[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 134 (Monday, July 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41980-41982]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-14964]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-0678; FRS 16916]


Information Collections Being Reviewed by the Federal 
Communications Commission

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, 
and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on the following information collections. Comments are requested 
concerning: 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; the 
accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 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 ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before September 11, 
2020. 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 contacts below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all PRA comments to Cathy Williams, FCC, via email 
[email protected] and to [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a 
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) 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 OMB 
control number.
    As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and 
as required by the PRA of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the FCC invites 
the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity 
to comment on the following information collections. Comments are 
requested concerning: 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; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; 
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 ways to further reduce the 
information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees.
    OMB Control No.: 3060-0678.
    Title: Part 25 of the Commission's Rules Governing the Licensing 
of, and Spectrum Usage by, Satellite Network Stations and Space 
Station.
    Form Nos.: FCC Form 312, FCC Form 312-EZ, FCC Form 312-R and 
Schedules A, B and S.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities and Not-for-
profit institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 6,501 respondents; 6,550 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 0.5-80 hours.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, one time, and annual reporting 
requirements; third-party disclosure requirement; recordkeeping 
requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. The 
Commission has statutory authority for the information collection 
requirements under 47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 307, 309, 310, 319, 
332, 605, and 721.
    Total Annual Burden: 42,854 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $16,863,793.
    Privacy Act Impact Assessment: No impact(s).

[[Page 41981]]

