MDS Data Base Available Online

The FCC's data base for the Multipoint and/or Multichannel Distribution Service (MDS)
is now available for downloading via the Internet.  It contains information on currently
authorized and proposed MDS stations.  Data files in ASCII and other formats are
contained in a self-extracting compressed executable file named mds.exe.  Also
available is a companion text file, readme.mds, which identifies the data elements and
describes the file formats.  A general discussion of procedures for accessing the FCC
Internet Node is given in the FCC Public Notice, dated September 5, 1995:  "FCC
Announces Auction of Multipoint Distribution Service."  Specific instructions follow
for downloading the data base.
 
In order to download the compressed file from Internet, you  need access to the
Internet and an ftp client software as follows:

     FTP:  The following instructions are for the command line version of ftp.

     (1)  Connect to the FCC ftp server by typing:  ftp fcc.gov

     (2)  At the user name prompt, type:  anonymous [Enter]
                  Alternatively, try typing:  anonymous@<host name> [Enter]
                  For example,  anonymous@fcc.gov [Enter] 

     (3)  At the password prompt, type your Internet e-mail address [Enter]

     (4)  To allow the file to be downloaded type:
                  binary [Enter] 

     (5)  Change your current directory to the mds directory by typing:
          cd /pub/Bureaus/Mass_Media/Databases/mds [Enter] 
                  Make sure to use the upper and lower case letters as shown above.

     (6)  Use the "get" command to download a file from the FCC ftp server by 
          typing:  get mds.exe [Enter] 
                  Or use the "mget" command to download multiple files by  
                  typing:  mget mds.exe readme.mds

         (7)   If you wish to exit, type:  bye [Enter]

         Note:  The command "pwd" displays the current directory path, and the                  
             command "ls" displays the contents of a directory.

     Gopher:  gopher.fcc.gov or use any gopher to get to "all the gophers in the              world" then 'U.S.' then 'DC' then 'FCC'.

     World Wide Web:  ftp://fcc.gov