Sec. 22.912  Service area boundary extensions.

    This section contains rules governing service area boundary (SAB) 
extensions. SAB extensions are areas outside of the cellular market 
boundary, but within the service area as calculated using the methods of 
Sec. 22.911(a). Cellular systems must be designed to comply with the 
rules in this section. Applications proposing systems that would not 
comply with the rules in this section are defective. Service within SAB 
extensions is not protected from interference or capture under 
Sec. 22.911(d) unless and until the area within the SAB extension 
becomes a part of the cellular geographic service area (CGSA) in 
accordance with Sec. 22.911(c).
    (a) De minimis extensions. Except as restricted in paragraph (d) of 
this section, SABs may extend into adjacent cellular markets if such 
extensions are de minimis, are demonstrably unavoidable for technical 
reasons of sound engineering design, and do not extend into the CGSA of 
any other licensee's cellular system on the same channel block (unless 
the licensee of such other system consents to the extension) or into any 
adjacent cellular market on a channel block for which the five year 
build-out period has expired.
    (b) Contract extensions. Except as restricted in paragraph (d) of 
this section, licensees of cellular systems on the same channel block in 
adjacent cellular markets may, at any time, enter into contracts with 
applicants or other licensees to allow SAB extensions into their CGSA 
only (not into unserved areas). Except as restricted in paragraph (d) of 
this section, licensees of the first authorized cellular systems on the 
same channel block in adjacent cellular markets may agree to allow SAB 
extensions into their CGSA and/or unserved areas in their cellular 
markets during the five year build-out period of the market into which 
the SAB extends.
    (c) Same applicant/licensee. Except as restricted in paragraph (d) 
of this section, licensees of cellular systems that are also an 
applicant or licensee on the same channel block in adjacent cellular 
markets may, at any time, allow or propose SAB extensions from their 
adjacent market system into their

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CGSH only (not into unserved areas). Except as restricted in paragraph 
(d) of this section, licensees of the first authorized cellular systems 
that are also an applicant or licensee on the same channel block in 
adjacent cellular markets may allow or propose SAB extensions from their 
adjacent market system into their CGSA and/or unserved areas in their 
cellular markets during the five year build-out period of the market 
into which the SAB extends.
    (d) Unserved area systems. Phase I initial cellular applications 
must not propose SAB extensions. Phase I sole major modification 
applications and Phase II applications may propose SAB extensions, 
subject to the conditions in this section.