Federal Communications Commission	DA 20-827


DA 20-827
Released:  August 3, 2020

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEKS COMMENT ON WHETHER PROPOSED 3.7-4.2 GHZ RELOCATION COORDINATION SATISFIES SELECTION CRITERIA
GN Docket No. 18-122

Comments Due:  August 18, 2020
Reply Comments Due:  August 28, 2020

With this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (the Bureau) seeks comment on whether the Relocation Coordinator selected by eligible space station operators in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (C-band) satisfies the criteria established by the Commission in the Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band Report and Order. Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band, Report and Order and Proposed Modification, 35 FCC Rcd 2343, 2459, paras. 307-09 (2020) (3.7 GHz Report and Order).
  
On March 3, 2020, the Commission released the 3.7 GHz Band Report and Order, which adopted new rules to make available 280 megahertz of mid-band spectrum 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 in to the upper 200 megahertz of the C-band. Id. at 2345, para. 4.  
  
The 3.7 GHz Report and Order required eligible Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) space station operators to select, no later than July 31, 2020, a Relocation Coordinator that will be responsible for managing the overall transition and coordinating relocation actions among eligible FSS space station operators, incumbent FSS earth station operators, and new 3.7 GHz Service overlay licensees. Id. at 2459-61, paras. 309, 313-14.  An eligible space station operator is defined as an incumbent FSS space station operator that has demonstrated as of February 1, 2020, that it has an existing relationship to provide service via C-band satellite transmission to one or more incumbent earth stations in the contiguous United States.  47 CFR § 27.1411(b)(2).
  The 3.7 GHz Report and Order required that the Relocation Coordinator “must be able to demonstrate that it has the requisite expertise to perform the duties required, which will include: (1) coordinating the schedule for clearing the band; (2) performing engineering analysis, as necessary, to determine necessary earth station migration actions; (3) assigning obligations, as necessary, for earth station migrations and filtering; (4) coordinating with overlay licensees throughout the transition process; (5) assessing the completion of the transition in each PEA and determining overlay licensees’ ability to commence operations; and (6) mediating scheduling disputes.” 3.7 GHz Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 2459, para. 309.

On July 31, 2020, eligible space station operators announced that they had selected RSM US LLP (RSM) to serve as the Relocation Coordinator. Letter from Michael DeMarco, et al., Members of Relocation Coordinator Search Committee, to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC, GN Docket No. 18-122 (filed July 31, 2020).
  We seek comment on whether RSM satisfies the criteria established by the Commission in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order. 3.7 GHz Report and Order, 35 FCC Rcd at 2459-60, paras. 309-10 (establishing selection criteria and directing the Bureau to seek comment on whether the selected entity satisfies such criteria).

As directed by the Commission in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order, following the comment period, the Bureau will issue an order announcing whether the selection criteria have been satisfied. Id. at 2459-60, para. 310.
  Should the Bureau be unable to find that the criteria have been satisfied, the 3.7 GHz Report and Order required that the selection process will start over and the search committee of eligible space station operators will submit a new proposed entity. Id.

Filing Requirements.  Parties may file comments, identified by GN Docket No. 18-122, by any of the following methods: 
§ 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). 
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.
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