Attachment DA18398

This document pretains to SES-REG-20180626-01926 for Earth Station Registration on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESREG2018062601926_1402576

             PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission                                            News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
445 12th St., S.W.                                                                    Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
Washington, D.C. 20554                                                                        TTY: 1-888-835-5322




                                                                                                   DA 18-398
                                                                                                April 19, 2018

     TEMPORARY FREEZE ON APPLICATIONS FOR NEW OR MODIFIED FIXED
    SATELLITE SERVICE EARTH STATIONS AND FIXED MICROWAVE STATIONS
                         IN THE 3.7-4.2 GHz BAND

90-DAY WINDOW TO FILE APPLICATIONS FOR EARTH STATIONS CURRENTLY
                   OPERATING IN 3.7-4.2 GHz BAND

             Freeze and Filing Window in Furtherance of the Commission’s Pending Inquiry in
                                    GN Docket Nos. 17-183, 18-122

         By this Public Notice, the International, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Wireless
Telecommunications Bureaus (Bureaus) announce a temporary freeze effective on April 19, 2018, on the
filing of new or modification applications for fixed-satellite service (FSS) earth station licenses,1 receive-
only earth station registrations,2 and fixed microwave licenses3 in the 3.7-4.2 GHz frequency band. The
purpose of this freeze is to preserve the current landscape of authorized operations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz
band pending Commission action as part of its ongoing inquiry into the possibility of permitting mobile
broadband use and more intensive fixed use of the band.4

        As a limited exception to the freeze, the International Bureau concurrently opens a 90-day
window during which entities that own or operate existing FSS earth stations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band
may file an application to register or license the earth station if it is currently not registered or licensed, or
may file an application to modify a current registration or license, in the International Bureau Filing
System (IBFS). This 90-day window will also provide the Commission and commenters with more



1   47 CFR § 25.115(a), (b), (c)(2).
2   47 CFR § 25.115(b).
3   47 CFR Part 101, subparts H and I.
4 Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz, Notice of Inquiry, 32 FCC Rcd 6373
(2017) (NOI). We note that as part of the MOBILE NOW Act Congress has required the Commission to assess the
feasibility of Federal and non-Federal sharing the 3.7-4.2 GHz band and submit a report to the Secretary of
Commerce and to Congress within 18 months. See Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, P.L. 115-141, which
includes the Repack Airwaves Yielding Better Access for Users of Modern Services (RAY BAUM’S) Act. Title VI
of the RAY BAUM’S Act enacted provisions from the Senate-approved MOBILE NOW Act, which directly
addresses the 3 GHz band and multiple other spectrum related policies. See MOBILE NOW Act, Sec. 603
(Identifying 255 Megahertz), Sec. 605 (3 Gigahertz Spectrum).


accurate information about existing earth stations, which will inform the Commission’s pending inquiry
addressing new opportunities for use of this band.5

Background

         On August 3, 2017, the Commission released a Notice of Inquiry titled Expanding Flexible Use
in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 24 GHz (NOI).6 In that NOI, the Commission sought detailed
comment on frequency bands that had garnered interest to potentially support increased flexible
broadband uses, including the 3.7-4.2 GHz band.7 The Commission stated that “with this Notice of
Inquiry, we hope to obtain relevant data and information . . . so that we can make more informed and
specific proposals in any future proceedings.”8 While recognizing the existing FSS (space-to-Earth) and
Fixed Service (FS) uses of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, the Commission sought comment on the potential for
more intensive use of that band for wireless broadband, including asking how current service rules
governing geostationary satellite orbit FSS and FS could be modified to promote flexible use, stimulate
investment, and encourage more intensive deployment.9

         In response to the NOI, the Commission received comments from a variety of stakeholders, many
of which addressed whether the Commission’s information about current operations in the band is
complete and up to date.10 Some commenters stressed the importance of identifying existing unregistered
earth stations before the Commission makes any substantial changes to the operations permitted in the
band,11 while other commenters contend that there may be earth stations in the database that are no longer
in operation.12

Filing Freeze in 3.7-4.2 GHz Band

         To preserve the current landscape of authorized operations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band pending the
Commission’s consideration of the issues raised in response to the NOI, the Bureaus announce a
temporary freeze, effective as of April 19, 2018, on the filing of new or modification applications for
earth station licenses, receive-only earth station registrations, and fixed microwave licenses in the 3.7-4.2
GHz band, except as otherwise noted herein. The decision to impose this freeze is procedural in nature,
and therefore the freeze is exempt from the notice and comment and effective date requirements of the


5The 90-day window is inapplicable to fixed microwave because license applications were mandatory for these
operations prior to the freeze.
6 NOI, supra note 4. The Commission noted that this inquiry could also help it address international activities and
statutory obligations in collaboration with the State Department, NTIA, and other federal agencies. See id., 32 FCC
Rcd at 6374-75, para. 4.
7   NOI, 32 FCC Rcd at 6374, 6378, paras. 2, 12.
8   NOI, 32 FCC Rcd at 6376, para. 7.
9   See NOI, 32 FCC Rcd at 6379-6381, paras. 16-23.
 See, e.g., CCA Reply Comments at 7; Google Comments at 5; NCTA Reply Comments at 12; SIA Reply
10

