[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 104 (Tuesday, May 31, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34301-34302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12691]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket No. 12-267; DA 16-367]


Comment Sought on Implementation of Transmitter Identification 
Requirements for Video Uplink Transmissions

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks 
comment on the appropriate schedule for implementing carrier 
identification requirements for digital video uplink transmissions, 
which were adopted by the Commission in August 2013.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 30, 2016, and replies on or 
before July 15, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identifying IB Docket No. 12-267, 
by any of the following means:
     Federal Communications Commission's Web site: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: [email protected] or phone: 202-418-
0530 or TTY: 202- 418-0432.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clay DeCell, 202-418-0803.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document, DA 16-367, released April 6, 2016. The full text of this 
document is available at https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-16-367A1.pdf. It is also available for inspection and copying during 
business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Portals II, 445 
12th Street SW., Room CY-A257, Washington, DC 20554. To request 
materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities, send an 
email to [email protected] or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs 
Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY).

Synopsis

    By this Public Notice, we seek comment on the appropriate schedule 
for implementing carrier identification requirements for digital video 
uplink transmissions, as adopted by the Commission in August 2013.
    Background. Since 1991, the Commission has required satellite 
uplink transmissions carrying ``broadband'' video information to 
include a signal identifying the source of the transmission. This 
signal, produced by an Automatic Transmitter Identification System 
(ATIS), allows satellite operators that may be receiving interference 
from the video transmission to more quickly identify and address the 
source of interference.
    In August 2013, the Commission updated the ATIS requirement in 47 
CFR 25.281 to better accommodate digitally modulated video 
transmissions. Comprehensive Review of Licensing and Operating Rules 
for Satellite Services, Report and Order, FCC 13-111, 28 FCC Rcd 12403, 
12466-70, paras. 208-220 (2013). Specifically, for digital video 
uplinks from temporary-fixed earth stations, the Commission replaced 
the requirement to transmit a 7.1 megahertz subcarrier signal with a 
requirement to include a spread-spectrum ATIS message conforming to a 
modern industry standard.
    The record in the 2013 proceeding indicated that the new ATIS 
requirement for digital video could be accommodated by replacing the 
equipment with new facilities incorporating an embedded modulator or 
upgrading existing earth station equipment with an external modulator. 
Based on this record, the Commission adopted a two-year grace period 
for operators to bring their equipment into compliance with the new 
ATIS rule in 47 CFR 25.281(b). The Commission concluded that two years 
was a sufficient implementation period, and declined a proposed five-
year phase-in schedule, because it was not requiring the ATIS to be 
embedded and therefore not requiring existing facilities to be 
replaced.
    Recent information from affected earth station operators, and 
independent staff market surveillance, indicate that

[[Page 34302]]

suitable external modulators have not become widely available. Many 
earth station operators would therefore be unable to retro-fit their 
current transmitting equipment in order to comply with 47 CFR 
25.281(b), and instead would need to replace the equipment at 
considerably greater expense than anticipated when the rule was 
adopted.
    Temporary Waiver Order. On March 4, 2016, we issued a waiver of 47 
CFR 25.281(b) for a period of one year, beginning on September 3, 2016, 
the date for compliance with the new requirement. Temporary Waiver of 
Section 25.281(b) Transmitter Identification Requirements for Video 
Uplink Transmissions, Order, DA 16-222 (IB 2016). The waiver was 
adopted to allow additional time for comment and development of an 
updated record on the appropriate implementation schedule for the new 
ATIS requirement.
    Comment Sought. We now seek comment on the appropriate timeframe 
for implementation of the carrier identification requirement for 
digital video transmissions. In particular, we invite comment on the 
costs to both earth station operators and space station operators of 
further delaying the effective date of the requirement. We specifically 
request that commenters provide supporting materials such as technical 
documentation and price quotations for equipment compliant with the 
carrier identification requirement. We note that the World Broadcasting 
Unions have resolved that the ATIS (Carrier ID) requirement be 
implemented by no later than January 1, 2018.
    Interested parties may file comments and reply comments in IB 
Docket No. 12-267 on or before the dates indicated in the DATES section 
of this document. Comments may be filed using the Commission's 
Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of 
Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121 (1998).
     Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically 
using the Internet by accessing the ECFS: http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/.
     Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must 
file an original and one copy of each filing. If more than one docket 
or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, filers 
must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or 
rulemaking number.
    Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial 
overnight courier, or by first-class or overnight U.S. Postal Service 
mail. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
     All hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings 
for the Commission's Secretary must be delivered to FCC Headquarters at 
445 12th St. SW., Room TW-A325, Washington, DC 20554. The filing hours 
are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All hand deliveries must be held together 
with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be 
disposed of before entering the building.
     Commercial overnight mail (other than U.S. Postal Service 
Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton 
Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743.
     U.S. Postal Service first-class, Express, and Priority 
mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street SW., Washington DC 20554.
    People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible 
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic 
files, audio format), send an email to [email protected] or call the 
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (TTY).
    Documents in IB Docket No. 12-267 are available for public 
inspection and copying during business hours at the FCC Reference 
Information Center, Portals II, 445 12th St. SW., Room CY A257, 
Washington, DC 20554.
    Ex parte status. This matter will be treated as a ``permit-but-
disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte 
rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must comply with 47 CFR 
1.1206(b).

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This document does not contain proposed information collection 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 
104-13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any proposed 
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act 
of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

    Federal Communications Commission.
Stephen Duall,
Chief, Policy Branch, International Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2016-12691 Filed 5-27-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6712-01-P