Federal Communications Commission	DA 23-191


DA 23-191
Released:  March 9, 2023

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU ANNOUNCES RELOCATION PAYMENT CLEARINGHOUSE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, SELECTION CRITERIA, AND APPLICATION DEADLINES IN 3.45-3.55 GHZ BAND TRANSITION 
WT Docket No. 19-348

By this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announces that it has received the attached Request for Proposal, which contains the selection criteria and filing instructions for proposals for the position of Reimbursement Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse) in the 3.45-3.55 GHz band (3.45 GHz Band) transition.

In the 3.45 GHz Band Second R&O, the Commission adopted rules to make 100 megahertz of mid-band spectrum available for flexible use throughout the contiguous United States. Facilitating Shared Use in the 3100-3550 MHz Band, WT Docket No. 19-348, Second Report and Order, Order on Reconsideration, and Order of Proposed Modification, 36 FCC Rcd 5987 (2021) (3.45 GHz Band Second R&O).
  To facilitate this goal, the Commission previously had determined that secondary, non-federal radiolocation licensees in the band would be relocated to the 2.9-3.0 GHz band. Facilitating Shared Use in the 3100-3550 MHz Band, WT Docket No. 19-348, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 35 FCC Rcd 11078, 11086, para. 20 (2020) (3.45 GHz Band R&O and FNPRM). 
  In the 3.45 GHz Band Second R&O, the Commission further determined that secondary, non-federal radiolocation authorizations would sunset 180 days after new 3.45 GHz Service licenses are granted in the band. 3.45 GHz Band Second R&O, 36 FCC Rcd at 6041, para. 152; see also 47 CFR § 2.106 n.US103.
  Because these licenses were granted on May 4, 2022, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Grants Auction 110 Licenses, Public Notice, DA 22-462 (WTB May 4, 2022) (3.45 GHz Band Grant PN).
 the non-federal radiolocation authorizations sunset on October 31, 2022. The Bureau granted conditional STAs to Nexstar and NBCUniversal to conduct reduced operations on a non-interference basis for a limited period of time beyond October 31, 2022.  See ULS File Nos. 0010423178, 0010340943, 0010340871, and 0010341173.
  In addition, the Commission in the 3.45 GHz Band Second R&O required “new flexible-use licensees in the 3.45 GHz Service to reimburse secondary, non-federal radiolocation licensees for reasonable costs related to the relocation of those operations to the 2.9-3.0 GHz band, including the costs of a relocation clearinghouse’s administration of the reimbursement.” 3.45 GHz Band Second R&O, 36 FCC Rcd at 6042, para. 155.  The Commission “anticipate[d] clearinghouse costs to be minimal, given the limited number of licensees being relocated and relatively small estimated cost of their transition.  The radiolocation service incumbents will initially fund the clearinghouse and can request reimbursement from new flexible-use licensees for the clearinghouse costs.”  Id. at 6042, para. 155, n.386.
  Specifically, each new 3.45 GHz Service licensee “will be responsible for reimbursement of a pro rata share of reasonable relocation costs of non-federal radiolocation operations.” Id., 36 FCC Rcd at 6044, para. 161.  As the Commission explained, “the total relocation costs will be divided by the number of 3.45 GHz Service licenses and each licensee will be required to pay their share based on the number of licenses they hold.”  Id.; see also 47 CFR § 27.1604.
  The 3.45 GHz Clearinghouse Order directed the Bureau to notify the public that the search committee has published the criteria for the selection of the Clearinghouse and announce a closing date of April 3, 2023 for submission of responses to the Request For Proposal. Facilitating Shared Use in the 3100-3500 MHz Band, WT Docket No. 19-348, Order, DA 22-1188, para. 24 (WTB 2022) (3.45 GHz Clearinghouse Order).   
  The search committee submitted the Request for Proposal in the appropriate docket, WT Docket No. 19-348, on March 6, 2023. See CCA, et al., WT Docket No. 19-348, Attach., Request for Proposal: Reimbursement Clearinghouse (filed Mar. 6, 2023.     


The search committee’s Request for Proposal, attached to this Public Notice, details the selection criteria and instructions for filing proposals for the Clearinghouse position.  Entities must file proposals electronically with the search committee, according to the filing instructions contained in the Request for Proposal, by April 3, 2023. Id., Attach. at 6.


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