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§ 25.201 - [Reserved]

§ 25.202 - Frequencies, frequency tolerance, and emission limits.

(a)(1) In addition to the frequency-use restrictions set forth in § 2.106 of this chapter, the following restrictions apply:

(i) In the 27.5–28.35 GHz band, the FSS (Earth-to-space) is secondary to the Upper Microwave Flexible Use Service authorized pursuant to part 30 of this chapter, except for FSS operations associated with earth stations authorized pursuant to § 25.136.

(ii) Use of the 37.5–40 GHz band by the FSS (space-to-Earth) is limited to individually licensed earth stations. Earth stations in this band must not be ubiquitously deployed and must not be used to serve individual consumers.

(iii) The U.S. non-Federal Table of Frequency Allocations, in § 2.106 of this chapter, is applicable between Commission space station licensees relying on a U.S. ITU filing and transmitting to or receiving from anywhere on Earth, including airborne earth stations, in the 17.7–20.2 GHz or 27.5–30 GHz bands.

(2) [Reserved]

(3) The following frequencies are available for use by the non-voice, non-geostationary mobile-satellite service:

137–138 MHz: Space-to-Earth 148–150.05 MHz: Earth-to-space 399.9–400.05 MHz: Earth-to-space 400.15–401 MHz: Space-to-Earth

(4)(i) The following frequencies are available for use by the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service:

1610–1626.5 MHz: User-to-Satellite Link 1613.8–1626.5 MHz: Satellite-to-User Link (secondary) 2483.5–2500 MHz: Satellite-to-User Link

(ii) The following frequencies are available for use by the 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service: 2000–2020 MHz: User-to-Satellite Link; 2180–2200 MHz: Satellite-to-User Link.

(iii)(A) The following frequencies are available for use by the 1.5/1.6 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service:

1525–1559 MHz: space-to-Earth 1626.5–1660.5 MHz: Earth-to-space

(B) The use of the frequencies 1544–1545 MHz and 1645.5–1646.5 MHz is limited to distress and safety communications.

(5) The following frequencies are available for use by the inter-satellite service:

22.55–23.00 GHz 23.00–23.55 GHz 24.45–24.65 GHz 24.65–24.75 GHz 54.25–56.90 GHz 57.00–58.20 GHz 65.00–71.00 GHz

(6) The following frequencies are available for use by the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS), and for any associated terrestrial repeaters: 2320–2345 MHz (space-to-Earth)

(7) The following frequencies are available for use by the Direct Broadcast Satellite service:

12.2–12.7 GHz: Space-to-Earth. 12.2–12.7 GHz: Space-to-Earth.

(8) The following frequencies are available for use by Earth Stations on Vessels (ESVs) communicating with GSO FSS space stations, subject to the provisions in § 2.106 of this chapter:

3700–4200 MHz (space-to-Earth) 5925–6425 MHz (Earth-to-space)

(9) The following frequencies are available for use by the Broadcasting-Satellite Service after 1 April 2007:

17.3–17.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) 17.7–17.8 GHz (space-to-Earth) Note 1 to paragraph (a)(9):

Use of the 17.3–17.7 GHz band by the broadcasting-satellite service is limited to geostationary satellite orbit systems.

Note 2 to paragraph (a)(9):

Use of the 17.7–17.8 GHz band (space-to-Earth) by the broadcasting-satellite service is limited to transmissions from geostationary satellite orbit systems to receiving earth stations located outside of the United States and its Possessions. In the United States and its Possessions, the 17.7–17.8 GHz band is allocated on a primary basis to the Fixed Service.

(10)(i) The following frequencies are available for use by Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (VMESs):

10.95–11.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) 11.45–11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) 11.7–12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) 14.0–14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) 18.3–18.8 GHz (space-to-Earth) 19.7–20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) 28.35–28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space) 29.25–30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space)

(ii) The following frequencies are available for use by Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) communicating with GSO FSS space stations, subject to the provisions in § 2.106 of this chapter:

(A) 10.7–11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(B) 11.7–12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(C) 14.0–14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space).

(D) 17.3–17.7 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(E) 17.7–17.8 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(F) 17.8–18.3 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(G) 18.3–18.8 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(H) 18.8–19.3 GHz (space-to-Earth)

(I) 19.3–19.4 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(J) 19.6–19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(K) 19.7–20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth).

(L) 28.35–28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space).

(M) 28.6–29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space).

(N) 29.25–30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space).

(iii) The following frequencies are available for use by Earth Stations in Motion (ESIMs) communicating with NGSO FSS space stations, subject to the provisions in § 2.106 of this chapter:

10.7–11.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) 11.7–12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) 14.0–14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) 17.8–18.3 GHz (space-to-Earth) 18.3–18.6 GHz (space-to-Earth) 18.8–19.3 GHz (space-to-Earth) 19.3–19.4 GHz (space-to-Earth) 19.6–19.7 GHz (space-to-Earth) 19.7–20.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) 28.4–28.6 GHz (Earth-to-space) 28.6–29.1 GHz (Earth-to-space) 29.5–30.0 GHz (Earth-to-space)

(11) [Reserved]

(12) The following frequencies are available for use by the mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for the reception of Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) broadcast messages from ships:

156.7625–156.7875 MHz 156.8125–156.8375 MHz 161.9625–161.9875 MHz 162.0125–162.0375 MHz

(b) Other frequencies and associated bandwidths of emission may be assigned on a case-by-case basis to space systems under this part in conformance with § 2.106 of this chapter and the Commission's rules and policies.

(c) [Reserved]

(d) Frequency tolerance, Earth stations. The carrier frequency of each earth station transmitter authorized in these services shall be maintained within 0.001 percent of the reference frequency.

(e) Frequency tolerance, space stations. The carrier frequency of each space station transmitter authorized in these services shall be maintained within 0.002 percent of the reference frequency.

(f) Emission limitations. Except for SDARS terrestrial repeaters and as provided for in paragraph (i), the mean power of emissions shall be attenuated below the mean output power of the transmitter in accordance with the schedule set forth in paragraphs (f)(1) through (f)(4) of this section. The out-of-band emissions of SDARS terrestrial repeaters shall be attenuated in accordance with the schedule set forth in paragraph (h) of this section.

(1) In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 50 percent up to and including 100 percent of the authorized bandwidth: 25 dB;

(2) In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 100 percent up to and including 250 percent of the authorized bandwidth: 35 dB;

(3) In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the assigned frequency by more than 250 percent of the authorized bandwidth: An amount equal to 43 dB plus 10 times the logarithm (to the base 10) of the transmitter power in watts;

(4) In any event, when an emission outside of the authorized bandwidth causes harmful interference, the Commission may, at its discretion, require greater attenuation than specified in paragraphs (f) (1), (2) and (3) of this section.

(g)(1) Telemetry, tracking, and command signals may be transmitted in frequencies within the assigned bands that are not at a band edge only if the transmissions cause no greater interference and require no greater protection from harmful interference than the communications traffic on the satellite network or have been coordinated with operators of authorized co-frequency space stations at orbital locations within six degrees of the assigned orbital location.

(2) Frequencies, polarization, and coding of telemetry, tracking, and command transmissions must be selected to minimize interference into other satellite networks.

(h) Out-of-band emission limitations for SDARS terrestrial repeaters. (1) Any SDARS terrestrial repeater operating at a power level greater than 2-watt average EIRP is required to attenuate its out-of-band emissions below the transmitter power P by a factor of not less than 90 + 10 log (P) dB in a 1-megahertz bandwidth outside the 2320–2345 MHz band, where P is average transmitter output power in watts.

