*Pages 1--35 from Microsoft Word - 59152.doc* Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 In the Matter of Amendment of the Commission’s Policies and Rules for Processing Applications in the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Feasibility of Reduced Orbital Spacing for Provision of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service in the United States ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) IB Docket No. 06- 160 Report No. SPB- 196 NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING Adopted: August 14, 2006 Released: August 18, 2006 Comment Date: (75 days after Federal Register publication) Reply Comment Date: (105 days after Federal Register publication) By the Commission: Commissioners Copps and Adelstein approving in part, concurring in part, and issuing a joint statement. TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Paragraph I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1 II. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................. 2 A. History of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Serving the United States............................ 2 1. Resources............................................................................................................... 2 2. Licensing Procedures............................................................................................. 7 B. DBS Operations in the United States from Locations with Nine- Degree Orbital Spacing ................................................................................................................. 13 C. Operations from Reduced- Spacing Orbital Locations ...................................................... 16 III. NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING.................................................................................. 19 A. Licensing Procedures........................................................................................................ 22 B. Technical Rules for the Operation of Reduced Spacing DBS Satellites........................... 28 C. Resolution of Impasse in Operator Negotiations and Protection Margins........................ 32 D. License Term .................................................................................................................... 51 E. Effect of Reduced Spacing DBS Satellites on Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service .............................................................................................................. 53 F. Non- Geostationary Satellite Orbit Fixed Satellite Services.............................................. 55 G. Mobile DBS Receivers ..................................................................................................... 59 H. . Full- CONUS Spectrum Cap ............................................................................................. 62 IV. CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................. 64 V. PROCEDURAL MATTERS ......................................................................................................... 65 A. Ex Parte Presentations ...................................................................................................... 65 B. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification ....................................................................... 66 C. Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis .......................................................... 67 D. Comment Filing Procedures ............................................................................................. 68 1 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 2 E. Further Information........................................................................................................... 77 VI. ORDERING CLAUSES................................................................................................................ 78 I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Notice), we invite comment on revisions to our licensing procedures and technical rules governing direct broadcast satellite (DBS) Service. We propose service rules for GSO DBS space stations in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz frequency band. We expect that adopting these procedures for DBS applications will expedite the provision of beneficial services to the public, just as these procedures have done in other satellite services. 2. The approaches we propose in the Notice are prompted, in part, by a recent decision by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that the Commission’s July 2004 auction of DBS licenses was unauthorized. 1 The proposed rules would replace processing procedures that were designed to assign DBS licenses by auctions. If adopted, these rules will apply to any application for authority to provide DBS service to the United States using the 12.2- 12.7 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17.3- 17.8 GHz band, including unassigned channels at orbit locations assigned to the United States under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 2 Broadcasting Satellite Service and feeder- link Plans, as well as applications for DBS service from space stations located at orbital locations not assigned to the United States in the ITU Region 2 BSS and feeder- link Plans. 2 II. BACKGROUND A. History of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Serving the United States 1. Resources 3. The DBS service is a radiocommunication service in which signals transmitted or retransmitted by space stations in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz frequency band are intended for direct reception by the general public. 3 DBS space stations serving the United States are governed by Commission policies and rules. Their operation is also governed by international regulations administered by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU regulations apportion spectrum and orbit locations for the broadcasting- satellite service (BSS) 4 in various geographic regions in certain planned frequency bands 5 1 Northpoint Technology, Ltd. and Compass Systems, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 412 F. 3d 145 (D. C. Cir. 2005) (Northpoint v. FCC). 2 As described in more detail in the following paragraphs, the Commission has authorized only DBS satellites that are a minimum of nine degrees apart on the geostationary arc. Nine degree spacing derives from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 2 Broadcast Satellite Service Plan, which assigned to the United States eight DBS orbital locations, each spaced a minimum of nine degrees away from the next. In this NPRM, we refer to orbital locations other than those in the original Region 2 Plan as “reduced spacing” or “non- nine- degree- spaced” locations. 3 See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 201 and 25. 202( a)( 7). 4 BSS is the international term used for a radiocommunication service in which signals transmitted or retransmitted by space stations are intended for direct reception by the general public. See also 47 C. F. R. § 2.1. DBS is the term used in the United States to describe the domestic implementation of the BSS international service in the 12. 2- 12. 7 GHz frequency bands. See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 201 at definition of “Direct Broadcast Satellite Service”; 47 C. F. R. § 25. 202( a)( 7). 5 The provisions of Appendices 30 and 30A of the International Radio Regulations are applicable to the BSS in the frequency bands 11. 7- 12.2 GHz (Region 3), 11.7- 12. 5 GHz (Region 1) and 12. 2- 12.7 GHz (Region 2), and to their associated feeder links in the bands 14. 5- 14.8 GHz and 17. 3- 18. 1 GHz (Regions 1 and 3) and 17. 3- 17.8 GHz (continued....) 2 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 7 10. Subsequent History. Northpoint Technology, Ltd., and its subsidiary Compass Systems, Inc. (collectively, Northpoint) petitioned the U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (the Court) for review of the Commission’s 2004 DBS Auction Order. 32 Northpoint challenged the Commission’s interpretation of Section 647 of the ORBIT Act. In its decision, the D. C. Circuit held that the Commission’s construction of the ORBIT Act to exclude DBS from the auction prohibition could not withstand judicial scrutiny based on the record. 33 Although the Court found it reasonable to construe the ORBIT Act as not prohibiting auctions of licenses for domestic satellite services, it nevertheless rejected as unreasonable the Commission’s determination that DBS was such a domestic satellite service based on the existing record. 34 11. The Court vacated Part III. A of the DBS Auction Order. 35 The Court therefore held that Auction No. 52, the most recent auction of DBS spectrum, was unauthorized, and remanded for our further consideration. 36 The Commission then nullified the results of Auction No. 52, refunded the winning bid payments, and adopted a freeze on applications for new DBS service. 37 12. First- Come, First- Served Procedure. In 2003, the Commission revised its licensing procedures for all satellite applications except for DBS and Digital Audio Radio Service (DARS) applications. 38 The Commission adopted a first- come, first- served procedure for GSO satellite (... continued from previous page) 32 Northpoint Technology, Ltd. and Compass Systems, Inc., Petitioners v. Federal Communications Commission, Respondent, No. 04- 1052, U. S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. 33 Northpoint Technology, Ltd. and Compass Systems, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 412 F. 3d 145, 156 (D. C. Cir. 2005) (Northpoint v. FCC). 34 The Court’s decision is based on three principal reasons. First, the Court held that the ITU Region 2 Band Plan was not “a basis for treating DBS as a solely domestic satellite communications service … in light of the policy [the Commission] announced in DISCO I.” Northpoint v. FCC, 412 F. 3d at 152- 53. Specifically, in DISCO I the Commission recognized that the Region 2 Plan “does not preclude the provision of international DBS service” and may be modified to permit such service. Amendment to the Commission’s Regulatory Policies Governing Domestic Fixed Satellites and Separate International Satellite Systems, Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 2429 (1996) (DISCO I). In its 1995 DISCO I Order, the Commission adopted a policy that permits all U. S.- licensed FSS systems, mobile satellite services (MSS) systems, and DBS service systems to offer both domestic and international services without further regulatory approval. In adopting DISCO I, the Commission recognized the emergence of a global satellite marketplace and held that a policy of regulatory parity would benefit users of satellite services by enhancing competition, increasing available capacity, and encouraging innovation in services at lower prices to consumers. DISCO I, 11 FCC Rcd at 2434 ¶ 33. Subsequently, in DISCO II, the Commission expanded the policies of DISCO I to allow non- U. S. licensed space stations to provide satellite service in the United States. See Amendment of the Commission's Regulatory Policies to Allow Non- U. S. Licensed Satellites Providing Domestic and International Service in the United States, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 24094 (1997) (DISCO II). Second, the court further held that the Band Plan does not present a substantive bar to international service. Third, the court found that the Commission had failed to distinguish DBS service, which the Commission characterized as primarily a domestic service, from non- geostationary satellite orbit FSS service operating in the same bands as DBS, which the Commission characterized as international. Northpoint v. FCC, 145 F. 3d at 154. 35 Northpoint v. FCC. 36 Id. 37 Direct Broadcast Satellite Service Auction Nullified: Commission Sets Forth Refund Procedures for Auction No. 52 Winning Bidders and Adopts a Freeze on All New DBS Service Applications, Public Notice, FCC 05- 213 (rel. Dec. 21, 2005). (DBS Applications Freeze). 38 See Amendment of the Commission’s Space Station Licensing Rules and Policies, First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 18 FCC Rcd 10760, 10764- 765 at n. 4 (2003) (First Space Station Reform Order). 7 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 8 applications in lieu of the previously- used processing round approach for these systems. Under a first-come, first- served processing approach, the Commission considers applications in the order they are filed, down to the millisecond of timing. If a qualified applicant files an application that is not technically incompatible with any licensed system or a previously filed application, the Commission will grant it. In the event that two mutually exclusive GSO- like applications are filed in the same millisecond, the Commission considers them together, and if both applicants are qualified and both applications are otherwise grantable, the Commission licenses each to operate in half the spectrum at that orbit location. 39 The Commission excluded DBS from the revised space station processing rules (including the performance bond requirements of Section 25.165) 40 because, at that time, the Commission used competitive bidding to award DBS licenses. B. DBS Operations in the United States from Locations with Nine- Degree Orbital Spacing 13. Full- CONUS Operations: Two companies hold Commission authorizations to provide service from the full- CONUS orbital locations. EchoStar, through its affiliates, is authorized to provide DBS service using 21 channels at the 119º W. L. orbital location and 29 channels at the 110º W. L. orbital location. DIRECTV is authorized to provide DBS service using 11 channels at the 119º W. L. orbital location, three channels at the 110º W. L. orbital location, and 32 channels at the 101º W. L. orbital location. Combined, these two Commission- licensed DBS providers operate from all three full- CONUS orbital locations using all 96 channels assigned to these locations for DBS service. There are currently two or more operational DBS satellites at each of the three full- CONUS locations which, in combined operation, use all 32 channels at each location. 