[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 113 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36900-36903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14610]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[ET Docket No. 98-237, FCC 00-181]


3650-3700 MHz Government Transfer

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document modifies the freeze imposed on applications for 
new earth stations and major modifications

[[Page 36901]]

in existing earth stations in the 3650-3700 MHz band, which is also 
referred to as the extended C-band. We are partially lifting the freeze 
to allow the acceptance of applications for new extended C-band earth 
station receive sites that are within close proximity (i.e., 10 miles 
or less) of an existing grandfathered extended C-band earth station 
receive site. Additionally, we are lifting the freeze with respect to 
major modifications to existing grandfathered extended C-band earth 
station receive sites.

DATES: Effective May 22, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rodney Conway, Office of Engineering 
and Technology, (202) 418-2904.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Order, 
ET Docket 98-237, FCC 00-181, adopted May 17, 2000, and released May 
22, 2000. The full text of this Commission decision is available for 
inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC 
Reference Information Center, Room Cy-A257, 445 12th Street, SW, 
Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the Commission's 
duplication contractor, International Transcription Service, (202) 857-
3800, 1231 20th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036.

Summary of the Memorandum Opinion and Order

    1. In the Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (``Notice and 
Order''), 64 FR 2462, January 14, 1999, the Commission proposed to 
allocate the 3650-3700 MHz band to the non-government fixed service on 
a primary basis. To ensure that adequate opportunities would continue 
to exist for the provision of fixed services in the 3650-3700 MHz band, 
the Commission stated that it would no longer accept applications for 
new earth stations or major modifications in existing earth station 
facilities for the fixed-satellite service (``FSS'') in the 3650-3700 
MHz band. The Notice and Order grandfathered existing extended C-band 
earth stations.
    2. The Commission continues to believe that a freeze limiting the 
growth of new earth station facilities in the extended C-band is 
necessary to ensure that adequate opportunities exist for fixed 
services in the 3650-3700 MHz band. As noted in the Notice and Order a 
broad range of fixed services could be implemented in the 3650-3700 MHz 
band which could help to achieve the overarching goals of Section 706 
of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by providing advanced 
telecommunications capability to all Americans. The proposals submitted 
by New Skies and the C-Band Coalition to lift the freeze are 
unacceptable because such action would likely have the effect of 
significantly limiting or precluding future fixed service operations in 
this band. However, we find that a limited lifting of the freeze will 
provide relief for satellite users of the extended C-band without 
jeopardizing its future availability for terrestrial uses. We will 
therefore accept applications for new extended C-band earth stations or 
major modifications of an existing extended C-band earth station if the 
proposed earth station facilities are located in close proximity (i.e. 
10 miles or less) to an existing, grandfathered extended C-band earth 
station in the 3650-3700 MHz band. We find that this will provide 
reasonable opportunities to obtain suitable real estate for the 
placement of new extended C-band earth stations near grandfathered 
extended C-band earth stations. Below is a list of existing sites. We 
find that the introduction of new extended C-band earth stations in 
close proximity to an existing grandfathered extended C-band earth 
stations will not substantially impede the opportunities for the 
introduction of fixed services in the 3650-3700 MHz band. Further, we 
find that this action will provide relief to satellite operators while 
having a de minimis impact on the opportunities for the provision of 
fixed services in the 3650-3700 MHz band.

                              Table 1.--Authorized Extended C-Band Earth Stations <SUP>1</SUP>
                           (Receive at 3625-3700 MHz and Transmit at 5850-5925 MHz) <SUP>2</SUP>
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                          State/City                                 North latitude           West longitude
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California:
    Carmel Valley.............................................           36 deg. 24'10"          121 deg. 38'48"
    Culver City...............................................          34 deg. 01' 06"         118 deg. 24' 13"
    Livermore.................................................          37 deg. 45' 39"         121 deg. 47' 50"
    Los Angeles...............................................          34 deg. 01' 53"         118 deg. 27' 18"
                                                                        34 deg. 01' 54"         118 deg. 27' 15"
                                                                        34 deg. 01' 54"       118 deg. 27' 18.3"
                                                                        34 deg. 01' 54"       118 deg. 27' 21.3"
    Malibu....................................................       34 deg. 04' 49.67"      118 deg. 53' 43.91"
                                                                     34 deg. 04' 50.32"      118 deg. 53' 46.40"
    Mountain House............................................          37 deg. 45' 01"         121 deg. 35' 34"
                                                                        37 deg. 45' 02"         121 deg. 35' 35"
    Niles Canyon..............................................          37 deg. 35' 56"         121 deg. 56' 32"
                                                                        37 deg. 36' 00"         121 deg. 56' 35"
    Salt Creek................................................        38 deg. 56' 20.2"         122 deg. 08' 48"
                                                                        38 deg. 56' 21"       122 deg. 08' 49.2"
                                                                      38 deg. 56' 22.3"       122 deg. 08' 49.6"
    Somis.....................................................          34 deg. 19' 31"         118 deg. 59' 41"
    Sylmar....................................................          34 deg. 19' 04"         118 deg. 29' 00"
Florida:
    Medley....................................................          25 deg. 50' 26"          80 deg. 19' 03"
                                                                        25 deg. 51' 19"          80 deg. 19' 52"
    Melbourne.................................................          28 deg. 02' 25"          80 deg. 35' 48"
                                                                        28 deg. 05' 10"          80 deg. 38' 10"
    Miami.....................................................          25 deg. 48' 34"          80 deg. 21' 11"
                                                                        25 deg. 48' 35"          80 deg. 21' 10"
                                                                        25 deg. 48' 35"          80 deg. 21' 11"
    Miramar <SUP>3</SUP>.................................................          25 deg. 58' 32"          80 deg. 17' 00"
    Orlando...................................................          28 deg. 25' 29"          81 deg. 07' 21"

