§ 1.21003   Competitive bidding process.

   (a) Public Notice of Competitive Bidding Procedures. Detailed competitive
   bidding  procedures shall be established by public notice prior to the
   commencement  of  competitive  bidding any time competitive bidding is
   conducted pursuant to this subpart.

   (b) Competitive Bidding Procedures. The public notice detailing competitive
   bidding procedures may establish any of the following:

   (1) Limits on the public availability of information regarding applicants,
   applications, and bids during a period of time covering the competitive
   bidding process, as well as procedures for parties to report the receipt of
   such non-public information during such periods;

   (2) The way in which support may be made available for multiple identified
   areas by competitive bidding, e.g., simultaneously or sequentially, and if
   the latter, in what grouping, if any, and order;

   (3) The acceptable form for bids, including whether and how bids will be
   accepted on individual items and/or for combinations or packages of items;

   (4) Reserve prices, either for discrete items or combinations or packages of
   items, as well as whether the reserve prices will be public or non-public
   during the competitive bidding process;

   (5) The methods and times for submission of bids, whether remotely, by
   telephonic or electronic transmission, or in person;

   (6) The number of rounds during which bids may be submitted, e.g., one or
   more, and procedures for ending the bidding;

   (7) Measurements of bidding activity in the aggregate or by individual
   applicants,  together  with requirements for minimum levels of bidding
   activity;

   (8) Acceptable bid amounts at the opening of and over the course of bidding;

   (9)  Consistent with the public interest objectives of the competitive
   bidding, the process for reviewing bids and determining the winning bidders
   and the amount(s) of universal service support that each winning bidder may
   apply for, pursuant to applicable post-auction procedures;

   (10) Procedures, if any, by which bidders may withdraw bids; and

   (11) Procedures by which bidding may be delayed, suspended, or canceled
   before or after bidding begins for any reason that affects the fair and
   efficient conduct of the bidding, including natural disasters, technical
   failures, administrative necessity, or any other reason.

   (c) Apportioning Package Bids. If the public notice establishing detailed
   competitive bidding procedures adopts procedures for bidding for support on
   combinations or packages of geographic areas, the public notice also shall
   establish a methodology for apportioning such bids among the geographic
   areas within the combination or package for purposes of implementing any
   Commission rule or procedure that requires a discrete bid for support in
   relation to a specific geographic area.

   (d) Public Notice of Competitive Bidding Results. After the conclusion of
   competitive bidding, a public notice shall identify the winning bidders that
   may apply for the offered universal service support and the amount(s) of
   support  for  which  they  may apply, and shall detail the application
   procedures.

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