FCC 25.114 Revised as of October 1, 2007
Goto Year:2006 |
2008
Sec. 25.114 Applications for space station authorizations.
(a) A comprehensive proposal shall be submitted for each proposed space
station on FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule S, together with attached
exhibits as described in paragraph (d) of this section.
(b) Each application for a new or modified space station authorization must
constitute a concrete proposal for Commission evaluation. Each application
must also contain the formal waiver required by section 304 of the
Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. 304. The technical information for a proposed
satellite system specified in paragraph (c) of this section must be filed on
FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule S. The technical information for a
proposed satellite system specified in paragraph (d) of this section need
not be filed on any prescribed form but should be complete in all pertinent
details. Applications for all new space station authorizations 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.
(c) The following information shall be filed on FCC Form 312, Main Form and
Schedule S:
(1) Name, address, and telephone number of the applicant;
(2) Name, address, and telephone number of the person(s), including counsel,
to whom inquiries or correspondence should be directed;
(3) Type of authorization requested ( e.g. , launch authority, station
license, modification of authorization);
(4)(i) Radio frequencies and polarization plan (including beacon, telemetry,
and telecommand functions), center frequency and polarization of
transponders (both receiving and transmitting frequencies),
(ii) Emission designators and allocated bandwidth of emission, final
amplifier output power (identify any net losses between output of final
amplifier and input of antenna and specify the maximum EIRP for each antenna
beam),
(iii) Identification of which antenna beams are connected or switchable to
each transponder and TT&C function,
(iv) Receiving system noise temperature,
(v) The relationship between satellite receive antenna gain pattern and
gain-to-temperature ratio and saturation flux density for each antenna beam
(may be indicated on antenna gain plot),
(vi) The gain of each transponder channel (between output of receiving
antenna and input of transmitting antenna) including any adjustable gain
step capabilities, and
(vii) Predicted receiver and transmitter channel filter response
characteristics.
(5) For satellites in geostationary-satellite orbit,
(i) Orbital location, or locations if alternatives are proposed, requested
for the satellite,
(ii) The factors that support the orbital assignment or assignments proposed
in paragraph (c)(5)(i) of this section,
(iii) Longitudinal tolerance or east-west station-keeping capability;
(iv) Inclination incursion or north-south station-keeping capability.
(6) For satellites in non-geostationary-satellite orbits,
(i) The number of space stations and applicable information relating to the
number of orbital planes,
(ii) The inclination of the orbital plane(s),
(iii) The orbital period,
(iv) The apogee,
(v) The perigee,
(vi) The argument(s) of perigee,
(vii) Active service arc(s), and
(viii) Right ascension of the ascending node(s).
(7) For satellites in geostationary-satellite orbit, accuracy with which the
orbital inclination, the antenna axis attitude, and longitudinal drift will
be maintained;
(8) Calculation of power flux density levels within each coverage area and
of the energy dispersal, if any, needed for compliance with Sec. 25.208, for
angles of arrival of 5 °, 10 °, 15 °, 20 °, and 25 ° above the horizontal;
(9) Arrangement for tracking, telemetry, and control;
(10) Physical characteristics of the space station including weight and
dimensions of spacecraft, detailed mass (on ground and in-orbit) and power
(beginning and end of life) budgets, and estimated operational lifetime and
reliability of the space station and the basis for that estimate;
(11) A clear and detailed statement of whether the space station is to be
operated on a common carrier basis, or whether non-common carrier
transactions are proposed. If non-common carrier transactions are proposed,
describe the nature of the transactions and specify the number of
transponders to be offered on a non-common carrier basis;
(12) Dates by which construction will be commenced and completed, launch
date, and estimated date of placement into service.
(13) The polarization information specified in Sec. Sec. 25.210(a)(1), (a)(3), and
(i), to the extent applicable.
(d) The following information in narrative form shall be contained in each
application:
(1) General description of overall system facilities, operations and
services;
(2) If applicable, the feeder link and inter-satellite service frequencies
requested for the satellite, together with any demonstration otherwise
required by this chapter for use of those frequencies (see, e.g. ,
Sec. Sec. 25.203(j) and (k));
(3) Predicted space station antenna gain contour(s) for each transmit and
each receive antenna beam and nominal orbital location requested. These
contour(s) should be plotted on an area map at 2 dB intervals down to 10 dB
below the peak value of the parameter and at 5 dB intervals between 10 dB
and 20 dB below the peak values, with the peak value and sense of
polarization clearly specified on each plotted contour. For applications for
geostationary orbit satellites, this information must be provided in the
.gxt format.