14. Eastern and Western United States Operations. Two companies are authorized to provide service from the 32 channels at the 61.5º W. L. orbital location serving the eastern United States: EchoStar and Dominion Video, Inc. (Dominion). EchoStar is assigned 22 channels at the location, and operates pursuant to special temporary authority on an additional two channels. 41 Dominion holds the license to operate the remaining eight channels. These channels are operated by EchoStar and Dominion, through a commercial arrangement, over the EchoStar- 3 satellite. EchoStar is authorized to provide service from the 32 channels at the 148º W. L. orbital location, serving the western United States. It is operating two satellites at that location on all 32 channels. 15. Operations by Foreign- Licensed DBS Systems. In 2004, the Commission authorized DIRECTV to transfer its DIRECTV 5 satellite to Canadian jurisdiction under an arrangement that permits DIRECTV to serve U. S. customers from an orbital location assigned to Canada in the Region 2 Plan. 42 The Bureau also granted DIRECTV a license for one million receive- only earth stations to be located in the United States to receive signals from DIRECTV 5. 43 DIRECTV 5 has since been replaced at the 72.5º 39 First Space Station Reform Order, 18 FCC Rcd at 10783- 84, ¶ 51. 40 See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 165. This rule requires satellite licensees to post a bond within 30 days of licensing. 41 Rainbow DBS Company LLC, Assignor and Echostar Satellite L. L. C., Assignee, Consolidated Application for Consent to Assignment of Space Station and Earth, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 05- 177 (rel. Oct. 12, 2005). 42 Application of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC, Request for Special Temporary Authority for the DIRECTV 5 Satellite, File No. SAT- STA- 20040107- 00002; Application of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC, Request for Blanket Authorization for 1,000,000 Receive Only Earth Stations to Provide Direct Broadcast Satellite Service in the U. S. using the Canadian Authorized DIRECTV 5 Satellite at the 72. 5° W. L. Broadcast Satellite Service, Order and Authorization, DA 04- 2526, 19 FCC Rcd 15529 (2004) (DIRECTV 5 Blanket Earth Station License). Canada filed a Region 2 Plan modification in order to permit service to the United States from this location. 43 Id. 8 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 9 W. L. orbital location by the DIRECTV 1 satellite. 44 In addition, the Commission authorized the Canadian Nimiq satellites to serve DBS customers in the United States. 45 C. Operations from Reduced- Spacing Orbital Locations 16. In 2002, the Commission took notice of the possibility of DBS operations in the United States from orbital locations spaced less than nine degrees apart. 46 In the Part 100 Order, the Commission stated that provision of service “into the United States from future entrants such as non- U. S. DBS satellites could result in smaller satellite spacing than the current nine- degree separation between U. S. DBS orbital locations. The orbital spacing between satellites serving the same geographic area, combined with both the satellite transmit characteristics and receive earth station antenna performance, determines the amount of interference a DBS system will receive.” 47 In that Order, the Commission adopted Section 25.114( c)( 22)( i), which required that applicants provide sufficient technical showing that their proposed system could operate satisfactorily if all assignments in the BSS and feeder- link Plans are implemented. 48 The Commission also stated that in accordance with the International Radio Regulations, other countries wishing to serve the United States will normally have to modify their assignments in the ITU BSS and feeder link Plans to allow them to provide service here. 49 That process will identify the U. S. DBS systems that are affected by the proposed Plan modification of another Administration, giving the United States an opportunity to work with the Administration proposing the Plan modification to ensure that no modification is made that will cause harmful interference to U. S. DBS systems. Considering these factors, the Commission found it unnecessary to adopt DBS receive earth station antenna performance requirements. 50 17. Prior to imposition of the DBS application freeze, the Commission received a number of filings from satellite operators requesting authority to provide DBS service to U. S. consumers from non-U. S. assigned reduced- spacing BSS orbital locations. These requests include (1) a Petition for Declaratory Ruling from SES AMERICOM to serve the United States from the 105.5º W. L. orbital location; 51 (2) applications from EchoStar for a license to launch and operate a DBS satellite to serve the United States from the 86.5º W. L. orbital location; 52 and (3) a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed by 44 On July 14, 2005, the International Bureau’s Satellite Division granted DIRECTV special temporary authority to relocate the DIRECTV 1 satellite from the 101. 125° W. L. orbital location to the 72. 5° W. L. orbital location. See Applications of DIRECTV Enterprises LLC, Order and Authorization, DA 05- 1890 (rel. July 14, 2005). 45 Digital Broadband Applications Corp., Order, 18 FCC Rcd 9455 (Int’l Bur. 2003) (authorizing Digital Broadband Applications Corp. to provide two- way broadband data and video service using one million satellite home terminals in the United States from two Canadian- authorized DBS satellites (Nimiq 1 and Nimiq 2) at orbital locations (91º W. L. and 82º W. L.) designated for Canada in the ITU Region 2 Plan. See also Pegasus Development Corp., Order, 19 FCC Rcd 6080 (Int’l Bur. 2004) (service to one million home terminals from Nimiq 1 and Nimiq 2). 46 We observe that all co- channel and co- coverage orbital location assignments in the Region 2 Plans were spaced a minimum of nine degrees apart. Therefore, DBS locations assigned to different nations may be less than nine degrees apart if their original plan assignments were not co- coverage. 47 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd at 11391, ¶ 129 (emphasis added). 48 This rule section has since been renumbered § 25. 114( d)( 13)( i). 49 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd at 11391- 92 ¶ 130. 50 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd at 11391- 92 ¶ 130. 51 SES AMERICOM, Inc. Petition for Declaratory Ruling to Serve the U. S. Market Using BSS Spectrum at the 105. 5º W. L. Orbital Location, IBFS File No. SAT- PDR- 20020425- 00071 (filed April 25, 2002) (SES AMERICOM PDR). 52 Application of EchoStar Satellite Corporation for Authority to Construct, Launch and Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite in the 12. 2- 12. 7 GHz and 17. 3- 17. 8 GHz Frequency Bands at the 86. 5º W. L. Orbital Location, IBFS File (continued....) 9 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 10 Spectrum Five LLC to serve the United States from two Netherlands- authorized satellites at the 114.5º W. L. orbital location. 53 On September 5, 2003, DIRECTV filed a petition for Rulemaking to consider the feasibility of reduced DBS spacing. 54 In its petition, DIRECTV proposed the following protection criteria to safeguard existing nine- degree- spaced DBS systems: (1) a 24 dB single- entry carrier- to- interference ratio (C/ I) for interference into the existing DBS system, based on the use of a 45- cm subscriber antenna meeting the antenna gain pattern mask of ITU- R Recommendation BO. 1213, with 0.5 degree maximum pointing error, and a 1.05 dB “bandwidth advantage” factor due to the use of opposite polarizations or a frequency offset; and (2) a 24 dB single- entry C/ I level based on the use of 1- meter receive antenna for Alaska and Hawaii. DIRECTV also proposed that the single- entry C/ I for interference from existing systems to the new DBS systems spaced less than 9 degrees from existing systems be 12 dB and that we require that such new systems use subscriber antennas with a minimum size of 75 cm with a zero pointing- error assumption for interference calculation purposes. 55 DIRECTV proposed that any new orbital locations that the Commission should make available should be granted according to the Commission’s auction procedures. 56 DIRECTV also proposed that any foreign- licensed DBS systems seeking U. S. market access must abide by all U. S. service rules governing DBS and non- nine- degree DBS locations. 57 18. In December 2003, the International Bureau (Bureau) sought comments on the SES AMERICOM, EchoStar, and DIRECTV filings, as well as any other proposals, suggestions or recommendations for establishing new orbital spacing for DBS in the United States. 58 Commenters were asked to provide substantive information and data, including technical studies and reports, and to address all relevant technical aspects of operating in a less than nine- degree spacing environment. In addition, the Bureau set forth a list of eight specific technical issues for comment and stated that the comments it received in response to the DBS Reduced Spacing Public Notice may form the basis for determining whether and, if so, how a more comprehensive review of the feasibility of and the modification of our rules to permit licensing U. S. DBS satellites at less than nine- degree spacing should be undertaken. Thirteen parties filed comments in response to this public notice, and seven parties filed reply comments. (... continued from previous page) No. SAT- LOA- 20030609- 00113 (Filed June 9, 2003) (EchoStar 86. 5° W. L. Application). EchoStar also applied for authority at the 96.5º W. L., 114.5° W. L., and the 123.5º W. L. orbital locations, but later withdrew those applications. See letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos and Philip L. Malet, Counsel for EchoStar Satellite L. L. C., to Marlene Dorch, Secretary, FCC (April 4, 2005). See also Satellite Policy Branch Information, Public Notice, Report No. SAT- 00171 (rel. October 10, 2003) (Int’l Bur. 2003), Satellite Policy Branch Information, Public Notice, Report No. SAT- 00283 (rel. April 8, 2005) (Int’l Bur. 2003) (dismissing the EchoStar applications for DBS space stations at the 114. 5º, 123.5°, and 96. 5° W. L., orbital locations). 53 See Spectrum Five LLC, Petitions for Declaratory Ruling To Serve the U. S. Market Using BSS Spectrum from the 114. 5º W. L. Orbital Location, File Nos. SAT- LOI- 20050312- 00062 (Call Sign S2667) and SAT- LOI- 20050312- 00063 (Call Sign S2668) (filed March 12, 2005) (“ Spectrum Five Petitions”). 54 Petition of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC for a Rulemaking on the Feasibility of Reduced Orbital Spacing in the U. S. Direct Broadcast Satellite Service (filed September 5, 2003). (DIRECTV Petition). 55 DIRECTV based its recommendation on the fact that WRC- 2000 adopted an aggregate protection ratio of 21 dB for co- channel signals in order to protect digital assignments from digital emissions in Regions 1 and 3. See DIRECTV Petition at 17, note 23. 56 DIRECTV Petition at 18. 57 Id. at 19. 58 International Bureau Seeks Comments on Proposals to Permit Reduced Orbital Spacings Between U. S. Direct Broadcast Satellites, Public Notice, Report No. SPB- 196, 18 FCC Rcd 25683 (2003). (DBS Reduced Spacing Public Notice). 10 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 11 The Bureau has also separately sought comment on the individual reduced spacing DBS applications and petitions filed by SES AMERICOM, 59 Spectrum Five and EchoStar. 60 III. NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING 19. In this Notice, we initiate a rulemaking to establish an approach for processing applications to provide DBS service to U. S. consumers. These rules would apply to any application for authority to provide DBS service to the United States using the 12.2- 12.7 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17.3- 17.8 GHz band, including unassigned channels at orbit locations assigned to the United States under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 2 Broadcasting Satellite Service and feeder- link Plans, as well as applications for DBS service from space stations located at orbital locations not assigned to the United States in the ITU Region 2 BSS and feeder- link Plans. 20. Specifically, we seek comment on using first- come, first- served processing procedures for all DBS applications, 61 regardless of the proposed orbit location. Alternatively, we seek comment on whether DBS should continue to be licensed outside the scope of the First Space Station Licensing Reform Order’s first- come, first- served processing procedures, and if so, what processing framework should be used to license DBS. We specifically seek comment on whether, pursuant to Section 309( j) of the Communications Act, and in light of the Northpoint case, we could design a competitive bidding system, or auction, to assign mutually exclusive applications for DBS licenses or spectrum. We also seek comment on: (a) what additional issues the Commission should consider in situations involving non- nine-degree spaced DBS applications; (b) whether all the streamlined satellite license procedures (e. g., performance bonds, milestones, and annual reports) should apply to DBS systems; (c) how to resolve impasses in operator- to- operator coordination negotiations; (d) whether new license terms should be adopted for all current and future U. S.- licensed DBS systems; and (e) other issues, including methods (if any) of addressing the impact of reduced spacing DBS on other services. 21. As a threshold matter, we observe that up until the recent Northpoint ruling by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit, applications for DBS licenses to operate at any orbital location assigned to the United States under the ITU Region 2 Plan were filed in accordance with an auctions track, as specified by Section 25.148( d) and (e) of the Commission’s rules. 