[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 638-643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27972]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket No. 18-314; FCC 18-165]


Further Streamlining FCC Rules Governing Satellite Services

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 
proposes to create a new, optional, unified license to include both 
space stations and earth stations operating in a geostationary-
satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service satellite network; and to 
repeal or modify unnecessarily burdensome rules governing satellite 
services, such as annual reporting requirements.

DATES: Comments are due March 18, 2019. Reply comments are due April 
16, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by IB Docket No. 18-314, 
by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> FCC website: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#20666363151014604643430e474f56"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="074144443237334761646429606871">[email protected]</span></a> or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202-418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clay DeCell, 202-418-0803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), FCC 18-165, adopted and released 
November 15, 2018. The full text of the NPRM is available online at 
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-18-165A1.pdf. The NPRM is 
also available for inspection and copying during business hours in the 
FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street SW, Room 
CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities, send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f696c6c1a1f1b6f494c4c01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="460005057376720620252568212930">[email protected]</span></a> 
or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 
(voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

Comment Filing Requirements

    Interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or 
before the dates indicated in the DATES section above. Comments may be 
filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
    <bullet> Electronic Filers. Comments may be filed electronically 
using the internet by accessing the ECFS, http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs.
    <bullet> Paper Filers. Parties who file by paper must include an 
original and one copy of each filing.
    Filings may be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
    <bullet> All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th Street SW, Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing 
hours are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held 
together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed 
of before entering the building.
    <bullet> Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, 
Annapolis Junction, MD 20701.
    <bullet> U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW, Washington DC 20554.
    <bullet> Persons with Disabilities. To request materials in 
accessible formats for persons with disabilities (braille, large print, 
electronic files, audio format), or to request reasonable 
accommodations for filing comments (accessible format documents, sign 
language interpreters, CART, etc.), send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f6b0b5b5c3c6c2b6909595d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f8bebbbbcdc8ccb89e9b9bd69f978e">[email protected]</span></a> or 
call 202-418-0530 (voice) or 202-418-0432 (TTY).

Ex Parte Presentations

    Pursuant to 47 CFR 1.1200(a), this proceeding will be treated as a 
``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's 
ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy 
of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral 
presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a 
different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons 
making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda 
summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons attending or 
otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte 
presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and 
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted 
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already 
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda or other 
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such 
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other 
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where 
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with 47 CFR

[[Page 639]]

1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 47 CFR 1.49(f) or for which the 
Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex 
parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte 
presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the 
electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and 
must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml, .ppt, 
searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize 
themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document contains proposed new and modified information 
collection requirements. The Commission, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the information 
collection requirements contained in this document, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In addition, 
pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 
107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4), we seek specific comment on how we 
might further reduce the information collection burden for small 
business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.

Synopsis

    Under the Commission's rules, satellite operators must follow 
separate application and authorization processes for the satellites and 
earth stations that make up their networks and have no option for a 
single, unified network license. In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 
we propose to create a new, optional, unified license to include both 
space stations and earth stations operating in a geostationary-
satellite orbit, fixed-satellite service (GSO FSS) satellite network. 
In addition, we propose to repeal or modify unnecessarily burdensome 
rules in Part 25 governing satellite services, such as annual reporting 
requirements. These proposals would greatly simplify the Commission's 
licensing and regulation of satellite systems.

