Reconsideration of the Rules and Policies for Local Multipoint Distribution Service

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted a Third Order on Reconsideration (Third Reconsideration Order) in the Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) proceeding, reaffirming its commitment to the rapid implementation of LMDS and the broad range of one-way and two-way voice, video, and data service capabilities that LMDS offers. LMDS is a fixed, point-to-multipoint wireless service that has the flexibility and potential to promote competition in the telephony and cable distribution marketplaces, as well as to introduce new and innovative services to the public. The action is taken to resolve petitions for reconsideration of the service rules, except the competitive bidding rules, adopted in the Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Fifth Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second Report and Order) to implement LMDS in the 27.5-28.35 GHz, 29.1-29.25 GHz , and 31.0-31.3 GHz frequency bands. The limited revisions to the Commission's rules adopted in this Third Reconsideration Order will permit certain point-to-point operations on a secondary basis to LMDS in the 31 GHz band under the previous service rules replaced by LMDS without adversely affecting LMDS or the initiation of the auction and licensing of LMDS under the LMDS service rules.