Source: http://www.fcc.gov/print/node/46998
Timestamp: 2014-11-28 00:24:09
Document Index: 498306781

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 25', 'art 5', 'art 97', 'arts 5', 'art 97', 'art 25']

Guidance On Obtaining Licenses For Small Satellites
DA: 13-445Released: March 15, 2013
GUIDANCE ON OBTAINING LICENSES FOR
The purpose of this Public Notice is to provide guidance concerning FCC licensing of spectrum for use by non-Federal small satellites, including satellites that fall within the categories of pico-satellites, nano-satellites and cubesats. The advent of such small satellite designs has brought with it dramatically lower launch costs, enabling a larger range of organizations to directly launch satellites. Institutions such as universities and research organizations that previously found it cost prohibitive to launch their own satellite can now participate in the exploration of space. Many of these participants may be unfamiliar with the spectrum licensing, scheduling and other requirements attendant on satellites. This Public Notice seeks to alert affected parties of these requirements and thus aid small satellite operators in the planning necessary for a successful launch operation.
Overview: Operators of non-Federal satellites employing radio communications must be licensed by the FCC. International regulations may also apply to such launches. Scheduling aspects associated with small satellites may be restrictive and require obtaining necessary licenses well in advance of a launch.
The Commission’s rules set forth three different procedures for licensing satellites. The Commission’s Part 25 rules are the primary vehicle for satellite licensing, and are used for licensing a wide range of satellite operations, including commercial communication and remote sensing satellites. The Commission’s Part 5 rules cover experimental operations. The Commission’s Part 97 rules cover amateur radio service satellite operations.1 Currently, many small satellite missions involve experimental operations – i.e. scientific and research missions, including missions conducted under government contract – and many operate in amateur frequency bands. These satellites are therefore licensed under Parts 5 or 97 of our 1 The Commission’s Part 97 rules do not provide for the issuance of a specific amateur satellite license document, but instead require a licensed amateur operator to provide information to the Commission prior to launch of the satellite. This information is used to meet obligations under International Telecommunication Union (ITU) regulations and to assess the applicant’s orbital debris mitigation plans. Thus, for purposes of amateur satellite operations, this Public Notice discusses the relevant information filing requirements under our rules. rules. Because of the significant interest in small satellites in the amateur and research communities, the primary focus of this Public Notice is on such operations, although certain guidance in this Public Notice is also applicable to Part 25 licensing.
We address specific satellite authorization issues in greater detail, below.
Who is eligible? Both amateur and experimental licenses require that the licensee limit its operations to specified categories, and/or meet eligibility criteria. Amateur radio transmissions are primarily for the purpose of exchanging messages with other amateur stations, and our rules prohibit “communications in which the station licensee or control operator has a pecuniary interest, including communications on behalf of an employer....”2 For experimental licenses, the scope of permitted services includes experimentation under contractual agreement with the United States Government, and communications essential to a research project.3 What Frequencies Can Be Used? For amateur radio service satellite operations, available frequencies are identified in Section 97.207(c) of the rules. For experimental operations, there are no specific bands identified in the rules, and operations are on a temporary, non-interference basis, i.e., the operations can neither cause interference nor claim protection from interference. Common frequencies authorized for small satellite operations to date have been for the 145-148 MHz, 420-450 MHz, 902-928 MHz (ISM), and 2.390-2.450 GHz bands.
Who Should Apply? For amateur radio service satellite operations, the amateur satellite control operator. This operator should have the ability to remove the satellite fr