Goto Section: 25.202 | 25.204 | Table of Contents
FCC 25.203
Revised as of October 1, 2008
Goto Year:2007 |
2009
Sec. 25.203 Choice of sites and frequencies.
(a) Sites and frequencies for earth stations, other than ESVs, operating in
frequency bands shared with equal rights between terrestrial and space
services, shall be selected, to the extent practicable, in areas where the
surrounding terrain and existing frequency usage are such as to minimize the
possibility of harmful interference between the sharing services.
(b) An applicant for an earth station authorization, other than an ESV, in a
frequency band shared with equal rights with terrestrial microwave services
shall compute the great circle coordination distance contour(s) for the
proposed station in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.251. The
applicant shall submit with the application a map or maps drawn to
appropriate scale and in a form suitable for reproduction indicating the
location of the proposed station and these contours. These maps, together
with the pertinent data on which the computation of these contours is based,
including all relevant transmitting and/or receiving parameters of the
proposed station that is necessary in assessing the likelihood of
interference, an appropriately scaled plot of the elevation of the local
horizon as a function of azimuth, and the electrical characteristics of the
earth station antenna(s), shall be submitted by the applicant in a single
exhibit to the application. The coordination distance contour plot(s),
horizon elevation plot, and antenna horizon gain plot(s) required by this
section may also be submitted in tabular numerical format at 5 ° azimuthal
increments instead of graphical format. At a minimum, this exhibit shall
include the information listed in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. An earth
station applicant shall also include in the application relevant technical
details (both theoretical calculations and/or actual measurements) of any
special techniques, such as the use of artificial site shielding, or
operating procedures or restrictions at the proposed earth station which are
to be employed to reduce the likelihood of interference, or of any
particular characteristics of the earth station site which could have an
effect on the calculation of the coordination distance.
(c) Prior to the filing of its application, an applicant for operation of an
earth station, other than an ESV, shall coordinate the proposed frequency
usage with existing terrestrial users and with applicants for terrestrial
station authorizations with previously filed applications in accordance with
the following procedure:
(1) An applicant for an earth station authorization shall perform an
interference analysis in accordance with the procedures set forth in Sec. 25.251
for each terrestrial station, for which a license or construction permit has
been granted or for which an application has been accepted for filing, which
is or is to be operated in a shared frequency band to be used by the
proposed earth station and which is located within the great circle
coordination distance contour(s) of the proposed earth station.
(2) The earth station applicant shall provide each such terrestrial station
licensee, permittee, and prior filed applicant with the technical details of
the proposed earth station and the relevant interference analyses that were
made. At a minimum, the earth station applicant shall provide the
terrestrial user with the following technical information:
(i) The geographical coordinates of the proposed earth station antenna(s),
(ii) Proposed operating frequency band(s) and emission(s),
(iii) Antenna center height above ground and ground elevation above mean sea
level,
(iv) Antenna gain pattern(s) in the plane of the main beam,
(v) Longitude range of geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites at
which antenna may be pointed, for proposed earth station antenna(s)
accessing GSO satellites,
(vi) Horizon elevation plot,
(vii) Antenna horizon gain plot(s) determined in accordance with Sec. 25.251 for
satellite longitude range specified in paragraph (c)(2)(v) of this section,
taking into account the provisions of Sec. 25.251 for earth stations operating
with non-geostationary satellites,
(viii) Minimum elevation angle,
(ix) Maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) density in
the main beam in any 4 kHz band, (dBW/4 kHz) for frequency bands below 15
GHz or in any 1 MHz band (dBW/MHz) for frequency band above 15 GHz,
(x) Maximum available RF transmit power density in any 1 MHz band and in any
4 kHz band at the input terminals of the antenna(s),
(xi) Maximum permissible RF interference power level as determined in
accordance with Sec. 25.251 for all applicable percentages of time, and
(xii) A plot of great circle coordination distance contour(s) and rain
scatter coordination distance contour(s) as determined by Sec. 25.251.
(3) The coordination procedures specified in Sec. 101.103 of this chapter and
Sec. 25.251 shall be applicable except that the information to be provided shall
be that set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, and that the 30-day
period allowed for response to a request for coordination may be increased
to a maximum of 45 days by mutual consent of the parties.