(4) A description of the types of services to be provided, and the areas to
be served, including a description of the transmission characteristics and
performance objectives for each type of proposed service, details of the
link noise budget, typical or baseline earth station parameters, modulation
parameters, and overall link performance analysis (including an analysis of
the effects of each contributing noise and interference source);
(5) Calculation of power flux density levels within each coverage area and
of the energy dispersal, if any, needed for compliance with Sec. 25.208;
Calculation of power flux density levels within each coverage area and of
the energy dispersal, if any, needed for compliance with Sec. 25.208, for angles
of arrival other than 5 °, 10 °, 15 °, 20 °, and 25 ° above the horizontal.
(6) Public interest considerations in support of grant;
(7) Applicants for authorizations for space stations in the fixed-satellite
service must also include the information specified in Sec. Sec. 25.140(b)(1) and
(2) of this part. Applicants for authorizations for space stations in the
17/24 GHz broadcasting-satellite service must also include the information
specified in Sec. Sec. 25.140(b)(1) and (3) of this part.
(8) Applications for authorizations in the Mobile-Satellite Service in the
1545–1559/1646.5–1660.5 MHz frequency bands shall also provide all
information necessary to comply with the policies and procedures set forth
in Rules and Policies Pertaining to the Use of Radio Frequencies in a Land
Mobile Satellite Service, 2 FCC Rcd 485 (1987) (Available at address in
Sec. 0.445 of this chapter.);
(9) Applications to license multiple space station systems in the non-voice,
non-geostationary mobile-satellite service under blanket operating authority
shall also provide all information specified in Sec. 25.142; and
(10) Applications for authorizations in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite
Service shall also provide all information specified in Sec. 25.143.
(11) In addition to a statement of whether the space station is to be
operated on a common carrier basis, or whether non-common carrier
transactions are proposed, as specified in paragraph (c)(11) of this
section, satellite applications in the Direct Broadcast Satellite service
must provide a clear and detailed statement of whether the space station is
to be operated on a broadcast or non-broadcast basis.
(12) Applications for authorizations in the non-geostationary satellite
orbit fixed-satellite service (NGSO FSS) in the bands 10.7 GHz to 14.5 GHz
shall also provide all information specified in Sec. 25.146.
(13) For satellite applications in the Direct Broadcast Satellite service,
if the proposed system's technical characteristics differ from those
specified in the Appendix 30 BSS Plans, the Appendix 30A feeder link Plans,
Annex 5 to Appendix 30 or Annex 3 to Appendix 30A, each applicant shall
provide:
(i) The information requested in Appendix 4 of the ITU's Radio Regulations.
Further, applicants shall provide sufficient technical showing that the
proposed system could operate satisfactorily if all assignments in the BSS
and feeder link Plans were implemented.
(ii) Analyses of the proposed system with respect to the limits in Annex 1
to Appendices 30 and 30A.