Comprehensive Authorization for Space Station and Earth Station 
Operations

    Background. The Commission issues separate licenses for earth 
stations and space stations in a satellite network based on the 
different application requirements in 47 CFR 25.114, for space 
stations, and 47 CFR 25.115, for earth stations. The goal of these 
decades-old, dual licensing paths is to provide for interference-free 
operation of both the ground component and space component of the 
satellite network. The satellite licensee, however, is often held 
responsible for the operation of both the space stations and earth 
stations in its satellite network. Internationally, this is done 
through coordination of the entire satellite network (earth stations 
and space stations) by the satellite operator. Domestically, conditions 
are often imposed in satellite licenses that require the satellite 
licensee to ensure compliance with earth station power limits as well. 
These earth station power limits derive from satellite network 
coordination, the Commission's ``two-degree spacing'' policies, or 
other sources. For example, GSO FSS satellite applicants in ``two-
degree spacing'' bands certify that the earth stations in their 
networks will comply with certain prescribed routine power limits, 
unless other power levels are successfully coordinated with adjacent 
satellite operators. At the same time, earth station applicants in the 
same ``two-degree spacing'' bands must either demonstrate or certify 
compliance with these same routine power limits, unless otherwise 
coordinated by the satellite operator. Similarly, earth station 
licensees are often required to comply with any other, relevant 
conditions in the satellite license as well. These overlaps arise with 
respect to operations coordinated between satellite operators; however, 
site-specific coordination of earth stations with terrestrial stations 
are rarely included in space station authorizations and must be 
conducted at each specific earth station site selected. Observance of 
restrictions from terrestrial coordination is the responsibility of 
earth station licensees, who may or may not be owned or controlled by 
the space station operator.
    Terrestrial operations, in contrast, may sometimes be performed 
under a single authorization for both base stations and user terminals. 
In its comments, EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation and Hughes 
Network Systems, LLC (together, EchoStar) urge the Commission to adopt 
a similar, comprehensive authorization for satellite services. EchoStar 
argues that such a comprehensive authorization would offer satellite-
service providers additional flexibility to configure their networks of 
satellites, gateway earth stations, and user terminals.
    Proposal. We propose to adopt an optional licensing structure of a 
single network license for GSO FSS space stations and earth stations. 
In addition to providing greater flexibility, this could dramatically 
simplify how we authorize earth stations. Today, earth station 
applicants are required to submit information that duplicates, and 
indeed is more burdensome than, the technical information provided by 
satellite operators in space station applications. Under a single 
network license, these separate earth station requirements would be 
unnecessary.
    A single satellite network license could also expedite the 
deployment of new earth stations, and therefore services to the public. 
In general, we anticipate that the satellite operator--particularly an 
operator with different ownership than the earth stations with which it 
communicates--would use contractual agreements with earth station end 
users to ensure it has the technical and administrative means to 
guarantee compliance with its network parameters and authorization, 
much as it does today. Because a separate earth station license would 
not be required, in cases where terrestrial coordination is 
unnecessary, a new end user may be able to begin providing service as 
soon as it had contracted with the satellite operator, without seeking 
additional Commission approval. Similarly, an earth station could begin 
operating under the network license of another satellite as soon as an 
agreement was reached with the new satellite operator, subject to any 
required coordination. Thus, if successfully implemented, satellite 
network licenses could eliminate the need for many, if not most, earth 
station applications, which make up the bulk of applications received 
in the satellite services today.
    We expect that a comprehensive satellite network license would 
generally follow the application requirements for space stations and 
would be held by the space station operator. It would contain all 
authority necessary to operate space stations and blanket-licensed 
earth stations, and conditional authority to operate earth stations 
requiring individual coordination, subject to successful completion of 
the coordination. Other earth station requirements, such as build-out 
conditions, would be incorporated into the single license.
    We propose initially to limit this unified license to GSO FSS space 
stations and earth stations in bands in which the Commission has 
adopted standard power limits under our two-degree spacing policy, 
excluding frequencies under 10 GHz at this time. In these bands, the 
Commission has adopted standard power limits on both uplink and 
downlink transmissions and has a well-defined sharing environment and 
licensing regime. We invite comment, however, on expanding such

[[Page 640]]

