PUBLIC NOTICE
Federal Communications Commission
445 12
th
St., S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: https://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
DA 16-660
June 14, 2016
INTERNATIONAL BUREAU ANNOUNCES EXPECTED PROCESSING TIMES 
FOR EARTH STATION APPLICATIONS
IB Docket No. 12-267
In a Report and Order released December 17, 2015, the Commission announced its expected 
processing times for straightforward space station applications.
1
  The Commission also committed to
pursue processing-time guidelines for earth station applications within the following six months.
2
Accordingly, the Satellite Division of the International Bureau announces the following expected 
processing times for straightforward, uncontested earth station applications, barring any complication:
3
(1) Applications for an initial earth station authorization or for a modification of authorization 
will be placed on public notice within 45 days of confirmation of receipt of payment, if not 
defective per section 25.112 of the Commission’s rules, and acted upon within 60 days after close 
of the comment period.
(2) Applications for initial registration of receive-only earth stations or for a modification of 
registration will be placed on public notice within 30 days of confirmation of receipt of payment,
if not defective per section 25.112 of the Commission’s rules, and acted upon within 45 days after 
close of the comment period.
(3) Applications for special temporary authority for earth stations will be placed on public notice 
within 14 days of confirmation of receipt of payment, if not defective per section 25.112 of the 
Commission’s rules and if compliant with section 25.120 of the Commission’s rules, and acted 
upon within 30 days after close of the comment period. For such requests that do not require 
notice to the public before action, if they are not defective per section 25.112 of the 
                                                     
1
Comprehensive Review of Licensing and Operating Rules for Satellite Services, Second Report and Order, 30 FCC 
Rcd 14713, 14761, para. 134 (2015), https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-167A1_Rcd.pdf (Part 
25 Second Report and Order).
2
Id. at 14762, para. 135.
3
For straightforward earth station applications that are eligible for “routine” processing, we continue our 
commitment to place such applications on public notice within 10 business days of receipt.  International Bureau to 
Streamline Satellite and Earth Station Processing, Public Notice, Report No. SPB-140, 1998 WL 747982 (rel. Oct.
28, 1998), http://www.fcc.gov/Bureaus/International/Public_Notices/1998/pnin8249.txt; see also 47 CFR § 25.103 
(defining “routine processing or licensing”).
2Commission’s rules and are compliant with section 25.120 of the Commission’s rules, we expect 
to act within 30 days of receipt subject to confirmation of receipt of payment.
4
These guidelines are based on the Division’s processing experience and the Commission’s inter-
bureau and inter-agency coordination processes.
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- FCC -
                                                     
4
In addition, the Division will endeavor to upload the grant documents for special temporary authority to the online 
International Bureau Filing System within one business day of grant.  See http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs.
5
See Part 25 Second Report and Order, 30 FCC Rcd at 14761, para. 133 & n.328.