47 CFR § 22.912 - Service area boundary extensions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t47/s22.912"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "47 CFR § 22.912 - Service area boundary extensions."
title_number: 47
title_name: "Telecommunication"
section_number: "22.912"
section_name: "Service area boundary extensions."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "COMMON CARRIER SERVICES"
part_number: "22"
part_name: "PUBLIC MOBILE SERVICES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "47 U.S.C. 154, 222, 303, 309, and 332."
regulatory_source: "59 FR 59507, Nov. 17, 1994, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "22"
---


# 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]