Goto Section: 25.114 | 25.116 | Table of Contents
FCC 25.115
Revised as of October 2, 2015
Goto Year:2014 |
2016
§ 25.115 Application for earth station authorizations.
(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 § 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 § 25.209(a) and (b) and is verified in accordance with
applicable provisions of § 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 § § 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 § 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 § 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 § § 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 § 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.
(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.
(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 § 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 § 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 § 1.1307 of this chapter
after complying with any applicable environmental notification procedures
specified in § 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 § 1.924 of
this chapter; and
(6) The filed application is consistent with the proposal that was
coordinated pursuant to § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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 § 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° to plus 10° and from minus 180° to
plus 180°;
(ii) Showing off-axis co-polarized EIRP spectral density in the elevation
plane, at off-axis angles from 0°to plus 30°;
(iii) Showing off-axis cross-polarized EIRP spectral density in the azimuth
plane, at off-axis angles from minus 10° to plus 10°; and
(iv) Showing off-axis cross-polarized EIRP spectral density in the elevation
plane, at off-axis angles from minus 10° to plus 10°
(2) A certification on Schedule B that the antenna conforms to the gain
pattern criteria of § 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 § 25.223(b)(1) through (4) of this
part will be met.
(h) Any earth station applicant filing an application pursuant to § 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° for angles between 0° and 10° off-axis,
and at increments of 5° for angles between 10° and 180° 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°, or
demonstrate that it will comply with the applicable off-axis EIRP envelopes
in § 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 § 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 § 25.222(a)(1) or (a)(3), VMES applications
filed pursuant to § 25.226(a)(1) or (a)(3), and ESAA applications filed
pursuant to § 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 § 2.106 of this chapter.
[ 62 FR 5928 , Feb. 10, 1997]
Editorial Note: For Federal Register citations affecting § 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, § 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.
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