[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 196 (Wednesday, October 12, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 59276]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20446]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Parts 5, 25, and 97

[IB Docket No. 02-54; FCC 04-130]


Mitigation of Orbital Debris

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 
104-13, the Federal Communications Commission received Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the collection of orbital 
debris mitigation plans under 47 CFR 5.63(e), 25.114(d)(14), and 
97.207(g) of the Commission's rules. Mitigation of Orbital Debris, IB 
Docket No. 02-54, OMB Control Number 3060-1013. An agency may not 
conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control 
number.

DATES: Effective October 19, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Duall, Attorney Advisor, 
Satellite Division, International Bureau, at (202) 418-1103, or via the 
Internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Communications Commission has 
received OMB approval for the disclosures of orbital debris mitigation 
plans under 47 CFR 5.63(e), 25.114(d)(14), and 97.207(g) of the 
Commission's rules that were adopted in Mitigation of Orbital Debris, 
IB Docket No. 02-54, 69 FR 54581 (September 9, 2004). These rules 
require a satellite system operator requesting FCC space station 
authorization, or an entity requesting a Commission ruling for access 
to a non-U.S.-licensed space station under the Commission's satellite 
market access procedures, to submit an orbital debris mitigation plan 
to the Commission regarding spacecraft design and operation in 
connection with its request under parts 5, 25, and 97 of the 
Commission's rules. Through this document, the Commission confirms that 
it received OMB approval on April 13, 2005, OMB Control No. 3060-1013, 
and announces that the effective date of 47 CFR 5.63(e), 25.114(d)(14), 
and 97.207(g) is October 19, 2005.
    Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13, 
an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
it displays a currently valid control number. Notwithstanding any other 
provisions of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for 
failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act that does not display a valid control number. 
Questions concerning the OMB control number and expiration dates should 
be directed to Judith B. Herman at 202-418-0214, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554, or via the Internet at [email protected].
    OMB Control No.: 3060-1013.
    OMB Approval Date: 4/13/2005.
    Expiration Date: 4/30/2008.
    Title: Mitigation of Orbital Debris.
    Form No.: N/A.
    Estimated Annual Burden: 53 responses; 159 annual burden hours.
    Needs and Uses: The Commission is revising this information 
collection to reflect the new and/or modified information collection 
requirements that resulted from the Second Report and Order, ``In the 
Matter of Mitigation of Orbital Debris.'' This Second Report and Order 
was released by the Commission on June 21, 2004. The Commission amended 
parts 5, 25, and 97 of the Commission's rules by adopting new rules 
concerning mitigation of orbital debris. Orbital debris consists of 
artificial objects orbiting the earth that are not functional 
spacecraft. Adoption of these rules will help preserve the United 
States' continued affordable access to space, the continued provision 
of reliable U.S. space-based services--including communications and 
remote sensing satellite services for U.S. commercial, government, and 
homeland security purposes--as well as the continued safety of persons 
and property in space and on the surface of the earth. Under the rules 
as amended today, a satellite system operator requesting FCC space 
station authorization, or an entity requesting a Commission ruling for 
access to a non-U.S.-licensed space station under the FCC's satellite 
market access procedures, must submit an orbital debris mitigation plan 
to the Commission regarding spacecraft design and operation in 
connection with its request. This Second Report and Order provides 
guidance for the preparation of such plans. Adoption of these rules 
will further the domestic policy objective of the United States to 
minimize the creation of orbital debris and is consistent with 
international policies and initiatives to achieve this goal. The 
information collection requirements accounted for in this collection 
are necessary to mitigate the potential harmful effects of orbital 
debris accumulation. Without such information collection requirements, 
the growth in the orbital debris may limit the usefulness of space for 
communications and other uses in the future by raising the costs and 
lowering the reliability of space-based systems.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-20446 Filed 10-11-05; 8:45 am]
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