In 2000, the FCC designated 2.4 megahertz of the 700 MHz narrowband spectrum for statewide geographic licensing.  To that extent, the Governor of each state authorized an individual or state agency within the state, to apply and or manage this 700 MHz license.

Holders or managers of state licenses shall be required to comply with build-out deadlines, certifying that they are providing substantial service to a certain portion of the state’s population or territory within a certain period of time.  “Substantial service” is defined as the construction and operation of a system that provides “service that is sound, favorable and substantially above a level of mediocre service which just might minimally warrant renewal.” Current substantial service deadlines are:

June 13, 2014 – The state must be providing or prepared to provide substantial service to 1/3 of the state’s population or territory

June 13, 2019 – The state must be providing or prepared to provide substantial service to 2/3 of the state’s population or territory.

To be considered “prepared to provide” substantial service, a state licensee must demonstrate that it has the system approved and funded for implementation prior to the deadline.  NPSTC has a bulleted list of suggested steps to take, a draft letter to send to the FCC, FAQs, and a spreadsheet example of state license construction details. http://www.npstc.org/download.jsp?tableId=37&column=217&id=2252&file=12-01-26%20State%20License%20Construction%20FCC%20Notification%20FINAL.pdf