(2) Any SDARS terrestrial repeater operating at a power level equal to or less than 2-watt average EIRP is required to attenuate its out-of-band emissions below the transmitter power P by a factor of not less than 75 + 10 log (P) dB in a 1-megahertz bandwidth outside the 2320–2345 MHz band, where P is average transmitter output power in watts.

(3) SDARS repeaters are permitted to attenuate out-of-band emissions less than the levels specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2), of this section unless a potentially affected WCS licensee provides written notice that it intends to commence commercial service within the following 365 days. Starting 180 days after receipt of such written notice, SDARS repeaters within the area notified by the potentially affected WCS licensee must attenuate out-of-band emissions to the levels specified in paragraphs (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this section.

(4) For the purpose of this section, a WCS licensee is potentially affected if it is authorized to operate a base station in the 2305–2315 MHz or 2350–2360 MHz bands within 25 kilometers of a repeater seeking to operate with an out of band emission attenuation factor less than those prescribed in paragraphs (h)(1) or (2) of this section.

(i) The WCS licensee is authorized to operate a base station in the 2305–2315 MHz or 2350–2360 MHz bands in the same Major Economic Area (MEA) as that in which a SDARS terrestrial repeater is located.

(ii) The WCS licensee is authorized to operate a base station in the 2315–2320 MHz or 2345–2350 MHz bands in the same Regional Economic Area Grouping (REAG) as that in which a SDARS terrestrial repeater is located.

(iii) A SDARS terrestrial repeater is located within 5 kilometers of the boundary of an MEA or REAG in which the WCS licensee is authorized to operate a WCS base station.

(i) The following unwanted emissions power limits for non-geostationary satellites operating in the inter-satellite service that transmit in the 22.55–23.55 GHz band shall apply in any 200 MHz of the 23.6–24 GHz passive band, based on the date that complete advance publication information is received by the ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau:

(1) For information received before January 1, 2020: −36 dBW.

(2) For information received on or after January 1, 2020: −46 dBW.

(j) For earth stations in the Fixed-Satellite Service (Earth-to-space) that transmit in the 49.7–50.2 GHz and 50.4–50.9 GHz bands, the unwanted emission power in the 50.2–50.4 GHz band shall not exceed −20 dBW/200 MHz (measured at the input of the antenna), except that the maximum unwanted emission power may be increased to −10 dBW/200 MHz for earth stations having an antenna gain greater than or equal to 57 dBi. These limits apply under clear-sky conditions. During fading conditions, the limits may be exceeded by earth stations when using uplink power control.

[30 FR 7176, May 28, 1965] Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 25.202, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§ 25.203 - Choice of sites and frequencies.

Link to an amendment published at 87 FR 72405, Nov. 25, 2022.

(a) Sites and frequencies for earth stations, other than ESVs, operating in frequency bands shared with equal rights between terrestrial and space services, shall be selected, to the extent practicable, in areas where the surrounding terrain and existing frequency usage are such as to minimize the possibility of harmful interference between the sharing services.

(b) An applicant for an earth station authorization, other than an ESV, in a frequency band shared with equal rights with terrestrial microwave services shall compute the great circle coordination distance contour(s) for the proposed station in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 25.251. The applicant shall submit with the application a map or maps drawn to appropriate scale and in a form suitable for reproduction indicating the location of the proposed station and these contours. These maps, together with the pertinent data on which the computation of these contours is based, including all relevant transmitting and/or receiving parameters of the proposed station that is necessary in assessing the likelihood of interference, an appropriately scaled plot of the elevation of the local horizon as a function of azimuth, and the electrical characteristics of the earth station antenna(s), shall be submitted by the applicant in a single exhibit to the application. The coordination distance contour plot(s), horizon elevation plot, and antenna horizon gain plot(s) required by this section may also be submitted in tabular numerical format at 5° azimuthal increments instead of graphical format. At a minimum, this exhibit shall include the information listed in paragraph (c)(2) of this section. An earth station applicant shall also include in the application relevant technical details (both theoretical calculations and/or actual measurements) of any special techniques, such as the use of artificial site shielding, or operating procedures or restrictions at the proposed earth station which are to be employed to reduce the likelihood of interference, or of any particular characteristics of the earth station site which could have an effect on the calculation of the coordination distance.

(c) Prior to the filing of its application, an applicant for operation of an earth station, other than an ESV, VMES or ESAA, shall coordinate the proposed frequency usage with existing terrestrial users and with applicants for terrestrial station authorizations with previously filed applications in accordance with the following procedure:

(1) An applicant for an earth station authorization shall perform an interference analysis in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 25.251 for each terrestrial station, for which a license or construction permit has been granted or for which an application has been accepted for filing, which is or is to be operated in a shared frequency band to be used by the proposed earth station and which is located within the great circle coordination distance contour(s) of the proposed earth station.

(2) The earth station applicant shall provide each such terrestrial station licensee, permittee, and prior filed applicant with the technical details of the proposed earth station and the relevant interference analyses that were made. At a minimum, the earth station applicant shall provide the terrestrial user with the following technical information:

(i) The geographical coordinates of the proposed earth station antenna(s),

(ii) Proposed operating frequency band(s) and emission(s),

(iii) Antenna center height above ground and ground elevation above mean sea level,

(iv) Antenna gain pattern(s) in the plane of the main beam,

(v) Longitude range of geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites at which antenna may be pointed, for proposed earth station antenna(s) accessing GSO satellites,

(vi) Horizon elevation plot,

(vii) Antenna horizon gain plot(s) determined in accordance with § 25.251 for satellite longitude range specified in paragraph (c)(2)(v) of this section, taking into account the provisions of § 25.251 for earth stations operating with non-geostationary satellites,

(viii) Minimum elevation angle,

(ix) Maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) density in the main beam in any 4 kHz band, (dBW/4 kHz) for frequency bands below 15 GHz or in any 1 MHz band (dBW/MHz) for frequency band above 15 GHz,

(x) Maximum available RF transmit power density in any 1 MHz band and in any 4 kHz band at the input terminals of the antenna(s),

(xi) Maximum permissible RF interference power level as determined in accordance with § 25.251 for all applicable percentages of time, and

(xii) A plot of great circle coordination distance contour(s) and rain scatter coordination distance contour(s) as determined by § 25.251.

(3) The coordination procedures specified in § 101.103 of this chapter and § 25.251 shall be applicable except that the information to be provided shall be that set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, and that the 30-day period allowed for response to a request for coordination may be increased to a maximum of 45 days by mutual consent of the parties.

(4) Where technical problems are resolved by an agreement or operating arrangement between the parties that would require special procedures be taken to reduce the likelihood of harmful interference (such as the use of artificial site shielding) or would result in lessened quality or capacity of either system, the details thereof shall be contained in the application.

(5) The Commission may, in the course of examining any application, require the submission of additional showings, complete with pertinent data and calculations in accordance with § 25.251, showing that harmful interference is not likely to result from the proposed operation.

(6) Multiple antennas in an NGSO FSS gateway earth station complex located within an area bounded by one second of latitude and one second of longitude may be regarded as a single earth station for purposes of coordination with terrestrial services.

(d) An applicant for operation of an earth station, other than an ESV, VMES or an ESAA, shall also ascertain whether the great circle coordination distance contours and rain scatter coordination distance contours, computed for those values of parameters indicated in § 25.251 (Appendix 7 of the ITU RR) for international coordination, cross the boundaries of another Administration. In this case, the applicant shall furnish the Commission copies of these contours on maps drawn to appropriate scale for use by the Commission in effecting coordination of the proposed earth station with the Administration(s) affected.

