A licensee must provide "substantial service" to its license service area no later than the end of its license term. "Substantial"
service is defined as service which is sound, favorable, and substantially above a level of mediocre service which might
minimally warrant renewal. Failure by any licensee to meet this requirement will result in forfeiture of the license and the licensee
will be ineligible to regain it. See
47 CFR 27.14(a).
The following safe harbors for licensees in the Lower 700 MHz Band may also be used to demonstrate substantial service:
- the construction of four permanent links per one million people in the licensed service area of a licensee that chooses to offer fixed, point-to-point services;
- the demonstration of coverage for 20 percent of the population of the licensed service area of a licensee that chooses to offer fixed, point-to-multipoint services; and
- the demonstration of coverage for 20 percent of the population of the licensed service area of a licensee that chooses to offer mobile services.
Return To Top