Comments at 14-16; Verizon Reply Comments at 5.
 See, e.g., NAB Comments at 3-4; SES Reply Comments at 24; SIA Reply Comments at 22-24; American Cable
11

Association Comments at 3.
12See, e.g., AT&T Comments at 9-10; CCA Reply Comments at 7; Google Comments at 5; BAC Comments at 8-9,
DSA Comments at 8. Registrants are required to notify the Commission when a receive-only earth station is no
longer operational or when it has not been used to provide any service during any 6-month period. 47 CFR §
25.131(i).
                                                         2


Administrative Procedure Act.13 Moreover, we find that there is good cause for not delaying the effect of
the freeze, except as noted below, as such a delay would be impractical, unnecessary, and contrary to the
public interest because it would undermine the purposes of the freeze.14 The Bureaus find that the freeze
will help preserve the options available to the Commission for consideration of additional uses of the
band while limiting the potential for speculative applications that might be filed in anticipation of
potential future actions by the Commission.

         Earth stations. During the freeze the International Bureau will dismiss applications, or those
portions of applications, received for new earth station licenses, new receive-only earth station
registrations, and modifications to earth stations currently authorized to operate in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band.
EXCEPTIONS: The freeze does not extend to applications for renewal or cancellation of current earth
station authorizations,15 or modifications to correct location or other data required in the earth station
file.16 As discussed below, the freeze is delayed for 90 days for certain earth station applications.

        Fixed Microwave. During the freeze, the Wireless Telecommunications and Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureaus will dismiss applications received for new or major modifications to fixed
microwave stations to operate in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. EXCEPTIONS: The freeze does not extend to
applications for renewal, cancellation, minor modifications, or data corrections.17

         The appropriate Bureau will consider requests for waiver of this freeze on a case-by-case basis
and upon a demonstration that waiver will serve the public interest and not undermine the objectives of
the freeze.

90-day Application Filing Window for Existing FSS Earth Stations

         In view of the current record developed in response to the NOI, and in the interest of equity for
incumbent earth station operators, the International Bureau announces a 90-day window for filing
applications to license or register existing earth stations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz frequency band as a limited
exception to the implementation of this freeze. For purposes of this Notice, existing earth stations are
those that have been constructed and are operational as of April 19, 2018. The filing window will close
on July 18, 2018. This filing window provides a limited opportunity to operators with constructed and
operational, but currently unregistered or unlicensed, earth stations to file applications to be licensed or
registered for interference protection, subject to the outcome of the Commission’s ongoing inquiry and
any subsequent proceeding(s).18




13 See 5 U.S.C. § 553(b)(A) and (d); see also Neighborhood TV Co. v. FCC, 742 F.2d 629, 637-38 (D.C. Cir. 1984)
(holding that the Commission’s filing freeze is a procedural rule not subject to the notice and comment requirements
of the Administrative Procedure Act); Buckeye Cablevision, Inc. v. United States, 438 F.2d 948, 952-53 (6th Cir.
1971); Kessler v. FCC, 326 F.2d 673, 680-82 (D.C. Cir. 1963).
14   See 5 U.S.C. § 553(b)(B), (d)(3).
15   47 CFR § 25.121(e).
16See International Bureau Addresses Accuracy of Earth Station Location Information in IBFS, Public Notice, DA
17-1127 (IB rel. Nov. 21, 2017); 47 CFR § 25.117.
17See generally 47 CFR § 101.81(d) (microwave incumbents in 1.9 GHz and 2.1 GHz bands allocated for emerging
technologies permitted to retain primary status when making data corrections that do not involve a change in the
location of an existing facility).
18   See 47 CFR §§ 25.131(d) & (f); 25.251.
                                                         3


         Under Commission rules, applications for earth station licenses or registrations in the 3.7-4.2
GHz band must be accompanied by an exhibit demonstrating coordination with terrestrial stations.19 The
purpose of this coordination requirement is to establish the baseline level of interference that an earth
station must accept in frequency bands shared by the FS and FSS on a co-primary basis. The coordination
results entitle the FSS earth station to the interference protection levels agreed to during coordination,
including against subsequent FS licensees.20 However, according to the Satellite Industry Association,
many receive-only earth station operators are deterred from voluntarily registering their antennas for
interference protection due to the costs of completing the registration process, including the need for a
coordination report.21 The Commission also uses information collected in applications for earth station
licenses and registrations to assist it in considering whether its rules require modification to accommodate
changing market and technological conditions, and to facilitate the Commission’s efforts to use spectrum
more efficiently.22