(e) Protection for Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone, Boulder County, Colorado.

(1) Applicants for a station authorization to operate in the vicinity of Boulder County, Colorado under this part are advised to give due consideration, prior to filing applications, to the need to protect the Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone from harmful interference. These are the research laboratories of the Department of Commerce, Boulder County, Colorado. To prevent degradation of the present ambient radio signal level at the site, the Department of Commerce seeks to ensure that the field strengths of any radiated signals (excluding reflected signals) received on this 1800 acre site (in the vicinity of coordinates 40°07′50″ N Latitude, 105°14′40″ W Longitude) resulting from new assignments (other than mobile stations) or from the modification or relocation of existing facilities do not exceed the following values:

Frequency range In authorized bandwidth of service Field strength (mV/m) Power flux density 1 (dBW/m 2) Below 540 kHz10−65.8 540 to 1600 kHz20−59.8 1.6 to 470 MHz102−65.8 470 to 890 MHz302−56.2 Above 890 MHz12−85.8

1 Equivalent values of power flux density are calculated assuming free space characteristic impedance of 376.7 = 120π ohms.

2 Space stations shall conform to the power flux density limits at the earth's surface specified in appropriate parts of the FCC rules, but in no case should exceed the above levels in any 4 kHz band for all angles of arrival.

(2) Advance consultation is recommended particularly for those applicants who have no reliable data which indicates whether the field strength or power flux density figures in the above table would be exceeded by their proposed radio facilities (except mobile stations). In such instances, the following is a suggested guide for determining whether coordination is recommended:

(i) All stations within 2.5 kilometers;

(ii) Stations within 5 kilometers with 50 watts or more average effective radiated power (ERP) in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of the Table Mountain Radio Receiving Zone;

(iii) Stations within 15 kilometers with 1 kW or more average ERP in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of Table Mountain Receiving Zone;

(iv) Stations within 80 kilometers with 25 kW or more average ERP in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of Table Mountain Receiving Zone.

(3) Applicants concerned are urged to communicate with the Radio Frequency Management Coordinator, Department of Commerce, Research Support Services, NOAA R/E5X2, Boulder Laboratories, Boulder, CO 80303; telephone (303) 497–6548, in advance of filing their applications with the Commission.

(4) The Commission will not screen applications to determine whether advance consultation has taken place. However, applicants are advised that such consultation can avoid objections from the Department of Commerce or proceedings to modify any authorization which may be granted which, in fact, delivers a signal at the site in excess of the field strength specified herein.

(f) Notification to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory: In order to minimize possible harmful interference at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory site at Green Bank, Pocahontas County, W. Va., and at the Naval Radio Research Observatory site at Sugar Grove, Pendleton County, W. Va., any applicant for operating authority under this part for a new transmit or transmit-receive earth station, other than a mobile or temporary fixed station, within the area bounded by 39°15′ N. on the north, 78°30′ W. on the east, 37°30′ N. on the south and 80°30′ W. on the west or for modification of an existing license for such station to change the station's frequency, power, antenna height or directivity, or location must, when filing the application with the Commission, simultaneously notify the Director, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, P.O. Box No. 2, Green Bank, W. Va. 24944, in writing, of the technical particulars of the proposed station. Such notification shall include the geographical coordinates of the antenna, antenna height, antenna directivity if any, proposed frequency, type of emission, and power. In addition, the applicant shall indicate in his application to the Commission the date notification was made to the observatory. After receipt of such applications, the Commission will allow a period of 20 days for comments or objections in response to the notifications indicated. If an objection to the proposed operation is received during the 20-day period from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory for itself or on behalf of the Naval Radio Research Observatory, the Commission will consider all aspects of the problem and take whatever action is deemed appropriate.

(g) Protection for Federal Communications Commission monitoring stations:

(1) Applicants for authority to operate a new transmitting earth station in the vicinity of an FCC monitoring station or to modify the operation of a transmitting earth station in a way that would increase the field strength produced at such a monitoring station above that previously authorized should consider the possible need to protect the FCC stations from harmful interference. Geographic coordinates of the facilities that require protection are listed in § 0.121(c) of this chapter. Applications for fixed stations that will produce field strength greater than 10 mV/m or power flux density greater than −65.8 dBW/m 2 in the authorized emission bandwidth at any of the referenced coordinates may be examined to determine the extent of possible interference. Depending on the theoretical field strength value and existing root-sum-square or other ambient radio field signal levels at the referenced coordinates, a condition to protect the monitoring station may be included in the station authorization.

(2) In the event that the calculated value of the expected field strength exceeds 10 mV/m (−65.8 dBW/m 2) at the reference coordinates, or if there is any question whether field strength levels might exceed the threshold value, advance consultation with the FCC to discuss any protection necessary should be considered. See § 0.401 of this chapter for contact information.

(3) Advance consultation is suggested particularly for those applicants who have no reliable data which indicates whether the field strength or power flux density figure indicated would be exceeded by their proposed radio facilities (except mobile stations). In such instances, the following is a suggested guide for determining whether an applicant should coordinate:

(i) All stations within 2.5 kilometers;

(ii) Stations within 5 kilometers with 50 watts or more average effective radiated power (ERP) in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of the Monitoring Station;

(iii) Stations within 15 kilometers with 1 kW or more average ERP in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of the Monitoring Station;

(iv) Stations within 80 kilometers with 25 kW or more average ERP in the primary plane of polarization in the azimuthal direction of the Monitoring Station.

(4) Advance coordination for stations operating above 1000 MHz is recommended only where the proposed station is in the vicinity of a monitoring station designated as a satellite monitoring facility in § 0.121(c) of this chapter and also meets the criteria outlined in paragraphs (g)(2) and (3) of this section.

(5) The Commission will not screen applications to determine whether advance consultation has taken place. However, applicants are advised that such consultation can avoid objections from the Federal Communications Commission or modification of any authorization which will cause harmful interference.

(h) Sites and frequencies for GSO and NGSO earth stations, operating in a frequency band where both have a co-primary allocation, shall be selected to avoid earth station antenna mainlobe-to-satellite antenna mainlobe coupling, between NGSO systems and between NGSO and GSO systems, in order to minimize the possibility of harmful interference between these services. Prior to filing an earth station application, in bands with co-primary allocations to NGSO and GSO earth stations, the applicant shall coordinate the proposed site and frequency usage with existing earth station licensees and with current earth station authorization applicants.

(i) Any applicant for a new permanent transmitting fixed earth station to be located on the island of Puerto Rico, Desecheo, Mona, Vieques, or Culebra, or for modification of an existing authorization to change the frequency, power, antenna height, directivity, or location of such a station on one of these islands in a way that would increase the likelihood of causing interference, must notify the Interference Office, Arecibo Observatory, HC3 Box 53995, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00612, in writing or electronically, of the technical parameters of the proposal. Applicants may wish to consult interference guidelines, which will be provided by Cornell University. Applicants who choose to transmit information electronically should e-mail to: [email protected].

(1) The notification to the Interference Office, Arecibo Observatory shall be made prior to, or simultaneously with, the filing of the application with the Commission. The notification must specify the geographical coordinates of the antenna (NAD–83 datum), antenna height above ground, ground elevation at the antenna, antenna directivity and gain, proposed frequency, relevant FCC rule part, type of emission, effective radiated power, and whether the proposed use is itinerant. Generally, submission of the information in the technical portion of the FCC license application is adequate notification. In addition, the applicant shall indicate in its application to the Commission the date notification was made to the Arecibo Observatory.

