05          2.7845                51.8        2,884.74

                                                   Total ..............................................................................   ........................             2.05         84.5445             2,123.8       87,588.10



                                                These estimates are based on an                                         SUMMARY:    The Incentive Auction Task                          Information Center, 445 12th Street SW.,
                                             assumption of paper reporting.                                             Force and Wireless                                              Room CY–A257, Washington, DC 20554.
                                             However, the EEOC has made electronic                                      Telecommunications Bureau announce                              The complete text is also available on
                                             filing much easier for respondents                                         the spectrum clearing target of 114                             the Commission’s Web site at http://
                                             required to file the EEO–3 Report. As a                                    megahertz and band plan for Stage 2 of                          wireless.fcc.gov, the Auction 1000 Web
                                             result, more respondents are using this                                    the incentive auction and that bidding                          site at http://www.fcc.gov/auctions/
                                             filing method. This development, along                                     in Stage 2 of the reverse auction is                            1000, or by using the search function on
                                             with the greater availability of human                                     scheduled to begin on September 13,                             the ECFS Web page at http://
                                             resource information software, is                                          2016. Also announces details and dates                          www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/. Alternative
                                             expected to significantly reduce the                                       regarding bidding and the availability of                       formats are available to persons with
                                             actual burden of reporting. The                                            educational and informational materials                         disabilities by sending an email to
                                             Commission continues to develop more                                       for reverse and forward auction bidders                         FCC504@fcc.gov or by calling the
                                             reliable estimates of reporting burdens                                    eligible to participate in Stage 2; the                         Consumer & Governmental Affairs
                                             given the significant increase in                                          availability of Stage 2 bidding and                             Bureau at (202) 418–0530 (voice), (202)
                                             electronic filing and explore new                                          timing information in the Incentive                             418–0432 (TTY).
                                             approaches to make such reporting even                                     Auction Public Reporting System; and                               1. The Incentive Auction Task Force
                                             less burdensome. In order to help                                          the importance of bidder contingency                            (Task Force) and the Wireless
                                             reduce survey burden, respondents are                                      plans and reminds each reverse and                              Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau)
                                             encouraged to report data electronically                                   forward auction applicant of its                                announce the 114 megahertz spectrum
                                             whenever possible.                                                         continuing obligations under the FCC’s                          clearing target that has been set by the
                                               Dated: September 2, 2016.                                                rules.                                                          Auction System’s optimization
                                               For the Commission.                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                procedure and the associated band plan
                                             Jenny R. Yang,                                                             Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,                             for Stage 2 of the incentive auction, as
                                             Chair.                                                                     Auctions and Spectrum Access Division:                          well as the number of Category 1 and
                                             [FR Doc. 2016–21892 Filed 9–12–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                        For general auction questions, contact                          Category 2 generic license blocks in
                                                                                                                        Linda Sanderson at (717) 338–2868. For                          each Partial Economic Area (PEA) that
                                             BILLING CODE 6570–01–P
                                                                                                                        reverse auction or forward auction legal                        will be offered in Stage 2 of the forward
                                                                                                                        questions, refer to the contact                                 auction. The Task Force and Bureau
                                                                                                                        information listed in the Incentive                             also provide details and specific dates
                                             FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                                     Auction Stage 2 Clearing Target Public                          regarding bidding and the availability of
                                             COMMISSION                                                                 Notice.                                                         educational materials and remind
                                                                                                                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a                            reverse and forward auction applicants
                                             [GN Docket No. 12–268; AU Docket No. 14–                                   summary of the Incentive Auction Stage                          of their continuing obligations.
                                             252; WT Docket No. 12–269; DA 16–990]                                      2 Clearing Target Public Notice, GN                             I. Stage 2 Clearing Target and Band
                                                                                                                        Docket No. 12–268, AU Docket No. 14–                            Plan
                                             Clearing Target of 114 Megahertz Set                                       252, WT Docket No. 12–269, DA 16–
                                             for Stage 2 of the Broadcast Television                                    990, released August 31, 2016. The                                 2. Auction System’s clearing target
                                             Spectrum Incentive Auction; Stage 2                                        complete text of the Incentive Auction                          determination procedure has set a
                                             Bidding in the Reverse Auction Will                                        Stage 2 Clearing Target Public Notice is                        spectrum clearing target of 114
                                             Start on September 13, 2016                                                available for public inspection and                             megahertz for Stage 2 of the incentive
                                             AGENCY: Federal Communications                                             copying from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.                             auction. Under the band plan associated
Lhorne on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                             Commission.                                                                Eastern Time (ET) Monday through                                with this spectrum clearing target, 90
                                                                                                                        Thursday or from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.                        megahertz, or 90 paired blocks, of
                                             ACTION: Notice.
                                                                                                                        ET on Fridays in the FCC Reference                              licensed spectrum will be offered in the
                                               1 Median hourly wage rates for administrative                            Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook                agent was obtained from salaryexpert.com (see
                                             staff and legal counsel were obtained from the                             Handbook, http://www/bls.gov/ooh/) and the                      https://www.salaryexpert.com/salarysurveydata/
                                             Bureau of Labor Statistics (see U.S. Dept. of Labor,                       average hourly wage rate for a labor union business             job=labor-union-business-agent/salary).



