Federal Communications Commission DA 20-642 DA 20-642 Released: June 18, 2020 THE WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ESTABLISHES A NEW DOCKET AND DESCRIBES THE PROCESS FOR COMMENT ON SPACE STATION OPERATOR TRANSITION PLANS GN Docket No. 18-122; GN Docket No. 20-173 Comments due: July 13, 2020 With this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) establishes GN Docket No. 20-173, which is captioned “Eligible Satellite Operator Transition Plans for the 3.7-4.2 GHz Band.” This Public Notice also details the process for notice and comment on space station operators’ Transition Plans. Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band, Report and Order and Proposed Modification, 35 FCC Rcd 2343, 2459, para. 305 (2020) (3.7 GHz Report and Order). On March 3, 2020, the Commission released the Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band Report and Order, which adopted new rules to make 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum available for flexible use through a Commission-administered public auction of overlay licenses, plus a 20 megahertz guard band, throughout the contiguous United States by transitioning existing services out of the lower portion and into the upper 200 megahertz of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (C-band). Id. at 2345, para. 4. The 3.7 GHz Report and Order required that each eligible space station operator submit to the Commission, and make available for public review in GN Docket No. 18-122, a Transition Plan describing the necessary steps and estimated costs to transition all existing services out of the lower 300 megahertz of the C-band. Id. at 2457, para. 302. While eligible space station operators are required to file their Transition Plans in GN Docket No. 18-122, they are encouraged to file in GN Docket No. 20-173 as well. See id. at 2458, n.692. Subsequent ex parte filings on this topic need only be filed in GN Docket No. 20-173. The 3.7 GHz Report and Order directed WTB to issue a Public Notice detailing the process for incumbent earth station operators, programmers, and other C-band stakeholders to file comments on each Transition Plan. Id. at 2458-59, para. 305 Stakeholder comments on the Transition Plans are due on July 13, 2020. Id. at 2459, para. 305. Filers responding to the Transition Plans should submit comments in GN Docket No. 20-173. Responsive filings and any subsequent ex parte filings on this topic need only be filed in GN Docket No. 20-173 and not in GN Docket No. 18-122. *** Filing Requirements. Interested parties are invited to file comments on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. All filings must reference GN Docket No. 20-173. Comments may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). § Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically using the internet by accessing the ECFS: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/. § Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must file an original and one copy of each filing. Filings can be sent by commercial courier or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be addressed to the Commission’s Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. § Commercial deliveries (other than U.S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis Junction, MD 20701. § U.S. Postal Service First-Class, Express, and Priority mail must be addressed to 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554. § Effective March 19, 2020, and until further notice, the Commission no longer accepts any hand or messenger delivered filings. This is a temporary measure taken to help protect the health and safety of individuals, and to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. See FCC Announces Closure of FCC Headquarters Open Window and Change in Hand-Delivery Policy, Public Notice, DA 20-304 (March 19, 2020). https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy § During the time the Commission’s building is closed to the general public and until further notice, if more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of a proceeding, paper filers need not submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number; an original and one copy are sufficient. 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 & Government Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice, 202-418-0432 (tty). Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. See 47 CFR §§ 1.1200 et seq. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation within two business days after the presentation (unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must: (1) list all persons attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was made; and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the presenters written comments, memoranda, or other filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must be filed consistent with section 1.1206(b) of the Commission’s rules. In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) of the rules or for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml., .ppt, searchable .pdf). Id. § 1.1206(b). Participants in this proceeding should familiarize themselves with the Commission’s ex parte rules. Additional Information. For further information regarding this Public Notice, please contact Susan Mort, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at Susan.Mort@fcc.gov or 202-418-2429. 3