(2) After receipt of such applications, the Commission will allow the Arecibo Observatory a period of 20 days for comments or objections in response to the notification indicated. The applicant will be required to make reasonable efforts in order to resolve or mitigate any potential interference problem with the Arecibo Observatory and to file either an amendment to the application or a modification application, as appropriate. If the Commission determines that an applicant has satisfied its responsibility to make reasonable efforts to protect the Observatory from interference, its application may be granted.

(3) The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to operations that transmit on frequencies above 15 GHz.

(j) Applicants for NGSO 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service/Radiodetermination-Satellite Service feeder links in the 17.7–20.2 GHz and 27.5–30.0 GHz bands must coordinate with licensees of FSS and terrestrial-service systems sharing the band to determine geographic protection areas around each NGSO MSS/Radiodetermination-Satellite Service feeder-link earth station.

(k) An applicant for operation of an earth station, other than an ESV, VMES or an ESAA, that will operate with a geostationary satellite or non-geostationary satellite in a shared frequency band in which the non-geostationary system is (or is proposed to be) licensed for feeder links, shall demonstrate in its applications that its proposed earth station will not cause unacceptable interference to any other satellite network that is authorized to operate in the same frequency band, or certify that the operations of its earth station shall conform to established coordination agreements between the operator(s) of the space station(s) with which the earth station is to communicate and the operator(s) of any other space station licensed to use the band.

(l) [Reserved]

(m) Feeder links to DBS space stations:

(1) Each applicant for a license to construct a new FSS earth station to provide feeder-link service to DBS space stations in the frequency band 17.3–17.8 GHz, or to modify any such station currently authorized except where the modification is for a new station within one kilometer of a currently-licensed earth station and modification will not increase the aggregate pfd, measured at any point 3–10 meters above the ground, above that generated by the current earth station, shall identify a coordination zone around its proposed new or modified earth station by the methodology outlined in Annex 3 of Appendix 7 of the ITU Radio Regulations, using the following values for the parameters in Table 9b of Annex 7 of Appendix 7:

Space service designation in which the transmitting earth station operatesFixed-satellite Frequency bands (GHz)17.3–17.8 Space service designation in which the receiving earth station operatesBroadcasting-satellite OrbitGSO Modulation at receiving earth station N (digital) Receiving earth station interference parameters and criteria:p0 (%)0.015 n2 p (%)0.015 NL(dB)1 Ms (dB)In the area specified in 47 CFR § 25.209(w)(1) and (4)In the area specified in 47 CFR § 25.209(w)(2)In the area specified in 47 CFR § 25.209(w)(3). 4.83.01.8. W (dB)4 Receiving earth station parameters:Gm (dBi)36 Gr0 emin20° Te (K)150 Reference bandwidth:B (Hz)10 6Permissible interference power: Pr(p) (dBW) in B−146.8−149.8−152.8.

(2) Each applicant for such new or modified feeder-link earth station shall provide the following information to a third-party coordinator of its choice for use in coordination required by this paragraph:

(i) The geographical coordinates of the proposed earth station antenna(s);

(ii) Proposed operating frequency band(s) and emission(s);

(iii) Antenna diameter (meters);

(iv) Antenna center height above ground and ground elevation above mean sea level;

(v) Antenna gain pattern(s) in the plane of the main beam;

(vi) Longitude range of geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites at which an antenna may be pointed;

(vii) Horizon elevation plot;

(viii) Antenna horizon gain plot(s) determined in accordance with the procedure in Section 2.1 of Annex 5 to Appendix 7 of the ITU Radio Regulations;

(ix) Minimum elevation angle;

(x) Maximum equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) density in the main beam in any 1 MHz band;

(xi) Maximum available RF transmit power density in any 1 MHz band at the input terminals of the antenna(s);

(xii) A plot of the coordination distance contour(s) and rain scatter coordination distance contour(s) as determined by Table 2 of Section 3 to Appendix 7 of the ITU Radio Regulations.

(3) Each applicant for such new or modified feeder-link earth stations shall file with its application memoranda of coordination with each licensee authorized to construct BSS receive earth stations within the coordination zone.

(n) From December 5, 2021 until December 5, 2030, consolidated telemetry, tracking, and control (TT&C) operations at no more than four locations may be authorized on a primary basis to support space station operations, and no other TT&C operations shall be entitled to interference protection in the 3.7–4.0 GHz band.

[30 FR 7176, May 28, 1965] Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 25.203, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§ 25.204 - Power limits for earth stations.

(a) In bands shared coequally with terrestrial radio communication services, the equivalent isotropically radiated power transmitted in any direction towards the horizon by an earth station, other than an ESV, operating in frequency bands between 1 and 15 GHz, shall not exceed the following limits except as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section:

+ 40 dBW in any 4 kHz band for θ ≤0° + 40 + 3θ dBW in any 4 kHz band for 0° <θ ≤5° where θ is the angle of elevation of the horizon viewed from the center of radiation of the antenna of the earth station and measured in degrees as positive above the horizontal plane and negative below it.

(b) In bands shared coequally with terrestrial radiocommunication services, the equivalent isotropically radiated power transmitted in any direction towards the horizon by an earth station operating in frequency bands above 15 GHz shall not exceed the following limits except as provided for in paragraph (c) of this section:

+ 64 dBW in any 1 MHz band for θ ≤0° + 64 + 3 θ dBW in any 1 MHz band for 0° <θ ≤5° where θ is as defined in paragraph (a) of this section.

(c) For angles of elevation of the horizon greater than 5° there shall be no restriction as to the equivalent isotropically radiated power transmitted by an earth station towards the horizon.

(d) Notwithstanding the e.i.r.p. and e.i.r.p. density limits specified in the station authorization, each earth station transmission shall be conducted at the lowest power level that will provide the required signal quality as indicated in the application and further amended by coordination agreements.

(e) To the extent specified in paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(3) of this section, earth stations in the Fixed-Satellite Service may employ uplink adaptive power control or other methods of fade compensation to facilitate transmission of uplinks at power levels required for desired link performance while minimizing interference between networks.

(1) Except when paragraphs (e)(2) through (e)(3) of this section apply, transmissions from FSS earth stations in frequencies above 10 GHz may exceed the uplink EIRP and EIRP density limits specified in the station authorization under conditions of uplink fading due to precipitation by an amount not to exceed 1 dB above the actual amount of monitored excess attenuation over clear sky propagation conditions. EIRP levels must be returned to normal as soon as the attenuating weather pattern subsides.

(2) An FSS earth station transmitting to a geostationary space station in the 13.77–13.78 GHz band must not generate more than 71 dBW EIRP in any 6 MHz band. An FSS earth station transmitting to a non-geostationary space station in the 13.77–13.78 GHz band must not generate more than 51 dBW EIRP in any 6 MHz band. Automatic power control may be used to increase the EIRP density in a 6 MHz uplink band in this frequency range to compensate for rain fade, provided that the power flux-density at the space station does not exceed the value that would result when transmitting with an EIRP of 71 dBW or 51 dBW, as appropriate, in that 6 MHz band in clear-sky conditions.

(3) FSS earth stations transmitting to geostationary space stations in the 28.35–28.6 GHz and/or 29.25–30.0 GHz bands may employ uplink adaptive power control or other methods of fade compensation. For stations employing uplink power control, the values in § 25.218(i)(1), (2), and (4) may be exceeded by up to 20 dB under conditions of uplink fading due to precipitation. The amount of such increase in excess of the actual amount of monitored excess attenuation over clear sky propagation conditions must not exceed 1.5 dB or 15 percent of the actual amount of monitored excess attenuation in dB, whichever is larger, with a confidence level of 90 percent except over transient periods accounting for no more than 0.5 percent of the time during which the excess is no more than 4.0 dB.