a licensing structure to other bands and services, in particular bands 
subject to 47 CFR 25.136 in which the Commission has already adopted 
detailed sharing rules between the FSS and other services. We also 
request comment on the integration of earth station and space station 
requirements into a single license, including whether certain services, 
frequency bands, or types of operation would prove easier or more 
difficult to authorize under a single satellite network license than 
others. Specifically, we seek comment on the costs and benefits 
associated with different scopes for a unified license option. And 
while we are proposing a unified licensing structure, whereby one 
license would cover both space and earth stations, we invite comment on 
whether a similar approval process could be implemented for market 
access requests that include authority for multiple earth stations.
    Specifically, we propose that under a unified license, the GSO FSS 
applicant would submit the space station application information 
required by 47 CFR 25.114 and 25.140. If the operator certified 
compliance with standard uplink power levels in 47 CFR 25.140, it would 
not need to provide any additional information on earth station 
performance or verified performance currently required by 47 CFR 
25.115(a) or 25.132. The applicant would need to certify under 47 CFR 
25.115(i) that the use of any contention protocol will be reasonable. 
Site coordination and other issues specific to the particular locations 
of earth stations would be completed and notified separately by the 
earth station end user, as described below.
    A space station operator and licensee under a joint space station 
and earth station license would need to maintain sufficient control 
over all the operations under the license required of a Commission 
licensee pursuant to Commission precedent. As noted, we anticipate that 
this control could be exercised through contractual means where 
necessary, but we invite comment on the issues of control residing with 
the space station operator, and on what kinds of contractual provisions 
would be appropriate to address such issues. Similarly, we seek comment 
on whether any changes to our control provisions in 47 CFR 25.271 would 
be necessary to accommodate our unified license proposal. We also seek 
comment on whether, as an alternative or addition to the unified 
license proposal herein, we should maintain separate licenses for earth 
stations communicating with GSO FSS space stations, but permit such 
earth station applicants to certify that they will comply with the 
terms and conditions of the space station network with which the earth 
station will communicate as a substitute for filing the technical 
information about the proposed earth station operations currently 
required to be submitted by earth station applicants under Schedule B 
to the earth station application. We seek comment on the costs and 
benefits to both the Commission and applicants from this alternative 
proposal.
    We also seek comment on creating a new application fee category in 
47 CFR 1.1107 for unified space station/earth station licenses based on 
the fees for geostationary space station applications, and comment on 
the appropriate values for the various types of applications. The 
benefit of a new fee category would be to appropriately reflect the 
dual earth station and space station elements of the unified license. 
This new application fee category could include initial license 
applications, license modifications, license transfers, and requests 
for special temporary authority. Alternatively, we seek comment on 
applying the current space station application fees to unified license 
applications as well. In this regard, we expect that the majority of 
Commission staff review of a unified license application would concern 
the information currently provided in space station applications.
    Some earth stations operate in bands shared with other users, such 
as terrestrial operators, and require site-based coordination to ensure 
successful operation. These earth station coordination agreements are 
currently submitted in individual, searchable earth station files. To 
maintain transparency and ease of access to site-specific earth station 
coordination information, we propose to require earth station end users 
to separately file this information with the Commission, as today is 
done in the context of a license application, rather than to have all 
earth station coordination agreements submitted in the single network 
license file. These filings would be made under a normal earth station 
call sign and file number in the International Bureau Filing System for 
ease of searchability; however, they would not constitute an 
application for authorization. Rather, these filings would demonstrate 
that the earth station has been successfully coordinated, and therefore 
can fulfill the coordination requirements in a unified, network license 
under which it wishes to operate. We anticipate that Commission staff 
would review the coordination filings for completeness and accuracy, 
and after a positive determination place the filings on public notice 
for comment under 47 CFR 25.151. After the comment period, the 
Commission would indicate its approval of the filings in the 
International Bureau Filing System before the earth station operations 
could commence under any unified network license, subject to the terms 
and restrictions of both the license and coordination agreements. This 
process for reviewing coordination filings is necessarily site-specific 
and would be conducted in substantially the same way as it is today in 
a license application; however, other elements of the earth station 
application that are today required and reviewed by Commission staff 
before public notice would not be necessary, lowering the overall 
burden on both earth station operators and Commission staff. We invite 
comment on this procedure and ways to simplify and streamline the 
submission and any review of these filings. More broadly, we seek 
comment on the costs of implementing unified space station and earth 
station license for both operators and the Commission, including 
administrative costs, and on the benefits of such a license for both 
the Commission and licensees.
    To maintain the validity of its coordination filings, an earth 
station end user would be required to fulfill the buildout requirements 
for the type of earth station. This period is usually one year. In 
bands shared with other services, an earth station buildout requirement 
can prevent warehousing of spectrum to prevent deployment in other 
services. Other showings specific to the particular earth station 
location or configuration, such as antenna height restrictions under 
Part 17 or radiation hazard limits under Part 1, section I, could be 
submitted in an individual earth station file as well. Where only 
certifications are required, and are today made by the licensee under a 
blanket earth station license, we propose the satellite operator and 
joint licensee be made responsible for such certifications and for 
ensuring, through contractual or other means, that these requirements 
are met by earth stations communicating with its space station.

