Sec. 22.99  Definitions.

    Terms used in this part have the following meanings:
    Air-Ground Radiotelephone Service. A radio service in which common 
carriers are authorized to offer and provide radio telecommunications 
service for hire to subscribers in aircraft.
    Airborne station. A mobile station in the Air-Ground Radiotelephone 
Service authorized for use on aircraft while in flight or on the ground.
    Antenna structure. A structure comprising an antenna, the tower or 
other structure that exists solely to support antennas, and any 
surmounting appurtenances (attachments such as beacons or lightning 
rods).
    Antenna. A device that converts radio frequency electrical energy to 
radiated electromagnetic energy and vice versa; in a transmitting 
station, the device from which radio waves are emitted.
    Archival quality microfiche. A silver halide master microfiche or a 
copy made on silver halide film.
    Assignment of authorization. A transfer of a Public Mobile Services 
authorization from one party to another, voluntarily or involuntarily, 
directly or indirectly, or by transfer of control of the licensee.
    Authorization. A written instrument or oral statement issued by the 
FCC conveying authority to operate, for a specified term, a station in 
the Public Mobile Services.
    Authorized bandwidth. The necessary or occupied bandwidth of an 
emission, whichever is more.
    Authorized spectrum. The spectral width of that portion of the 
electromagnetic spectrum within which the emission power of the 
authorized transmitter(s) must be contained, in accordance with the 
rules in this part. The authorized spectrum comprises one channel 
bandwidth or the bandwidths of two or more contiguous channels.
    Auxiliary test transmitter. A fixed transmitter used to test Public 
Mobile systems.
    Base transmitter. A stationary transmitter that provides radio 
telecommunications service to mobile and/or fixed receivers, including 
those associated with mobile stations.
    Blanketing interference. Disturbance in consumer receivers located 
in the immediate vicinity of a transmitter, caused by currents directly 
induced into the consumer receiver's circuitry by the relatively high 
field strength of the transmitter.
    Build-out transmitters. In the Cellular Radiotelephone Service, 
transmitters added to the first cellular system authorized on a channel 
block in a cellular market during the five year build-out period in 
order to expand the coverage of the system within the market.
    Cardinal radials. Eight imaginary straight lines extending radially 
on the ground from an antenna location in the following azimuths with 
respect to true North: 0 deg., 45 deg., 90 deg., 135 deg., 180 deg., 
225 deg., 270 deg., 315 deg..
    Carrier frequency. The frequency of the unmodulated electrical wave 
at the output of an amplitude modulated (AM), frequency modulated (FM) 
or phase modulated (PM) transmitter.
    Cell. The service area of an individual transmitter location in a 
cellular system.
    Cellular Geographic Service Area. The geographic area served by a 
cellular system, within which that system is entitled to protection and 
adverse effects are recognized, for the purpose of determining whether a 
petitioner has standing. See Sec. 22.911.
    Cellular markets. Standard geographic areas used by the FCC for 
administrative convenience in the licensing of cellular systems. See 
Sec. 22.909.
    Cellular Radiotelephone Service. A radio service in which common 
carriers are authorized to offer and provide cellular service for hire 
to the general public. This service was formerly titled

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Domestic Public Cellular Radio Telecommunications Service.
    Cellular repeater. In the Cellular Radiotelephone Service, a 
stationary transmitter or device that automatically re-radiates the 
transmissions of base transmitters at a particular cell site and mobile 
stations communicating with those base transmitters, with or without 
channel translation.
    Cellular service. Radio telecommunication services provided using a 
cellular system.
    Cellular system. An automated high-capacity system of one or more 
multichannel base stations designed to provide radio telecommunication 
services to mobile stations over a wide area in a spectrally efficient 
manner. Cellular systems employ techniques such as low transmitting 
power and automatic hand-off between base stations of communications in 
progress to enable channels to be reused at relatively short distances. 
Cellular systems may also employ digital techniques such as voice 
encoding and decoding, data compression, error correction, and time or 
code division multiple access in order to increase system capacity.
    Center frequency. The frequency of the middle of the bandwidth of a 
channel.
    Central office transmitter. A fixed transmitter in the Rural 
Radiotelephone Service that provides service to rural subscriber 
stations.
    CGSA. See Cellular Geographic Service Area.
    Channel. The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum assigned by the 
FCC for one emission. In certain circumstances, however, more than one 
emission may be transmitted on a channel. See, for example, Sec. 22.161.
    Channel bandwidth. The spectral width of a channel, as specified in 
this part, within which 99% of the emission power must be contained.
    Channel block. A group of channels that are assigned together, not 
individually.
    Channel pair. Two channels that are assigned together, not 
individually. In this part, channel pairs are indicated by an ellipsis 
between the center frequencies.
    Communications channel. In the Cellular Radiotelephone and Air-
ground Radiotelephone Services, a channel used to carry subscriber 
communications.
    Construction period. The period between the date of grant of an 
authorization and the date of required commencement of service.
    Control channel. In the Cellular Radiotelephone Service and the Air-
ground Radiotelephone Service, a channel used to transmit information 
necessary to establish or maintain communications. In the other Public 
Mobile Services, a channel that may be assigned to a control 
transmitter.
    Control point. A location where the operation of a public mobile 
station is supervised and controlled by the licensee of that station.
    Control transmitter. A fixed transmitter in the Public Mobile 
Services that transmits control signals to one or more base or fixed 
stations for the purpose of controlling the operation of the base or 
fixed stations, and/or transmits subscriber communications to one or 
more base or fixed stations that retransmit them to subscribers.
    Dead spots. Small areas within a service area where the field 
strength is lower than the minimum level for reliable service. Service 
within dead spots is presumed.
    Dispatch service. A radiotelephone service comprising communications 
between a dispatcher and one or more mobile units. These communications 
normally do not exceed one minute in duration and are transmitted 
directly through a base station, without passing through mobile 
telephone switching facilities.
    Effective radiated power (ERP). The effective radiated power of a 
transmitter (with antenna, transmission line, duplexers etc.) is the 
power that would be necessary at the input terminals of a reference 
half-wave dipole antenna in order to produce the same maximum field 
intensity. ERP is usually calculated by multiplying the measured 
transmitter output power by the specified antenna system gain, relative 
to a half-wave dipole, in the direction of interest.
    Emission. The electromagnetic energy radiated from an antenna.
    Emission designator. An internationally accepted symbol for 
describing an