(f) An earth station in the Fixed-Satellite Service transmitting in the 13.75–14 GHz band must have a minimum antenna diameter of 4.5 m, and the EIRP of any emission in that band should be at least 68 dBW and should not exceed 85 dBW.

(g) [Reserved]

[48 FR 40255, Sept. 6, 1983, as amended at 58 FR 13420, Mar. 11, 1993; 61 FR 52307, Oct. 7, 1996; 62 FR 61457, Nov. 18, 1997; 66 FR 10623, Feb. 16, 2001; 70 FR 4784, Jan. 31, 2005; 70 FR 32255, June 2, 2005; 72 FR 50029, Aug. 29, 2007; 74 FR 57098, Nov. 4, 2009; 78 FR 8427, Feb. 6, 2013; 78 FR 14927, Mar. 8, 2013; 79 FR 8322, Feb. 12, 2004; 81 FR 55336, Aug. 18, 2016; 83 FR 34491, July 20, 2018; 84 FR 53655, Oct. 8, 2019]

§ 25.205 - Minimum antenna elevation angle.

(a) Earth station antennas must not transmit at elevation angles less than five degrees, measured from the horizontal plane to the direction of maximum radiation, in a frequency band shared with terrestrial radio services or in a frequency band with an allocation to space services operating in both the Earth-to-space and space-to-Earth directions. In other bands, earth station antennas must not transmit at elevation angles less than three degrees. In some instances, it may be necessary to specify greater minimum elevation angles because of interference considerations.

(b) ESAAs in aircraft on the ground must not transmit at elevation angles less than three degrees. There is no minimum angle of antenna elevation for ESAAs while airborne.

[81 FR 55336, Aug. 18, 2016]

§ 25.206 - Station identification.

The requirement to transmit station identification is waived for all radio stations licensed under this part with the exception of earth stations subject to the requirements of § 25.281.

[79 FR 8322, Feb. 12, 2014]

§ 25.207 - Cessation of emissions.

Space stations shall be made capable of ceasing radio emissions by the use of appropriate devices (battery life, timing devices, ground command, etc.) that will ensure definite cessation of emissions.

§ 25.208 - Power flux-density limits.

(a) In the band 3650–4200 MHz, the power flux density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station for all conditions and for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values:

−152 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane; −152 + (δ−5)/2 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and −142 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane These limits relate to the power flux density which would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(b) In the bands 10.95–11.2 and 11.45–11.7 GHz for GSO FSS space stations and 10.7–11.7 GHz for NGSO FSS space stations, the power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station for all conditions and for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the lower of the following values:

(1) −150 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane; −150 + (δ−5)/2 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival (δ) (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and −140 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane; or

(2) −126 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane; −126 + (δ−5)/2 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival (δ) (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and −116 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

Note to paragraph (b):

These limits relate to the power flux density, which would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(c) For a GSO space station in the 17.7–19.7 GHz, 22.55–23.55 GHz, or 24.45–24.75 GHz bands, or for an NGSO space station in the 22.55–23.55 GHz or 24.45–24.75 GHz bands, the PFD at the Earth's surface produced by emissions for all conditions and for all methods of modulation must not exceed the following values:

(1) −115 dB (W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane.

(2) −115 + 0.5 (δ-5) dB (W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival d (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane.

(3) −105 dB (W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

(d) In addition to the limits specified in paragraph (c) of this section, the power flux-density across the 200 MHz band 18.6–18.8 GHz produced at the Earth's surface by emissions from a space station under assumed free-space propagation conditions shall not exceed −95 dB (W/m 2) for all angles of arrival. This limit may be exceeded by up to 3 dB for no more than 5% of the time.

(e)–(m) [Reserved]

(n) The power-flux density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station in the Fixed-Satellite Service (space-to-Earth), for all conditions and for all methods of modulation, shall not exceed the limits given in Table N. These limits relate to the power flux-density which would be obtained under assumed free-space conditions.

Table N—Limits of Power-Flux Density From Space Stations in the Band 6700–7075 MHz

Frequency band Limit in dB (W/m 2) for angle of arrival (δ) above the horizontal plane Reference bandwidth 0°–5° 5°–25° 25°–90° 6700–6825 MHz−137−137 + 0.5(δ−5)−1271 MHz. 6825–7075 MHz−154
and
−154 + 0.5(δ−5)
and
−144
and
4 kHz. −134−134 + 0.5(δ−5)−1241 MHz.

(o) In the band 12.2–12.7 GHz, for NGSO FSS space stations, the specified low-angle power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station shall not be exceeded into an operational MVDDS receiver:

(1) −158 dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 2 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

(2) −158 + 3.33(δ−2) dB(W/m 2) in any 4 kHz band for angles of arrival (δ) (in degrees) between 2 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane.

Note to paragraph (o):

These limits relate to the power flux density, which would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(p) The power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station in either the Earth exploration-satellite service in the band 25.5–27 GHz or the inter-satellite service in the band 25.25–27.5 GHz for all conditions and for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values:

−115 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−115 + 0.5(−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−105 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

These limits relate to the power flux-density which would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(q) In the band 37.5–40.0 GHz, the power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a geostationary space station for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values.

(1) This limit relates to the power flux-density which would be obtained under assumed free space conditions (that is, when no allowance is made for propogation impairments such as rain-fade):

−139 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−139 + 4/3 (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 20 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−119 + 0.4 (δ−20) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 20 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−117 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane;

(2) This limit relates to the maximum power flux-density which would be obtained anywhere on the surface of the Earth during periods when FSS system raises power to compensate for rain-fade conditions at the FSS Earth station:

−127 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−127 + 4/3 (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 20 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−107 + 0.4 (δ−20) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 20 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−105 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

Note to paragraph (q):

The conditions under which satellites may exceed the power flux-density limits for normal free space propagation described in paragraph (p)(1) to compensate for the effects of rain fading are under study and have therefore not yet been defined. Such conditions and the extent to which these limits can be exceeded will be the subject of a further rulemaking by the Commission on the satellite service rules.

(r) In the band 37.5–40.0 GHz, the power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a non-geostationary space station for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values:

(1) This limit relates to the power flux-density which would be obtained under assumed free space conditions (that is, when no allowance is made for propogation impairments such as rain-fade):

−132 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−132 + 0.75 (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−117 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane;

(2) This limit relates to the maximum power flux-density which would be obtained anywhere on the surface of the Earth during periods when FSS system raises power to compensate for rain-fade conditions at the FSS Earth station:

−120 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−120 + 0.75 (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−105 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

Note to paragraph (r):

The conditions under which satellites may exceed these power flux-density limits for normal free space propagation described in paragraph (q)(1) to compensate for the effects of rain fading are under study and have therefore not yet been defined. Such conditions and the extent to which these limits can be exceeded will be the subject of a further rulemaking by the Commission on the satellite service rules.

(s) In the 40.0–40.5 GHz band, the power flux density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a space station for all conditions and for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values:

−115 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−115 + 0.5 (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−105 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane;

Note to paragraph (s):

These limits relate to the power flux-density that would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(t) In the band 40.5–42.0 GHz, the power flux density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a non-geostationary space station for all conditions and for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values:

−115 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−115 + 0.5 (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−105 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane;

Note to paragraph (t):

These limits relate to the power flux density that would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(u) In the band 40.5–42.0 GHz, the power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from a geostationary space station for all conditions and for all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values:

−120 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−120 + (δ−5) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 5 and 15 degrees above the horizontal plane;

−110 + 0.5 (δ−15) dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival δ (in degrees) between 15 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−105 dB(W/m 2) in any 1 MHz band for angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane;

Note to paragraph (u):

These limits relate to the power flux-density that would be obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions.

