(a)(1) Transmitting earth stations. Commission authorization must be obtained for authority to operate a transmitting earth station. Applications shall be filed electronically on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and include the information specified in Sec. 25.130, except as set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(1) Transmitting earth stations. Commission authorization must be obtained for authority to operate a transmitting earth station. Applications shall be filed electronically on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and include the information specified in Sec. 25.130, except as set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section.
(2) Applicants for licenses for transmitting earth stations in the Fixed-Satellite Service may file on FCC Form 312EZ if all of the following criteria are met:
(i) The application is for a single station that will transmit to an FSS GSO space station, or stations, in the 5925-6425 MHz band, or for single or multiple stations that will transmit to an FSS GSO space station, or stations, in the 14.0-14.5 GHz, 28.35-28.6 GHz, and/or 29.5-30.0 GHz band;
(ii) The earth station(s) will not be installed or operated on ships, aircraft, or other moving vehicles;
(iii) The equivalent diameter of the proposed antenna is 4.5 meters or greater if the station will transmit in the 5925-6425 MHz band or 1.2 meters or greater if the station will transmit in the 14.0-14.5 GHz band;
(iv) If the station(s) will transmit in the 5925-6425 MHz band or the 14.0-14.5 GHz band, the performance of the proposed antenna comports with the standards in Sec. 25.209(a) and (b) and is verified in accordance with applicable provisions of Sec. 25.132;
(v) If the station(s) will transmit in the 5925-6425 MHz band or the 14.0-14.5 GHz band, input power to the antenna will not exceed applicable limits specified in Sec. Sec. 25.211 and 25.212; if the station(s) will transmit in the 28.35-28.6 GHz and/or 29.5-30.0 GHz band, off-axis EIRP density will not exceed the levels specified in Sec. 25.138(a);
(vi) Operation of the proposed station has been successfully coordinated with terrestrial systems, if the station would transmit in the 5925-6425 MHz band;
(vii) The applicant has provided an environmental impact statement pursuant to Sec. 1.1311 of this chapter, if required; and
(viii) The applicant does not propose to communicate via non-U.S.-licensed satellites not on the Permitted Space Station List.
(ix) If the proposed station(s) will transmit in the 28.35-28.6 GHz and/or 29.5-30 GHz bands, the applicant is proposing to communicate only via satellites for which coordination has been completed pursuant to Footnote US334 of the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations with respect to Federal Government systems authorized on a primary basis, under an agreement previously approved by the Commission and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and the applicant certifies that it will operate consistently with the agreement.
(3) Unless the Commission orders otherwise, an application filed on FCC Form 312EZ in accordance with paragraph (a)(2) of this section will be deemed granted 35 days after the date of the public notice that the application has been accepted for filing, provided no objection is filed during the 30-day public notice period.
(4) Applications for earth station authorizations must be filed in accordance with the pleading limitations, periods and other applicable provisions of Sec. Sec. 1.41 through 1.52 of this chapter, except that such earth station applications must be filed electronically through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 1, subpart Y of this chapter;
(b) Receive-only earth stations. Applications to license or register receive only earth stations shall be filed on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and conform to the provisions of Sec. 25.131.
(c)(1) Large Networks of Small Antennas operating in the 11.7-12.2 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz frequency bands with U.S.-licensed or non-U.S.-licensed satellites for domestic or international services. Applications to license small antenna network systems operating in the 11.7-12.2 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz frequency band under blanket operating authority shall be filed on FCC Form 312 and Schedule B, for each large (5 meters or larger) hub station, and Schedule B for each representative type of small antenna (less than 5 meters) operating within the network.
(1) Large Networks of Small Antennas operating in the 11.7-12.2 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz frequency bands with U.S.-licensed or non-U.S.-licensed satellites for domestic or international services. Applications to license small antenna network systems operating in the 11.7-12.2 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz frequency band under blanket operating authority shall be filed on FCC Form 312 and Schedule B, for each large (5 meters or larger) hub station, and Schedule B for each representative type of small antenna (less than 5 meters) operating within the network.
(c)(2) Large Networks of Small Antennas operating in the 4/6 GHz frequency bands with U.S.-licensed or non-U.S. licensed satellites for domestic services (CSATs). Applications to license small antenna network systems operating in the standard C-Band, 3700-4200 MHz and 5925-6425 MHz frequency band shall be filed electronically on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B.