    Nature and Extent of Confidentiality: There is no need for 
confidentiality pertaining to the information collection requirements 
in this collection.
    Needs and Uses: First, on September 27, 2019, the Commission 
released a Report and Order, FCC 19-93, in IB Docket No. 06-160, titled 
``Amendment of the Commission's Polices and Rules for Processing 
Applications in the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service'' (DBS Licensing 
Report and Order). In this Report and Order, the Commission adopted a 
new licensing process for space stations in the Direct Broadcast 
Satellite Service (DBS). This new process allows applicants for DBS 
space station licenses to take advantage of a licensing process that 
parallels the Commission's streamlined Part 25 satellite licensing 
rules for geostationary orbit (GSO) space stations in the fixed-
satellite service (FSS). The Commission limited the regulatory burdens 
borne by applicants, while promoting new opportunities for efficient 
use of orbital spacing and spectrum by DBS licensees. The Commission's 
action supports and encourages the increasing innovation in the DBS 
sector and helps to preserve U.S. leadership in space-based services 
and operations. This information collection will provide the Commission 
and the public with necessary information about this area of satellite 
operations. While this information collection represents an overall 
increase in the burden hours, the increase is due to an anticipated 
overall increase in number of applications as a result of additional 
applications being filed under the process adopted in the DBS Licensing 
Report and Order. This information collection serves the public 
interest by streamlining the collection of information and allowing the 
Commission to authorize DBS space stations under the new process 
established in the Report and Order.
    Specifically, FCC 19-93 contains the new or modified information 
collection requirement listed below: Space station applications for GSO 
space stations operating in the frequencies of the International 
Telecommunication Union (ITU) Appendices 30 and 30A (incorporated by 
reference, see Sec.  25.108) must include a statement that the proposed 
operation will take into account the applicable requirements of these 
Appendices of the ITU Radio Regulations and a demonstration that it is 
compatible with other U.S. ITU filings under Appendices 30 and 30A or, 
for any affected filings, a letter signed by the affected operator 
indicating that it consents to the new application.
    Second, on March 3, 2020, the Commission released a Report and 
Order and Order of Proposed Modification, FCC 20-22, GN Docket No. 18-
122, titled ``Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band.'' In 
this Report and Order and Order of Proposed Modification, the 
Commission updated its rules by reforming the use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz 
band, also known as the C-Band. The new rules repack existing satellite 
operations into the upper 200 megahertz of the band (and reserve a 20 
megahertz guard band), making a significant amount of spectrum--280 
megahertz or more than half of the band--available for flexible use 
throughout the contiguous United States. The relevant rule revisions 
for purposes of this information collection are the addition of 
sections 25.138 and 25.147 of the Commission's rules. In updating this 
information collection, we are not accounting for any changes to the 
number of respondents, burden hours, and annual cost related to these 
rule revisions since the addition of sections 25.138 and 25.147 set 
forth rules for transition of operations from one frequency band to 
another.
    Third, on April 24, 2020, the Commission released a Report and 
Order, FCC 20-54, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of Orbital 
Debris in the New Space Age'' (Orbital Debris Report and Order). In 
this Report and Order, the Commission updated its rules related to 
orbital debris mitigation, including application requirements. The new 
rules are designed to ensure that the Commission's actions concerning 
radio communications, including licensing U.S. spacecraft and granting 
access to the U.S. market for non-U.S. spacecraft, mitigate the growth 
of orbital debris, while at the same time not creating undue regulatory 
obstacles to new satellite ventures. The action will help to ensure 
that Commission decisions are consistent with the public interest in 
space remaining viable for future satellites and systems and the many 
services that those systems provide to the public. The rule revisions 
also provide additional detail to applicants on what information is 
expected under the Commission's rules, which can help to increase 
certainty in the application filing process. While this information 
collection represents an overall increase in the burden hours, the 
information collection serves the public interest by ensuring that the 
Commission and public have necessary information about satellite 
applicants' plans for mitigation of orbital debris.
    Specifically, FCC 20-54 contains the new or modified information 
collection requirements listed below.
    The following are new or modified information collection 
requirements contained in FCC 20-54 and applicable to non-streamlined 
space station applicants submitting orbital debris mitigation plans 
under part 25 of the Commission's rules:
    (1) Existing application disclosure requirements have been revised 
to include specific metrics in several areas, including: Probability 
that the space stations will become a source of debris by collision 
with small debris and meteoroids that would cause loss of control and 
prevent disposal; probability of collision between any non-
geostationary orbit (NGSO) space station and other large objects; and 
casualty risk associated with any individual spacecraft that will be 
disposed by atmospheric re-entry.
    (2) Where relevant, applicants must disclose the following: Use of 
separate deployment devices, distinct from the space station launch 
vehicle, that may become a source of orbital debris; potential release 
of liquids that will persist in droplet form; and any planned proximity 
operations and debris generation that will or may result from the 
proposed operations, including any planned release of debris, the risk 
of accidental explosions, the risk of accidental collision, and 
measures taken to mitigate those risks.
    (3) The existing application disclosure requirement to analyze 
potential collision risk associated with space station(s) orbits has 
been modified to specify that the disclosure identify characteristics 
of the space station(s)' orbits that may present a collision risk, 
including any planned and/or operational space stations in those 
orbits, and indicate what steps, if any, have been taken to coordinate 
with the other spacecraft or system, or what other measures the 
operator plans to use to avoid collision.
    (4) Applicants for NGSO space stations that will transit through 
the orbits used by any inhabitable spacecraft, including the 
International Space Station, must disclose as part of the application 
the design and operational strategies, if any, that will be used to 
minimize the risk of collision and avoid posing any operational 
constraints to the inhabitable spacecraft.
    (5) The application disclosure must include a certification that 
upon receipt of a space situational awareness conjunction warning, the 
operator will review and take all possible steps to assess the 
collision risk, and will mitigate the collision risk if necessary. As 
appropriate, steps to assess and mitigate the collision risk should 
include, but are not limited to: Contacting the operator of any active 
spacecraft involved in such a warning;

[[Page 41982]]