(v) In the band 2496–2500 MHz, the power flux-density at the Earth's surface produced by emissions from non-geostationary space stations for all conditions and all methods of modulation shall not exceed the following values (these values are obtained under assumed free-space propagation conditions):

(1) −144 dB (W/m^2) in 4 kHz for all angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane; −144 dB (W/m^2) + 0.65(δ −5) in 4 kHz for all angles of arrival between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−131 dB (W/m^2) in 4 kHz and for all angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

(2) −126 dB (W/m^2) in 1 MHz for all angles of arrival between 0 and 5 degrees above the horizontal plane; −126 dB (W/m^2) + 0.65(δ −5) in 1 MHz for all angles of arrival between 5 and 25 degrees above the horizontal plane; and

−113 dB (W/m^2) in 1 MHz and for all angles of arrival between 25 and 90 degrees above the horizontal plane.

(w) [Reserved]

[48 FR 40255, Sept. 6, 1983] Editorial Note:For Federal Register citations affecting § 25.208, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.

§ 25.209 - Earth station antenna performance standards.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, the co-polarization gain of any earth station antenna operating in the FSS and transmitting to a GSO satellite, including earth stations providing feeder links for satellite services other than FSS, may not exceed the following limits:

(1) In the plane tangent to the GSO arc, as defined in § 25.103, for earth stations not operating in the conventional Ku-band, the 24.75–25.25 GHz band, or the 27.5–30 GHz band:

29–25log10θdBifor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 8dBifor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 32–25log10θdBifor 9.2° < θ ≤ 48°. −10dBifor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is the angle in degrees from a line from the earth station antenna to the assigned orbital location of the target satellite, and dBi refers to dB relative to an isotropic radiator. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) In the plane tangent to the GSO arc, for earth stations operating in the conventional Ku-band:

29–25log10θdBifor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 8dBifor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 32–25log10θdBifor 9.2° < θ ≤ 19.1°. 0dBifor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(3) In the plane tangent to the GSO arc, for earth stations operating in the 24.75–25.25 GHz or 27.5–30 GHz bands:

29–25log10θdBifor 2° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 8dBifor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 32–25log10θdBifor 9.2° < θ ≤ 19.1°. 0dBifor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(4) In the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc, as defined in § 25.103, for earth stations not operating in the conventional Ku-band, the 24.75–25.25 GHz band, or the 27.5–30 GHz band:

32–25log10θdBifor 3° < θ ≤ 48°. −10dBifor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±3–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(5) In the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc, for earth stations operating in the conventional Ku-band:

Outside the main beam, the gain of the antenna shall lie below the envelope defined by:

32–25log10θdBifor 3° < θ ≤ 19.1°. 0dBifor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±3–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(6) In the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc, for earth stations operating in the 24.75–25.25 GHz or 27.5–30 GHz bands:

32–25log10θdBifor 3.5° < θ ≤ 7°. 10.9dBifor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 35–25log10θdBifor 9.2° < θ ≤ 19.1°. 3dBifor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±3–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, the off-axis cross-polarization gain of any antenna used for transmission from an FSS earth station to a GSO satellite, including earth stations providing feeder links for satellite services other than FSS, may not exceed the following limits:

(1) In the plane tangent to the GSO arc, for earth stations not operating in the 24.75–25.25 GHz or 27.5–30 GHz bands:

19–25log10θdBifor 1.8° < θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(2) In the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc, for earth stations not operating in the 24.75–25.25 GHz or 27.5–30 GHz bands:

19–25log10θdBifor 3° < θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(3) In the plane tangent to the GSO arc or in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc, for earth stations operating in the 24.75–25.25 GHz or 27.5–30 GHz bands:

19–25log10θdBifor 2° < θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section.

(c)(1) An earth station licensed for operation with a GSO FSS space station or registered for reception of transmissions from such a space station pursuant to § 25.115(b)(1) and (b)(3) is not entitled to protection from interference from authorized operation of other stations that would not cause harmful interference to that earth station if it were using an antenna with receive-band gain patterns conforming to the levels specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.

(2) A 17/24 GHz BSS telemetry earth station is not entitled to protection from harmful interference from authorized space station operation that would not cause harmful interference to that earth station if it were using an antenna with receive-band gain patterns conforming to the levels specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. Receive-only earth stations in the 17/24 GHz BSS are entitled to protection from harmful interference caused by other space stations to the extent indicated in § 25.224.

(d) [Reserved]

(e) An earth station using asymmetrical antennas without skew angle adjustment capability must comply with the gain values specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, in the plane orthogonal to the to the main plane of the antenna, or, alternatively, in the plane corresponding to the maximum skew angle experienced at any location at which the earth station may be located.

(f) A GSO FSS earth station with an antenna that does not conform to the applicable standards in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section will be authorized only if the applicant demonstrates that the antenna will not cause unacceptable interference. This demonstration must show that the transmissions of the earth station comport with the requirements in § 25.218 or the applicant must demonstrate that the operations of the earth station have been coordinated under § 25.220.

(g) [Reserved]

(h) The gain of any transmitting antenna in a gateway earth station communicating with NGSO FSS satellites in the 10.7–11.7 GHz, 12.75–13.15 GHz, 13.2125–13.25 GHz, 13.8–14.0 GHz, and/or 14.4–14.5 GHz bands must lie below the envelope defined as follows:

29–25log10(θ)dBifor 1° ≤ θ ≤ 36°. −10dBifor 36° ≤ θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ and dBi are as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. This envelope may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in 10% of the range of θ angles from ±7–180°. [48 FR 40255, Sept. 6, 1983, as amended at 50 FR 2675, Jan. 18, 1985; 50 FR 39004, Sept. 26, 1985; 58 FR 13420, Mar. 11, 1993; 66 FR 10630, Feb. 16, 2001; 70 FR 32255, June 2, 2005; 72 FR 50029, Aug. 29, 2007; 73 FR 70901, Nov. 24, 2008; 74 FR 57099, Nov. 4, 2009; 78 FR 8427, Feb. 6, 2013; 78 FR 14927, Mar. 8, 2013; 79 FR 8322, Feb. 12, 2014; 81 FR 55336, Aug. 18, 2016; 83 FR 34491, July 20, 2018; 84 FR 53655, Oct. 8, 2019; 85 FR 44787, July 24, 2020; 87 FR 72406, Nov. 25, 2022]

§ 25.210 - Technical requirements for space stations.

(a)–(b) [Reserved]

(c) Space station antennas operating in the Direct Broadcast Satellite Service or operating in the Fixed-Satellite Service for reception of feeder links for Direct Broadcast Satellite Service must be designed to provide a cross-polarization isolation such that the ratio of the on-axis co-polar gain to the cross-polar gain of the antenna in the assigned frequency band is at least 27 dB within the primary coverage area.

(d)–(e) [Reserved]

(f) All space stations in the Fixed-Satellite Service operating in any portion of the 3600–4200 MHz, 5091–5250 MHz, 5850–7025 MHz, 10.7–12.7 GHz, 12.75–13.25 GHz, 13.75–14.5 GHz, 15.43–15.63 GHz, 17.3–17.8 GHz (space-to-Earth), 18.3–20.2 GHz, 24.75–25.25 GHz, or 27.5–30.0 GHz bands, including feeder links for other space services, and in the Broadcasting-Satellite Service in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band (space-to-Earth), shall employ state-of-the-art full frequency reuse, either through the use of orthogonal polarizations within the same beam and/or the use of spatially independent beams. This requirement does not apply to telemetry, tracking, and command operation.

