FCC: Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems and Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act, and Competitive Bidding
Highlights
Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) new rule on facilitating the future development of paging systems, the implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act, and competitive bidding. GAO noted that: (1) the final rule would govern the geographic area licensing of common carrier paging and exclusive 929 MegaHertz private carrier paging and the competitive bidding procedures for auctioning mutually exclusive applications for these licenses; (2) FCC states that the rule is necessary to promote competition and efficient licensing in paging services; and (3) FCC complied with applicable requirements in promulgating the rule.
Federal Communications Commission: Facilitate Future, OGC-97-31, March 21, 1997
B-276419
March 21, 1997
The Honorable John McCain Chairman The Honorable Ernest F. Hollings Ranking Minority Member Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation United States Senate
The Honorable Thomas J. Bliley, Jr. Chairman The Honorable John D. Dingell Ranking Minority Member Committee on Commerce House of Representatives
Subject:Federal Communications Commission: Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems and Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act; Competitive Bidding
Pursuant to section 801(a)(2)(A) of title 5, United States Code, this is our report on a major rule promulgated by the Federal Communications Commission (Commission), entitled "Facilitate Future Development of Paging Systems and Implementation of Section 309(j) of the Communications Act; Competitive Bidding" (WT Docket No. 96-18; PP Docket No. 93-253; FCC 97-59). We received the rule on March 6, 1997. It was published in the Federal Register as a final rule on March 12, 1997. 62 Fed. Reg. 11616.
The final rule governs the geographic area licensing of Common Carrier Paging and exclusive 929 MHz Private Carrier Paging and the competitive bidding procedures for auctioning mutually exclusive applications for these licenses. The Commission states that the rule is necessary to promote competition and efficient licensing in paging services.
Enclosed is our assessment of the Commission's compliance with the procedural steps required by section 801(a)(1)(B)(i) through (iv) of title 5 with respect to the rule. Our review indicates that the Commission complied with the applicable requirements.
If you have any questions about this report, please contact James Vickers, Assistant General Counsel, at (202) 512-8210. The official responsible for GAO evaluation work relating to the Federal Communications Commission is John Anderson, Director of Transportation Issues. Mr. Anderson can be reached at (202) 512-2834.
Robert P. Murphy General Counsel
Enclosure
cc: Mr. Andrew S. Fishel Managing Director Federal Communications Commission ENCLOSURE
ANALYSIS UNDER 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(B)(i)-(iv) OF A MAJOR RULE ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION ENTITLED "FACILITATE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF PAGING SYSTEMS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SECTION 309(J) OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT; COMPETITIVE BIDDING" (WT Docket No. 96-18; PP Docket No. 93-253; FCC 97-59) (i) Cost-benefit analysis
The Commission, in its report to our Office, states that it was not required to prepare and did not prepare a cost-benefit analysis of the final rule.
(ii) Agency actions relevant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 603-605, 607 and 609
The Commission prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis in connection with the proposed rule. The analysis was available in the Commission's docket for review by the public and the submission of comments.
The preamble to the final rule contains the complete Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, which describes the reason for the final rule and the legal basis for it. The analysis also includes descriptions and estimates of the number of small entities affected by the rule; a discussion of the recordkeeping, reporting, and other compliance requirements; and the steps taken to minimize the burdens on small entities. The analysis discusses the comments received in response to the Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis.
The Commission adopted a two-tiered definition of small business which allows greater flexibility for qualifying small businesses through varying bidding credits. In addition, a small business may pay its winning bid in quarterly installments over the term of the license with qualified licensees being permitted to make interest-only payments for the first 2 years.
However, the Commission concluded that it would not permit small businesses to make a lower down payment than the 20 percent of the winning bid required of all bidders because it is necessary to ensure the financial capability of the bidder and provide stronger assurances against default.
(iii) Agency actions relevant to sections 202-205 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1532-1535
As an independent regulatory agency, the Commission is not subject to title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
(iv) Other relevant information or requirements under acts and executive orders
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.
The final rule was promulgated using the notice and comment procedures of 5 U.S.C. 553. On February 16, 1996, the Commission published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and requested comments on the proposed rule. 61 Fed. Reg. 6199.
The preamble to the final rule discusses the changes the Commission made to the proposed rule as a result of the comments, including not adopting the formulas proposed regarding co-channel interference protection but using the fixed distances already in existing criteria. In addition, the Commission explains why it did not choose to change the proposed rule in response to certain comments.
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520
The final rule contains information collections which are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. In the preamble to the proposed rule, 61 Fed. Reg. 6209, the Commission explained the need for the information and the burden estimate related to the collections. The Commission estimated that the collections from 750 existing licensees and 525 auction winners would entail a one-time hourly burden of 4,099 hours at a cost of $1,008,036. Also, the Commission had invited comments on the information collection, including its necessity and the accuracy of the burden estimate, be sent to the Commission and OMB.
In the preamble to the final rule, the Commission notes that the collections were approved by OMB and OMB issued control number 3060-0697. For FCC Forms 175 and 600, control numbers 3060-0600 and 3060-0623, respectively, have been issued.
Statutory authorization for the rule
The final rule was issued under authority of sections 4(i), 303(r), 309(c), 309(j), and 332 of the Communications Act. (47 U.S.C. 154(i), 303(r), 309(c), 309(j), and 332)
Executive Order No. 12866
The rule, promulgated by an independent regulatory agency, is not subject to the review requirements of Executive Order No. 12866.
The Commission did not identify any other statutes or executive orders imposing requirements on the rulemaking.