(2) Large Networks of Small Antennas operating in the 4/6 GHz frequency bands with U.S.-licensed or non-U.S. licensed satellites for domestic services (CSATs). Applications to license small antenna network systems operating in the standard C-Band, 3700-4200 MHz and 5925-6425 MHz frequency band shall be filed electronically on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B.
(i) An initial lead application providing a detailed overview of the complete network shall be filed. Such lead applications shall fully identify the scope and nature of the service to be provided, as well as the complete technical details of each representative type of small antenna (less than 4.5 meters) that will operate within the network. Such lead applications for a single CSAT system must identify:
(A) No more than three discrete geostationary satellites to be accessed;
(B) The amount of frequency bandwidth sought, up to a maximum of 20 MHz of spectrum in each direction at each of the satellites (The same 20 MHz of uplink and 20 MHz of downlink spectrum at each satellite would be accessible by all CSAT earth stations in the system. The 20 MHz of uplink and 20 MHz of downlink spectrum need not be the same at each satellite location);
(C) The maximum number of earth station sites;
(ii) Following the issuance of a license for the lead application, the licensee shall notify the Commission of the complete technical parameters of each individual earth station site before that site is bought into operation under the lead authorization. Full frequency coordination of each individual site (e.g., for each satellite and the spectrum associated therewith) shall be completed prior to filing Commission notification. The coordination must be conducted in accordance with Sec. 25.203. Such notification shall be done by electronic filing and shall be consistent with the technical parameters of Schedule B of FCC Form 312.
(iii) Following successful coordination of such an earth station, if the earth station operator does not file a lead application or a Schedule B within six months after it successfully completes coordination, it will be assumed that such frequency use is no longer desired, unless a second notification has been received within ten days prior to the end of the six month period. Such renewal notifications must be sent to all parties concerned. If the lead application or Schedule B, or renewal notification, is not timely received, the coordination will lapse and the licensee must re-coordinate the relevant earth stations if it still wishes to bring them into operation.
(iv) Operation of each individual site may commence immediately after the public notice is released that identifies the notification sent to the Commission and if the requirements of paragraph (c)(2)(vi) of this section are met. Continuance of operation of each station for the duration of the lead license term shall be dependent upon successful completion of the normal public notice process. If any objections are received to the new station prior to the end of the 30 day comment period of the Public Notice, the licensee shall immediately cease operation of those particular stations until the coordination dispute is resolved and the CSAT licensee informs the Commission of the resolution. If the requirements of paragraph (c)(2)(vi) of this section are not met, operation may not commence until the Commission issues the public notice acting on the CSAT terminal authorization.
(v) Each CSAT licensee shall annually provide the Commission an updated list of all operational earth stations in its system. The annual list shall also include a list of all earth stations deactivated during the year and identification of the satellites providing service to the network as of the date of the report.
(vi) Conditional authorization. (A) An applicant for a new CSAT radio station or modification of an existing CSAT station authorized under paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section in the 3700-4200; or 5925-6425 MHz bands may operate the proposed station during the pendency of its application after the release of the public notice accepting the notification for filing that complies with paragraph (c)(2)(ii) of this section. The applicant, however, must first certify that the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The frequency coordination procedures of Sec. 25.203 have been successfully completed;
(2) The antenna structure has been previously studied by the Federal Aviation Administration and determined to pose no hazard to aviation safety as required by subpart B of part 17 of this chapter; or the antenna or tower structure does not exceed 6.1 meters above ground level or above an existing man-made structure (other than an antenna structure), if the antenna or tower has not been previously studied by the Federal Aviation Administration and cleared by the FCC;
(3) The grant of the application(s) does not require a waiver of the Commission's rules (with the exception of a request for waiver pertaining to fees);
(4) The applicant has determined that the facility(ies) will not significantly affect the environment as defined in Sec. 1.1307 of this chapter after complying with any applicable environmental notification procedures specified in Sec. 17.4(c) of this chapter.
(5) The station site does not lie within 56.3 kilometers of any international border or within a radio ``Quiet Zone'' identified in Sec. 1.924 of this chapter; and
(6) The filed application is consistent with the proposal that was coordinated pursuant to Sec. 25.251.
(B) Conditional authority ceases immediately if the Schedule B is returned by the Commission because it is not accepted for filing.