                                        VerDate Sep<11>2014        15:27 Sep 12, 2016          Jkt 238001       PO 00000       Frm 00033       Fmt 4703        Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\13SEN1.SGM   13SEN1


                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices                                           62887

                                             forward auction on a near-nationwide                    for placing bids in the previous stage to             Auction 1001 Web site (www.fcc.gov/
                                             basis.                                                  access the Reverse Auction Bidding                    auctions/1001) and the Auction 1002
                                                3. The generic license blocks offered                System for Stage 2. RSA tokens with                   Web site (www.fcc.gov/auction/1002).
                                             in Stage 2 of the forward auction under                 previously set personal identification                   12. Accessing the Forward Auction
                                             this band plan will consist of a total of               numbers (PINs) may be used without                    Bidding System in Stage 2. Any bidder
                                             3688 Category 1 blocks (zero to 15                      setting a new PIN. Any authorized                     that is eligible to bid in Stage 2 of the
                                             percent impairment) and a total of five                 bidder that has not already set a PIN for             forward auction will be able to access
                                             Category 2 blocks (greater than 15                      his or her designated RSA token (e.g., an             the Forward Auction Bidding System
                                             percent and up to 50 percent                            authorized bidder recently identified on              beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday,
                                             impairment). Approximately 99.9                         Form 177 or one using a replacement                   September 8, 2016, using the same RSA
                                             percent of the blocks offered will be                   RSA token) must set a PIN as described                tokens, web address, and instructions
                                             Category 1 blocks, and 99.8 percent of                  in the materials sent with the Second                 provided in the bidder registration
                                             the Category 1 blocks will be zero                      Confidential Status Letter. Each bidder               materials from Stage 1 of the forward
                                             percent impaired. Attached to the                       will be able to access the Reverse                    auction. Any bidder with zero eligibility
                                             Incentive Auction Stage 2 Clearing                      Auction Bidding System at the same                    by the end of Stage 1 will not be eligible
                                             Target Public Notice as Appendix A is                   web address used during the previous                  to bid in Stage 2 of the forward auction.
                                             a list indicating the number of Category                stage. In addition, the FCC Auction                   Upon logging in to the Forward Auction
                                             1 and Category 2 blocks available in                    Bidder Line phone number for Stage 2                  Bidding System, an eligible bidder can
                                             each PEA.                                               will be the same number used for the                  download detailed impairment
                                                4. The clearing target for Stage 2 was               previous stage.                                       information for Stage 2, as well as the
                                             determined by the procedure the                            8. Returning RSA Tokens. Each bidder               stage transition files. The detailed
                                             Commission adopted in the Auction                       that did not have any stations with the               impairment information and bidder-
                                             1000 Bidding Procedures Public Notice,                  status ‘‘Frozen—Provisionally Winning’’               specific information, including stage
                                             80 FR 61917, October 14, 2015, using                    at the end of the previous stage will be              transition files and Stage 1 bidding
                                             the same objectives as in the initial                   sent a pre-addressed, stamped envelope                information, are non-public and are
                                             clearing target optimization and taking                 to return its RSA tokens.                             provided only to eligible bidders to help
                                             into account the additional channel in                     9. Clocks Rounds Start Date and                    guide their bidding in Stage 2 of the
                                             the TV band and any participating                       Round Schedule. Bidding in the clock                  forward auction. This information will
                                             stations that have dropped out of the                   rounds of Stage 2 of Auction 1001 will                not be disclosed publicly until after the
                                             auction in the previous stage. Based on                 begin on Tuesday, September 13, 2016,                 auction concludes.
                                             the new provisional television channel                  on the following schedule: Bidding                       13. Returning RSA Tokens. Each
                                             assignment plan, the nationwide                         Round (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. ET).                      bidder that is no longer eligible to
                                             impaired weighted-pops were                             Starting on Wednesday, September 14,                  participate in the forward auction (i.e.,
                                             calculated on a 2x2 cell level and the                  2016, and continuing until further                    any bidder that has zero eligibility by
                                             one-block-equivalent nationwide                         notice, the schedule will be: Bidding                 the end of Stage 1) will be sent a pre-