62 This track included both filing requirements for applications and a method by which to process them. Given the recent Northpoint ruling by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit, 63 however, we cannot conduct an auction to 59 Satellite Policy Branch Information, Space Station Applications Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, Report No. SAT- 00110, (rel. May 17, 2002). 60 Satellite Policy Branch Information, Space Station Applications Accepted for Filing, Public Notice, Report No. SAT- 00284 (rel. April 15, 2005). 61 As used in this NPRM, unless otherwise indicated, the term "DBS applications" refers to any application, including requests for market access relating to a foreign- licensed space station, for authority to provide DBS service to the United States using the 12. 2- 12. 7 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17. 3- 17. 8 GHz band, including unassigned channels at orbit locations assigned to the United States under the ITU Region 2 BSS and feeder- link Plans as well as requests to provide DBS service from space stations located at orbital locations not assigned to the United States in the ITU Region 2 BSS and feeder- link Plans (requests by both foreign and domestic operators). 62 47 C. F. R. §25.148. 63 The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that the Commission’s construction of the ORBIT Act to exclude DBS from the auction prohibition could not withstand judicial scrutiny based on the record. See Northpoint Technology, Ltd. and Compass Systems, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, No. 04- 1052 (D. C. Cir. June 21, 2005) (“ Northpoint v. FCC”) (citing Section 647 of the Open- Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act (“ ORBIT Act”), Pub. L. No. 106- 180, § 647, 114 Stat. (continued....) 11 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 12 award DBS licenses unless we change our current policy that permits DBS licensees to provide both domestic and international services. 64 Consequently, we cannot now use the auction filing requirements. Nevertheless, residual application filing requirements exist for DBS applications – i. e., the general application filing requirements set forth in Sections 25.114 and 25. 156 of the Commission’s rules. In 2002, when the Commission merged the Part 100 rules governing DBS into Part 25, 65 these sections became applicable on their face to DBS and can consequently be used for any DBS space station authorization application that was not covered by a more specific filing procedure. 66 Thus, for DBS applications that specified operations at locations other than the eight U. S. orbital locations covered by the ITU Region 2 Plan – and which were consequently ineligible for filing under the auction rules – the filing requirements under Sections 25.114 and 25. 156 applied. 67 There have been, however, no processing rules in place for such applications; the only processing track currently in our rules for DBS is the now- defunct auctions track, which, prior to Northpoint, clearly applied to ITU Region 2 Plan locations only. Despite the lack of specific rules, we can process the DBS applications for non- ITU Region 2 Plan locations that are currently on file on an ad hoc basis, pursuant to our existing statutory authority. 68 Specifically, given our general statutory authority under Sections 308 and 309 of the Communications Act, coupled with the application filing requirements and rules regarding non-interference showings, we may process the existing DBS applications provided that they are complete and consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity. 69 Any application granted prior to resolution of this proceeding would be conditioned upon operator to operator coordination and the applicant would be required to comply with the outcome of this proceeding. (... continued from previous page) 48 (2000), as amended, Pub. L. No. 107- 233, 116 Stat. 1480 (2002), as amended Pub. L. No. 108- 228, 118 Stat. 644 (2004), as amended, Pub. L. No. 108- 371, 118 Stat. 1752 (2004) (codified at 47 U. S. C. § 765f). 64 Amendment to the Commission’s Regulatory Policies Governing Domestic Fixed Satellites and Separate International Satellite Systems, Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 2429 (1996). 65 See Policies and Rules for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, Report and Order, IB Docket No. 98- 21, 17 FCC Rcd 11331 (2002) (“ Part 100 Order”). 66 For example, under Section 25.114, item 13 in the required narrative that must accompany each satellite application applies specifically to DBS satellites. 47 C. F. R. § 25. 114( d)( 13). 67 Thus, while the filing procedures of Sections 25. 114 and 25.156 cover the filing of DBS space station authorization applications, the general Part 25 first- come, first- served processing provisions for deciding whether to grant applications for space station authorizations do not apply to the DBS service. See Amendment of the Commission's Space Station Licensing Rules and Policies, First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in IB Docket No. 02- 34, 18 FCC Rcd 10760, 10764- 65 n. 4 (2003) (noting that Commission was excluding DBS from rule changes adopted in proceeding that culminated in the first- come, first- served procedures for geostationary satellite orbit (GSO)- like systems); but see Amendment of the Commission's Space Station Licensing Rules and Policies, Third Report and Order and Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in IB Docket Nos. 02- 34 and 00- 248, 18 FCC Rcd 13486, 13492- 93 (2003) (making exception to the exclusion of DBS from proceeding, by ruling that the new Schedule S filing requirements adopted in connection with Section 25. 114 would apply to DBS service applications). 68 We note that there are no pending DBS applications for Region 2 Plan locations filed after the Northpoint decision. 69 See 47 C. F. R. §§ 25. 114( d)( 13), 25. 156( a); 47 U. S. C. § 308( a) (stating that “the Commission may grant construction permits and station licenses . . . only upon written application therefore received by it”); § 308( b) (requiring that Section 308( a) applications set forth “such facts as the Commission by regulation may prescribe,” but not requiring the Commission to prescribe such regulations) (emphasis added); § 309( a) (stating that “the Commission shall determine . . . whether the public interest, convenience, and necessity will be served by the granting of [a Section 308] application,” and, if so, the Commission “shall grant such application”). 47 U. S. C. §§ 308, 309. 12 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 13 A. Licensing Procedures 22. In the First Space Station Licensing Reform Order, the Commission adopted various procedural reforms to expedite the licensing process for most satellite services, with an exception for DBS and the Digital Audio Radio Satellite (DARS) Service. 70 In light of the Northpoint decision, we request comment on the appropriate procedures to be used in licensing future DBS systems. 23. We propose to treat applications for GSO DBS space stations at both Region 2 Plan orbital locations and reduced spacing locations under a “first- come, first- served” licensing approach. 71 We seek comment on this proposal. We also propose that the first- come, first- served license procedures, if adopted for DBS, should also apply to requests from foreign- licensed DBS space station operators to serve the United States. 72 We note that the Commission decided in the DISCO II proceeding that entities wishing to serve the United States with a non- U. S. satellite, including DBS satellites, must file the same information as applicants for a U. S. space station license, whether or not that satellite is already licensed by another administration. 73 Consequently, if we adopt a first- come, first- served licensing procedure, foreign- licensed DBS operators seeking U. S. market access 74 and entities filing earth station applications to access foreign- licensed DBS satellites must file the same information requested under Section 25.114 of the Commission’s rules that U. S. DBS applicants must file (including, without limitation, the technical characteristics of the satellite as specified in Sections 25.114( c) and 25.114( d)( 1)-( 5) and the analyses required under Section 25.114( d)( 13)). 75 24. Our experience with the first- come, first- served approach indicates that it would also allow us to issue licenses for DBS satellites quickly, while still accommodating existing or new competitive systems in the same spectrum. Further, this approach would give applicants flexibility to design systems that will best serve their targeted customers. As evidenced by the reduced- spacing DBS applications and petitions received to date, 76 reduced spacing proposals are likely to vary based on the location selected, the operating parameters of adjacent operators, and the applicant’s own system design. These factors would then guide the ITU agreement- seeking process, which must be completed before a proposed modification can be entered into the Region 2 Plans. We believe that the first- come, first- served approach permits interested parties to find, through the negotiation process, the most suitable technical solutions to operate DBS satellites. We seek comment on this approach for processing future applications and petitions to operate all DBS satellites in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz service bands. 70 First Space Station Licensing Reform Order, 18 FCC Rcd at 10764, n. 4. These rules became effective on August 27, 2003. 71 47 C. F. R. § 25.158. 72 See Amendment of the Commission's Regulatory Policies to Allow Non- U. S. Licensed Satellites Providing Domestic and International Service in the United States, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 24094, 24098 ¶ 7 (1997). 73 Amendment of the Commission's Regulatory Policies to Allow Non- U. S. Licensed Space Stations to Provide Domestic and International Service in the United States, Report and Order, IB Docket No. 96- 111, 12 FCC Rcd 24094, 24175 at ¶ 190 (1997) (DISCO II or DISCO II Order). DISCO II specifically said that foreign DBS operators seeking access to the United States must file the same information as U. S. applicants under Section 100. 13, but that rule has since been eliminated as DBS applications are now filed in accordance with the general Part 25 satellite rules. See Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd 11349 at ¶¶ 35- 36. 74 Typically, foreign satellite operators file requests for U. S. market access in the form of a letter of intent or Petition for Declaratory Ruling or earth station application (if the foreign space station is already in operation). 75 See 47 C. F. R. § 25.114. The analyses required under Section 25.114( d)( 13) must take into account both the Appendix 30 BSS Plans and the Appendix 30A feeder link Plans. Id. 76 See Spectrum Five Petitions, SES AMERICOM PDR, and EchoStar 86. 5° W. L. Application. 13 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 14 25. If, however, we decide that it is more appropriate to treat all DBS satellites in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz service bands outside the scope of the Space Station Reform Order, we seek comment on what processing framework we should use for licensing these satellites. We specifically seek comment on whether, pursuant to Section 309( j) of the Communications Act, 77 a competitive bidding system, or auction, could be designed to assign mutually exclusive license applications for all DBS satellites in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz service bands in the United States. In this regard, we note that the U. S. Court of Appeals’ decision in the Northpoint, case 78 found the Commission’s July 2004 auction of DBS licenses was unauthorized in light of Section 647 of the ORBIT Act, 79 which prohibits the Commission from using competitive bidding to assign orbital locations or spectrum used “for the provision of international or global satellite communications services.” 80 We seek comment on whether the Commission could conduct an auction for all DBS satellites in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz service bands consistent with the Northpoint ruling and, if so, how such an auction would be implemented. We also seek comment on what, if any, limitations ITU procedures 81 may place on a Commission auction. Further, if future legislative action authorizes the Commission to award DBS licenses in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz service bands via competitive bidding, we request comment on how we could structure the auction. Commenters should specify whether, and the extent to which, such an auction would be different from one conducted without such legislation. 26. Safeguards against Speculation. Our first- come, first- served approach for processing space station applications contains several safeguards to ensure that licensees remain committed and able to proceed with system implementation in a timely manner. Our rules require all GSO- like applicants awarded a license under this procedure to post a $3 million performance bond with the Commission within 30 days of license grant. They also require licensees to construct and launch the satellite consistent with a specified milestone schedule. 82 If the licensee fails to meet an implementation milestone, the license becomes null and void and the bond is executed. 83 The rules also limit applicants to a total of five pending applications and licenses for unbuilt satellites in a specific frequency band at any one time. 84 If we adopt a first- come, first- served processing procedure for DBS satellites, we propose to apply these accompanying safeguards, including applying the standard milestone schedule in Section 25.164 of the Commission’s rules (which includes completion of critical design review within two years of license 77 47 U. S. C. § 309( j). 78 See Northpoint Technology, Ltd. and Compass Systems, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 412 F. 3d 145 (D. C. Cir. 2005) (Northpoint v. FCC). 