(4) Where technical problems are resolved by an agreement or operating
arrangement between the parties that would require special procedures be
taken to reduce the likelihood of harmful interference (such as the use of
artificial site shielding) or would result in lessened quality or capacity
of either system, the details thereof shall be contained in the application.
(5) The Commission may, in the course of examining any application, require
the submission of additional showings, complete with pertinent data and
calculations in accordance with Sec. 25.251, showing that harmful interference
is not likely to result from the proposed operation.
(d) An applicant for operation of an earth station, other than an ESV, shall
also ascertain whether the great circle coordination distance contours and
rain scatter coordination distance contours, computed for those values of
parameters indicated in Sec. 25.251 (Appendix 7 of the ITU RR) for international
coordination, cross the boundaries of another Administration. In this case,
the applicant shall furnish to the Commission copies of these contours on
maps drawn to appropriate scale for use by the Commission in effecting
coordination of the proposed earth station with the Administration(s)
affected.
(e) Protection for Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone, Boulder County,
Colorado.
(1) Applicants for a station authorization to operate in the vicinity of
Boulder County, Colorado under this part are advised to give due
consideration, prior to filing applications, to the need to protect the
Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone from harmful interference. These are the
research laboratories of the Department of Commerce, Boulder County,
Colorado. To prevent degradation of the present ambient radio signal level
at the site, the Department of Commerce seeks to ensure that the field
strengths of any radiated signals (excluding reflected signals) received on
this 1800 acre site (in the vicinity of coordinates 40 °07'50" N Latitude,
105 °14'40" W Longitude) resulting from new assignments (other than mobile
stations) or from the modification or relocation of existing facilities do
not exceed the following values:
Frequency range In authorized bandwidth of service
Field strength (mV/m) Power flux density^1(dBW/m^2)
Below 540 kHz 10 −65.8
540 to 1600 kHz 20 −59.8
1.6 to 470 MHz 10 ^2−65.8
470 to 890 MHz 30 ^2−56.2
Above 890 MHz 1 ^2−85.8
^1Equivalent values of power flux density are calculated assuming free space
characteristic impedance of 376.7=120π ohms.
^2Space stations shall conform to the power flux density limits at the
earth's surface specified in appropriate parts of the FCC rules, but in no
case should exceed the above levels in any 4 kHz band for all angles of
arrival.
(2) Advance consultation is recommended particularly for those applicants
who have no reliable data which indicates whether the field strength or
power flux density figures in the above table would be exceeded by their
proposed radio facilities (except mobile stations). In such instances, the
following is a suggested guide for determining whether coordination is
recommended:
(i) All stations within 2.5 kilometers;
(ii) Stations within 5 kilometers with 50 watts or more average effective
radiated power (ERP) in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal
direction of the Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone;
(iii) Stations within 15 kilometers with 1 kW or more average ERP in the
primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of Table Mountain
Receiving Zone;
(iv) Stations within 80 kilometers with 25 kW or more average ERP in the
primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of Table Mountain
Receiving Zone.
(3) Applicants concerned are urged to communicate with the Radio Frequency
Management Coordinator, Department of Commerce, Research Support Services,
NOAA R/E5X2, Boulder Laboratories, Boulder, CO 80303; telephone (303)
497–6548, in advance of filing their applications with the Commission.
(4) The Commission will not screen applications to determine whether advance
consultation has taken place. However, applicants are advised that such
consultation can avoid objections from the Department of Commerce or
proceedings to modify any authorization which may be granted which, in fact,
delivers a signal at the site in excess of the field strength specified
herein.
(f) Notification to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory: In order to
minimize possible harmful interference at the National Radio Astronomy
Observatory site located at Green Bank, Pocahontas County, W. Va., and at
the Naval Radio Research Observatory site at Sugar Grove, Pendleton County,
W. Va. any applicant for a station authorization other than mobile,
temporary base, temporary fixed, Personal Radio, Civil Air Patrol, or
amateur seeking a station license for a new station, a construction permit
to construct a new station or to modify an existing station license in a
manner which would change either the frequency, power, antenna height or
directivity, or location of such a station within the area bounded by 39 °15'
N. on the north, 78 °30' W. on the east, 37 °30' N. on the south and 80 °30' W.
on the west shall, at the time of filing such application with the
Commission, simultaneously notify the Director, National Radio Astronomy
Observatory, P.O. Box No. 2, Green Bank, W. Va. 24944, in writing, of the
technical particulars of the proposed station. Such notification shall
include the geographical coordinates of the antenna, antenna height, antenna
directivity if any, proposed frequency, type of emission, and power. In
addition, the applicant shall indicate in his application to the Commission
the date notification was made to the observatory. After receipt of such
applications, the Commission will allow a period of 20 days for comments or
objections in response to the notifications indicated. If an objection to
the proposed operation is received during the 20-day period from the
National Radio Astronomy Observatory for itself or on behalf of the Naval
Radio Research Observatory, the Commission will consider all aspects of the
problem and take whatever action is deemed appropriate.