                                             standard for impairments was applied.                   Round (10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET) and                  addressed, stamped envelope to return
                                                                                                     Bidding Round (3:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.                    its RSA tokens.
                                             II. Important Information Concerning                                                                             14. Rule for Round 1 of Stage 2.
                                                                                                     ET). The Bureau may adjust the number
                                             the Reverse Auction (Auction 1001)                      and length of bidding rounds based                    Starting in the first round of Stage 2,
                                                5. Online Stage 2 Tutorial. The Task                 upon its monitoring of the bidding and                each bidder must be active on at least
                                             Force and Bureau will make available                    assessment of the reverse auction’s                   95 percent of its bidding eligibility to
                                             an online tutorial on bidding procedures                progress. The Bureau will provide                     maintain its bidding eligibility for the
                                             specific to Stage 2 of the reverse auction              notice of any adjustment by                           next round. Any changes to the activity
                                             (and any subsequent stage, if necessary)                announcement in the Reverse Auction                   requirement in subsequent rounds will
                                             on Thursday, September 1, 2016. This                    Bidding System during the course of the               be announced via the Forward Auction
                                             new tutorial will be accessible from the                auction.                                              Bidding System. Prior to the start of
                                             Auction 1001 Web site through a link                       10. Reset Base Clock Price and Clock               Stage 2 of the forward auction, a bidder
                                             under the ‘‘Education’’ section. Once                   Decrement for Round 1 of Stage 2. The                 may view its initial eligibility and
                                             posted, it will remain available and                    base clock price has been reset to $900               required activity for round 1 by
                                             accessible on the Auction 1001 Web site                 per unit of volume for Stage 2 of the                 downloading the My Bidder Status file
                                             for reference.                                          reverse auction. The price decrement for              under the Bid/Status tab.
                                                6. Accessing the Auction System for                  round 1 of Stage 2 of the reverse auction                15. Clock Increment for Round 1 of
                                             Stage 2. Starting at 10:00 a.m. Eastern                 will be five percent of the reset base                Stage 2. An increment of five percent
                                             Time (ET) on Wednesday, September 7,                    clock price.                                          will be used to set clock prices for
                                             2016, any bidder that had one or more                                                                         products in round 1 of Stage 2 of the
                                             stations with the status ‘‘Frozen—                      III. Important Information Concerning
                                                                                                                                                           forward auction. Prior to the
                                             Provisionally Winning’’ at the end of the               the Forward Auction (Auction 1002)
                                                                                                                                                           announcement of the forward auction
                                             previous stage can log in to the Reverse                   11. Bidding in Stage 2. Bidding in the             bidding schedule for Stage 2, a bidder
                                             Auction Bidding System for Stage 2 and                  clock phase of Stage 2 of the forward                 may view the clock prices for round 1
                                             view the bidding status, and, where                     auction will begin on the next business               by downloading the Sample Bids file in
                                             applicable, the following information                   day after the close of bidding in Stage               the Forward Auction Bidding System.
                                             for round 1 of the new stage for each of                2 of the reverse auction. The schedule
                                                                                                                                                           IV. Public Reporting System
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                                             the bidder’s stations that qualified to                 for bidding in Stage 2 of the forward
                                             participate in the clock rounds of the                  auction will be announced in the                        16. As was the case for Stage 1 of the
                                             reverse auction: Initial bid option,                    Forward Auction Bidding System and in                 incentive auction, publicly available
                                             available bid options, vacancy ranges,                  the Incentive Auction Public Reporting                bidding and timing information for
                                             and clock price offers.                                 System (PRS). The PRS can be accessed                 Stage 2 of the reverse auction and the
                                                7. A bidder will need to use the RSA                 directly at auctiondata.fcc.gov and from              forward auction will be accessible
                                             SecurID® tokens (RSA tokens) it used                    a link under the Results section of the               through the PRS. The PRS will display


