[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19826-19829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05847]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[OMB 3060-XXXX; FR ID 209487]


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 of 1995 (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. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a

[[Page 19827]]

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.

DATES: Written PRA comments should be submitted on or before May 20, 
2024. 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 Cathy Williams, FCC, via email to 
[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: 
    OMB Control Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: Part 25 Rules Addressing the Mitigation of Orbital Debris.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities, not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents and Responses: 28 respondents and 28 
responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: 4-15 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 47 U.S.C. 151, 154(i), 301, 303, 307, 308, 309, and 
310.
    Total Annual Burden: 341 hours.
    Annual Cost Burden: $53,900.
    Needs and Uses: The Federal Communications Commission requests that 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve a new information 
collection titled ``Part 25 Rules Addressing the Mitigation of Orbital 
Debris'' under OMB Control No. 3060-XXXX, as a result of three 
Commission rulemaking decisions, as discussed below.
    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).\1\ In Orbital 
Debris 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 
Orbital Debris Report and Order contains the new or modified 
information collection requirements listed below.
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    \1\ The Commission previously published a notice in the Federal 
Register seeking comments from the public on the Part 25 information 
collection requirements contained in the Orbital Debris Report and 
Order on July 13, 2020 (see 85 FR 41980) (July 2020 Notice). On 
September 11, 2020, five parties jointly submitted comments in 
response to the July 2020 Notice. See Paperwork Reduction Act 
Comments of The Boeing Company, Echostar Satellite Services, LLC, 
Hughes Network Services, LLC, Planet Labs Inc. and Spire Global, 
Inc. filed on September 11, 2020 in IB Docket No. 18-313. The five 
parties, together with Telesat Canada, also filed a petition for 
reconsideration of the Orbital Debris Report and Order. As discussed 
below, the Commission denied that petition for reconsideration on 
January 26, 2024. See Order on Reconsideration, FCC 24-6, IB Docket 
No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space 
Age'' (Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order).
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    (A) Non-streamlined space station applicants. The following are new 
or modified information collection requirements contained in Orbital 
Debris Report and Order 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; 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

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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.
    (B) Space station applicants qualifying for small satellite 
streamlined processing. The following are new or modified information 
collection requirements contained in Orbital Debris Report and Order 
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.
    (C) Geostationary orbit (GSO) space station applicants. The 
following new or modified information collection requirements contained 
in Orbital Debris Report and Order 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.
    On September 30, 2022, the Commission released a Second Report and 
Order, FCC 22-74, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of Orbital 
Debris in the New Space Age'' (Orbital Debris Second Report and Order). 
In Orbital Debris Second Report and Order, the Commission required all 
space stations ending their mission in, or passing through, the low 
earth orbit (LEO) region, and planning disposal though uncontrolled 
atmospheric re-entry following the completion of the mission, to 
complete disposal as soon as practicable, and no later than five years 
after the end of the mission.
    On January 26, 2024, the Commission released an Order on 
Reconsideration, FCC 24-6, IB Docket No. 18-313, titled ``Mitigation of 
Orbital Debris in the New Space Age'' (Orbital Debris Reconsideration 
Order). In Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order, the Commission 
dismissed three petitions for reconsideration, including a petition for 
reconsideration filed by The Boeing Company, Echostar Satellite 
Services, LLC, Hughes Network Services, LLC, Planet Labs Inc., Spire 
Global and Telesat Canada. The Orbital Debris Reconsideration Order 
upheld the current regulatory environment for orbital debris 
mitigation, and provided additional clarity and guidance for satellite 
operators while reinforcing the Commission's commitment to space 
safety.
    These collections are 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. 151, 154(i), 
301, 303, 307, 308, 309, and 310. 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

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continue to submit the information required in 47 CFR part 25. Without 
such information, the Commission could not determine whether to permit 
respondents to provide telecommunications 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. 2024-05847 Filed 3-19-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P