[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 179 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48486-48487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24213]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket No. 95-117; FCC 96-425]


Streamlining Rules and Regulations for Satellite Application and 
Licensing Procedures

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; establishment of effective date.

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SUMMARY: The modifications to the Commission's rules and regulations on 
application and licensing requirements for satellite space and earth 
stations adopted in the Part 25 Streamlining Order, including the new 
FCC Form 312, became effective April 21, 1997. These modifications, 
which contained modified information collection requirements, were 
published in the Federal Register of February 10, 1997.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The modifications to 47 CFR part 25 published at 62 FR 
5924 (February 10, 1997) and the new FCC Form 312 became effective 
April 21, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Campbell, International 
Bureau, (202) 418-0753.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Febuary 10, 1997, the Commission 
published the Federal Register summary of the Part 25 Streamlining 
Order (FCC 96-425, 62 FR 5924 (February 10, 1997)). The Part 25 
Streamlining Order streamlined the existing application and licensing 
procedures, reduced reporting requirements for a number of services, 
and consolidated various forms to make data collection more efficient. 
Specifically, the FCC (1) waived the construction permit requirement 
for satellite space stations; (2) extended the construction period for 
Very Small Aperture Terminals (``VSATs''); (3) eliminated the annual 
reporting requirement for VSATs; (4) increased the license term for 
temporary fixed earth stations operating in the C-band from one year to 
ten years; (5) reduced reporting requirements for earth and space 
stations; (6) reviewed and consolidated FCC Forms 430, 493, 704 and 702 
into a new Form 312 with specific schedules; (7) expedited the 
processing of satellite inclined orbit authorizations; (8) streamlined 
the earth station modification process; (9) updated Part 25 rules in 
accordance with ITU Radio Regulations; and (10) eliminated burdensome 
space station application provisions.
    Because these rule changes impose new or modified information 
collection requirements, they could not become effective until approved 
by the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB'') pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. In the February 10, 
1997 Federal Register summary, we stated that the rules, regulations 
and the FCC Form 312 established in the Part 25 Streamlining Order 
would become effective upon approval by OMB, but no sooner than sixty 
days after publication in the Federal Register. OMB approved these rule 
changes on April 21, 1997.
    The Federal Register Summary stated that ``[t]he Federal 
Communications Commission will publish a document at a later date 
announcing the effective date of these rules,'' see 62 FR 5924 
(February 10, 1997). Therefore, the Commission announces that the rule 
changes adopted in the Part 25 Streamlining Order became effective on 
April 21, 1997.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 25

    Communciations common carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Satellites.


[[Page 48487]]


Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-24213 Filed 9-15-97; 8:45 am]
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