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                                             62888                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 177 / Tuesday, September 13, 2016 / Notices

                                             the same types of bidding and other                     round. If there is insufficient excess                communications to Margaret W. Wiener,
                                             information for Stage 2 as was available                demand, the ‘‘missing’’ bid may be                    Chief of the Auctions and Spectrum
                                             for Stage 1. For more information about                 partially applied or not applied at all               Access Division, Wireless
                                             the types of bidding and other                          and the bidder will continue to have                  Telecommunications Bureau, by the
                                             information available in the PRS, please                processed demand for the product in the               most expeditious means available. Any
                                             see the Public Reporting System Public                  next round. If the ‘‘missing’’ bid is                 such report should be submitted by
                                             Notice.                                                 partially or fully applied, that bidder’s             email to Ms. Wiener at the following
                                                                                                     eligibility may be irrevocably reduced in             email address: auction1000@fcc.gov.
                                             V. Bidding Contingency Plan
                                                                                                     the next round.                                       Any report in hard copy must be
                                                17. The Task Force and Bureau                                                                              delivered only to Margaret W. Wiener,
                                             remind each bidder that it should                       VI. Continuing Obligations
                                                                                                                                                           Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access
                                             develop a comprehensive contingency                        21. Due Diligence. The Task Force and              Division, Wireless Telecommunications
                                             plan that can be quickly implemented in                 Bureau remind each reverse and                        Bureau, Federal Communications
                                             case difficulties arise when participating              forward auction bidder that it is solely              Commission, 445 12th Street SW., Room
                                             in the incentive auction. While the                     responsible throughout the auction for                6–C217, Washington, DC 20554. Failure
                                             Commission will correct any problems                    investigating and evaluating all legal,
                                                                                                                                                           to make a timely report under the rule
                                             with Commission-controlled facilities,                  technical, and marketplace factors and
                                                                                                                                                           constitutes a continuing violation of the
                                             each bidder is solely responsible for                   risks that may have a bearing on the
                                                                                                                                                           rule, with attendant consequences.
                                             anticipating and overcoming problems                    bid(s) it submits in the incentive
                                             such as bidder computer failures or                     auction. For more information, each                     25. For a thorough discussion of the
                                             other technical issues, loss of or                      bidder should review the Auction 1000                 prohibition of certain communications
                                             problems with data connections                          Application Procedures Public Notice,                 during the incentive auction, please
                                             (including those used to access and                     80 FR 66429, October 29, 2015.                        refer to the Prohibited Communications
                                             place bids in the Reverse Auction                          22. Prohibited Communications                      Public Notice, 80 FR 63216, October 19,
                                             Bidding System or the Forward Auction                   Reminder. The Task Force and Bureau                   2015.
                                             Bidding System), telephone service                      remind all full power and Class A                       26. Making Modifications to
                                             interruptions, adverse local weather                    broadcast television licensees, as well as            Applications. The Task Force and
                                             conditions, unavailability of its                       forward auction applicants, that they                 Bureau remind each reverse and
                                             authorized bidders, or the loss or breach               remain subject to the Commission’s                    forward auction applicant that the
                                             of confidential security codes.                         rules prohibiting certain                             Commission’s rules require an applicant
                                                18. A bidder should ensure that each                 communications in connection with                     to maintain the accuracy and
                                             of its authorized bidders can access and                Commission auctions. For
                                                                                                                                                           completeness of information furnished
                                             place bids in the Reverse Auction                       communications among broadcasters,
                                                                                                                                                           in its application to participate in
                                             Bidding System or Forward Auction                       and between broadcasters and forward