         We observe that the coordination requirement may impose an unnecessary burden on applicants
considering whether to file during the 90-day window, as the freeze on the filing of applications for new
or modified fixed microwave licenses will maintain the current interference environment for existing
earth stations, as there will be no additional fixed links in the band that could increase the interference
received by authorized earth stations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Thus, to obtain the best information
possible on existing earth stations in this band in furtherance of the Commission’s ongoing inquiry
without imposing a potentially unnecessary economic burden on eligible FSS earth station applicants in
the 3.7-4.2 GHz band filing within the 90-day window, the International Bureau hereby grants a
temporary waiver of the frequency coordination requirement.23 Applicants who file within the 90-day
window will otherwise be processed normally. Registrations or licenses granted for applications filed
without the coordination report will include a condition noting that the license or registration does not
afford interference protection from FS transmissions. Upon announcing the termination of the freeze, the
International Bureau may modify or terminate the waiver by requiring or permitting registrants or
licensees who filed applications within the 90-day window without a coordination report to file such a
report as required by the Commission’s rules, and to take any appropriate action in light of such filing.

         Waiver of the Commission’s rules is appropriate where particular facts make strict compliance
with a rule inconsistent with the public interest, special circumstances warrant a deviation from the
general rule, and the waiver does not undermine the validity of the general rule.24 In the present case we
find that the Commission’s pending inquiry into operations in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band and the interests of
equity warrant providing earth station operators with a chance to file applications despite the freeze. We
1947 CFR §§ 25.115(c)(2)(ii); 25.130(b)(1); 25.131(d); 25.203(c). The coordination procedures specified in 47 CFR
§101.103 and § 25.251 shall be applicable except that the information to be provided shall be that set forth in 47
CFR § 25.203(c)(2).
20   See 47 CFR §§ 25.131(d) & (f); 25.251.
21See SIA Comments at 23. See also Letter from Georgios Leris, Counsel for ACA, to Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, FCC, GN Docket No. 17-183 (filed Jan. 12, 2018).
22 See, e.g., OMB Control No. 3060-0678, Part 25 of the Federal Communications Commission's Rules Governing
the Licensing of, and Spectrum Usage By, Commercial Earth Stations and Space Stations, Supporting Statement for
Revision of a currently approved collection at 2 (filed with OMB on Sept. 7, 2017, Approved without change on
Oct. 14, 2017 (ICR Ref. No. 201709-3060-005).
23The International Bureau has delegated authority to act upon earth station applications filed pursuant to Part 25
rules. See 47 CFR § 0.261.
24NetworkIP, LLC v. FCC, 548 F.3d 116, 125-28 (D.C. Cir. 2008); WAIT Radio v. FCC, 418 F.2d 1153, 1159 (D.C.
Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 409 U.S. 1027 (1972); Northeast Cellular Tel Co. v. FCC, 897 F.2d 1164, 1166 (D.C. Cir.
1990).
                                                          4


note the limited nature of this exception to the freeze, given the short window in which applications can
be filed and the requirement that earth stations must be operational as of the release date of this Notice.
We also find that the purpose of the coordination requirement—to establish interference levels between
earth stations and future fixed microwave links—will not be undermined because we are placing a
concurrent freeze on the filing of new or modified fixed microwave links.

         All potential applicants are advised that the Commission may, for purposes of further action
following the NOI, choose to take into consideration only those earth stations that are licensed, registered,
or have pending applications for license or registration on file in IBFS as of July 18, 2018. All earth
stations, regardless of whether or not they are authorized by the Commission, may be subject to any rule
changes that the Commission may adopt in the future, in the light of information in the record about the
nature and extent of existing uses of the band.

          Under Part 25 of the Commission’s rules, applicants for earth station licenses and registrations
must file on FCC Form 312 Main Form,25 complete Form 312 Schedule B, remit the statutory application-
filing fee,26 and provide any additional information required by applicable rules.27 We emphasize that the
limited window we open here is only available for earth stations constructed and operational prior to April
19, 2018. Applications must be filed electronically through IBFS at http://
http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs.

       We also invite operators of existing registered or licensed FSS earth stations to update records in
IBFS within this 90-day period, where an earth station no longer exists or is no longer in use.

We note that after the 90-day window closes, the Commission may determine to require all licensees,
registrants, and operators with pending applications for license or registration of FSS earth stations in the
3.7-4.2 GHz band to file a certification that the earth station was operational as of the start of the freeze
and remains operational at the time of the certification along with additional technical details regarding
their operations to inform the Commission’s resolution of issues raised in the inquiry.


                                                        -FCC-




25We note that for the purposes of this PN the International Bureau will not accept for filing any earth station
application filed on Form 312 EZ.
26See 47 U.S.C. § 158. See also International and Satellite Services Fee Filing Guide (Aug. 30, 2016),
https://www.fcc.gov/document/international-bureau-application-fee-filing-guide.
27   47 CFR §§ 25.115, 25.131, 25.203.
                                                           5



Document Created: 2018-04-19 16:14:51
Document Modified: 2018-04-19 16:14:51

© 2024 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC