§  22.912   Service area boundary extensions.

   This section contains rules governing service area boundary (SAB)
   extensions. SAB extensions are areas (calculated using the methodology
   of § 22.911) that extend outside of the licensee's Cellular Geographic
   Service Area (CGSA) boundary into Unserved Area or into the CGSA of a
   neighboring co-channel licensee. Service within SAB extensions is not
   protected from interference or capture under § 22.911(d) unless and
   until the area within the SAB extension becomes part of the CGSA in
   compliance with all applicable rules.

   (a) Extensions into Unserved Area. Subject to paragraph (c) of this
   section, the licensee of a Cellular system may, at any time, extend its
   SAB into Unserved Area and provide service on a secondary basis only,
   provided that the extension area comprises less than 130 contiguous
   square kilometers (50 contiguous square miles). If more than one
   licensee of a Cellular system extends into all or a portion of the same
   Unserved Area under this section, all such licensees may provide
   service in such Unserved Area on a shared secondary (unprotected) basis
   only.

   (b) Contract extensions. The licensee of any Cellular system may, at
   any time, enter into a contract with an applicant for, or a licensee
   of, a Cellular system on the same channel block to allow one or more
   SAB extensions into its CGSA (not into Unserved Area).

   (c) Gulf of Mexico Service Area. Land-based Cellular system licensees
   may not extend their SABs into the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Zone (GMEZ)
   absent written contractual consent of the co-channel GMEZ licensee.
   GMEZ licensees may not extend their SABs into the CGSA of a licensee on
   the same channel block in an adjacent CMA or the Gulf of Mexico Coastal
   Zone absent written contractual consent of the co-channel licensee.

   [ 79 FR 72151 , Dec. 5, 2014]