2000 Biennial Regulatory Review-Spectrum Aggregation Limits for Commercial Mobile Radio Services

This document completes the Commission's reexamination of the need for the Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) spectrum aggregation limit, or "spectrum cap," and cellular cross-interest rules as part of its 2000 biennial review of the Commission's regulations, pursuant to section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act). The intended effects of this action are to "sunset" the spectrum cap rule effective January 1, 2003; permit the Commission to consider, in conjunction with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), substantive and processing guidelines for the Commission's case-by-case review of transactions that would raise concerns similar to those that the spectrum cap was designed to address; raise the spectrum cap to 55 MHz in all markets during the transition period; and eliminate the cellular cross-interest rule in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), while retaining it in Rural Service Areas (RSAs).