Build-Out Requirements for Certain Individually Licensed Earth Stations

    The Spectrum Frontiers proceeding identified certain frequency 
bands for flexible wireless use, while at the same time allowing for 
the deployment of a limited number of earth stations that, under 
certain conditions, would be either entitled to protection from 
terrestrial stations (receive earth stations) or not required to 
protect

[[Page 641]]

terrestrial stations (transmit earth stations). These individually 
licensed earth stations are expected to be used as gateway stations and 
not to serve individual consumers. Current satellite design 
contemplates the use of very narrow beams pointed to the locations 
where these gateway earth stations will be located. Therefore, 
certainty about these gateway locations is required early in the 
satellite design process.
    Given that, there is a disconnect between the one-year earth 
station buildout requirement and the time allowed for a satellite to be 
launched and brought into operation (for instance, a geostationary 
satellite has to be operational five years from the grant of the 
authorization). Having a gateway earth station built within one year 
could mean that a significant investment would remain unused for as 
long as four years. Moreover, without a satellite to communicate with, 
this gateway earth station would not even be able to meet the buildout 
rule. Therefore, we propose to better align the buildout requirements 
for space stations and associated gateway earth stations to ensure 
certainty and allow a more efficient satellite design. We propose that 
earth stations authorized through 47 CFR 25.136 have a buildout 
requirement defined by the date the associated satellite becomes 
operational, up to five years for a GSO satellite or six years for an 
NGSO satellite if the satellite is put into operation at the end of its 
milestone period, but in any event no less than the one year period 
currently applicable. This means that, if the associated satellite is 
already in orbit or is launched within one year of the date of the 
earth station application, the one-year buildout requirement remains 
applicable to this earth station. We seek comment on this proposal.

Annual Reporting Requirements for Satellite Operators

    Section 25.170 requires satellite operators to annually disclose 
any authorized satellites or spectrum unavailable for service, a 
contact point to resolve interference, and the construction progress of 
any authorized replacement satellites. EchoStar urges the Commission to 
repeal these annual reporting requirements as unnecessary burdens on 
satellite operators. While these requirements were recently 
consolidated and harmonized, our experience has been that staff do not 
make regular use of most of these reports. We further believe that the 
requested information often may be duplicative or unnecessary. We 
therefore propose to remove the annual reporting requirement for 
satellite operators, except to retain the requirement that satellite 
operators confirm yearly their point of contact information, which is 
necessary to resolve any interference disputes, and for continuing 
operations purposes. We propose, however, to move this requirement to 
an adjacent rule, 47 CFR 25.171, covering satellite points of contact. 
We seek comment on this proposal.

Out-of-Band Emissions

    The out-of-band emissions rule in 47 CFR 25.202(f) was adopted in 
1973 to limit unwanted emissions that may cause harmful interference to 
operators in adjacent bands. The limits, however, are outdated and have 
led to confusion among some operators. For example, some have 
apparently interpreted the attenuation schedule prescribed in 47 CFR 
25.202(f) to take as a reference the in-band power spectral density of 
the emission, which would make a significant portion of the assigned 
frequency band unusable because it would require an abrupt 25 dB 
attenuation at band edge. We expect that updating this rule to conform 
to internationally harmonized standards would eliminate most such 
misinterpretations--misinterpretations which could otherwise encourage 
inefficient satellite designs or deter the construction and launch of 
some satellites altogether.
    In place of this decades-old provision, therefore, we propose to 
adopt a clear, up to date international standard, Recommendation ITU-R 
SM.1541-6, ``Unwanted emissions in the out-of-band domain,'' which was 
developed with U.S. input. Rather than requiring an abrupt attenuation 
at band edge, this out-of-band mask provides for a smooth transition 
starting at band edge. We seek comment on this proposal. We believe 
this ITU Recommendation is reasonably available to interested parties 
because it is available free of charge on the ITU website, https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-SM.1541-6-201508-I/en, and would also be made 
available for inspection at Commission headquarters.

