PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 15-1147 October 7, 2015 COMMSSION STAFF INVITES ANY SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION OR COMMENTS ON PROPOSED GROUND PATH INTERFERENCE RULES FOR 17/24 GHz REVERSE BAND BROADCAST-SATELLITE SERVICE (BSS) OPERATIONS IB Docket No. 06-123 Report No. SPB-264 Comment Date: [30 days after publication in the Federal Register] Reply Comment Date: [45 days after publication in the Federal Register] The International Bureau hereby invites interested parties to provide any supplemental information or comments concerning the Commission’s proposed ground-path interference rules for 17/24 GHz Reverse Band BSS operations, as presented in the Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in IB Docket No. 06-123.1 On June 22, 2000, the Commission allocated 400 megahertz of spectrum at 17.3-17.7 GHz for primary BSS (space-to-Earth) uses, effective April 1, 2007. 2 The 17.3-17.7 GHz band is also allocated to the fixed-satellite service (Earth-to-space), limited to feeder links for the broadcasting-satellite service,3 and is used for feeder links for the Direct Broadcast Satellite (“DBS”) service. 1 See 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, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, IB Docket No. 06-123, 22 FCC Rcd 8842 (2007) (FNPRM). 2 See generally Redesignation of the 17.7-19.7 GHz Frequency Band, Blanket Licensing of Satellite Earth Stations in the 17.7-20.2 GHz and 27.5-30.0 GHz Frequency Bands, and the Allocation of Additional Spectrum in the 17.3-17.8 GHz and 24.75-25.25 GHz Frequency Bands for Broadcast Satellite-Service Use, Report and Order, IB Docket No. 98-172, 15 FCC Rcd 13430 (2000) (First Report and Order). At the same time, the Commission also allocated “the 24.75-25.05 GHz band for primary GSO/FSS (Earth- to-space) use, limited to feeder links for the BSS in the 17.3-17.7 GHz band, and the GSO/FSS 25.05- 25.25 GHz band for co-primary use between the FSS (Earth-to-space), limited to BSS feeder links, and the fixed service, comprised of the 24 GHz Service.” See id. at 13433, ¶ 7. The 24.75-25.25 GHz band is beyond the scope of this public notice. 3 See 47 C.F.R. § 2.106, n.US271. 2On June 23, 2006, the Commission discussed the newly allocated spectrum and the potential for interference from DBS feeder link earth stations to earth stations that receive signals in the same band, what is referred to as “ground path” interference.4 Specifically, the Commission anticipated that “DBS feeder-link earth stations that transmit in the Earth-to-space direction may become increasingly common in populated areas, thereby escalating the potential for interference into 17/24 GHz BSS subscriber antennas.”5 On May 2, 2007, the Commission proposed rules to mitigate ground path interference.6 The ground path interference issues in this proceeding have been considered and discussed among the interested parties previously. Since considerable time has passed, however, since the release of the FNPRM, the Commission asks the public to provide any updates for the record and any additional comments on the proposed rules for ground path interference mitigation in 17/24 GHz reverse-band BSS operations presented in the FNPRM.7 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 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 4 See 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, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, IB Docket No. 06-123, 21 FCC Rcd 7426, 7453, ¶ 56 (2006) (NPRM). The Commission also discussed the potential interference from a space station-into-space station path. This “space path” interference is beyond the scope of this public notice. 5 Id. at 7454, ¶ 58. 6 See 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, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, IB Docket No. 06-123, 22 FCC Rcd 88428902-14, ¶¶ 148-79 (2007) (FNPRM). 7 See id. 3must 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 e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (tty). Documents in IB Docket No. 06-123 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, D.C. 20554. -FCC-