(C) A conditional authorization pursuant to paragraphs (c)(2)(vi)(A) and (c)(2)(vi)(B) of this section is evidenced by retaining a copy of the Schedule B notification with the station records. Conditional authorization does not prejudice any action the Commission may take on the subject application(s) or the Schedule B notifications.
(D) Conditional authority is accepted with the express understanding that such authority may be modified or cancelled by the Commission at any time without hearing if, in the Commission's discretion, the need for such action arises. An applicant operating pursuant to this conditional authority assumes all risks associated with such operation, the termination or modification of the conditional authority, or the subsequent dismissal or denial of its application(s).
(E) The copy of the Schedule B notification form must be posted at each station operating pursuant to this section.
(vii) Period of construction. Construction of each earth station must be completed and the station must be brought into regular operation within twelve months from the date that action is taken to authorize that station to operate under the lead authorization, except as may be otherwise determined by the Commission for any particular application.
(d) Mobile-Satellite Service user transceivers need not be individually licensed. Service vendors may file blanket applications for such transceivers using FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, specifying the number of units to be covered by the blanket license. A blanket license application for 1.5/1.6 GHz MSS user transceivers must include an explanation of how the applicant will comply with the priority and preemptive access requirements in Sec. 25.287.
(e) Earth stations operating in the 20/30 GHz Fixed-Satellite Service with U.S.-licensed or non-U.S. licensed satellites: Applications to license individual earth stations operating in the 20/30 GHz band shall be filed on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and shall also include the information described in Sec. 25.138. Earth stations belonging to a network operating in the 18.3-18.8 GHz, 19.7-20.2 GHz, 28.35-28.6 GHz or 29.25-30.0 GHz bands may be licensed on a blanket basis. Applications for such blanket authorization may be filed using FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and specifying the number of terminals to be covered by the blanket license. Each application for a blanket license under this section shall include the information described in Sec. 25.138.
(f) User transceivers in the non-geostationary satellite orbit Fixed-Satellite Service in the 11.7-12.2 GHz, 12.2-12.7 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz bands need not be individually licensed. Service vendors may file blanket applications for transceiver units using FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and shall specify the number of terminals to be covered by the blanket license. Each application for a blanket license under this section shall include the information described in Sec. 25.146. Any earth stations that are not user transceivers, and which transmit in the non-geostationary satellite orbit Fixed-Satellite Service in the 10.7-11.7 GHz, 12.75-13.15 GHz, 13.2125-13.25 GHz, and 13.75-14.0 GHz bands must be individually licensed, pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section.
(g) Applications for feeder link earth stations operating in the 24.75--25.25 GHz band (Earth-to-space) and providing service to geostationary satellites in the 17/24 GHz BSS must include, in addition to the particulars of operation identified on Form 312 and associated Schedule B, the information specified in either paragraph (g)(1) or (g)(2) below for each earth station antenna type:
(1) A series of EIRP density charts or tables, calculated for a production earth station antenna, based on measurements taken on a calibrated antenna range at 25 GHz, with the off-axis EIRP envelope set forth in paragraphs (g)(1)(i) through (g)(1)(iv) of this section superimposed, as follows:
(i) Showing off-axis co-polarized EIRP spectral density in the azimuth plane, for off-axis angles from minus 10[deg] to plus 10[deg] and from minus 180[deg] to plus 180[deg];
(ii) Showing off-axis co-polarized EIRP spectral density in the elevation plane, at off-axis angles from 0[deg]to plus 30[deg];
(iii) Showing off-axis cross-polarized EIRP spectral density in the azimuth plane, at off-axis angles from minus 10[deg] to plus 10[deg]; and
(iv) Showing off-axis cross-polarized EIRP spectral density in the elevation plane, at off-axis angles from minus 10[deg] to plus 10[deg]
(2) A certification on Schedule B that the antenna conforms to the gain pattern criteria of Sec. 25.209(a) and (b), that when combined with input power density (computed from the maximum on-axis EIRP density per carrier less the antenna gain entered in Schedule B), demonstrates that the off-axis EIRP spectral density envelope set forth in Sec. 25.223(b)(1) through (4) of this part will be met.