Dismissal of Applications

    The Commission requires all applications under Part 25 to be 
substantially complete when filed. An application that is not 
substantially complete will be returned to the applicant under the 
rules without the ability to correct the substantial defects and 
maintain its original filing. EchoStar notes that space station 
applications are complex, and that under this policy errors in an 
application could cause it to be returned and lose its place in the 
first-come, first-served queue. EchoStar therefore suggests that we 
allow applicants to correct any errors or omissions within 60 days of a 
Commission request. EchoStar also proposes that applications be 
accepted for filing automatically within 30 days of filing, unless the 
Commission determines otherwise.
    We invite comment on these suggestions, including any effect on our 
policy for ``major'' amendments under 47 CFR 25.116 that are considered 
as newly filed applications under the Commission's space station queue 
or processing round regimes. We also ask how proposals for cure periods 
can be crafted to prevent the filing of placeholder applications 
designed to reserve the position of a woefully incomplete application 
in the first-come, first-served queue. Should we specify minimum 
criteria for acceptance for filing? If so, what should they be?

Notification of Minor Earth Station Modifications

    When an earth station operator makes certain minor modifications to 
its licensed earth station that do not increase the risk of 
interference, such as changes that do not increase power, add 
frequencies, or repoint the antenna beyond any coordinated range, the 
Commission requires only a notification of such changes within 30 days 
of the modification. In an ex parte filing, Iridium argues that such 
modifications within the scope of the authorization and described in 47 
CFR 25.118(a)(4) should not even require a notification to the 
Commission because they do not impact other service providers. 
Similarly, Iridium asks that the Commission clarify that the addition 
of new transceiver and antenna combinations to an existing blanket 
earth station license do not require prior Commission notification when 
they meet the requirements currently listed in 47 CFR 25.118(a)(4).
    We believe Iridium's proposed changes would streamline minor earth 
station changes that do not pose a risk of additional interference to 
other users, and therefore propose to implement them. However, we 
invite comment on whether such rule changes would have any impact on 
the reliability of information filed with the Commission in earth 
station applications.

Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

    As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), the Commission 
has prepared this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) of the 
possible significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities by

[[Page 642]]

the policies and rules proposed in this Notice. We request written 
public comments on this IRFA. Commenters must identify their comments 
as responses to the IRFA and must file the comments by the deadlines 
for comments on the Notice provided above in the DATES section. The 
Commission will send a copy of the Notice, including this IRFA, to the 
Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. In 
addition, the Notice and IRFA (or summaries thereof) are being 
published in the Federal Register.

A. Need for, and Objectives of, the Proposed Rules

    The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks comment on creating a new, 
streamlined license for both space stations and earth stations and 
other streamlining measures for the authorization of earth stations. It 
also proposes to remove the annual reporting requirements for satellite 
operators, updating the out-of-band emission limits for satellite 
operators, and other corrections in 47 CFR part 25.

B. Legal Basis

    The proposed action is authorized under Sections 4(i), 11, 303, and 
316 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 154(i), 
161, 303, 316.

C. Description and Estimate of the Number of Small Entities To Which 
the Proposed Rules May Apply

    The RFA directs agencies to provide a description of, and, where 
feasible, an estimate of, the number of small entities that may be 
affected by the proposed rules, if adopted. The RFA generally defines 
the term ``small entity'' as having the same meaning as the terms 
``small business,'' ``small organization,'' and ``small governmental 
jurisdiction.'' In addition, the term ``small business'' has the same 
meaning as the term ``small business concern'' under the Small Business 
Act. A small business concern is one which: (1) Is independently owned 
and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) 
satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business 
Administration (SBA).
    Satellite Telecommunications. This category comprises firms 
``primarily engaged in providing telecommunications services to other 
establishments in the telecommunications and broadcasting industries by 
forwarding and receiving communications signals via a system of 
satellites or reselling satellite telecommunications.'' The category 
has a small business size standard of $32.5 million or less in average 
annual receipts, under SBA rules. For this category, Census Bureau data 
for 2012 show that there were a total of 333 firms that operated for 
the entire year. Of this total, 299 firms had annual receipts of less 
than $25 million. Consequently, we estimate that the majority of 
satellite telecommunications providers are small entities.

D. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements for Small Entities

    The NPRM proposes to remove the reporting requirements for 
satellite operators and on creating a new, streamlined network license 
for both satellites and earth stations, in addition to other 
streamlining measures for the licensing of earth stations. These would 
reduce paperwork costs for such satellite and earth station operators.

E. Steps Taken To Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small 
Entities, and Significant Alternatives Considered

    The RFA requires an agency to describe any significant, 
specifically small business, alternatives that it has considered in 
reaching its proposed approach, which may include the following four 
alternatives (among others): ``(1) The establishment of differing 
compliance or reporting requirements or timetables that take into 
account the resources available to small entities; (2) the 
clarification, consolidation, or simplification of compliance and 
reporting requirements under the rules for such small entities; (3) the 
use of performance rather than design standards; and (4) an exemption 
from coverage of the rule, or any part thereof, for such small 
entities.''
    The NPRM seeks comment on particular measures to streamline the 
licensing of earth stations, which would reduce economic impacts on 
small entities. It does not envision increasing the economic impacts on 
small entities. Specifically, the NPRM requests comment on eliminating 
the need for earth station operators, including small entities, to 
notify the Commission of certain minor modifications to their earth 
stations. The NPRM also seeks comment on relaxing the acceptability for 
filing standard for part 25 applications, including earth station 
applications. And it invites comment on a clearer, modern standard for 
out of band emissions, including those from earth stations. Other 
streamlining measures are also proposed, and comment is sought on ways 
to further reduce burdens in implementing the proposals in the NPRM.

F. Federal Rules That May Duplicate, Overlap, or Conflict With the 
Proposed Rules

    None.
Incorporation by Reference
    In Sec.  25.108, we propose to incorporate by reference 
Recommendation ITU-R SM.1541-6, ``Unwanted emissions in the out-of-band 
domain,'' from August 2015, which is available online for free at 
https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-SM.1541-6-201508-I/en, Copyright 2015, 
for use in Sec.  25.202. This contains a standard for out-of-band 
emissions that we propose to require satellite and earth station 
licensees to comply with. In addition to being freely available online, 
this document would be made available for inspection at FCC 
Headquarters and it available for purchase from the International 
Telecommunications Union, Place des Nations, 1211 Geneva 20 
Switzerland, www.itu.int. We therefore believe this material is 
reasonably available to interested parties.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 25

    Administrative practice and procedure, Earth stations, 
Incorporation by reference, Satellites.

Federal Communications Commission.
Cecilia Sigmund,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary.

Proposed Rules

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission proposes to amend 47 CFR part 25 as follows:

PART 25--SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 25 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 307, 309, 310, 319, 
332, 605, and 721, unless otherwise noted.

0
2. Amend Sec.  25.108 by adding paragraph (c)(10) to read as follows:


Sec.  25.108  Incorporation by reference.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (10) Recommendation ITU-R SM.1541-6, ``Unwanted emissions in the 
out-of-band domain,'' August 2015, https://www.itu.int/rec/R-REC-SM.1541-6-201508-I/en, Copyright 2015. Incorporation by reference 
approved for Sec.  25.202(f).
0
3. Amend Sec.  25.118 by
0
a. Removing paragraph (a)(4) and
0
b. Revising paragraph (b).
    The revision reads as follows:

[[Page 643]]

Sec.  25.118  Modifications not requiring prior authorization.

