**International Bureau Satellite Division Information:**

Clarification of 47 C.F.R. § 25.140(b)(2)

Space Station Application Interference Analysis

Public Notice No: SPB-195

DA 03-3863

December 3, 2003

The Commission requires all applications for space station licenses to
be substantially complete when they are filed. Applications that are not
substantially complete are returned to the applicant without further
processing.[^1] The Commission's Part 25 Rules set forth various
information requirements that applicants must provide in their space
station applications.[^2] In particular, for applicants requesting
launch and operating authority for space stations in the Fixed-Satellite
Service (FSS), Section 25.140 of the Commission's rules requires, among
other things, an interference analysis.[^3] The interference analysis
must demonstrate that the proposed FSS satellite system will be
compatible with the Commission's two-degree orbital spacing
environment.[^4] In this Public Notice, we seek to provide guidance and
to clarify the types of information that FSS space station applicants
must include in their applications to meet the interference analysis
requirements of § 25.140(b)(2).

The requirements of § 25.140(b)(2) may be met by either of the following
methods:

1.  For FSS satellite systems operating in Ka-frequency bands subject to
    §25.138,[^5] the interference analysis must include the minimal data
    requirements listed in §25.140(b)(2). This data includes: (1) link
    noise budget, (2) modulation parameters, and (3) overall link
    performance analysis for each type of r.f. carrier. The applicant,
    in addition, must provide an analysis demonstrating that the
    satellite system\'s Power Flux Density limits at the Earth's surface
    and the earth station off axis EIRP spectral density values will not
    exceed and can operate at those levels listed in §25.138.

2.  For FSS satellite systems operating in Ku-frequency bands subject to
    §25.212(c),[^6] the interference analysis must include the minimal
    data requirements listed in §25.140(b)(2). This data includes: (1)
    link noise budget, (2) modulation parameters, and (3) overall link
    performance analysis for each type of r.f. carrier. The applicant,
    in addition, must provide an analysis demonstrating that the
    satellite's EIRP density and the earth station input power density
    values will not exceed and can operate at those levels listed in
    §25.212(c).

3.  In all other cases, including cases where the FSS satellite system
    operates at levels exceeding those in §25.138 or §25.212(c), or for
    FSS satellite systems operating in bands subject to §25.138 or
    §25.212(c) that choose not to use the methods set forth in items 1
    and 2 above, the interference analysis must also include the minimal
    data requirements listed in §25.140(b)(2). This data includes (1)
    link noise budget, (2) modulation parameters, and (3) overall link
    performance analysis for each type of r.f. carrier. The applicant,
    in addition, must provide an analysis showing the potential of
    interference into and from carriers of adjacent satellites with a
    spacing of 2 degrees.[^7] This analysis must include the r.f.
    characteristics of both interfering and interfered with carriers, as
    well as the resulting interference potential, such that the
    Commission or other applicants in the future course of consideration
    of these applications can complete the analysis.[^8]

FSS space station applications received after the date of this public
notice that do not contain an interference analysis meeting the
requirements specified above will be dismissed as defective.[^9]
Applications filed prior to this notice that do not meet these
requirements may be subject to a Commission letter requesting that the
applicant provide supplemental information on interference analysis that
meets the requirements specified above. Failure to respond in a timely
manner to the request for supplemental information may result in the
dismissal of the application.

For further information, contact Robert Nelson at 202-418-2341.

[^1]: *See e.g.*, Amendment of the Commission\'s Space Station Licensing
    Rules and Policies, *First Report and Order and Further Notice of
    Proposed Rulemaking*, IB Docket No. 02-34, 18 FCC Rcd 10760, 10852
    (para. 244) (2003), *citing* Amendment of the Commission's Space
    Station Licensing Rules and Policies*, Notice of Proposed
    Rulemaking,* IB Docket No. 02-34, 17 FCC Rcd 3847, 3875 (para. 84)
    2002.

[^2]: ^?^ *See* 47 C.F.R. Part 25.

[^3]: ^?^ 47 C.F.R. § 25.140(b)(2).

[^4]: ^?^ *See* §25.140, Licensing of Space Stations in the Domestic
    Fixed-Satellite Service and Related Revisions of Part 25 of the
    Rules and Regulations, *Report and Order*, CC Docket No. 81-704, FCC
    83-184, 54 Rad. Reg. 2d 577 (released Aug. 16, 1983); *summary
    printed in* Licensing Space Stations in the Domestic Fixed-Satellite
    Service, 48 F.R. 40233 (Sept. 6, 1983) (*Two Degree Spacing Order*).

[^5]: The frequency bands subject to §25.138 are 18.3-18.8 GHz
    (space-to-Earth), 19.7--20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth), 28.35-28.6 GHz
    (Earth-to-space), and 29.25--30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space).

[^6]: The frequency bands subject to §25.212(c) are 11.7-12.2 GHz
    (space-to-Earth), 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space).

[^7]: *See Two-Degree Spacing Order*.

[^8]: ^?^ Submission of the tabular results generated by the Sharp,
    Adjacent Satellite Interference Analysis (ASIA) program meet the
    requirement for this analysis.

[^9]: ^?^ *See* 47 C.F.R. § 25.112.