(g)–(i) [Reserved]

(j) Space stations operated in the geostationary satellite orbit must be maintained within 0.05° of their assigned orbital longitude in the east/west direction, unless specifically authorized by the Commission to operate with a different longitudinal tolerance, and except as provided in Section 25.283(b) (End-of-life Disposal).

[58 FR 13420, Mar. 11, 1993, as amended at 61 FR 9952, Mar. 12, 1996; 62 FR 5931, Feb. 10, 1997; 62 FR 61457, Nov. 18, 1997; 68 FR 51508, Aug. 27, 2003; 69 FR 54587, Sept. 9, 2004; 70 FR 32256, June 2, 2005; 72 FR 50029, Aug. 29, 2007; 78 FR 8428, Feb. 6, 2013; 79 FR 8323, Feb. 12, 2014; 81 FR 55338, Aug. 18, 2016; 83 FR 34491, July 20, 2018; 87 FR 72406, Nov. 25, 2022]

§ 25.211 - Analog video transmissions in the FSS.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) All conventional C-band analog video transmissions must contain an energy dispersal signal at all times with a minimum peak-to-peak bandwidth set at whatever value is necessary to meet the power flux density limits specified in § 25.208(a) and successfully coordinated internationally and accepted by adjacent U.S. satellite operators based on the use of state of the art space and earth station facilities. All transmissions in frequency bands described in § 25.208(b) and (c) must also contain an energy dispersal signal at all times with a minimum peak-to-peak bandwidth set at whatever value is necessary to meet the power flux density limits specified in § 25.208(b) and (c) and successfully coordinated internationally and accepted by adjacent U.S. satellite operators based on the use of state of the art space and earth station facilities.

(c) All initial analog video transmissions shall be preceded by a video test transmission at an uplink e.i.r.p. at least 10 dB below the normal operating level. The earth station operator shall not increase power until receiving notification from the satellite network control center that the frequency and polarization alignment are satisfactory pursuant to the procedures specified in § 25.272. The stationary earth station operator that has successfully transmitted an initial video test signal to a satellite pursuant to this paragraph is not required to make subsequent video test transmissions if subsequent transmissions are conducted using exactly the same parameters as the initial transmission.

(d) An earth station may be routinely licensed for transmission of full-transponder analog video services in the 5925–6425 MHz band or 14.0–14.5 GHz band provided:

(1) The application includes certification, pursuant to § 25.132(a)(1), of conformance with the antenna performance standards in § 25.209(a) and (b);

(2) For transmission in the 5925–6425 MHz band, the input power into the antenna will not exceed 26.5 dBW; or

(3) For transmission in the 14.0–14.5 GHz band, the input power into the antenna will not exceed 27 dBW.

(e) Applications for authority for analog video uplink transmission in the 5925–6425 MHz or 14.0–14.5 GHz bands that are not eligible for routine processing under paragraph (d) of this section are subject to the requirements of § 25.220.

[58 FR 13421, Mar. 11, 1993, as amended at 61 FR 9952, Mar. 12, 1996; 62 FR 5931, Feb. 10, 1997; 70 FR 32256, June 2, 2005; 78 FR 8428, Feb. 6, 2013; 79 FR 8323, Feb. 12, 2014; 81 FR 55338, Aug. 18, 2016]

§ 25.212 - Narrowband analog transmissions and digital transmissions in the GSO FSS.

(a) Except as otherwise provided by this part, criteria for unacceptable levels of interference caused by other satellite networks shall be established on the basis of nominal operating conditions and with the objective of minimizing orbital separations between satellites.

(b) Emissions with an occupied bandwidth of less than 2 MHz are not protected from interference from wider bandwidth transmissions if the r.f. carrier frequency of the narrowband signal is within ±1 MHz of one of the frequencies specified in § 25.211(a).

(c)(1) An earth station, other than an ESIM, may be routinely licensed for analog transmissions in the conventional Ku-band or the extended Ku-band with bandwidths up to 200 kHz (or up to 1 MHz for command carriers at the band edge) if the input power spectral density into the antenna will not exceed −8 dBW/4 kHz, and the application includes certification pursuant to § 25.132(a)(1) of conformance with the antenna gain performance requirements in § 25.209(a) and (b).

(2) An earth station may be routinely licensed for digital transmission, including digital video transmission, in the conventional Ku-band, or, except for an ESIM, in the extended Ku-band, if input power spectral density into the antenna will not exceed −14 dBW/4 kHz and the application includes certification pursuant to § 25.132(a)(1) of conformance with the antenna gain performance requirements in § 25.209(a) and (b).

(d) An individual earth station may be routinely licensed for digital transmission in the conventional C-band or, except for an ESIM, in the extended C-band, if the applicant certifies conformance with relevant antenna performance standards in § 25.209(a) and (b), and power density into the antenna will not exceed −2.7 dBW/4 kHz. An individual earth station, other than an ESIM, may be routinely licensed for analog transmission with carrier bandwidths up to 200 kHz (or up to 1 MHz for command carriers at the band edge) in the conventional C-band or the extended C-band, if the applicant certifies conformance with relevant antenna performance standards in § 25.209(a) and (b), and power density into the antenna will not exceed +0.5 dBW/4 kHz.

(e) An earth station may be routinely licensed for digital transmission in the conventional or extended Ka-bands if the input power spectral density into the antenna will not exceed 3.5 dBW/MHz and the application includes certification pursuant to § 25.132(a)(1) of conformance with the antenna gain performance requirements in § 25.209(a) and (b).

(f) In the 24.75–25.25 GHz band, an earth station that meets the antenna gain pattern requirements set forth in § 25.209(a) and (b) of this part may be routinely licensed if the maximum power density into the antenna does not exceed 3.5 dBW/MHz.

(g) A license application for earth station operation in a network using variable power density control of earth stations transmitting simultaneously in shared frequencies to the same target satellite receiving beam may be routinely processed if the applicant certifies that the aggregate off-axis EIRP density from all co-frequency earth stations transmitting simultaneously to the same target satellite receiving beam, not resulting from colliding data bursts transmitted pursuant to a contention protocol, will not exceed the applicable off-axis EIRP density limits permissible for a single earth station, as specified in § 25.218.

(h) Applications for authority for fixed earth station operation in the conventional C-band, the extended C-band, the conventional Ku-band, the extended Ku-band, the conventional Ka-band, or the extended Ka-band that do not qualify for routine processing under relevant criteria in this section, § 25.211, or § 25.218 are subject to the requirements in § 25.220.

[58 FR 13421, Mar. 11, 1993, as amended at 62 FR 5931, Feb. 10, 1997; 62 FR 51378, Oct. 1, 1997; 70 FR 32256, June 2, 2005; 70 FR 33376, June 8, 2005; 72 FR 50030, Aug. 29, 2007; 73 FR 70902, Nov. 24, 2008; 78 FR 8428, Feb. 6, 2013; 79 FR 8323, Feb. 12, 2014; 81 FR 55338, Aug. 18, 2016; 84 FR 53655, Oct. 8, 2019; 87 FR 72406, Nov. 25, 2022]

§ 25.213 - Inter-Service coordination requirements for the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service.

(a) Protection of the radio astronomy service in the 1610.6–1613.8 MHz band against interference from 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service systems.

(1) Protection zones. All 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service systems shall be capable of determining the position of the user transceivers accessing the space segment through either internal radiodetermination calculations or external sources such as LORAN–C or the Global Positioning System.