79 Open- Market Reorganization for the Betterment of International Telecommunications Act, Pub. L. No. 106- 180, 114 Stat. 48 (2000), as amended, Pub. L. No. 107- 233, 116 Stat. 1480 (2002), as amended, Pub. L. No. 108- 228, 118 Stat 644 (2004), as amended, Pub. L. No. 108- 371, 118 Stat. 1752 (2004). The ORBIT Act amended the Satellite Communications Act of 1962, 47 U. S. C. § 701 et seq. (Satellite Act), and is codified at 47 U. S. C. § 761 et seq. Section 647 of the ORBIT Act states that “[ n] otwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commission shall not have the authority to assign by competitive bidding orbital locations or spectrum used for the provision of international or global satellite communications services. The President shall oppose in the International Telecommunication Union and in other bilateral and multilateral for a any assignment by competitive bidding of orbital locations or spectrum used for the provision of such services.” See 47 U. S. C. § 765( f). 80 Id. 81 For example, the ITU first in time filing policy applies to the 12. 2- 12.7 GHz service. Thus, a country filing first at the ITU obtains superior international coordination rights at that orbital location. See ITU Appendices 30 and 30A. 82 47 C. F. R. § 25. 164. Under this milestone schedule, one year after grant, the grantee must enter into a binding, non- contingent construction contract; at two years, complete critical design review; at three years begin construction of the first satellite; at five years, launch and operate the satellite. 83 47 C. F. R. § 25.165. 84 47 C. F. R. § 25.159. 14 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 15 grant) to DBS systems, in lieu of the due diligence milestones set forth in Section § 25.148( b). 85 We request comment on these proposals. Additionally, we seek comment on whether there are any public interest rationales for imposing a higher performance bond and/ or whether we should impose tighter limits on the number of pending applications and licenses that applicants for DBS systems may have for unbuilt satellites at any one time. 27. Annual Reporting Requirement. Most space station operators, both GSO and NGSO, other than DBS operators, are subject to annual reporting requirements. These reports must include, among other things, the status of space station construction and anticipated launch dates. 86 We believe that these reports help to keep us apprised of whether DBS operators are taking all necessary action to meet their milestones. A reporting requirement would also put DBS operators on equal regulatory footing with other satellite operators that must file annual reports, including FSS operators providing direct- to-home services. We seek comment on whether DBS licensees and foreign DBS operators that are authorized to access the United States should be required to submit similar annual reports regardless of the licensing mechanism we ultimately adopt in this proceeding. B. Technical Rules for the Operation of Reduced Spacing DBS Satellites 28. The majority of the comments received in response to the DBS Reduced Spacing Public Notice oppose a rulemaking proceeding for establishing specific rules to accommodate requests for provision of DBS service from reduced orbital locations, and instead favor use of existing ITU procedures to accommodate such filings. Commenters such as New Skies Satellites N. V., SES AMERICOM, OfCom, and EchoStar argue that ITU procedures already exist to accommodate reduced spacing for DBS satellites, and that Commission rules already account for these procedures. 87 These commenters argue that consequently no need for a rulemaking exists. 88 Those commenters who support the DIRECTV petition argue that new rules are necessary to protect existing DBS services and to preserve the capability of existing DBS systems to grow. 89 EchoStar also argues that DIRECTV’s reasoning was flawed when it calculates that an aggregate C/ I of 21 dB is consistent with a single- entry value of 24 dB. EchoStar points out that, in the presence of an earth station pointing error towards the first interfering satellite, if a second interfering satellite is added on the opposite side of the first at the same nominal spacing, the aggregate interference will be less than doubled because of the greater isolation from the second satellite because 85 Under the existing DBS due diligence milestones, authorization holders must complete contracting for all system satellites within one year of grant; complete construction of the first satellite in the system within four years of grant; and all satellites in the system must be in operation within six years of grant. See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 148( b). 86 See, e. g., 47 C. F. R. §§ 25. 143( e) (reporting requirements for 1. 6/ 2. 4 GHz mobile- satellite service (MSS) and 2 GHz MSS; 25. 144( c) (reporting requirements for satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS); 25. 145( f) (reporting requirements for fixed- satellite service in the 20/ 30 GHz bands); 25.10( l) (reporting requirements for FSS in the 4/ 6 GHz band). Other elements of the annual reports include a listing of non- scheduled transponder outages that last more than 30 minutes and identification of transponders not available for service or not performing to specifications. See id. 87 We note that EchoStar has more recently stated to the Commission that upon further study, “4. 5° spacing between U. S. DBS satellites raises certain technical difficulties, especially for ‘multiple feed’ earth station dishes (i. e. those designed to receive programming feeds from more than one satellite at the same time.” Letter from Pantelis Michalopoulos, Counsel for EchoStar Satellite, L. L. C., to Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary, FCC (dated March 25, 2005). 88 New Skies Comments, EchoStar Comments, SES AMERICOM Comments, U. K. Office of Communications (OfCom) Comments, generally. 89 See, e. g., Boeing Comments at 2; DIRECTV Comments at 4- 5; State of Hawaii Comments at 5- 6; Rainbow Reply Comments at 3- 5. 15 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 16 the earth station pointing error is away from it. 90 Pegasus suggests a phased approach in order to accommodate non- nine- degree spaced DBS satellites. Under this approach, the power flux density (PFD) of the new satellites would be restricted until such time as all the existing DBS satellites had been replaced with newer satellites with “relatively uniform technical constraints.” 91 Pegasus proposes use of the ITU process to expedite the licensing of non- nine- degree spaced DBS satellites, but suggests in the technical appendix to its comments that emission limitations should be effected through new rules. 92 29. As previously noted, we believe that current Commission rules can accommodate the filing of DBS applications that specify operations at locations other than the eight orbital slots assigned to the United States in the ITU Region 2 Plan (as specified in Appendices 30 and 30A of the ITU Radio Regulations). Nevertheless, we seek comment whether new technical DBS rules for processing applications are necessary. The Commission’s Part 25 rules refer to and incorporate provisions of the ITU Radio Regulations for purposes of analyzing applications for DBS with technical parameters that differ from those in the Region 2 Plan. Specifically, Section 25.114( d)( 13)( i) requires that for satellites in the DBS service, applicants must submit a “sufficient technical showing that the proposed system could operate satisfactorily if all assignments in the BSS and feeder link Plans were implemented.” 93 This showing is intended to demonstrate that the proposed system will meet its performance objectives given the Region 2 Plan assignments. Section 25.114( d)( 13)( ii) requires “[ a] nalyses of the proposed systems with respect to the limits in Annex 1 to Appendices 30 and 30A” of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Radio Regulations. 94 This showing is intended to demonstrate how the proposed system will affect operating DBS systems and those systems that are subject to pending Region 2 modification proposals. Section 25.148( f) requires that “DBS operations must be in accordance with the sharing criteria and technical characteristics contained in Appendices 30 and 30A of the ITU Radio Regulations. Operation of systems using differing technical characteristics may be permitted, with adequate technical showing, and if a request has been made to the ITU to modify the appropriate Plans to include the system’s technical parameters.” 95 Further, as noted previously, the Part 100 Report and Order contemplated reduced spacings. 96 Thus, if an applicant can coordinate its proposal with other U. S. DBS operators and secure agreement with other operators already having assignments in the Region 2 Plans or with prior requests for Plan modifications, we believe our rules allow us to consider these applications without establishing technical/ operational rules. However, we recognize that the DBS agreement seeking process can be complex, and therefore we seek comment below on methods to facilitate the coordination process should we decline to establish new technical rules. 30. DIRECTV has suggested that the Commission address “preservation of the technical flexibility” of operating nine- degree- spaced DBS systems “to continue to grow and innovate” in an effort to compete with cable systems and roll out delivery of local broadcast signals and HDTV programming. 97 90 See Application of EchoStar for Authority to Construct, Launch, and Operate a Direct Broadcast Satellite in the 12. 2- 12. 7 GHz and 17. 3- 17.8 GHz Frequency Bands at the 86. 5º W. L. Orbital Location, Amendment, IBFS File No. SAT- LOA- 20030609- 00113 (filed February 27, 2004) Appendix 1 to Supplemental Technical Annex at A1- 11 through A1- 13. 91 Pegasus Comments at 4. 92 Pegasus Comments at 6 and A- 3. 93 25 C. F. R. § 25. 114( d)( 13)( i). 94 25 C. F. R. § 25.114( d)( 13)( ii). 95 47 C. F. R. § 25. 148( f). Section 25. 111( c) provides additional guidance regarding the filing of plan modifications at the ITU. In particular, this rule indicates what U. S. applicants and licensees must provide to the Commission so that it may file plan modifications on the licensee’s/ applicant’s behalf. See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 111( c). 96 See supra para. 3. 97 DIRECTV Comments at 5. 16 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 17 Rainbow DBS commented that “in framing any technical rules for new, short- spaced DBS satellites, the Commission should be cognizant of the potential risk to existing services that were deployed in reasonable reliance on a continuing nine- degree spacing environment.” 98 Rainbow DBS says that the Commission should be mindful of “( i) protecting existing consumer DBS earth stations, and (ii) allowing for the implementation of enhanced DBS services by existing providers.” 99 31. In its DBS Reduced Spacing Public Notice comments, DIRECTV suggested that reduced-spacing DBS satellites may not be a matter of urgency because a number of other capacity options are available for the provision of DTH to U. S. consumers. 100 In particular, DIRECTV points out that “there is an abundance of FSS Ku and Ka band capacity that could be used to provide direct- to- home. . . video and broadband services, as well as the prospect of future BSS capacity. . . in the 17 GHz band. . . .” 101 We agree that existing and potential DBS operators have other options at their disposal to expand their service. 102 Reduced spacing DBS would provide existing and potential DBS operators with another valuable option with which they can expand their service offerings. We seek comment on whether existing Plan modification processes are sufficient to allow room for expansion of existing DBS service. C. Resolution of Impasse in Operator Negotiations and Protection Margins 32. Background. ITU procedures address requests to provide DBS service into the United States from reduced- spacing orbital locations (which by definition constitute a modification of the ITU Region 2 Plans) where such operations could potentially interfere with frequency assignments operated in accordance with the Region 2 Plans. The specific procedures governing Plan modifications are set forth in Appendices 30 and 30A of the ITU Radio Regulations. These procedures also apply to satellites operating at locations in the ITU Region 2 Plan, but with parameters different from those contained in the Plan. In that case, the country proposing the non- conforming satellite must request a Plan modification. 33. Section 4.2 of Article 4 of Appendices 30 and 30A of the ITU Radio Regulations stipulates the modification procedures for the Region 2 Plans. Administrations start the process by filing the information required by Appendix 4 of the Radio Regulations. For U. S. Plan modifications, the Appendix 4 information is prepared by the satellite operators and submitted to the Commission, which reviews the information and forwards it to the International Telecommunication Union’s Radiocommunication Bureau (ITU/ BR). The Appendix 4 information includes such BSS satellite parameters as antenna beam footprint, transmitted power, modulation techniques, earth station antenna characteristics (including typical subscriber terminal characteristics), and satellite orbital location. 34. Similar to DIRECTV’s recommended protection criterion, the ITU’s approach to interference assessment in the context of the BSS Plans is based on C/ I levels. The overall equivalent protection margin (OEPM) for a particular channel at a particular test point within a particular beam of a 98 Rainbow Reply at 3. 99 Id. at 3. 100 DIRECTV Comments at 3. 101 DIRECTV Comments at 3. 102 We note, for example, that EchoStar is currently leasing FSS capacity from SES in order to use FSS DTH to augment its DBS capacity. See e. g. http:// www. lyngsat. com/ amc2. html (visited on May 10, 2005), showing that all 24 Ku- band transponders on the CONUS beam of the AMC- 2 satellite are carrying EchoStar programming. See also, Redesignation of the 17. 7- 19. 7 GHz Frequency Band, Blanket Licensing of Satellite Earth Stations in the 17. 7-20. 2 GHz and 27. 5- 30.0 GHz Frequency Bands, and the Allocation of Additional Spectrum in the 17. 