(h) Any earth station applicant filing an application pursuant to Sec. 25.218 of this chapter must file three tables showing the off-axis EIRP level of the proposed earth station antenna of the plane of the geostationary orbit, the elevation plane, and towards the horizon. In each table, the EIRP level must be provided at increments of 0.1[deg] for angles between 0[deg] and 10[deg] off-axis, and at increments of 5[deg] for angles between 10[deg] and 180[deg] off-axis.
(1) For purposes of the off-axis EIRP table in the plane of the geostationary orbit, the off-axis angle is the angle in degrees from the line connecting the focal point of the antenna to the target satellite, within the plane determined by the focal point of the antenna and the line tangent to the arc of the geostationary satellite orbit at the position of the target satellite.
(2) For purposes of the off-axis EIRP table in the elevation plane, the off-axis angle is the angle in degrees from the line connecting the focal point of the antenna to the target satellite, within the plane perpendicular to the plane determined by the focal point of the antenna and the line tangent to the arc of the geostationary satellite orbit at the position of the target satellite.
(3) For purposes of the off-axis EIRP table towards the horizon, the off-axis angle is the angle in degrees from the line determined by the intersection of the horizontal plane and the elevation plane described in paragraph (h)(2) of this section, in the horizontal plane. The horizontal plane is the plane determined by the focal point of the antenna and the horizon.
(4) In addition, in an attachment to its application, the earth station applicant must certify that it will limit its pointing error to 0.5[deg], or demonstrate that it will comply with the applicable off-axis EIRP envelopes in Sec. 25.218 of this part when the antenna is mispointed at its maximum pointing error.
(i) Any earth station applicant filing an application for a VSAT network made up of FSS earth stations and planning to use a contention protocol must include in its application a certification that it will comply with the requirements of Sec. 25.134(g)(4).
(j) An application for a new fixed earth station or modification involving alteration of the overall height of one or more existing earth station antenna structures must include the FCC Antenna Structure Registration Number(s) for the antenna structure(s), if assigned. If no such number has been assigned, the application must state whether prior FAA notification is required by part 17 of this chapter and, if so, whether the applicant or owner of the structure has notified the FAA of the proposed construction or alteration and applied for an Antenna Structure Registration Number in accordance with part 17 of this chapter. Applicants who maintain that prior FAA notification is not required for construction or alteration of a structure with overall height more than 6.1 meters above ground level must explain in the application why such prior notification is not required.
(k)(1) Applicants for Fixed-Satellite Service earth stations that qualify for routine processing in the C, Ku, or 20/30 GHz band, including ESV applications filed pursuant to Sec. 25.222(a)(1) or (a)(3), VMES applications filed pursuant to Sec. 25.226(a)(1) or (a)(3), and ESAA applications filed pursuant to Sec. 25.227(a)(1) or (a)(3), may designate the Permitted Space Station List as a point of communication. Once such an application is granted, the earth station operator may communicate with any space station on the Permitted Space Station List, provided that the operation is consistent with the technical parameters and conditions established in the earth station license and any limitations placed on the space station authorization or noted in the Permitted Space Station List.
(1) Applicants for Fixed-Satellite Service earth stations that qualify for routine processing in the C, Ku, or 20/30 GHz band, including ESV applications filed pursuant to Sec. 25.222(a)(1) or (a)(3), VMES applications filed pursuant to Sec. 25.226(a)(1) or (a)(3), and ESAA applications filed pursuant to Sec. 25.227(a)(1) or (a)(3), may designate the Permitted Space Station List as a point of communication. Once such an application is granted, the earth station operator may communicate with any space station on the Permitted Space Station List, provided that the operation is consistent with the technical parameters and conditions established in the earth station license and any limitations placed on the space station authorization or noted in the Permitted Space Station List.
(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (k)(1) of this section, the operator of an earth station that qualifies for routine processing in the 20/30 GHz bands may not communicate with a space station on the Permitted Space Station List in the 18.3-18.8 GHz or 19.7-20.2 GHz band until the space station operator has completed coordination under Footnote US334 to Sec. 2.106 of this chapter. [62 FR 5928, Feb. 10, 1997]
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting Sec. 25.115, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.fdsys.gov.
Effective Date Note: At 74 FR 9962, Mar. 9, 2009, Sec. 25.115 paragraphs (h) and (i) which contain information collection and recordkeeping requirements, became effective with approval by the Office of Management and Budget for a period of 3 years.