(g) Protection for Federal Communications Commission monitoring stations:
(1) Applicants in the vicinity of an FCC monitoring station for a radio
station authorization to operate new transmitting facilities or changed
transmitting facilities which would increase the field strength produced
over the monitoring station over that previously authorized are advised to
give consideration, prior to filing applications, to the possible need to
protect the FCC stations from harmful interference. Geographical coordinates
of the facilities which require protection are listed in Sec. 0.121(c) of the
Commission's Rules. Applications for stations (except mobile stations) which
will produce on any frequency a direct wave fundamental field strength of
greater than 10 mV/m in the authorized bandwidth of service (−65.8 dBW/m^2
power flux density assuming a free space characteristic impedance of 120
ohms) at the referenced coordinates, may be examined to determine extent of
possible interference. Depending on the theoretical field strength value and
existing root-sum-square or other ambient radio field signal levels at the
indicated coordinates, a clause protecting the monitoring station may be
added to the station authorization.
(2) In the event that calculated value of expected field exceeds 10 mV/m
(−65.8 dBW/m^2 ) at the reference coordinates, or if there is any question
whether field strength levels might exceed the threshold value, advance
consultation with the FCC to discuss any protection necessary should be
considered. Prospective applicants may communicate with: Chief, Compliance
and Information Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC
20554, Telephone (202) 632–6980.
(3) Advance consultation is suggested particularly for those applicants who
have no reliable data which indicates whether the field strength or power
flux density figure indicated would be exceeded by their proposed radio
facilities (except mobile stations). In such instances, the following is a
suggested guide for determining whether an applicant should coordinate:
(i) All stations within 2.5 kilometers;
(ii) Stations within 5 kilometers with 50 watts or more average effective
radiated power (ERP) in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal
direction of the Monitoring Station;
(iii) Stations within 15 kilometers with 1 kW or more average ERP in the
primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of the Monitoring
Station;
(iv) Stations within 80 kilometers with 25 kW or more average ERP in the
primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of the Monitoring
Station.
(4) Advance coordination for stations operating above 1000 MHz is
recommended only where the proposed station is in the vicinity of a
monitoring station designated as a satellite monitoring facility in
Sec. 0.121(c) of the Commission's Rules and also meets the criteria outlined in
paragraphs (h)(2) and (3) of this section.
(5) The Commission will not screen applications to determine whether advance
consultation has taken place. However, applicants are advised that such
consultation can avoid objections from the Federal Communications Commission
or modification of any authorization which will cause harmful interference.
(h) Sites and frequencies for GSO and NGSO earth stations, operating in a
frequency band where both have a co-primary allocation, shall be selected to
avoid earth station antenna mainlobe-to-satellite antenna mainlobe coupling,
between NGSO systems and between NGSO and GSO systems, in order to minimize
the possibility of harmful interference between these services. Prior to
filing an earth station application, in bands with co-primary allocations to
NGSO and GSO earth stations, the applicant shall coordinate the proposed
site and frequency usage with existing earth station licensees and with
current earth station authorization applicants.
(i) Any applicant for a new permanent transmitting fixed earth station
authorization to be located on the islands of Puerto Rico, Desecheo, Mona,
Vieques, and Culebra, or for a modification of an existing authorization
which would change the frequency, power, antenna height, directivity, or
location of such station on these islands and would increase the likelihood
of the authorized facility causing interference, shall notify the
Interference Office, Arecibo Observatory, HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo, Puerto
Rico 00612, in writing or electronically, of the technical parameters of the
proposal. Applicants may wish to consult interference guidelines, which will
be provided by Cornell University. Applicants who choose to transmit
information electronically should e-mail to: prcz@naic.edu.