3- 17. 8 GHz and 24. 75- 25. 25 GHz Frequency Bands for Broadcast Satellite- Service Use, Report and Order, 15 FCC Rcd 13430 (2000) (allocating the 17. 3- 17. 7 GHz band to the BSS, taking effect on April 1, 2007). 17 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 18 particular satellite network is the basic measure used by the ITU. 103 OEPM includes the aggregate effect of the interference levels from the uplink and downlink co- channel signals from every other satellite network in the Plan on a desired carrier operating on a particular channel referenced to a particular test point. 104 It also includes the aggregate effect on the desired carrier of the interference levels from the signals of the upper and lower nearest and next- nearest adjacent channels of every other satellite network in the Plan, or pending addition to the Plan. The OEPM is defined as 0.0 dB when the aggregate C/ I from all the other networks in the Plan or pending is 28 dB. Thus, for example, if the OEPM for a particular channel and test point was -8 dB, then the aggregate C/ I from all the other networks would be 20 dB. The list of OEPMs for all the channels and test points of all the beams of a particular satellite network defines the “reference situation” for that network. In order to assess whether a proposed modification would affect other assignments in the Region 2 Plans, the ITU/ BR evaluates the impact on the reference situation, that exists at the time the proposed modification is evaluated, of all current and pending assignments in the Region 2 Plans, using the criteria in Section 2 of Annex 1 of Appendices 30 and 30A. 35. When a Plan modification request is submitted to the ITU, the ITU calculates the effect of the proposed new network on the OEPMs of all the networks already in the Plans and pending modification to the Plans. According to Annex 1 of Appendices 30 and 30A, if the effect of the proposed network is to reduce the OEPM of any channel and test point of any network in the plan or pending plan modification below -0.25 dB, or if already negative, by 0.25 dB or more, that network is considered to be “affected” and the new network can only be added to the plan with the agreement of all the administrations whose networks are affected. 105 Additional technical examinations determine whether other services (terrestrial, non- planned BSS and fixed- satellite services) and the appropriate Regions 1 and 3 Plan and List assignments that share the same frequency band are affected using the criteria in Sections 3, 4, 6 and 7 of Annex 1 of Appendix 30 and Section 5 of Annex 1 of Appendix 30A. 36. If all affected administrations reach agreement, the Administration proposing the new or modified assignment may continue with the appropriate procedure under Article 5 of Appendix 30, which specifies the procedures for notification, examination, and recording of frequency assignments to space stations in the broadcast- satellite service, and Article 5 of Appendix 30A, which specifies the procedures for coordination, notification, examination, and recording in the International Frequency Register of frequency assignments to feeder link transmitting earth stations and receiving space stations in the fixed-satellite service. In cases where the administrations cannot reach an agreement, provisions in paragraphs 4.2.20 to 4.2.21D of Article 4 of Appendices 30 and 30A allow the assignment to be provisionally included in the Region 2 Plan on a non- interference basis. Once the Article 4 procedure is completed, the modification is added to the Plan and the reference situation is updated. 106 37. We note that the U. S. role in the ITU process is different in cases involving applications for U. S. DBS licenses than it is in cases involving Petitions for Declaratory Ruling to serve the U. S. DBS market from non- U. S. satellites. In the second case, the Commission is only involved as a potentially-affected Administration and does not submit any filings to the ITU on behalf of the petitioner. Those filings are submitted by the Administration granting the petitioner the authority to launch and operate the satellite. 38. In contrast, the Commission has the responsibility to submit Plan modification requests to 103 A test point is a geographic location on the Earth’s surface that is within the beam. 104 Carrier- to- interference ratio is a measure at a reference point-- typically, the input to the receiver-- of the amount of power in the wanted signal, the “carrier” (C), compared to the amount of power in the interfering signal (I). 105 See Annex 1 of Appendices 30 and 30A of the ITU Radio Regulations. 106 For more information regarding ITU procedures, see http:// www. itu. int/ ITU- R/ conferences/ seminars/ geneva-2004/ docs/ 10- Plans. doc (visited on January 13, 2006). 18 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 19 the ITU on behalf of applicants seeking U. S. licenses to launch and operate DBS satellites with characteristics that differ from those in the Plan. Since the ITU does not consider domestic licensing issues in its process for determining affected administrations, the ITU assumes that the interference levels between systems subject to U. S. Plan modification requests and other U. S. networks already in the Plan, or with prior pending modification requests, are acceptable to the U. S. administration. In other words, the ITU assumes that if the United States requests a modification to the Plan to implement a U. S.- licensed reduced- spacing satellite, the U. S. administration has determined that no other U. S. DBS networks (including those proposed in previous modification requests) will be adversely affected by the new DBS network. 107 39. Because of this assumption, the Commission will not submit Plan modification requests to the ITU until the domestic interference- resolution process is complete. If the proposed system’s technical characteristics differ from those in the Appendix 30 and 30A Plans, our rules require submission of a “… sufficient technical showing that the system could operate satisfactorily if all the assignments in the BSS and feeder link Plans were implemented.” 108 The analyses must consider all pending Plan modification requests received by the ITU prior to the submission of the new request, including all prior U. S. DBS networks. The Commission also requires applicants to submit analyses with respect to the limits relative to change in OEPM in Annex 1 to Appendices 30 and 30A. 109 40. Discussion. We foresee three possible scenarios in which interference issues could be presented with respect to an application seeking to provide DBS service from an orbital location spaced less than nine- degrees from an existing DBS space station or seeking to provide DBS service from a “nine- degree” location with parameters different from those contained in the Plan (including requests from foreign satellite operators to access the United States from such a satellite), namely: i) the applicant has negotiated an operating arrangement with the other potentially- affected U. S. DBS service providers, ii) the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed DBS system would not affect the systems of other U. S. DBS service providers as defined by the ITU in Annex 1 of Appendix 30 and 30A, and has not negotiated operating arrangements, or iii) the applicant has conducted interference analyses, the results of which the applicant considers should be acceptable to other U. S. DBS service providers, but one or more of the U. S. DBS service providers disagree. 41. In the first two scenarios, the Commission could proceed with public notice and review, and, taking any comments into account, could take action on the application. In the third scenario, the Commission could also proceed with public notice and review, although it could not take action on the application until agreements are reached. Furthermore, if the application is for a U. S.- licensed space station, the Commission will not submit it to the ITU until agreement has been reached with affected U. S. operators. In the case of such a coordination impasse, the Commission could take one of several approaches. 42. The simplest approach would be to set a deadline for reaching agreement and to dismiss the application when the deadline expires if no agreement has been reached. We seek comment on 107 See Implementation of ITU Cost Recovery Charges for Satellite Network Filings, Public Notice, 16 FCC Rcd 18732 (Int’l Bureau 2001). The Commission requires the applicant, licensee, or other entity associated with an ITU filing to certify that it unconditionally accepts all cost recovery responsibilities. 108 See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 114( d)( 13)( i). 109 See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 114( d)( 13)( ii). 19 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 20 whether this should be the preferred approach and, if so, what would be the appropriate time period to allow for additional negotiations before dismissing the application. 43. Another approach would be to grant or dismiss the application depending on the acceptability of the interference as evaluated by the Commission. We seek comment of whether this should be the preferred approach and, if so, what criteria the Commission should use in evaluating what constitutes “acceptable” interference. 44. The DIRECTV Petition suggests certain levels of C/ I and certain other technical parameters an applicant should use in designing its system. 110 DIRECTV proposes single- entry C/ I levels of 24 dB for “acceptable” interference into an existing system and 12 dB from the existing system into the new system. While this is an approach that operators may take in negotiating operating arrangements, we do not believe that such asymmetries, which would lead to dictating two different classes of service in our rules, are appropriate for regulatory enforcement. 45. We could use the ITU’s approach in resolving cases of disagreement between the applicant and the licensees concerning the acceptability of interference. However, the calculations are difficult and complex and the acceptable C/ I levels depend on the reference situation such that, the higher the interference level initially, the higher the acceptable level of interference would be. 111 46. Another benchmark we can use when coordination negotiations reach an impasse is system “unavailability.” This DBS performance criterion is meaningful to the consumer, as it is the amount of time each year that the consumer’s DBS receiver is not providing video and audio signals to the consumer’s television display and sound system. When the total time that signals are available during some time period is divided by the length of the time period, the resulting metric is known as “availability.” This metric is usually expressed in percentage terms. The complementary metric, the total time that signals are not available in some time period, divided by the length of the time period, is called “unavailability,” or “outage.” Mathematically, unavailability is equal to 100% - availability, when availability is expressed in terms of a percentage. The ITU Region 2 BSS Plan was based on a target of 99.7% availability, which corresponds to an outage of about 26.3 hours per year. 112 This target is usually exceeded by the domestic DBS operators, who typically aim for at least 99. 9% availability for their systems, except in the high- precipitation and fringe coverage areas. 47. In the NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS First R& O, the Commission adopted criteria to protect DBS systems from interference from non- geostationary orbit fixed- satellite (NGSO- FSS) systems. 113 These 110 Petition of DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC for a Rulemaking on the Feasibility of Reduced Orbital Spacing in the U. S. Direct Broadcast Satellite Service (filed September 5, 2003) (DIRECTV Petition). 111 As discussed above, the ITU considers a network to be “affected” by a proposed Plan modification if it were to experience a change in OEPM of more than 0. 25 dB. In order to reduce the OEPM by less than 0.25 dB, the single entry C/ I needs to be at least 12.25 dB higher than the aggregate C/ I implicit in the reference situation. Thus, for example, if the reference OEPM were -10 dB (aggregate reference C/ I = 18 dB), the single entry C/ I from the new network would have to be at least 30.25 dB in order to maintain the OEPM within 0.25 dB of the reference situation. By way of comparison, a single entry C/ I level of 24 dB would reduce the OEPM by about 1.0 dB in this example. Indeed, a single entry C/ I of 24 dB would reduce by more than 0.25 dB any OEPM higher than -17.25 dB (aggregate reference C/ I = 11. 75 dB). 112 Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Permit Operation of NGSO FSS Systems Co-Frequency with GSO and Terrestrial Systems in the Ku- Band Frequency Range; Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Authorize Subsidiary Terrestrial Use of the 12. 2- 12.7 GHz Band by Direct Broadcast Satellite Licensees and Their Affiliates; and Applications of Broadwave USA, PDC Broadband Corporation, and Satellite Receivers, Ltd. to Provide A Fixed Service in the 12. 2- 12.7 GHz Band, First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4177 at ¶ 214 (2000) (NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS First R& O). 113 NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS First R& O, 16 FCC Rcd. 4096, 4162 at ¶ 170. 20 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 21 interference protection criteria took the form of equivalent power flux density (EPFD) limits. These limits were based on a goal of limiting the increase in the unavailability of DBS systems due to interference from the NGSO- FSS systems to 10%, without interference from the MVDDS systems. 114 In the NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS Second R& O, 115 the Commission adopted EPFD limits for Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service (MVDDS) systems, again based on a goal of limiting the increase in unavailability of DBS systems to 10% over the unavailability that the DBS systems would experience without interference from the MVDDS systems. 