[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45567-45569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-19151]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995. Comments are requested concerning (a) 
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information collected; (d) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology; and (e) ways to further reduce the information 
collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 
employees.
    The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be 
subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of 
information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before September 
27, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but 
find it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this 
notice, you should advise the contact listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to the Federal Communications 
Commission via e-mail to [email protected] and [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about the 
information collection, contact Cathy Williams at (202) 418-2918.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    OMB Control No.: 3060-1097.
    Title: Service Rules and Policies for the Broadcasting Satellite 
Service (BSS).
    Form No.: Not Applicable.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Number of Respondents: 8 respondents; 48 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 2 hours--36 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion reporting requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
Commission has statutory authority for the information collection 
requirements under Sections 1, 4(i), 4(j), 7(a), 301, 303(c), 303(f), 
303(g), 303(r), 303(y) and 308 of the Communications Act of 1934, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 154(j), 157(a), 301, 303(c), 303(f), 
303(g), 303(r), 303(y), and 308.
    Total Annual Burden: 848 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $43,200 annual costs.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).
    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: In general, there is no need 
for confidentiality pertaining to the information collection 
requirements in this collection.
    Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission 
(``Commission'') is requesting that the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) approve a new information collection titled, ``Establishment of 
Policies and Service Rules for the Broadcasting-Satellite Service at 
the 17.3-17.7 GHz Frequency Band and at the 17.7-17.8 GHz Frequency 
Band Internationally, and at the 24.75-25.25 GHz Frequency Band for 
Fixed Satellite Services Providing Feeder Links to the Broadcasting-
Satellite Service and for the Satellite Services Operating Bi-
directionally in the 17.3-17.8 GHz Frequency Band'' (17/24 GHz BSS).'' 
On June 14, 2011, the Commission released a Second Report and Order 
(Order) titled, ``In the Matter of The Establishment of Policies and 
Service Rules for the Broadcasting-Satellite Service at the 17.3-17.7 
GHz Frequency Band and at the 17.7-17.8 Frequency Band Internationally, 
and at the 24.75-

[[Page 45568]]

25.25 GHz Frequency Band for Fixed Satellite Services Providing Feeder 
Links to the Broadcasting-Satellite Service and for the Satellite 
Services Operating Bi-directionally in the 17.3-17.8 GHz Frequency 
Band'' IB Docket No. 06-123, FCC 11-93.
    A total of 8 companies have applied to the Commission to provide 
Broadcasting Satellite Service (BSS) or are currently authorized by the 
Commission to provide Direct Broadcast Satellite Service (DBS).
    This Order contains the following new information collection 
requirements for which we seek OMB approval:

New Information Collection Requirements

    47 CFR 25.114(d)(15)(iv)--Applicants filing for a space station 
authorization must file the information required in Section 26.264(a)-
(b).
    47 CFR 25.114(d)(18)--Applicants filing for a space station 
authorization in the Direct Broadcast Satellite service or the 17/24 
GHz broadcasting-satellite service, must provide maximum orbital 
eccentricity calculations.
    47 CFR 25.264(a)--Each applicant for a space station license in the 
17/24 GHz broadcasting-satellite service (BSS) must provide a series of 
tables or graphs with its application, that contain the predicted 
transmitting antenna off-axis gain information for each transmitting 
antenna in the 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency band. Using a Cartesian 
coordinate system wherein the X-axis is defined as tangent to the 
geostationary orbital arc with the positive direction pointing east, 
i.e., in the direction of travel of the satellite; the Y-axis is 
defined as parallel to a line passing through the geographic north and 
south poles of the Earth, with the positive direction pointing south; 
and the Z-axis is defined parallel to a line passing through the center 
of the Earth, with the positive direction pointing toward the Earth, 
the applicant must provide the predicted transmitting antenna off-axis 
antenna gain information:
    (1) In the X-Z plane, i.e., the plane of the geostationary orbit, 
over a range of 30 Degrees from the positive and negative 
X-axes in increments of 5 degrees or less.
    (2) In planes rotated from the X-Z plane about the Z-axis, over a 
range of up to 60 degrees relative to the equatorial plane, 
in increments of 10 degrees or less.
    (3) In both polarizations.
    (4) At a minimum of three measurement frequencies determined with 
respect to the entire portion of the 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency band over 
which the space station is designed to transmit: 5 MHz above the lower 
edge of the band; at the band center frequency; and 5 MHz below the 
upper edge of the band.
    (5) Over a greater angular measurement range, if necessary, to 
account for any planned spacecraft orientation bias or change in 
operating orientation relative to the reference coordinate system. The 
applicant must also explain its reasons for doing so.
    47 CFR 25.264(b)--Each applicant for a space station license in the 
17/24 GHz BSS must provide power flux density (pfd) calculations with 
its application that are based upon the predicted off-axis transmitting 
antenna gain information submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of 
this section, as follows:
    (1) The pfd calculations must be provided at the location of all 
prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations where the applicant's pfd level 
exceeds the coordination trigger of -117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz in the 17.3-
17.8 GHz band. In this rule, the term prior-filed U.S. DBS space 
station refers to any Direct Broadcast Satellite service space station 
application that was filed with the Commission (or authorization 
granted by the Commission) prior to the filing of the 17/24 GHz BSS 
application containing the predicted off-axis transmitting antenna gain 
information. The term prior-filed U.S. DBS space station does not 
include any applications (or authorizations) that have been denied, 
dismissed, or are otherwise no longer valid. Prior-filed U.S. DBS space 
stations may include foreign-licensed DBS space stations seeking 
authority to serve the United States market, but do not include 
foreign-licensed DBS space stations that have not filed applications 
with the Commission for market access in the United States.
    (2) The pfd calculations must take into account the maximum 
longitudinal station-keeping tolerance, orbital inclination and orbital 
eccentricity of both the 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS space stations, and 
must:
    (i) Identify each prior-filed U.S. DBS space station at whose 
location the coordination threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz 
is exceeded; and
    (ii) Demonstrate the extent to which the applicant's transmissions 
in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceed the threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/
m\2\/100 kHz at those prior-filed U.S. DBS space station locations.
    (3) If the calculated pfd level is in excess of the threshold level 
of -117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz at the location of any prior-filed U.S. DBS 
space station, the applicant must also provide with its application 
certification that all affected DBS operators acknowledge and do not 
object to the applicants higher off-axis pfd levels. No such 
certification is required in cases where the DBS and 17/24 GHz BSS 
assigned operating frequencies do not overlap.
    47 CFR 25.264(c)--No later than nine months prior to launch, each 
17/24 GHz BSS space station applicant or authorization holder must 
confirm the predicted transmitting antenna off-axis gain information 
provided in accordance with Sec.  25.114(d)(15)(iv) by submitting 
measured transmitting antenna off-axis gain information over the 
angular ranges, measurement frequencies and polarizations described in 
paragraphs (a)(1)-(5) of this section. The transmitting antenna off-
axis gain information should be measured under conditions as close to 
flight configuration as possible.
    4.47 CFR 25.264(d)--No later than nine months prior to launch, each 
17/24 GHz BSS space station applicant or authorization holder must 
provide pfd calculations based upon the measured transmitting antenna 
off-axis gain information that is submitted in accordance with 
paragraph (c) of this section as follows:
    (1) The pfd calculations must be provided:
    (i) at the location of all prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations as 
defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, where the applicant's pfd 
level in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceeds the coordination trigger of -
117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz; and
    (ii) At the location of any subsequently-filed DBS U.S. DBS space 
station where the applicant's pfd level in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band 
exceeds the coordination trigger of -117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz. In this 
rule, the term subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station refers to any 
Direct Broadcast Satellite service space station application that was 
filed with the Commission (or authorization granted by the Commission) 
after the 17/24 GHz BSS operator submitted the predicted data required 
by paragraphs (a)-(b) of this section, but prior to the time the 17/24 
GHz BSS operator submitted the measured data required in this 
paragraph. Subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space stations may include 
foreign-licensed DBS space stations seeking authority to serve the 
United States market. The term does not include any applications (or 
authorizations) that have been denied, dismissed, or are otherwise no 
longer valid, nor does it include foreign-licensed DBS space stations 
that have not filed applications

[[Page 45569]]

with the Commission for market access in the United States.
    (2) The pfd calculations must take into account the maximum 
longitudinal station-keeping tolerance, orbital inclination and orbital 
eccentricity of both the 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS space stations, and 
must:
    (i) Identify each prior-filed U.S. DBS space station at whose 
location the coordination threshold pfd level of -117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz 
is exceeded; and
    (ii) Demonstrate the extent to which the applicant's or licensee's 
transmissions in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band exceed the threshold pfd level 
of -117 dBW/m\2\/100 kHz at those prior-filed U.S. DBS space station 
locations.
    47 CFR 25.264(f)--The 17/24 GHz BSS applicant or licensee must 
modify its license, or amend its application, as appropriate, based 
upon new information:
    (1) If the pfd levels submitted in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this section, are in excess of those submitted in accordance with 
paragraph (b) of this section at the location of any prior-filed or 
subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station as defined in paragraphs 
(b)(1) and (d)(1) of this section, or
    (2) If the 17/24 GHz BSS operator adjusts its operating parameters 
in accordance with paragraphs (e)(1)(ii) or (e)(2)(ii) or this section.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Office of Managing Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-19151 Filed 7-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P