                                                                                                                                                           Auctions 1001 and 1002, respectively.
                                             Bidding System, and it should not rely                  auction applicants, the prohibited
                                                                                                                                                           Each applicant should amend its
                                             upon the same computer or data                          communication period ends when the
                                                                                                     results of the incentive auction are                  application to furnish additional or
                                             connection to do so. Contingency plans
                                             will ideally include arrangements for                   announced by public notice. For                       corrected information within five days
                                             accessing and placing bids in the                       communications among forward auction                  of a significant occurrence, or no more
                                             Reverse Auction Bidding System or the                   applicants, the period ends on the                    than five days after the applicant
                                             Forward Auction Bidding System from                     deadline for making down payments on                  becomes aware of the need for
                                             one or more alternative locations. A                    winning bids. A party that is subject to              amendment. Any applicant that needs
                                             bidder’s contingency plan might also                    the prohibition remains subject to the                to make changes must do so using the
                                             include, among other arrangements,                      prohibition regardless of developments                procedures described in the Auction
                                             calling the Auction Bidder Line.                        during the auction process.                           1000 Application Procedures Public
                                                19. Each reverse auction bidder is                      23. The Task Force and Bureau                      Notice and the Auction 1002 Qualified
                                             further reminded that a failure to submit               further remind each full power and                    Bidders Public Notice.
                                             a bid for a station with the status                     Class A broadcast television licensee                   27. To make changes to an FCC Form
                                             ‘‘Bidding’’ is considered to be a missing               that even though communicating                        177 or FCC Form 175 while the Auction
                                             bid, and the Reverse Auction Bidding                    whether or not a party filed an                       System is available, the applicant must
                                             System will automatically submit a bid                  application to participate in the reverse             make those changes electronically using
                                             to drop out of the auction for all stations             auction does not violate the rules                    the Auction System and submit a letter
                                             with missing bids. The status of a                      prohibiting certain communications,                   briefly summarizing the changes to its
                                             station that bids to drop out of the                    communicating that a party ‘‘is not                   FCC Form 177 by email to
                                             auction will be ‘‘Exited—Voluntarily’’                  bidding’’ in or has ‘‘exited’’ the reverse            auction1001@fcc.gov, or to its FCC Form
                                             once bid processing is complete for the                 auction could constitute an apparent                  175 by email to auction1002@fcc.gov.
                                             round (unless the station first becomes                 violation that needs to be reported. All              To make changes at a time when the
                                             frozen). Once a station has the status                  forward auction applicants, including                 Auction System is unavailable, the
                                             ‘‘Exited,’’ a bidder cannot bid for the                 those that did not qualify to bid and                 applicant must make those changes
                                             station in any subsequent round or                      those that have since lost eligibility to             using the procedures described in the
                                             stage.                                                  bid in the forward auction, are also                  Auction 1000 Application Procedures
                                                20. Each forward auction bidder is                   reminded that they remain subject to the              Public Notice.
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                                             reminded that its failure to submit a bid               rules prohibiting certain                             Federal Communications Commission.
                                             during a clock round will be considered                 communications until the deadline for
                                             a missing bid and will be treated as a                                                                        Gary D. Michaels,
                                                                                                     making down payments on winning
                                             bid for zero blocks, at the lowest price                bids.                                                 Deputy Chief, Auctions and Spectrum Access
                                             in the price range for the round, for any                  24. The Commission’s rules require                 Division, WTB.
                                             products in which the bidder had                        covered parties to report violations of               [FR Doc. 2016–22105 Filed 9–9–16; 4:15 pm]
                                             processed demand from the previous                      the prohibition of certain                            BILLING CODE 6712–01–P




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Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:16:49
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:16:49
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
ContactWireless 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.
FR Citation81 FR 62886 

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