PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 445 TWELFTH STREET, S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov DA 14-375 Released: March 20, 2014 AT&T INC., NTCH, INC., AND WGH COMMUNICATIONS, INC. SEEK FCC CONSENT TO THE ASSIGNMENT OF LOWER 700 MHZ LICENSES FROM NTCH AND WGH TO AT&T ULS File Nos. 0006126156 and 0006126187 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED Petitions to Deny Due: April 3, 2014 Oppositions Due: April 14, 2014 Replies Due: April 21, 2014 I. INTRODUCTION AT&T Inc., through its indirect and wholly-owned subsidiary, AT&T Mobility Spectrum LLC (collectively, “AT&T”), and NTCH, Inc., together with its affiliate WGH Communications, Inc. (collectively “NTCH,” and together with AT&T, the “Applicants”), have filed applications pursuant to section 310(d) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended,1 seeking the assignment of six Lower 700 MHz B Block licenses to AT&T. The subject licenses cover geographic areas throughout the United States. The proposed transaction involves only the assignment of spectrum; no customers or networks would be transferred. According to the Applicants, the proposed transaction would enable AT&T to augment network capacity, better accommodate its overall growth, and facilitate the provision of additional products and services to its customers in the markets that the transaction would affect. The Applicants further assert that the additional spectrum would be used to deploy AT&T’s 4G network and would increase network capacity to the benefit of all AT&T subscribers. Preliminary review of the applications indicates that, as a result of the transaction, AT&T would be assigned 12 megahertz of Lower 700 MHz B Block spectrum in 18 counties in six Cellular Market Areas (“CMAs”) across parts of Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Post- transaction, AT&T would hold 88 to 175 megahertz of spectrum in these counties in these six CMAs. 1 47 U.S.C. § 310(d). 2II. SECTION 310(d) APPLICATIONS The applications for the assignment of licenses have been assigned the following file numbers: File No. Licensee/Assignor Assignee Lead Call Sign 00061261562 WGH Communications, Inc. AT&T Mobility Spectrum LLC WQJQ744 0006126187 NTCH, Inc. AT&T Mobility Spectrum LLC WQJQ781 III. EX PARTE STATUS OF THIS PROCEEDING Pursuant to section 1.1200(a) of the Commission’s rules,3 the Commission may adopt modified or more stringent ex parte procedures in particular proceedings if the public interest so requires. We announce that this proceeding will be governed by permit-but-disclose ex parte procedures that are applicable to non-restricted proceedings under section 1.1206 of the Commission’s rules.4 Parties making oral ex parte presentations are directed to the Commission’s ex parte rules. Parties are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain the presentation’s substance and not merely list the subjects discussed.5 More than a one- or two-sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required.6 Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in section 1.1206(b) as well.7 IV. GENERAL INFORMATION The assignment applications have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing. The Commission reserves the right to return the application if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules or policies. Interested parties must file petitions to deny no later than April 3, 2014. Persons and entities that file petitions to deny become parties to the proceeding. They may participate fully in the proceeding, including seeking access to any confidential information that may be filed under a protective order, seeking reconsideration of decisions, and filing appeals of a final decision to the courts. Oppositions to such pleadings must be filed no later than April 14, 2014. Replies to such pleadings must be filed no later than April 21, 2014. All filings concerning matters referenced in this Public Notice should refer to ULS File Nos. 0006126156 and/or 0006126187. To allow the Commission to consider fully all substantive issues regarding the applications in as timely and efficient a manner as possible, petitioners and commenters should raise all issues in their initial filings. New issues may not be raised in responses or replies.8 A party or interested person seeking to raise a new issue after the pleading cycle has closed must show good cause why it was not possible for it to have raised the issue previously. Submissions after the pleading cycle has closed that seek to raise new issues based on new facts or newly discovered facts should be filed 2 The Applicants have designated ULS File No. 0006126156 as the lead application. 3 47 C.F.R. § 1.1200(a). 4 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206. 5 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b)(1). 6 See id. 7 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206(b). 8 See 47 C.F.R. § 1.45(c). 3within 15 days after such facts are discovered. Absent such a showing of good cause, any issues not timely raised may be disregarded by the Commission. Under the Commission’s current procedures for the submission of filings and other documents,9 submissions in this matter may be filed electronically though the Commission’s Universal Licensing System (“ULS”) or by hand delivery to the Commission. · To file electronically, visit the ULS web site at http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/ and click on the “Submit a Pleading” link, complete the administrative information, and upload your pleading. · To file by paper, the original and four copies of each filing must be filed by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail. All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for the Commission’s Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 445 12th St., S.W., Room TW-A325, Washington, D.C. 20554. The filing hours at this location are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority mail should be addressed to 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. One copy of each pleading must be delivered electronically, by e-mail or facsimile, or if delivered as paper copy, by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service mail (according to procedures set forth above for paper filings), to: (1) the Commission’s duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., at FCC@BCPIWEB.COM or (202) 488-5563 (facsimile); (2) Scott Patrick, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at scott.patrick@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7447 (facsimile); (3) Kate Matraves, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at catherine.matraves@fcc.gov or (202) 418-7447 (facsimile); and (4) Jim Bird, Office of General Counsel, at TransactionTeam@fcc.gov or (202) 418-1234 (facsimile). Copies of the applications and any subsequently-filed documents in this matter may be obtained from Best Copy and Printing, Inc. in person at 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-B402, Washington, D.C. 20554, via telephone at (202) 488-5300, via facsimile at (202) 488-5563, or via email at FCC@BCPIWEB.COM. The applications and any associated documents are also available for public inspection and copying during normal reference room hours at the following Commission office: FCC Reference Information Center, 445 12th Street, S.W., Room CY-A257, Washington, D.C. 20554. The applications also are available electronically through ULS, which may be accessed on the Commission’s Internet website. To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at (202) 418-0530 (voice) or (202) 418-0432 (TTY). Contact the FCC to request reasonable accommodations for filing comments (accessible format documents, sign language interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: FCC504@fcc.gov; phone: (202) 418-0530 or TTY: (202) 418-0432. For further information, contact Scott Patrick, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 418-2853, or Kate Matraves, Spectrum and Competition Policy Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at (202) 391-6272. -FCC- 9 See FCC Announces Change in Filing Location for Paper Documents, Public Notice, 24 FCC Rcd 14312 (2009).