The 218-219 MHz Service
1 is a short-distance communication service designed for licensees to transmit information, product, and service offerings to subscribers and receive interactive responses within a specified service area. Mobile operation is permitted. Rules permit both common carrier and private operations, as well as one- and two-way communications. Potential applications include ordering goods or services offered by television services, viewer polling, remote meter reading, vending inventory control, and cable television theft deterrence.
Although new rules are designed to allow licensees the maximum flexibility to structure services to meet market demand, the 218-219 MHz band is insufficient for the transmission of conventional full-motion video. 218-219 MHz Service channels may also be unable to support proposed operations that require large amounts of spectrum, including certain video, voice, and advanced data applications.
The components of each 218-219 MHz system are its administrative apparatus, its response transmitter units (RTUs), and one or more cell transmitter stations (CTSs). RTUs may be used in any location within the service area. CTSs provide service from a fixed point, and certain CTSs must be licensed as part of a 218-219 MHz service (see 47 CFR 95.811).
The FCC issued eighteen Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) licenses by lottery in 1993 and conducted an auction for the remaining MSA licenses in 1994. No Rural Statistical Area (RSA) licenses have been issued to date, and no date has been set for auction. Read more about the 218-219 MHz Radio Service licensing process and licensee selection rules.
1. Until September 15, 1998, the 218-219 MHz Service was known as the Interactive Video and Data Service, or "IVDS." Many Commission documents still refer to the 218-219 MHz Service by its former name, and the term "IVDS" is still commonly used in reference to this service.
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