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emission in terms of its bandwidth and the characteristics of its 
modulation, if any. See Sec. 2.201 of this chapter for details.
    Emission mask. The design limits imposed, as a condition or type 
acceptance, on the mean power of emissions as a function of frequency 
both within the authorized bandwidth and in the adjacent spectrum.
    Equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP). The equivalent 
isotropically radiated power of a transmitter (with antenna, 
transmission line, duplexers etc.) is the power that would be necessary 
at the input terminals of a reference isotropic radiator in order to 
produce the same maximum field intensity. An isotropic radiator is a 
theoretical lossless point source of radiation with unity gain in all 
directions. EIRP is usually calculated by multiplying the measured 
transmitter output power by the specified antenna system gain, relative 
to an isotropic radiator, in the direction of interest.
    Extension. In the Cellular Radiotelephone Service, an area within 
the service area boundary of a cellular system, but outside of the 
market boundary. See Secs. 22.911(c) and 22.912.
    Facsimile service. Transmission of still images from one place to 
another by means of radio.
    Fill-in transmitters. Transmitters added to a station, in the same 
area and transmitting on the same channel or channel block as previously 
authorized transmitters, that do not expand the existing service area, 
but are established for the purpose of improving reception in dead 
spots.
    Five year build-out period. A five year period during which the 
licensee of the first cellular system authorized on each channel block 
in each cellular market may expand the system within that market. See 
Sec. 22.947.
    Fixed transmitter. A stationary transmitter that communicates with 
other stationary transmitters.
    Frequency. The number of cycles occurring per second of an 
electrical or electromagnetic wave; a number representing a specific 
point in the electromagnetic spectrum.
    Ground station. In the Air-ground Radiotelephone Service, a 
stationary transmitter that provides service to airborne mobile 
stations.
    Height above average terrain (HAAT). The height of an antenna above 
the average elevation of the surrounding area.
    In-building radiation systems. Supplementary systems comprising low 
power transmitters, receivers, indoor antennas and/or leaky coaxial 
cable radiators, designed to improve service reliability inside 
buildings or structures located within the service areas of stations in 
the Public Mobile Services.
    Initial cellular applications. Applications for authority to 
construct and operate a new cellular system, excluding applications for 
interim operating authority.
    Interfering contour. The locus of points surrounding a transmitter 
where the predicted median field strength of the signal from that 
transmitter is the maximum field strength that is not considered to 
cause interference at the service contour of another transmitter.
    Interoffice transmitter. A fixed transmitter in the Rural 
Radiotelephone Service that communicates with other interoffice 
transmitters for the purpose of interconnecting rural central offices.
    Meteor burst propagation mode. A long distance VHF radio 
communication path occurring as a result of the refraction of 
electromagnetic waves by ionized meteor trails.
    Mobile station. One or more transmitters that are capable of 
operation while in motion.
    Necessary bandwidth. The calculated spectral width of an emission. 
Calculations are made using procedures set forth in part 2 of this 
chapter. The bandwidth so calculated is considered to be the minimum 
necessary to convey information at the desired rate with the desired 
accuracy.
    Occupied bandwidth. The measured spectral width of an emission. The 
measurement determines occupied bandwidth as the difference between 
upper and lower frequencies where 0.5% of the emission power is above 
the upper frequency and 0.5% of the emission power is below the lower 
frequency.