sharing ephemeris data and other appropriate operational information 
with any such operator; and modifying space station attitude and/or 
operations.
    (6) Applicants for NGSO space stations must describe the extent of 
satellite maneuverability.
    (7) Applicants must address trackability of the space station(s). 
NGSO space station applicants must also disclose: (a) How the operator 
plans to identify the space station(s) following deployment and whether 
the space station tracking will be active or passive; (b) whether, 
prior to deployment the space station(s) will be registered with the 
18th Space Control Squadron or successor entity; and (c) the extent to 
which the space station operator plans to share information regarding 
initial deployment, ephemeris, and/or planned maneuvers with the 18th 
Space Control Squadron or successor entity, other entities that engage 
in space situational awareness or space traffic management functions, 
and/or other operators.
    (8) NGSO space station applicants must provide additional 
disclosures regarding spacecraft disposal, including, for some 
applicants, a demonstration that the probability of success of the 
chosen disposal method is 0.9 or greater for any individual space 
station, and for multi-satellite systems, a demonstration including 
additional information regarding efforts to achieve a higher 
probability of success
    The following are new or modified information collection 
requirements contained in FCC 20-54 and applicable to those space 
station applicants qualifying for small satellite streamlined 
processing under part 25 of the Commission's rules:
    (1) Applicants must certify that the probability that any 
individual space station will become a source of debris by collision 
with small debris or meteoroids that would cause loss of control and 
prevent disposal is 0.01 (1 in 100) or less.
    (2) Applicants must certify that upon receipt of a space 
situational awareness conjunction warning, the licensee or operator 
will review and take all possible steps to assess the collision risk, 
and will mitigate the collision risk if necessary. As appropriate, 
steps to assess and mitigate the collision risk should include, but are 
not limited to: contacting the operator of any active spacecraft 
involved in such a warning; sharing ephemeris data and other 
appropriate operational information with any such operator; and 
modifying space station attitude and/or operations.
    (3) If at any time during the space station(s)' mission or de-orbit 
phase the space station(s) will transit through the orbits used by any 
inhabitable spacecraft, including the International Space Station, 
applicants must provide a description of the design and operational 
strategies, if any, that will be used to minimize the risk of collision 
and avoid posing any operational constraints to the inhabitable 
spacecraft shall be furnished at the time of application.
    (4) Applicants must provide a statement identifying characteristics 
of the space station(s)' orbits that may present a collision risk, 
including any planned and/or operational space stations in those 
orbits, and indicating what steps, if any, have been taken to 
coordinate with the other spacecraft or system, or what other measures 
the licensee plans to use to avoid collision. This requirement also 
applies to applicants for streamlined small spacecraft authorizations.
    (5) Applicants must provide a statement disclosing how the licensee 
or operator plans to identify the space station(s) following deployment 
and whether space station tracking will be active or passive; whether 
the space station(s) will be registered with the 18th Space Control 
Squadron or successor entity prior to deployment; and the extent to 
which the space station licensee or operator plans to share information 
regarding initial deployment, ephemeris, and/or planned maneuvers with 
the 18th Space Control Squadron or successor entity, other entities 
that engage in space situational awareness or space traffic management 
functions, and/or other operators.
    (6) If the applicant's space station(s) will undertake any planned 
proximity operations, the applicant must provide a statement disclosing 
those planned operations, and addressing debris generation that will or 
may result from the proposed operations, including any planned release 
of debris, the risk of accidental explosions, the risk of accidental 
collision, and measures taken to mitigate those risks.
    (7) Applicants must provide a demonstration that the probability of 
success of disposal is 0.9 or greater for any individual space station. 
Space stations deployed to orbits in which atmospheric drag will, in 
the event of a space station failure, limit the lifetime of the space 
station to less than 25 years do not need to provide this additional 
demonstration.
    Additionally, the following new or modified information collection 
requirements contained in FCC 20-54 are applicable to applicants 
requesting a modification of an existing licensee for a GSO space 
station to extend the space station license term under part 25 of the 
Commission's rules:
    GSO space station licensees seeking a license term extension 
through a license modification application must provide a statement 
that includes the requested duration of the license extension; the 
estimated total remaining space station lifetime; a description of any 
single points of failure or other malfunctions, defects, or anomalies 
during the space station operation that could affect its ability to 
conduct end-of-life procedures as planned, and an assessment of the 
associated risk; a certification that remaining fuel reserves are 
adequate to complete de-orbit as planned; and a certification that 
telemetry, tracking, and command links are fully functional.
    This collection is used by the Commission's staff in carrying out 
its statutory duties to regulate satellite communications in the public 
interest, as generally provided under 47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302, 303, 
307, 309, 310, 319, 332, 605, and 721. This collection is also used by 
staff in carrying out United States treaty obligations under the World 
Trade Organization (WTO) Basic Telecom Agreement. The information 
collected is used for the practical and necessary purposes of assessing 
the legal, technical, and other qualifications of applicants; 
determining compliance by applicants, licensees, and other grantees 
with Commission rules and the terms and conditions of their grants; and 
concluding whether, and under what conditions, grant of an 
authorization will serve the public interest, convenience, and 
necessity.
    As technology advances and new spectrum is allocated for satellite 
use, applicants for satellite service will continue to submit the 
information required in 47 CFR part 25 of the Commission's rules. 
Without such information, the Commission could not determine whether to 
permit respondents to provide telecommunication services in the United 
States. Therefore, the Commission would be unable to fulfill its 
statutory responsibilities in accordance with the Communications Act of 
1934, as amended, and the obligations imposed on parties to the WTO 
Basic Telecom Agreement.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-14964 Filed 7-10-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P