* * * * *
    (b) Earth station modifications, notification not required. 
Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section:
    (1) Equipment in an authorized earth station may be replaced 
without prior authorization and without notifying the Commission if the 
new equipment is electrically identical to the existing equipment.
    (2) Licensees may make other changes to their authorized earth 
stations, including the addition of new transceiver/antenna 
combinations, without notifying the Commission, provided the 
modification does not involve:
    (i) An increase in EIRP or EIRP density (either main lobe or off-
axis);
    (ii) Additional operating frequencies;
    (iii) A change in polarization;
    (iv) An increase in antenna height;
    (v) Antenna repointing beyond any coordinated range; or
    (vi) A change from the originally authorized coordinates of more 
than 1 second in latitude or longitude for stations operating in 
frequency bands shared with terrestrial systems or more than 10 seconds 
of latitude or longitude for stations operating in frequency bands not 
shared with terrestrial systems.
* * * * *
0
4. Add Sec.  25.123 to read as follows:


Sec.  25.123  Combined space station and earth station authorization

    A single license may be issued that authorizes the operations of a 
GSO FSS space station and earth stations in a satellite network in the 
following bands:

10.95-11.2 GHz (space-to-Earth)
11.45-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth)
13.75-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space)
18.3-18.8 GHz (space-to-Earth)
19.7-20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth)
28.35-28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space)
29.25-30 GHz (Earth-to-space)

    (a) An application for such a comprehensive network license must 
contain the information required by Sec. Sec.  25.114 and 25.140 and 
must certify that earth stations accessing the network will comply with 
part 1, subpart I and part 17 of this chapter.
    (b) An earth station seeking to operate in a band shared on an 
equal basis with terrestrial services and under a combined space 
station and earth station authorization must submit, in a separate 
earth station file in IBFS and under an earth station call sign, any 
coordination or other information required by Sec.  25.203.
    (c) An earth station operating under a combined space station and 
earth station authorization is not required to submit the antenna 
performance information specified in Sec.  25.132.
0
5. Amend Sec.  25.133 by revising the second sentence of paragraph 
(a)(1) and adding paragraph (a)(3) to read as follows:


Sec.  25.133  Period of construction; certification of commencement of 
operation.

    (a)(1) * * * Construction of the earth station must be completed 
and the station must be brought into operation within 12 months from 
the date of the license grant except as may be determined by the 
Commission for any particular application and except as provided in 
paragraph (a)(3) of this section.
* * * * *
    (3) An earth station licensed under Sec.  25.136 may have a 
buildout period associated with the buildout period of a communicating 
space station listed in the earth station application. The earth 
station must be brought into operation by the date the space station is 
brought into operation, as certified under Sec.  25.173(b), or one year 
after the date of grant of the earth station license, whichever is 
longer.
* * * * *
0
6. Amend Sec.  25.151 by revising paragraphs (a)(10), (11), and (12) 
and adding paragraph (a)(13) to read as follows:


Sec.  25.151  Public Notice

    (a) * * *
    (10) The receipt of space station application information filed 
pursuant to Sec.  25.110(b)(3)(iii);
    (11) The receipt of notifications of non-routine transmission filed 
pursuant to Sec.  25.140(d);
    (12) The receipt of EPFD input data files from an NGSO FSS licensee 
or market access recipient, submitted pursuant to Sec.  25.111(b) or 
Sec.  25.146(c)(2); and
    (13) The receipt of complete information under Sec.  25.123.


Sec.  25.170  [Removed]

0
7. Remove Sec.  25.170.
0
8. Revise Sec.  25.171 to read as follows:


Sec.  25.171  Contact information reporting requirements.

    If contact information filed in space station application or 
pursuant to Sec.  25.170(b) or Sec.  25.172(a)(1) changes, the operator 
must file corrected information electronically in the Commission's 
International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), in the ``Other Filings'' tab 
of the station's current authorization file. The operator must file the 
updated information within 10 days. In addition, satellite operators 
must confirm the contact information on June 30 of each year.
0
9. Amend Sec.  25.202 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:


Sec.  25.202  Frequencies, frequency tolerance, and emission limits.

* * * * *
    (f) Unwanted emissions in the out-of-band domain. The mean power of 
an emission must be attenuated below the mean output power of the 
transmitter in accordance with Recommendation ITU-R SM.1541-6, 
``Unwanted emissions in the out-of-band domain'' (incorporated by 
reference, Sec.  25.108), except as provided for SDARS terrestrial 
repeaters and NGSO inter-satellite emissions in paragraphs (h) and (i) 
of this section.
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2018-27972 Filed 1-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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