(1) The notification to the Interference Office, Arecibo Observatory shall
be made prior to, or simultaneously with, the filing of the application with
the Commission. The notification shall state the geographical coordinates of
the antenna (NAD–83 datum), antenna height above ground, ground elevation at
the antenna, antenna directivity and gain, proposed frequency and FCC Rule
Part, type of emission, effective radiated power, and whether the proposed
use is itinerant. Generally, submission of the information in the technical
portion of the FCC license application is adequate notification. In
addition, the applicant shall indicate in its application to the Commission
the date notification was made to the Arecibo Observatory.
(2) After receipt of such applications, the Commission will allow the
Arecibo Observatory a period of 20 days for comments or objections in
response to the notification indicated. The applicant will be required to
make reasonable efforts in order to resolve or mitigate any potential
interference problem with the Arecibo Observatory and to file either an
amendment to the application or a modification application, as appropriate.
If the Commission determines that an applicant has satisfied its
responsibility to make reasonable efforts to protect the Observatory from
interference, its application may be granted.
(3) The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to operations that
transmit on frequencies above 15 GHz.
(j) Applicants for non-geostationary 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service/
Radiodetermination satellite service feeder links in the bands 17.7–20.2 GHz
and 27.5–30.0 GHz shall indicate the frequencies and spacecraft antenna gain
contours towards each feeder-link earth station location and will coordinate
with licensees of other fixed-satellite service and terrestrial-service
systems sharing the band to determine geographic protection areas around
each non-geostationary mobile-satellite service/radiodetermination satellite
service feeder-link earth station.
(k) An applicant for operation of an earth station, other than an ESV, that
will operate with a geostationary satellite or non-geostationary satellite
in a shared frequency band in which the non-geostationary system is (or is
proposed to be) licensed for feeder links, shall demonstrate in its
applications that its proposed earth station will not cause unacceptable
interference to any other satellite network that is authorized to operate in
the same frequency band, or certify that the operations of its earth station
shall conform to established coordination agreements between the operator(s)
of the space station(s) with which the earth station is to communicate and
the operator(s) of any other space station licensed to use the band.
(l) Applicants for feeder link earth station facilities operating in the
25.05–25.25 GHz band may be licensed only in Economic Areas where no
existing FS licensee has been authorized, and shall coordinate their
operations with 24 GHz fixed service operations if the power flux density of
their transmitted signal at the boundary of the fixed service license area
is equal to or greater than −114 dBW/m^2 in any 1 MHz.
(1) When uplink adaptive power control is used, the EIRP used for
calculation of the power flux density level should be the maximum possible,
taking into account the adaptive power increase.
(2) The power flux density levels should be calculated based on the actual
off-axis gain characteristics of the earth station antenna, and should
assume free space propagation conditions.
(3) When determining whether the power flux density threshold limit is
exceeded at the 24 GHz FS licensing boundary, a feeder link earth station
applicant must take into account not only the transmissions from its own
antenna(s), but also those from any previously authorized feeder link earth
stations. Thus, if the cumulative power flux density level at the FS license
boundary is in excess of −114 dBW/m^2 /MHz, the earth station applicant must
either modify its proposed operations such that this value is not exceeded,
or enter into coordination with the affected FS licensee.
[ 30 FR 7176 , May 28, 1965, as amended at 36 FR 2562 , Feb. 6, 1971; 38 FR 8573 , Apr. 4, 1973; 42 FR 8329 , Feb. 9, 1977; 44 FR 77167 , Dec. 31, 1979; 50 FR 40862 , Oct. 7, 1985; 58 FR 13419 , Mar. 11, 1993; 58 FR 44904 , Aug. 25,
1993; 59 FR 53329 , Oct. 21, 1994; 61 FR 8477 , Mar. 5, 1996; 61 FR 9945 , Mar.
12, 1996; 61 FR 44181 , Aug. 28, 1996; 62 FR 55531 , Oct. 27, 1997; 65 FR 38325 , June 20, 2000; 65 FR 59144 , Oct. 4, 2000; 66 FR 10622 , Feb. 16, 2001;
70 FR 4784 , Jan. 31, 2005; 70 FR 31373 , June 1, 2005; 72 FR 50029 , Aug. 29,
2007]
Goto Section: 25.202 | 25.204
Goto Year: 2007 |
2009
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