FCC: Wireless Services: Paging: Paging Home

Auctions

Filing a Complaint

Secondary Markets

Tower Siting Tower & Antenna Siting Issues

ULS Universal Licensing System

Wireless Fraud Wireless Telecommunications Investment Scams

Paging

Commercial paging is a Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) and is thus, 1) provided for profit, 2) interconnected to the public switched network, and 3) available to the public.

Traditional commercial paging service consists of one-way data communications sent to a mobile device that alerts the user when it arrives. The communication could consist of a phone number for the user to call, a short message, or an information update. Other licensees in addition to paging carriers offer paging services. For instance, most digital mobile telephone handsets include a paging component or Caller ID feature that allows users to view the phone number of someone who has called them. Narrowband PCS licensees offer more advanced two-way paging type services.

Commercial paging may operate in the 35-36, 43-44, 152-159, and 454-460 MHz bands (referred to as the "Lower Band") and the 929 and 931 MHz bands (referred to as the "Upper Band") (refer to Band Plan) and after 1997 was geographically licensed based on either Economic Area (EA) or Market Economic Area (MEA) Market Area designations. You can read more about the history of licensing commercial paging.

The rules governing commercial paging are found in the Code of Federal Regulations, Volume 47, Part 1 and Part 22 (and Part 90 for 929 MHz channels).

Service At A Glance
Paging
One-way data communications sent to a mobile device that alerts the user when it arrives. The communication could consist of a phone number for the user to call, a short message, or an information update.
Also Known As	Commercial Paging, One-Way Paging, Traditional Paging
Established	1949
Service Rules	CFR, Parts 1, 22, and 90
Band Plan
Band(s)	35-36 MHz 43-44 MHz 152-159 MHz 454-460 MHz 929, 931 MHz
Market Areas	EAs, MEAs, NW, Site-by-Site
Channels	129
Channel Size	20 KHz (unpaired) 40 KHz (paired)
Licensing
Fee and Mailing Instructions (pdf)
System	ULS
ULS Radio Service Codes
CD - Paging & Radiotelephone
CP - Part 22 VHF/UHF Paging (excluding 931 MHz)
CZ - Paging & Radiotelephone, Auctioned
GC - 929-931 MHz Bands, Auctioned
GS - Private Carrier Paging, 929-930 MHz
Auctions
#26: 929 and 931 Paging 2/24/2000 - 3/2/2000
#40: Paging 10/30/2001 - 12/5/2001
#48: Lower & Upper Paging 5/13/2003 - 5/28/2003
#87: Lower & Upper Paging 6/15/2010 - 8/6/2010