(14) A description of the design and operational strategies that will be
used to mitigate orbital debris, including the following information:
(i) A statement that the space station operator has assessed and limited the
amount of debris released in a planned manner during normal operations, and
has assessed and limited the probability of the space station becoming a
source of debris by collisions with small debris or meteoroids that could
cause loss of control and prevent post-mission disposal;
(ii) A statement that the space station operator has assessed and limited
the probability of accidental explosions during and after completion of
mission operations. This statement must include a demonstration that debris
generation will not result from the conversion of energy sources on board
the spacecraft into energy that fragments the spacecraft. Energy sources
include chemical, pressure, and kinetic energy. This demonstration should
address whether stored energy will be removed at the spacecraft's end of
life, by depleting residual fuel and leaving all fuel line valves open,
venting any pressurized system, leaving all batteries in a permanent
discharge state, and removing any remaining source of stored energy, or
through other equivalent procedures specifically disclosed in the
application;
(iii) A statement that the space station operator has assessed and limited
the probability of the space station becoming a source of debris by
collisions with large debris or other operational space stations. Where a
space station will be launched into a low-Earth orbit that is identical, or
very similar, to an orbit used by other space stations, the statement must
include an analysis of the potential risk of collision and a description of
what measures the space station operator plans to take to avoid in-orbit
collisions. If the space station operator is relying on coordination with
another system, the statement must indicate what steps have been taken to
contact, and ascertain the likelihood of successful coordination of physical
operations with, the other system. The statement must disclose the
accuracy—if any—with which orbital parameters of non-geostationary satellite
orbit space stations will be maintained, including apogee, perigee,
inclination, and the right ascension of the ascending node(s). In the event
that a system is not able to maintain orbital tolerances, i.e. , it lacks a
propulsion system for orbital maintenance, that fact should be included in
the debris mitigation disclosure. Such systems must also indicate the
anticipated evolution over time of the orbit of the proposed satellite or
satellites. Where a space station requests the assignment of a
geostationary-Earth orbit location, it must assess whether there are any
known satellites located at, or reasonably expected to be located at, the
requested orbital location, or assigned in the vicinity of that location,
such that the station keeping volumes of the respective satellites might
overlap. If so, the statement must include a statement as to the identities
of those parties and the measures that will be taken to prevent collisions;
(iv) A statement detailing the post-mission disposal plans for the space
station at end of life, including the quantity of fuel—if any—that will be
reserved for post-mission disposal maneuvers. For geostationary-Earth orbit
space stations, the statement must disclose the altitude selected for a
post-mission disposal orbit and the calculations that are used in deriving
the disposal altitude. The statement must also include a casualty risk
assessment if planned post-mission disposal involves atmospheric re-entry of
the space station. In general, an assessment should include an estimate as
to whether portions of the spacecraft will survive re-entry and reach the
surface of the Earth, as well as an estimate of the resulting probability of
human casualty.
(15) Each applicant for a space station license in the 17/24 GHz BSS shall
include the following information as an attachment to its application:
(i) Except as set forth in paragraph (d)(15)(ii) of this section, an
applicant proposing to operate in the 17.3–17.7 GHz frequency band, must
provide a demonstration that the proposed space station will comply with the
power flux density limits set forth in Sec. 25.208(w) of this part.
(ii) In cases where the proposed space station will not comply with the
power flux density limits set forth in Sec. 25.208(w) of this part, the
applicant will be required to provide a certification that all potentially
affected parties acknowledge and do not object to the use wof the
applicant's higher power flux densities. The affected parties with whom the
applicant must coordinate are those GSO 17/24 GHz BSS satellite networks
located up to 6 away for excesses of up to 3 dB above the power flux-density
levels specified in Sec. 25.208(w) of this part, and up to 10 away greater for
excesses greater than 3 dB above those levels.
(iii) In cases where the proposed 17/24 GHz BSS space station will be
operated in the 17.3–17.7 GHz band, or operated to provide international
service in the 17.7–17.8 GHz band, and cannot be located precisely at one of
the nominal 17/24 GHz BSS orbital locations specified in Appendix F of the
Report and Order, adopted May 2, 2007, IB Docket No. 06–123, FCC 07–76, the
applicant must provide a demonstration that the proposed space station will
not cause more interference to other 17/24 GHz BSS satellite networks
operating in compliance with the rules for this service than if it were
located at the precise 17/24 GHz BSS orbital location from which its
proposed location is offset.
(iv) An applicant proposing to provide international service in the
17.7–17.8 GHz band must demonstrate that it will meet the power flux density
limits set forth in Sec. 25.208(c) of this part.
(16) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (d)(15) of this section,
each applicant for a license to operate a 17/24 GHz BSS space station that
will be used to provide video programming directly to consumers in the
United States, that will not meet the requirements of Sec. 25.225 of this part,
must include as an attachment to its application a technical analysis
demonstrating that providing video programming service to consumers in
Alaska and Hawaii that is comparable to the video programming service
provided to consumers in the 48 contiguous United States (CONUS) is not
feasible as a technical matter or that, while technically feasible, such
service would require so many compromises in satellite design and operation
as to make it economically unreasonable.
(e) Applicants requesting authority to launch and operate a system comprised
of technically identical, non-geostationary satellite orbit space stations
may file a single “blanket” application containing the information specified
in paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section for each representative space
station.
[ 68 FR 63997 , Nov. 12, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 29901 , May 26, 2004; 69 FR 47794 , Aug. 6, 2004; 69 FR 54587 , Sept. 9, 2004; 72 FR 50027 , Aug. 29, 2007]
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