Federal Communications Commission DA 23-338 DA 23-338 Released: April 18, 2023 SPACE BUREAU AND WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUREAU SEEK COMMENT ON FILINGS OF SPACEX AND T-MOBILE REQUESTING TO ESTABLISH SUPPLEMENTAL COVERAGE FROM SPACE; SPACE EXPLORATION HOLDINGS, LLC APPLICATION ACCEPTED FOR FILING GN Docket No. 23-135 IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20230207-00021 Comments/Petitions Due: May 18, 2023 Response to Comments/Oppositions to Petitions Due: May 29, 2023 Replies to Reponses/Oppositions Due: June 2, 2023 The Space Bureau and Wireless Telecommunications Bureau seek comment on filings by Space Explorations Holdings, LLC (SpaceX) IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20230207-00021; Call Sign S3069. and T-Mobile USA Inc. (T-Mobile) ULS File Nos. 0010303032, 0010303084, 0010303124, and 0010303146. that jointly seek Commission relief to establish supplemental coverage from space for T-Mobile’s terrestrial network using SpaceX satellites. We seek comment on the following filings by the parties. SpaceX requests modification of its license for its second generation (Gen2) Starlink constellation of low-Earth orbit, non-geostationary orbit satellites to add a direct-to-cellular communications capability on up to 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites.  Specifically, SpaceX seeks to operate in the mobile-satellite service using the 1910-1915 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 1990-1995 MHz (space-to-Earth) bands for links to end-user devices.  SpaceX also seeks to support these operations with feeder links utilizing frequencies in the Ka-band and E-band for gateway operations, including Ka-band frequencies authorized for gateway stations used to support its Ku-Band fixed satellite service links to end-user devices.  In connection with its request, SpaceX seeks waivers of the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations and sections 25.102(a), 25.112(a)(3), 25.112(b), 25.114(a)(1), 25.115(a)(1)(i), 25.202(a)(1), 25.156(d), and 25.157 of the Commission’s rules. The SpaceX space station license modification request is accepted for filing under part 25 of the Commission’s rules. See 47 CFR § 25.151. The Commission reserves the right to return any application or petition if, upon further examination, it is determined to be defective and not in conformance with the Commission’s rules or policies. T-Mobile filed a long-term spectrum manager lease notification informing the Commission of an arrangement whereby SpaceX satellites would provide supplemental coverage to T-Mobile’s terrestrial network on Personal Communications Service (PCS) G-block (1910-1915 MHz and 1990-1995 MHz) spectrum licensed to T-Mobile, if the Commission also takes favorable action regarding part 25 licensing. Filing Requirements. Interested parties may file comments on or before the date indicated on the first page of this document. See 47 CFR §§ 1.2, 1.405, and 1.419. All filings must refer to GN Docket No. 23-135 and IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20230207-00021. Comments regarding IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20230207-00021 must be filed in accordance with section 25.154 of the Commission’s rules. However, in order to facilitate consideration of the requests, we waive on our own motion the portion of section 25.154 that requires filings to be submitted in the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS). 47 CFR § 25.154(a)(3), (d), and (e). Instead, comments and other pleadings may be filed using the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121-01 (1998). § Electronic Filers: Pleadings may be filed electronically using the Internet by accessing 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 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. § Commercial overnight mail (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 45 L Street, NE, 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 (Mar. 19, 2020), https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-closes-headquarters-open-window-and-changes-hand-delivery-policy. 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). Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a “permit-but-disclose” proceeding in accordance with the Commission’s ex parte rules. 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 presenter’s 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. For further information regarding this proceeding, please contact Stephanie Neville of the Space Bureau, at stephanie.neville@fcc.gov or Alice Koethe of the Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at alice.koethe@fcc.gov. - FCC - 2