116 This increase in unavailability is in addition to the 10% increase in unavailability that is allocated to NGSO- FSS systems. 117 The Commission noted that the typical service availability of DBS systems is on the order of 99.8 to 99.9%, corresponding to a level of unavailability of 0.1 to 0.2%. 118 The Commission stated that a 10% increase in unavailability is insubstantial and does not approach a level that could be considered harmful interference. 119 The Commission also noted that the increase in unavailability might be below or above the 10% nominal level in different parts of the country. 120 48. The unavailability of a digital radiocommunication system, such as a DBS system, is dependent on the ratio of the carrier power (C) of the desired signal to the sum of the powers of the thermal noise and interference (N + I) at the receiver. The received carrier power of microwave signals, such as DBS signals, is reduced by precipitation in the path between the DBS satellite and the subscriber’s receiver. 121 The thermal noise seen by the receiver is also increased by precipitation. The resulting reduction in C/ N ratio in the presence of precipitation is commonly known as a “rain fade.” The intensity of the rain in the path between the satellite and the subscriber’s receiver is the determining factor in how much the C/ N ratio will be reduced. Therefore, the precipitation statistics at each specific DBS receiver location will influence the average carrier- to- noise- plus- interference ratio (C/( N+ I)) experienced at that location, and hence the average unavailability at that location. 122 The Commission took this into account in the NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS Second R& O, in which it recognized that a single EPFD limit for all areas of the country was inappropriate, due to the differing precipitation- induced propagation 114 Id., 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4164 at ¶ 177. 115 Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Permit Operation of NGSO FSS Systems Co-Frequency with GSO and Terrestrial Systems in the Ku- Band Frequency Range; Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Authorize Subsidiary Terrestrial Use of the 12. 2- 12.7 GHz Band by Direct Broadcast Satellite Licensees and Their Affiliates; and Applications of Broadwave USA, PDC Broadband Corporation, and Satellite Receivers, Ltd. to Provide A Fixed Service in the 12.2- 12. 7 GHz Band, Memorandum Opinion and Order and Second Report and Order, 17 FCC Rcd 9614 (2002) (NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS Second R& O). 116 Id., 17 FCC Rcd 9614, 9642 at ¶ 71. 117 Id., 17 FCC Rcd 9614, 9641 at ¶ 68. 118 Id., 17 FCC Rcd 9614, 9640- 41 at ¶ 67. For example, a level of unavailability of 0.1% corresponds to a total outage time of about 526 minutes over the course of a year. An increase in unavailability of 10% thus corresponds to an increase in outage time of about an additional 53 minutes over the course of a year. 119 Id., 17 FCC Rcd 9614, 9643 at ¶ 72. 120 Id. On July 15, 2005, the United States Court of Appeals for the D. C. Circuit denied a petition for review filed by a number of DBS providers that challenged the Commission’s decision to allow MVDDS to share the 12.2- 12.7 GHz band with DBS. Northpoint Technology, Ltd. v. FCC, 414 F. 3d 61 (D. C. Cir. 2005) (finding that the Commission had a rational basis for concluding that MVDDS could share the 12 GHz band without causing harmful interference to DBS). 121 If the interfering signal seen by a DBS receiver is from another DBS satellite, the power of the interfering signal will probably be reduced as well, but most likely by a different amount than the power of the desired signal. 122 See Methodologies for determining the availability performance for digital multiprogramme broadcasting-satellite service systems, and their associated feeder links operating in the planned bands, Recommendation ITU- R BO. 1696 (2005). 21 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 22 degradations in different geographic regions. The Commission therefore adopted four different EPFD limits for four different geographic regions of the contiguous United States, based on the statistics describing the precipitation characteristics of these regions. 123 49. Given the Commission’s previous use of increase in unavailability as an indirect DBS metric, we seek comment on whether we could use a limit on the percentage of increase in unavailability in various cities distributed around the United States as the criterion for acceptability of the interference caused by reduced spacing satellites, as evaluated by the Commission. Alternatively, we seek comment as to whether we could use regional EPFD limits, similar to what the Commission established in the NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS Second R& O. We note that we are not revisiting the unavailability criteria previously adopted as they pertain to MVDDS and NGSO- FSS systems. 50. We seek comment on whether there is a single symmetric interference criterion that the Commission could use to make findings of acceptability of interference to existing DBS systems and, if there is, what that criterion should be. If such a criterion exists, we seek comment on what would be the appropriate calculation methodology to determine the value of this criterion for a particular coordination, and what would be the appropriate values for any parameters, such as antenna mispointing angle, antenna pattern mask, and DBS receiver threshold C/( N+ I) level to existing DBS systems, that the Commission should use in its calculations. D. License Term 51. Background. Under our rules, the license term for all space stations, except licenses for DBS space stations, is 15 years. 124 DBS space stations licensed as broadcast facilities have eight- year license terms, and those DBS space stations not licensed as broadcast facilities have ten- year license terms. 125 The eight- year term for DBS space stations licensed as broadcast facilities is consistent with the eight- year license term for television and radio broadcast stations. 126 The eight- year term for broadcast stations is established by statute. 127 In 1995, we extended the term of non- broadcast DBS licenses 128 from five to ten years, the maximum then allowed by the Communications Act, and “which better reflect[ ed] the useful life of a DBS satellite.” 129 52. Discussion. We propose to continue the ten year non- broadcast DBS license term, and we seek comment on this proposal. 130 123 NGSO- FSS/ MVDDS Second R& O, 17 FCC Rcd. 9614, 9641 at ¶ 68. 124 See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 121. 125 See 47 C. F. R. § 25. 121. 126 See 47 C. F. R. §73. 1020. 127 See 47 U. S. C. § 307( c)( 1) (“ Each license granted for the operation of a broadcasting station shall be for a term of not to exceed 8 years.”) 128 A DBS provider offering a subscription service is not considered to be a broadcast licensee. See Subscription Video, Report and Order, 1 FCC Rcd 1001, 1005- 06 (1987). 129 Revision of Rules and Policies for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service, Report and Order, 11 FCC Rcd 9712 at ¶¶ 129- 30 (1995). 130 Licensees for Reduced Spacing DBS satellites will, of course, be subject to geographic service requirements imposed by 47 C. F. R. § 25. 148( c) and public interest obligations imposed by 47 C. F. R. § 25. 701. 22 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 23 E. Effect of Reduced Spacing DBS Satellites on Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service 53. Background. In the NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, the Commission permitted MVDDS transmissions in the Fixed Service in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz Band. 131 We noted above that the Commission concluded that MVDDS could be introduced into the 12.2- 12.7 GHz band without causing harmful interference to DBS. 132 MVDDS licensees must ensure that the EPFD from their systems is below the values listed in Section 101.105( a)( 4)( ii) of the Commission's rules 133 at the receivers of all DBS customers who had their DBS receive antennas installed prior to or within 30 days after the date the MVDDS licensee notifies the DBS licensee( s) of its intent to install an MVDDS transmitter site. 134 DBS licensees are responsible for mitigating MVDDS interference to DBS receivers installed more than 30 days after the date the MVDDS licensee notifies the DBS licensee( s) of its intent to install an MVDDS transmitter site. 135 54. Discussion. We propose that MVDDS protection of DBS (and DBS protection of MVDDS) under Part 101.1440 applies to less- than- nine- degree- spaced DBS satellites. We request comment on whether there is a need to revisit these rules as a result of authorization of additional U. S. services in the future at orbital locations that are not currently assigned to the United States in the Region 2 BSS plan. We believe that all DBS service in the 12.2- 12. 7 GHz band should be subject to the same regulatory treatment. F. Non- Geostationary Satellite Orbit Fixed Satellite Services 55. Background. The Commission has said that “receive earth station antenna sidelobe performance will affect the amount of interference into DBS receivers from other systems, including non-geostationary satellite orbit (NGSO) FSS systems.” 136 The ITU- R has examined the issue of interference into BSS receivers from NGSO FSS systems in great depth. 137 Following extensive work in the ITU- R Study Groups, WRC- 2000 adopted equivalent power flux density downlink (EPFDdown) limits 138 to 131 Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission’s Rules to Permit Operation of NGSO FSS Systems Co-Frequency with GSO and Terrestrial Systems in the Ku- Band Frequency Range; Amendment of the Commission’s Rules to Authorize Subsidiary Terrestrial Use of the 12. 2- 12.7 GHz Band by Direct Broadcast Satellite Licensees and Their Affiliates; and Applications of Broadwave USA, PDC Broadband Corporation, and Satellite Receivers, Ltd. To Provide a Fixed Service in the 12.2- 12. 7 GHz Band, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4177 at ¶ 213 (2000) (NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM). 132 Id. 133 47 C. F. R. § 101. 105( a)( 4)( ii). 134 See 47 C. F. R. § 101.1440. 135 See 47 C. F. R. § 101. 1440( e). 136 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd at 11390- 91, ¶ 128. 137 See e. g., Protection of the BSS in the 12 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17 GHz band from interference caused by non- GSO FSS systems, Rec. ITU- R BO. 1444 (2000); Equivalent power flux- density limits, EPFD., to protect the broadcasting- satellite service in the 12 GHz band from interference caused by non-geostationary fixed- satellite service systems, Rec. ITU- R BO. 1517 (2001). 138 The equivalent power flux- density (EPFD) is defined as the sum of the power flux- densities produced at a geostationary- satellite system receive station on the Earth’s surface or in the geostationary satellite orbit, as appropriate, by all the transmit stations within a non- geostationary- satellite system, taking into account the off- axis discrimination of a reference receiving antenna assumed to be pointing in its nominal direction. See Final Acts of WRC- 2000, Article 22, 22.5C. 1. 23 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 24 protect BSS receive antennas from NGSO FSS system interference. 139 The Commission adopted these same EPFDdown limits as a domestic requirement in 2000. 140 These EPFDdown limits are calculated on the basis of the reference antenna patterns contained in Annex 1 to Recommendation ITU- R BO. 1443. 141 The rules do not limit DBS networks to operating only with receive antennas conforming to the specific performance patterns contained in the referenced ITU- R Recommendation. 142 While the choice of receive antenna characteristics remains with the DBS operator, the operator must accept any resulting interference from a NGSO- FSS network that is operating within the permitted EPFDdown values. 143 Thus, the DBS operator cannot claim protection from any interference it might receive beyond the level that would be received by a DBS earth station conforming to the referenced antenna patterns. 144 56. WRC- 97 adopted an allocation for NGSO FSS in the BSS bands at 12 GHz. This includes the 12.2 - 12. 7 GHz band in Region 2. 145 Resolution 532 (WRC- 97) established provisional power flux density (PFD) limits to protect GSO BSS systems from NGSO- FSS systems. 146 WRC- 2000 adopted single- entry PFD limits for NGSO- FSS systems in Article 22 of the ITU Radio Regulations, 147 and aggregate PFD limits in Resolution 76 (WRC- 2000). 148 These PFD limits were based on the criteria that NGSO- FSS systems contribute no more than 10% to the time allowance of unavailability of BSS systems, and never cause a complete interruption of the reception of the video picture by a BSS receiver. 149 57. In the NGSO FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, the Commission adopted limits on EPFD from NGSO- FSS satellites to protect GSO FSS and DBS systems. 150 Single- entry EPFD limits from Table 22- 1D of Article 22 of the ITU Radio Regulations have been incorporated into Section 25.208( l) of our rules. 151 Aggregate EPFD limits contained in ITU Resolution 76 (WRC- 2000) Table 1D have been 139 See Final Acts of WRC- 2000, Article 22, Table S22- 1D. 140 See, generally, Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Permit Operation of NGSO FSS Systems Co- Frequency with GSO and Terrestrial Systems in the Ku- Band Frequency Range; Amendment of the Commission's Rules to Authorize Subsidiary Terrestrial Use of the 12. 2- 12. 7 GHz Band by Direct Broadcast Satellite Licensees and Their Affiliates; and Applications of Broadwave USA, PDC Broadband Corporation, and Satellite Receivers, Ltd. to Provide A Fixed Service in the 12.2- 12.7 GHz Band, First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making, 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4162- 73 at ¶¶ 170- 204 (2000) (NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM). 