PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 10-2291 December 14, 2010 PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENT ON SATELLITE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION’S BLANKET WAIVER REQUEST CONCERNING RELIEVING SATELLITE PRESSURE VESSELS IB Docket No. 02-54 Comment Date: January 21, 2011 Reply Comment Date: February 4, 2011 On October 1, 2010, the Satellite Industry Association (“SIA”), on behalf of its member companies, filed a request that the Commission waive certain requirements of Section 25.283(c) of the Commission’s rules1 on a blanket basis. SIA seeks a waiver with respect to the rule’s requirement for venting excess propellant and relieving pressure vessels, for all satellites launched prior to the rulemaking being initiated and those currently on orbit but unable to meet the rule’s requirements. The SIA request provides a list of spacecraft manufacturers and models whose design does not permit all pressure vessels to be relieved at end of life. Comments concerning this request should be filed no later than January 21, 2011, and replies by February 4, 2011. All comments should refer to IB Docket No. 02-54 and the “Blanket Waiver Request of the Satellite Industry Association.” Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR §§ 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using: (1) the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS), (2) the Federal Government’s eRulemaking Portal, or (3) by filing paper copies. 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://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs2/ or the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 1 47 C.F.R. § 25.283(c). The rule states: Upon completion of [a spacecraft’s] ... authorized mission, a space station licensee shall ensure, unless prevented by technical failures beyond its control, that all stored energy sources on board the satellite are discharged, by venting excess propellant, discharging batteries, relieving pressure vessels, and other appropriate measures. 2 § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and four copies 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 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 e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). For further information about this Public Notice, please contact Sankar Persaud, International Bureau at Sankar.Persaud@fcc.gov or (202) 418-2441. – FCC –