## 2 Initiation of the Project
### Satellite Registration and Frequency Allocation  
Whether the developers have a ground station or they are going to assign the telecommunications to a satellite operations contractor, there are two legal steps that need to be completed, i.e., the satellite registration and frequency allocation. Both steps should start as soon as the team begins working on the project, because the process can take several months. In particular, frequency allocation has an impact on both the mission design and final tuning of components. If the CubeSat is going to operate with a commercial telecommunication frequency, both requests are handled via the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) [31]. However, most CubeSats operate with radio amateur frequencies, because they are free of charge. In that case, the frequency allocation should be handled through the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) [32], though the satellite registration is still handled by the ITU. Deciding in which band the satellite should operate basically depends on the purpose of the mission. Typically, CubeSats operate in very high frequency (VHF), ultra high frequency (UHF) or S-band. It should be noted that in order to use amateur frequencies the channel should be open to the public. This requirement can be problematic if it is intended to retrieve confidential telemetry from the satellite, but most scientific and educational missions should not be concerned about this requirement. In any case, there must be at least one liable person for each ground station as well as the CubeSat. In the specific case of using radio amateur frequencies, the person must hold a radio amateur license. Getting a license as an amateur radio operator may take a few months until the candidate passes the corresponding exam. Hence, a quick shortcut for the project would be to find a licensed operator who can help the team with this matter from the beginning. The radio amateur community is quite popular and open to collaboration with the space community. An example of such collaborative spirit from the amateur community is the Satellite Networked Open Ground Station (SatNOGS) project. Such a project consists of a network of ground stations run by volunteers with the aim of observing LEO satellites and capturing their downlink telemetry. The SatNOGS network is accessible through Reference [33]. The CubeSat registration process starts by contacting the local (national) telecommunication authorities to communicate with them your intentions of registering a new satellite. They will manage the application before the ITU. It should be noted that the ITU work at a diplomatic level, and they cannot be approached unless through the recognized authorities. The first documentation to be prepared is a letter of application. Together with the letter, there should be another document with the information described in the Appendix 4 of the ITU Radio Regulations. Such a document consists of a collection of database files that are generated by a dedicated software, SpaceCap, and verified by another software, SpaceVal. Both software applications are provided by the ITU. These database files contain information such as orbital parameters, frequency bands, link budget, geographical data and antenna diagrams. Some additional information may also be requested by the local authorities, such as purpose of the project, duration of the mission, and equipment description. For the amateur frequency allocation, the IARU requires an Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Request form. The information that needs to be provided in this form is similar to the one provided to the ITU for satellite registration, but in the format of a written report. If the applications are successful, the IARU will publish the allocated frequency in the list of satellites whose frequencies have been coordinated within a month or so. The satellite registration will be confirmed and published by the ITU through the Space International Frequency InformationCircular (IFIC) in less than three months.