[[Page 36902]]

 
    Palm Bay..................................................          28 deg. 02' 28"          80 deg. 35' 42"
    Guam: Pulantat............................................          13 deg. 25' 00"       <SUP>4</SUP> 144 deg. 44' 57"
    Maine: Andover............................................          44 deg. 37' 57"          70 deg. 42' 01"
                                                                        44 deg. 37' 58"          70 deg. 41' 54"
Maryland:
    Etam......................................................          39 deg. 16' 48"          79 deg. 44' 14"
                                                                        39 deg. 16' 50"          79 deg. 44' 13"
    Clarksburg................................................          39 deg. 13' 07"          77 deg. 16' 12"
    Massachusetts: Whitinsville...............................          42 deg. 06' 59"          71 deg. 38' 08"
    New Jersey: Franklin......................................          41 deg. 07' 04"          74 deg. 34' 33"
    New York: Staten Island...................................          40 deg. 36' 13"          74 deg. 10' 39"
    North Carolina: West Jefferson............................          36 deg. 25' 50"          81 deg. 23' 45"
    Oregon: Moores Valley.....................................          45 deg. 20' 33"         123 deg. 17' 15"
    Pennsylvania: Roaring Creek...............................          40 deg. 53' 34"          76 deg. 26' 23"
                                                                        40 deg.53'35.9"        76 deg. 26' 22.6"
                                                                          40 deg.53'37"          76 deg. 26' 22"
                                                                        40 deg.53'37.5"        76 deg. 26' 21.8"
Puerto Rico:
    Carolina..................................................          18 deg. 26' 00"          65 deg. 59' 35"
    Caguas....................................................          18 deg. 17' 53"          66 deg. 03' 14"
    Cayey.....................................................          18 deg. 08' 00"          66 deg. 07' 57"
    Humacao...................................................          18 deg. 09' 05"          65 deg. 47' 20"
    Rio Piedras...............................................          18 deg. 14' 30"          66 deg. 01' 50"
                                                                        18 deg. 22' 59"          66 deg. 04' 09"
    Tennessee: Nashville......................................          36 deg. 14' 06"          86 deg. 45' 21"
                                                                       36 deg. 14' 5.7"        86 deg. 45' 19.4"
                                                                       36 deg. 14' 5.7"        86 deg. 45' 21.4"
    Texas: Woodland Hills.....................................          32 deg. 37' 48"          96 deg. 50' 33"
Virginia:
    Alexandria................................................          38 deg. 47' 39"          77 deg. 09' 51"
    Shenandoah Court..........................................          38 deg. 43' 45"          78 deg. 39' 26"
    Washington: Brewster......................................          48 deg. 08' 49"         119 deg. 41' 28"
                                                                        48 deg. 08' 51"         119 deg. 41' 29"
West Virginia:
    Lennox....................................................          39 deg. 34' 07"          79 deg. 34' 45"
    Rowlesburg................................................        39 deg. 16' 52.1"       79 deg. 44' 10.7"
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<SUP>1</SUP> In addition, there is an extended C-band earth station on the Midway Atoll.
<SUP>2</SUP> Most of these earth stations are authorized to make use of both C-band (3700-4200 MHz for downlinks and 5925-
  6425 MHz band for uplinks) and extended C-band frequencies (3625-3700 MHz for downlinks and 5850-5925 MHz for
  uplinks).
 <SUP>3</SUP> This is a receive-only station.
 <SUP>4</SUP> Guam's longitude coordinate is East, not West.


                        Table 2.--Sites Authorized for Less Than the Full Extended C-Band
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                Band                         City, State                 Latitude                Longitude
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3685-3700 MHz......................  Miami, Florida.............  25 deg.28'48"           80 deg.10'48"
                                     Atlanta, Georgia...........  33 deg.52'38.23"        84 deg.27'58.35"
                                     Marietta, Georgia..........  33 deg.55'41"           84 deg.29'45"
                                     Guaynabo, Puerto Rico......  18 deg.34'10"           66 deg.23'00"
                                     San Juan, Puerto Rico......  18 deg.22'00"           66 deg.07'00"
3650-3700 MHz......................  Auburn University, Alabama.  32 deg.35'47"           85 deg.29'27"
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                     Table 3.--Authorized TT&C Sites
    [Receive at 3698.5-3699.5 MHz and Transmit at 5923.5-5924.5 MHz]
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           City/State                  Latitude            Longitude
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Three Peaks, California.........  38 deg.8'51.9"      122 deg.47'38"
Hawley, Pennsylvania............  41 deg.27'51"       75 deg.7'47.9"
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    3. Pursuant to the authority contained in sections 4(i), 302, 
303(e), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), and 405 of the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, it is ordered that the Request For Relief and 
Modified Request For Emergency Relief and Request For Expedited Action 
filed by New Skies Satellites N.V., are hereby granted, in part, and 
denied in part. The application processing changes are effective May 
22, 2000.


[[Page 36903]]


Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-14610 Filed 6-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P