141 See Final Acts of WRC- 2000, Article 22, No. S22. 5C. 11. 142 The recommended antenna patterns are used as a reference standard for calculating permitted EPFD down values from NGSO FSS systems. The DBS operator must use a receive antenna that can sufficiently reject NGSO FSS interference in this environment. However, any number of antenna patterns can accomplish this result. NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4168 at ¶ 187. 143 NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4162- 73 at ¶¶ 170- 204. 144 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd at 11390- 91, ¶ 128. 145 See Final Acts of WRC- 97, Geneva, 1997, Footnote S5. 487A. 146 See Final Acts of WRC- 97, Geneva, 1997. 147 See Article 22, No. 22. 5C and Tables 22- 1A through 22. 1E of the ITU Radio Regulations. 148 See Resolution 76 of the ITU Radio Regulations. 149 See Recommendation ITU- R BO. 1444, Protection of the BSS in the 12 GHz band and associated feeder links in the 17 GHz band from interference caused by non- GSO FSS systems, at recommends 1. 1 and 1.2. 150 NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, 16 FCC Rcd. 4096, 4162 at ¶ 170. 151 47 C. F. R. § 25.208( l). 24 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 25 incorporated into Section 25. 208( m) of our rules. 152 58. Discussion. The Commission's rules apply footnote 5.487A of the International Radio Regulations to the frequency band 12.2- 12.7 GHz in the U. S. domestic allocation. 153 Thus, we tentatively conclude that since we intend to treat reduced spacing DBS space stations the same as Region 2 Plan DBS space stations, reduced spacing DBS satellites need not consider interference into NGSO/ FSS systems, and NGSO/ FSS systems must protect any non- nine- degree- spaced DBS satellite that is a part of the Region 2 Plan. We request comment on whether the Commission’s rules are adequate to accommodate new DBS systems relative to NGSO/ FSS sharing, and whether there is a need to revise our rules to account for non- nine- degree- spaced DBS satellites. G. Mobile DBS Receivers 59. Background. Various parties filing comments on the DBS Reduced Spacing Public Notice urged the Commission to consider protection of mobile DBS receivers in this proceeding. In an ex parte filing, KVH Industries (KVH) stated that the Commission “has recognized that mobile applications fall within the definition of DBS service, and that such applications are, just like stationary applications, worthy of interference protection. Indeed, the FCC has even considered whether additional measures are necessary to protect mobile receivers.” 154 KVH, a manufacturer of small DBS receive antennas for use on boats and vehicles, notes that it has “designed its advanced mobile antenna systems to operate in this [nine degree orbital spacing] environment.” 155 KVH argues that the “introduction of [reduced spacing] DBS satellites would increase interference to the point where there would be no link margin remaining and service to thousands of deployed antennas would be interrupted, at least occasionally if not, permanently.” 156 60. In its comments in response to the DBS Spacing Public Notice, Boeing noted that the “Commission concluded in 1998 that aeronautical DBS service is not a secondary service, but is ‘consistent with the allocation because the DBS definition in the Commission’s Rules does not limit transmissions to fixed receive earth stations. ’” 157 Boeing argues that aeronautical DBS therefore is entitled to the same protection as other DBS services. 158 Boeing has conducted its own interference analysis of the proposals that have been presented to the Commission to launch and operate DBS satellites with 4.5º orbital spacing. 159 Boeing argues that its analysis “clearly indicates that short- spaced DBS satellites operating without technical restraints are likely to disrupt the reception of Connexion’s [Boeing’s aeronautical DBS brand] DBS services.” 160 Boeing further states that “DBS service is routinely received by aircraft using tail mounted and fuselage mounted antennas. Due to size, weight and 152 47 C. F. R. § 25.208( m). 153 See 47 C. F. R. § 2.106, Footnote 5.487A (providing, in part, that “Non- geostationary- satellite systems in the fixed- satellite service shall not claim protection from geostationary- satellite networks in the broadcasting- satellite service operating in accordance with the Radio Regulations. . .”). 154 See Letter from Martin Kits van Heyningen, President, KVH Industries LLC, to Marlene Dortch, Secretary, FCC, dated September 21, 2004 (KVH Industries Comments) (citing NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, 16 FCC Rcd 4096, 4173 at ¶ 202). 155 KVH Comments at 2. 156 KVH Comments at 4. 157 Boeing Comments at 4- 5( citing NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, 16 FCC Rcd at 4173 ¶ 202). 158 Boeing Comments at 5. 159 See Boeing Comments at 5 and Engineering Analysis Appendix. 160 See Boeing Comments at 5. Boeing states that “the increased interference would result in a negative link budget margin to Connexion’s aeronautical receive antennas that would prevent customer reception.” Id. 25 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 26 aerodynamic factors, the largest antenna that can be accommodated on board aircraft for this purpose is 30 centimeters. . . reducing the orbital spacing of the spacecraft to 4.5 degrees could cause interference to stations using these antennas and significantly degrade performance to the stations.” 161 61. Discussion. The Commission concluded in the NGSO- FSS Order that it was not necessary to adopt any additional measures to protect DBS service to aircraft. 162 We also note that the original Region 2 Plan was based on 1.0- meter- diameter subscriber antennas. The current ITU Radio Regulations require that the gain, beam width, co- polar radiation pattern, cross- polar radiation pattern, and antenna diameter in meters be supplied as part of the information filed in accordance with Appendix 4 of the ITU Radio Regulations for a new Region 2 Plan modification. In their filings requesting modifications to the Region 2 Plan, DBS applicants and licensees have specified subscriber antenna diameters as small as 45 cm, but no smaller. Consequently, the smallest antenna diameter that must be considered in the international agreement- seeking process for U. S. Region 2 Plan modification requests is currently 45 cm. Thus, DBS receiving antennas smaller than 45 cm in diameter are not protected under the ITU Radio Regulations or the Commission's rules. We request comment on whether Commission rules can or should accommodate smaller antennas in order to facilitate DBS service to mobile receivers. If we rely on the ITU process for protection of mobile antennas, and decide not to adopt new rules for their protection, we seek comment on whether mobile antenna manufacturers’ earth station licenses should be conditioned to require disclosure to customers that their mobile equipment is not protected from interference. H H. . Full- CONUS Spectrum Cap 62. Background. In 2002, the Commission determined that it would allow DBS licenses to acquire additional satellite capacity in order to better compete with cable systems, because cable operators are investing in fiber optic cable and converting to digital technologies which will enable them to expand their channel capacity and program offerings. 163 In its comments on the DBS Spacing Public Notice, Pegasus urged the Commission to establish “a spectrum cap that effectively limits the licensing of new orbital locations to new entrants and then only to those who have not entered into essentially exclusive arrangements with the only two existing operators with systems capable of providing full- CONUS service.” 164 EchoStar and DIRECTV replied that a DBS spectrum cap is unwarranted, and that any such cap would be harmful to DBS providers in the competitive MVPD marketplace. 165 63. Discussion. As the Commission observed in 2002, DBS offers a strong competitive alternative to cable systems, and we have not found any competitive problems with allowing a DBS operator to operate in more than one full- CONUS orbital position. 166 Indeed, allowing such operation may enable DBS operators to better compete with cable systems in the future. As recently as 2004, the 161 Id at 7. 162 NGSO- FSS Ku- Band R& O & FNPRM, 16 FCC Rcd at 4173 ¶ 204. 163 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd at 11398 ¶ 144. 164 Pegasus Comments at 1- 2. 165 EchoStar reply at 6- 7, DIRECTV reply at 19- 21. 166 Part 100 Order, 17 FCC Rcd 11331, 11389 ¶ 144. [But see, Auction of Direct Broadcast Satellite Licenses, Order, 19 FCC Rcd 23849 (2004) (Eligibility Order) (where the Commission found that the channels to be auctioned at 61. 5º W. L. could be important to increasing the number of options and choices available to subscribers of DBS or MVPD services and limited the eligibility by prohibiting “firms currently operating satellites at orbit locations capable of providing DBS service to the 50 U. S. states … from acquiring, owning, or controlling” the licenses for the two channels at the 61. 5° W. L. orbital location for a period of four years after the award of the initial license. 19 FCC Rcd at 23874, para. 54. EchoStar has requested reconsideration of this decision. (See EchoStar Satellite LLC Petition for Reconsideration, in Auctions Docket AUC- 03- 52 (filed May 20, 2005)). 26 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 27 Commission declined to adopt any eligibility restrictions based on spectrum usage for the three DBS licenses available in Auction No. 52. 167 We request comment on whether a spectrum cap on the number of full- CONUS orbital locations that one satellite company can control is now necessary in light of the rule changes proposed in this notice of proposed rulemaking. IV. CONCLUSION 64. For the reasons discussed above, we invite comment on revising the processing procedures for DBS applications. Parties opposing the proposed approaches should explain their reasons for opposition with particularity, recommending alternatives or explaining in detail why they believe the proposed approaches are unnecessary. Interested parties are also invited to recommend alternative license processing procedures. Based on our experience with space station processing over the past several years’ with comparable first- come, first- served procedures, we believe the proposed approaches will similarly expedite the provision of new DBS service to the public. V. PROCEDURAL MATTERS A. Ex Parte Presentations 65. This proceeding shall be treated as a "permit- but- disclose" proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte rules. 168 Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentations must contain summaries of the substance of the presentations and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. 169 Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206( b) of the Commission's rules as well. B. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification 66. Pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 170 the Commission has prepared an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification of the possible significant economic impact on small entities by the policies and actions considered in this Notice. The text of the Certification is set forth in Appendix B. Written public comments are requested on this Certification. Comments must be identified as responses to the RFA Certification, and must be filed by the deadlines for comments on the Notice as provided in the caption, above. The Commission will send a copy of the Notice, including the Certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration. 171 C. Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis 67. Paperwork Reduction Act. This NPRM contains proposed new and modified information collection( s). The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to comment on the information collection( s) contained in this NPRM, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 167 2004 DBS Auction Order, 19 FCC Rcd 820, 833 at ¶ 24. 168 47 C. F. R. §§ 1.1200, 1.1206; Amendment of 47 C. F. R. § 1.1200 et seq. Concerning Ex Parte Presentations in Commission Proceedings, GC Docket No. 95- 21, Report and Order, 12 FCC Rcd 7348 (1997). 169 47 C. F. R. § 1.1206( b)( 2). 170 See 5 U. S. C. § 603. The RFA, see U. S. C. §601 et seq., has been amended by the Contract with America Advancement Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104- 121, 110 Stat. 847 (1996) (CWAAA). Title II of the CWAAA is the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA). 171 5 U. S. C. § 603( a). 27 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 28 No. 104- 13. Public and agency comments are due 60 days from date of publication of the NPRM in the Federal Register. Comments should address: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimates; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. In addition, pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law No. 107- 198, see 44 U. S. C. § 3506( c)( 4), we seek specific comment on how we might “further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.” D. Comment Filing Procedures 68. Pursuant to Sections 1.415 and 1. 419 of the Commission's rules, 47 C. F. R. §§ 1. 415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments in response to this Notice no later than on or before 75 days after Federal Register publication. Reply comments to these comments may be filed no later than on or before 105 days after Federal Register publication. All pleadings are to reference IB Docket No. 06- 160. Comments may be filed using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) or by filing paper copies. Parties are strongly encouraged to file electronically. See Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 Fed. Reg. 24,121 (1998). 69. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to http:// www. fcc/ gov/ e- file/ ecfs. html. Parties should transmit one copy of their comments to the docket in the caption of this rulemaking. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, U. S. Postal Service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number. Parties may also submit an electronic comment by Internet e- mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send and e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov and should include the following words in the body of the message, "get form ." A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. 70. Parties choosing to file by paper must file an original and four copies of each filing in IB Docket No. 06- 160. Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by commercial overnight courier, or by first- class or overnight U. S. Postal Service mail (although we continue to experience delays in receiving U. S. Postal Service mail). If more than one docket or rulemaking number appears in the caption of this proceeding, commenters must submit two additional copies for each additional docket or rulemaking number. The Commission's mail contractor, Vistronix, Inc. will receive hand- delivered or messenger- delivered paper filings for the Commission's Secretary at 236 Massachusetts Avenue, N. E., Suite 110, Washington, D. C. 20002. The filing hours at this location are 8: 00 a. m. to 7: 00p. m. All hand deliveries must be held together with rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes must be disposed of before entering the building. Commercial overnight mail (other than U. S. Postal Service Express Mail and Priority Mail) must be sent to 9300 East Hampton Drive, Capitol Heights, MD 20743. U. S. Postal Service first- class mail, Express Mail, and Priority Mail should be addressed to 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554. All filings must be addressed to the Commission's Secretary, Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission. 71. Comments submitted on diskette should be on a 3.5 inch diskette formatted in an IBM-compatible format using Word for Windows or compatible software. The diskette should be clearly labeled with the commenter's name, proceeding (including the docket number, in this case, IB Docket No. 06- 160), type of pleading (comment or reply comment), date of submission, and the name of the electronic file on the diskette. The label should also include the following phrase "Disk Copy - Not an Original." Each diskette should contain only one party's pleadings, preferably in a single electronic file. 72. All parties must file one copy of each pleading electronically or by paper to each of the following: (1) The Commission's duplicating contractor, Best Copy and Printing, Inc., 445 12th Street, 28 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 29 S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, telephone (202) 488- 5300, facsimile (202) 488- 5563, or via e- mail at FCC@ BCPIWEB. COM. (2) Arthur Lechtman, Attorney, Satellite Division, International Bureau, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554; e- mail Arthur. Lechtman@ fcc. gov. (3) Mark Young, Attorney, Satellite Division, International Bureau, 445 12 th Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554; e- mail Mark. Young@ fcc. gov. 73. Comments and reply comments and any other filed documents in this matter may be obtained from Best Copy and Printing, Inc., in person at 445 12th Street, S. W., Room CY- B402, Washington, D. C. 20554, via telephone at (202) 488- 5300, via facsimile (202) 488- 5563, or via e- mail at FCC@ BCPIWEB. COM. The pleadings will be also available for public inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CY- A257, 445 Twelfth Street, S. W., Washington, D. C. 20554 and through the Commission's Electronic Filing System (ECFS) accessible on the Commission's World Wide Website, www. fcc. gov. 74. Comments and reply comments must include a short and concise summary of the substantive arguments raised in the pleading. Comments and reply comments must also comply with Section 1.49 and all other applicable sections of the Commission's rules. 172 All parties are encouraged to utilize a table of contents, and to include the name of the filing party and the date of the filing on each page of their submission. We also strongly encourage that parties track the organization set forth in this Notice in order to facilitate our internal review process. 75. Commenters who file information that they believe is proprietary may request confidential treatment pursuant to Section 0.459 of the Commission's rules. Commenters should file both their original comments for which they request confidentiality and redacted comments, along with their request for confidential treatment. Commenters should not file proprietary information electronically. See Examination of Current Policy Concerning the Treatment of Confidential Information Submitted to the Commission, Report and Order, 13 FCC Rcd 24816 (1998), Order on Reconsideration, 14 FCC Rcd 20128 (1999). Even if the Commission grants confidential treatment, information that does not fall within a specific exemption pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) must be publicly disclosed pursuant to an appropriate request. See 47 C. F. R. § 0.461; 5 U. S. C. § 552. We note that the Commission may grant requests for confidential treatment either conditionally or unconditionally. 76. As such, we note that the Commission has the discretion to release information on public interest grounds that does fall within the scope of a FOIA exemption. E. Further Information 77. For further information regarding this proceeding, contact Arthur Lechtman, Attorney, Mark Young, Attorney, or Chip Fleming, Engineer, Satellite Division, International Bureau at (202) 418- 0719. Information regarding this proceeding and others may also be found on the Commission's website at www. fcc. gov. VI. ORDERING CLAUSES 78. Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that, pursuant to the authority contained in sections 4( i), 303( r), and 309( j) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U. S. C. §§ 154( i), 303( r), and 309( j), this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking IS ADOPTED. 79. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, Reference Information Center shall send a copy of this Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking, including the initial regulatory flexibility certification, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the Small 172 47 C. F. R. § 1.49. 29 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 30 Business Administration, in accordance with Section 603( a) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U. S. C. § 601, et seq. (1981). FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION Marlene H. Dortch Secretary 30 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 31 APPENDIX A Comments on Proposals to Permit Reduced Orbital Spacings Between U. S. Direct Broadcast Satellites, Report No. SPB- 196, Public Notice, 18 FCC Rcd 25683 (2003) Comments: 1. Bell ExpressVu LP (“ Bell ExpressVu”) 2. DIRECTV, Inc. (“ DIRECTV”) 3. EchoStar Satellite L. L. C. (“ EchoStar”) 4. Gibraltar Regulatory Authority 5. Government of Bermuda, Ministry of Tourism, Telecommunications & E- Commerce 6. New Skies Satellites N. V. (“ New Skies”) 7. Pegasus Development Corporation (“ Pegasus”) 8. Sand Video, Inc. 9. SES Americom, Inc. (“ SES Americom”) 10. Telesat Canada (“ Telesat”) 11. The Boeing Company (“ Boeing”) 12. The Office of Communications, United Kingdom (“ Ofcom”) 13. The State of Hawaii Reply Comments: 1. DIRECTV 2. EchoStar 3. Loral SpaceCom Corporation and Loral Space & Communications Ltd. (“ Loral”) 4. New Skies 5. Rainbow DBS Company LLC (“ Rainbow”) 6. SES Americom 7. Telesat Ex Parte Comments: 1. New Skies (March 4, 2004) 2. SES Americom (March 25, 2004) 3. SES Americom (March 31, 2004) 4. SES Americom (April 1, 2004) 5. Government of Bermuda, Department of Telecommunications (April 21, 2004) 6. SES Americom (April 22, 2004) 7. SES Americom (April 27, 2004) 8. SES Americom (June 15, 2004) 9. DIRECTV (July 23, 2004) 10. SES Americom (Aug. 18, 2004) 11. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (Sept. 9, 2004) 12. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (Sept. 9, 2004) 13. KVH Industries, Inc. (Sept. 21, 2004) 14. The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (Sept. 23, 2004) 15. SES Americom (Oct. 1, 2004) 16. EchoStar (March 25, 2005) 17. DIRECTV (May 24, 2006) 18. DIRECTV (May 25, 2006) (three ex parte meetings reported) 31 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 32 19. SES Americom (May 26, 2006) 20. EchoStar (Aug. 7, 2006) 21. DIRECTV (Aug. 8, 2006) 32 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 33 APPENDIX B Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA), 173 requires that a regulatory flexibility analysis be prepared for notice- and- comment rule making proceedings, unless the agency certifies that “the rule will not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.” 174 The RFA generally defines the term “small entity” as having the same meaning as the terms “small business,” “small organization,” and “small governmental jurisdiction.” 175 In addition, the term “small business” has the same meaning as the term “small business concern” under the Small Business Act. 176 A “small business concern” is one which: (1) is independently owned and operated; (2) is not dominant in its field of operation; and (3) satisfies any additional criteria established by the Small Business Administration (SBA). 177 The rules proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, if adopted, would affect applicants for the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service (DBS). The rules proposed in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking apply only to entities providing DBS. Because DBS provides subscription services, DBS falls within the SBA- recognized definitions of “Cable and Other Program Distribution” 178 or “Satellite Telecommunications” 179 These definitions provide that small entities are ones with $12.5 million or less in annual receipts. Small businesses of that size (i. e., $12.5 million or less in annual receipts) will not have the financial ability to become DBS system operators because of the high implementation costs, including construction of satellite space stations and the rocket launch process, associated with satellite systems and services. 180 The Commission therefore certifies, pursuant to the RFA, that the proposals in this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because all entities affected are large. The Commission will send a copy of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, including a copy of this Initial Regulatory Flexibility Certification, to the Chief 173 The RFA, see 5 U. S. C. § 601 – 612, has been amended by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA), Pub. L. No. 104- 121, Title II, 110 Stat. 857 (1996). 174 5 U. S. C. § 605( b). 175 5 U. S. C. § 601( 6). 176 5 U. S. C. § 601( 3) (incorporating by reference the definition of “small- business concern” in the Small Business Act, 15 U. S. C. § 632). Pursuant to 5 U. S. C. § 601( 3), the statutory definition of a small business applies “unless an agency, after consultation with the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration and after opportunity for public comment, establishes one or more definitions of such term which are appropriate to the activities of the agency and publishes such definition( s) in the Federal Register.” 177 15 U. S. C. § 632. 178 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code 517510. 179 13 C. F. R. § 121. 201, North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code 517410. 180 See, e. g., Final Analysis Communication Services, Inc., Order and Authorization, 13 FCC Rcd. 6618, 6644 (1998) (non- geostationary satellite applicant estimated that “cost of construction, launch and first- year operating costs for two satellites was approximately $6. 22 million”). See, generally, Rainbow DBS Company LLC, Assignor and Echostar Satellite L. L. C., Assignee, Consolidated Application for Consent to Assignment of Space Station and Earth, Memorandum Opinion and Order, FCC 05- 177 (rel. Oct. 12, 2005) (difficulty and cost of establishing additional DBS operator). 33 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 34 Counsel for Advocacy of the SBA. 181 This initial certification will also be published in the Federal Register. 182 181 5 U. S. C. § 605( b). 182 5 U. S. C. § 605( b). 34 Federal Communications Commission FCC 06- 120 35 JOINT STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONERS MICHAEL J. COPPS AND JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN APPROVING IN PART AND CONCURRING IN PART Re: Amendment of the Commission’s Policies and Rules for Processing Applications in the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service; Feasibility of Reduced Orbital Spacing for Provision of Direct Broadcast Satellite Service in the United States (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, IB Docket No. 06- 160, Report No. SPB- 196) Today the Commission seeks comment on how to deal with proposals to launch so- called ‘tweener satellites which would operate in the orbital spaces between existing DBS satellites. This is an important and complex question, and we are glad the Commission approaches it through a comprehensive rulemaking process. As the record before the Commission indicates, the views of satellite operators about the technical feasibility of ‘tweeners are currently in a state of flux. Indeed, though the two providers of retail DBS service in the United States initially disagreed about the advisability of permitting ‘tweeners, both now believe that the approach raises significant interference concerns. We concur in part, however, because of that portion of the item that states the Commission “may” grant pending ‘tweener applications before completing this rulemaking. That strikes us as putting the cart in front of the horse. We believe the better course would be to refrain from approving any applications until the Commission can develop a comprehensive framework for these matters. Such an approach would ensure that the millions of current DBS subscribers are not subject to any potential for interruptions to their service. 35