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    Offshore central transmitter. A fixed transmitter in the Offshore 
Radiotelephone Service that provides service to offshore subscriber 
stations.
    Offshore Radiotelephone Service. A radio service in which common 
carriers are authorized to offer and provide radio telecommunication 
services for hire to subscribers on structures in the offshore coastal 
waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
    Offshore subscriber station. One or more fixed and/or mobile 
transmitters in the Offshore Radiotelephone Service that receive service 
from offshore central transmitters.
    Pager. A small radio receiver designed to be carried by a person and 
to give an aural, visual or tactile indication when activated by the 
reception of a radio signal containing its specific code. It may also 
reproduce sounds and/or display messages that were also transmitted. 
Some pagers also transmit a radio signal acknowledging that a message 
has been received.
    Paging geographic area authorization. An authorization conveying the 
exclusive right to establish and expand one or more stations throughout 
a paging geographic area or, in the case of a partitioned geographic 
area, throughout a specified portion of a paging geographic area, on a 
specified channel allocated for assignment in the Paging and 
Radiotelephone Service. These are subject to the conditions that no 
interference may be caused to existing co-channel stations operated by 
other licensees within the paging geographic area and that no 
interference may be caused to existing or proposed co-channel stations 
of other licensees in adjoining paging geographic areas.
    Paging geographic areas. Standard geographic areas used by the FCC 
for administrative convenience in the licensing of stations to operate 
on channels allocated for assignment in the Paging and Radiotelephone 
Service. See Sec. 22.503(b).
    Paging and Radiotelephone Service. A radio service in which common 
carriers are authorized to offer and provide paging and radiotelephone 
service for hire to the general public. This service was formerly titled 
Public Land Mobile Service.
    Paging service. Transmission of coded radio signals for the purpose 
of activating specific pagers; such transmissions may include messages 
and/or sounds.
    Partitioned cellular market. A cellular market with two or more 
authorized cellular systems on the same channel block during the five 
year build-out period, as a result of settlements during initial 
licensing or contract(s) between the licensee of the first cellular 
system and the licensee(s) of the subsequent systems. See 
Sec. 22.947(b).
    Public Mobile Services. Radio services in which common carriers are 
authorized to offer and provide mobile and related fixed radio 
telecommunication services for hire to the public.
    Radio common carrier. A telecommunications common carrier that 
provides radio communications services but is not engaged in the 
business of providing landline local exchange telephone service.
    Radio telecommunication services. Communication services provided by 
the use of radio, including radiotelephone, radiotelegraph, paging and 
facsimile service.
    Radiotelegraph service. Transmission of messages from one place to 
another by means of radio.
    Radiotelephone service. Transmission of sound from one place to 
another by means of radio.
    Repeater. A fixed transmitter that retransmits the signals of other 
stations.
    Roamer. A mobile station receiving service from a station or system 
in the Public Mobile Services other than one to which it is a 
subscriber.
    Rural Radiotelephone Service. A radio service in which common 
carriers are authorized to offer and provide radio telecommunication 
services for hire to subscribers in areas where it is not feasible to 
provide communication services by wire or other means.
    Rural subscriber station. One or more fixed transmitters in the 
Rural Radiotelephone Service that receive service from central office 
transmitters.
    Service area. The geographic area considered by the FCC to be 
reliably served by a station in the Public Mobile Services.
    Service contour. The locus of points surrounding a transmitter where 
the predicted median field strength of the

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signal from that transmitter is the minimum field strength that is 
considered sufficient to provide reliable service to mobile stations.
    Service to subscribers. Service to at least one subscriber that is 
not affiliated with, controlled by or related to the providing carrier.
    Signal booster. A stationary device that automatically reradiates 
signals from base transmitters without channel translation, for the 
purpose of improving the reliability of existing service by increasing 
the signal strength in dead spots.
    Station. A station equipped to engage in radio communication or 
radio transmission of energy (47 U.S.C. 153(k)).
    Telecommunications common carrier. An individual, partnership, 
association, joint-stock company, trust or corporation engaged in 
rendering radio telecommunications services to the general public for 
hire.
    Temporary fixed station. One or more fixed transmitters that 
normally do not remain at any particular location for longer than 6 
months.
    Transfer of control. A transfer of the controlling interest in a 
Public Mobile Services licensee from one party to another.
    Unserved areas. With regard to a channel block allocated for 
assignment in the Cellular Radiotelephone Service: Geographic area in 
the District of Columbia, or any State, Territory or possession of the 
United States of America that is not within the CGSA of any cellular 
system authorized to transmit on that channel block. With regard to a 
channel allocated for assignment in the Paging and Radiotelephone 
Service: Geographic area within the District of Columbia, or any State, 
Territory or possession of the United States of America that is not 
within the service contour of any base transmitter in any station 
authorized to transmit on that channel.
    Wireline common carrier. A telecommunications common carrier that is 
also engaged in the business of providing landline local exchange 
telephone service.
[ 59 FR 59507 , Nov. 17, 1994, as amended at  61 FR 31050 , June 19, 1996; 
 61 FR 54098 , Oct. 17, 1996;  62 FR 11628 , Mar. 12, 1997]

            Subpart B--Licensing Requirements and Procedures

                     Applications and Notifications