About 220 MHz Services
220 MHz Band Terminology
This section explains some of the terminology used in the 220 MHz services.
Phase I and Phase II
220 MHz licenses initially authorized from applications filed on or before May 24, 1991 are referred to as "Phase I" licenses. Licenses initially authorized from applications received after May 24, 1991 are referred to as "Phase II" licenses. Phase I licenses have radio service codes QT, QD, QO, and NC; Auctioned (Phase II) licenses have the radio service code QA, and Public Safety licenses have the radio service code QM (Phase I and Phase II).
Radio Service Codes
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QT: Phase I Trunked service. Licenses were authorized on channels originally for trunked operations but later made available for other types of operations (there are 20 groups with 5 channels per group interleaved throughout the band). There are no new QT licenses being issued beyond existing incumbent service contours.
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QD: Phase I Data service. Licenses were authorized on a contiguous group of channels originally for data operations but later made available for other types of operations. There are no new QD licenses being issued beyond existing incumbent service contours. This service occupies channels 186 through 195.
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QO: Phase I Other service. Licenses were authorized on a contiguous group of “other” channels. There are no new QO licenses being issued beyond existing incumbent service contours. This service occupies channels 171 through 180.
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QM: Public Safety licenses are issued on channels 161 through 170 and channels 181 through 185. The QM radio service has stations from Phase I and Phase II.
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NC: Phase I Nationwide Commercial service. Four licenses were issued in groups of five channels per license. This service occupies channels 21 through 25, 26 through 30, 151 through 155, and 156 through 160. All four licenses that were available in this service have been assigned. Licensees in this service may apply for new licenses to add specific sites but are no longer required to license their sites in this “site specific” manner (see Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 99-196)
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QA: Phase II auctioned service. 155 channel pairs are allocated to this radio service. There is one nationwide area, 175 basic economic areas, and 6 regional areas. 30 of the 155 channel pairs are available for nationwide use, 50 of the 155 channel pairs are available for basic economic area use, and 75 of the 155 channel pairs are available for regional use. Therefore, in total, there are 3 nationwide licenses with 10 channel pair per license, 875 basic economic area licenses with 10 channel pair per license, and 30 regional area licenses with 15 channel pair per license for a total of 908 licenses.
Geographic Area Names
Fundamental geographical areas in Part 90 are referred to as Economic Areas (EAs). These same areas are also referred to as Basic Economic Areas (BEAs) for Auctions and Licensing purposes.
Regional groupings of fundamental geographic areas in Part 90 are referred to as Regional Area Groupings (REAGs). These same areas are also referred to as Economic Area Groupings (EAGs) for Auctions and Licensing purposes.
A nationwide geographical area is referred to as Nationwide in Part 90. The same geographic area is referred to as Nationwide or NWA for Auctions and licensing purposes.
Auctions History in the 220 MHz Band
As of the last update to this web site there have been four auctions of the 220 MHz band. There is additional information regarding auctions at the
FCC Auctions Home Page. The four 220 MHz auctions are listed below:
- On October 22, 1998, the Federal Communications Commission completed the auction of 908 licenses for the Phase II 220 MHz Service, raising (in net high bids) a total of $21,650,301 for the U.S. Treasury (Auction 18).
- On June 30, 1999, the Federal Communications Commission completed the auction of 225 Phase II 220 MHz service licenses, raising (in net high bids) a total of $1,924,950 for the U.S. Treasury (Auction 24).
- On January 17, 2002, the FCC completed the auction of 4 Phase II 220 MHz licenses in the Multi Radio Service auction, raising (in net high bids) a total of $182,700 for the US Treasury (Auction 43).
- On June 26, 2007, the FCC completed the auction of 94 Phase II 220 MHz service licenses, raising (in net high bids) a total of $185,416 for the U.S. Treasury (Auction 72).
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