(i) In the band 1610.6–1613.8 MHz, within a 160 km radius of the following radio astronomy sites:

Observatory Latitude (DMS) Longitude (DMS) Arecibo, PR18 20 4666 45 11 Green Bank Telescope, WV38 25 5979 50 24 38 26 0979 49 42 Very Large Array, NM34 04 43107 37 04 Owens Valley, CA37 13 54118 17 36 Ohio State, OH40 15 0683 02 54

(ii) In the band 1610.6–1613.8 MHz, within a 50 km radius of the following sites:

Observatory Latitude (DMS) Longitude (DMS) Pile Town, NM34 18 04108 07 07 Los Alamos, NM35 46 30106 14 42 Kitt Peak, AZ31 57 22111 36 42 Ft. Davis, TX30 38 06103 56 39 N. Liberty, IA41 46 1791 34 26 Brewster, WA48 07 53119 40 55 Owens Valley, CA37 13 54118 16 34 St. Croix, VI17 45 3164 35 03 Mauna Kea, HI19 48 16155 27 29 Hancock, NH42 56 0171 59 12

(iii) Out-of-band emissions of a mobile earth station licensed to operate within the 1610.0–1626.5 MHz band shall be attenuated so that the power flux density it produces in the 1610.6–1613.8 MHz band at any radio astronomy site listed in paragraph (a)(1) (i) or (ii) of this section shall not exceed the emissions of a mobile earth station operating within the 1610.6–1613.8 MHz band at the edge of the protection zone applicable for that site. As an alternative, a mobile earth station shall not operate during radio astronomy observations within the 1613.8–1615.8 MHz band within 100 km of the radio astronomy sites listed in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section, and within 30 km of the sites listed in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of this section, there being no restriction on a mobile earth station operating within the 1615.8–1626.5 MHz band.

(iv) For airborne mobile earth stations operating in the 1610.0–1626.5 MHz band, the separation distance shall be the larger of the distances specified in paragraph (a)(1) (i), (ii) or (iii) of this section, as applicable, or the distance, d, as given by the formula:

d (km) = 4.1 square root of (h) where h is the altitude of the aircraft in meters above ground level.

(v) Smaller geographic protection zones may be used in lieu of the areas specified in paragraphs (a)(1) (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of this section if agreed to by the Mobile-Satellite Service licensee and the Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Unit (ESMU), National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. upon a showing by the Mobile-Satellite Service licensee that the operation of a mobile earth station will not cause harmful interference to a radio astronomy observatory during periods of observation.

(vi) The ESMU shall notify Mobile-Satellite Service space station licensees authorized to operate mobile earth stations in the 1610.0–1626.5 MHz band of periods of radio astronomy observations. The Mobile-Satellite systems shall be capable of terminating operations within the frequency bands and protection zones specified in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section, as applicable, after the first position fix of the mobile earth station either prior to transmission or, based upon its location within the protection zone at the time of initial transmission of the mobile earth station. Once the Mobile-Satellite Service system determines that a mobile earth station is located within an RAS protection zone, the Mobile-Satellite Service system shall immediately initiate procedures to relocate the mobile earth station operations to a non-RAS frequency.

(vii) A beacon-actuated protection zone may be used in lieu of fixed protection zones in the 1610.6–1613.8 MHz band if a coordination agreement is reached between a mobile-satellite system licensee and the ESMU on the specifics of beacon operations.

(viii) Additional radio astronomy sites, not located within 100 miles of the 100 most populous urbanized areas as defined by the United States Census Bureau at the time, may be afforded similar protection one year after notice to the mobile-satellite system licensees by issuance of a public notice by the Commission.

(2) Mobile-Satellite Service space stations transmitting in the 1613.8–1626.5 MHz band shall take whatever steps necessary to avoid causing harmful interference to the radio astronomy facilities listed in paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section during periods of observation.

(3) Mobile-Satellite Service space stations operating in the 2483.5–2500 MHz frequency band shall limit spurious emission levels in the 4990–5000 MHz band so as not to exceed −241 dB (W/m 2/Hz) at the surface of the Earth.

(4) The Radioastronomy Service shall avoid scheduling radio astronomy observations during peak MSS/RDSS traffic periods to the greatest extent practicable.

(b) If a Mobile-Satellite Service space station operator in the 2496–2500 MHz band intends to operate at powers levels that exceed the PFD limits in § 25.208(v), or if actual operations routinely exceed these PFD limits, we require the Mobile-Satellite Service operator to receive approval from each operational BRS system in the affected geographical region.

[59 FR 53329, Oct. 21, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 9945, Mar. 12, 1996; 67 FR 61816, Oct. 2, 2002; 71 FR 35188, June 19, 2006; 78 FR 8428, Feb. 6, 2013]

§ 25.214 - Technical requirements for space stations in the Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service and associated terrestrial repeaters.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) Each system authorized under this section will be conditioned upon construction, launch and operation milestones as outlined in § 25.144(b). The failure to meet any of the milestones contained in an authorization will result in its cancellation, unless such failure is due to circumstances beyond the licensee's control or unless otherwise determined by the Commission upon proper showing by the licensee in any particular case.

(c) Frequency assignments will be made for each satellite DARS system as follows:

(1) Exclusive SDARS licenses are limited to the 2320–2345 MHz segment of the 2310–2360 MHz allocated bandwidth for SDARS;

(2) Two, 12.5 MHz frequency assignments are available for satellite DARS: 2320.0–2332.5 MHz and 2332.5–2345.0 MHz;

(3) Satellite DARS licensees may reduce their assigned bandwidth occupancy to provide telemetry beacons in their exclusive frequency assignments;

(4) Each licensee may employ cross polarization within its exclusive frequency assignment and/or may employ cross polarized transmissions in frequency assignments of other satellite DARS licensees under mutual agreement with those licensees. Licensees who come to mutual agreement to use cross-polarized transmissions shall apply to the Commission for approval of the agreement before coordination is initiated with other administrations by the licensee of the exclusive frequency assignment; and

(5) Feeder uplink networks are permitted in the following Fixed-Satellite Service frequency bands: 7025–7075 MHz and 6725–7025 MHz (101° W.L. orbital location only).

(d) Power limit for SDARS terrestrial repeaters. (1) SDARS terrestrial repeaters must be operated at a power level less than or equal to 12-kW average EIRP, with a maximum peak-to-average power ratio of 13 dB.

(2) SDARS repeaters are permitted to operate at power levels above 12-kW average EIRP, unless a potentially affected WCS licensee provides written notice that it intends to commence commercial service within the following 365 days. Starting 180 days after receipt of such written notice, SDARS repeaters within the area notified by the potentially affected WCS licensee must be operated at a power level less than or equal to 12-kW average EIRP, with a maximum peak-to-average power ratio of 13 dB.

(3) For the purpose of this section, a WCS licensee is potentially affected if it is authorized to operate a base station in the 2305–2315 MHz or 2350–2360 MHz bands within 25 kilometers of a repeater seeking to operate with a power level greater than that prescribed in paragraph (d)(1) of this section.

[62 FR 11106, Mar. 11, 1997, as amended at 75 FR 45068, Aug. 2, 2010; 78 FR 8429, Feb. 6, 2013; 78 FR 9619, Feb. 11, 2013; 79 FR 8323, Feb. 12, 2014]

§ 25.215 - [Reserved]

§ 25.216 - Limits on emissions from mobile earth stations for protection of aeronautical radionavigation-satellite service.

(a) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in service on or before July 21, 2002 with assigned uplink frequencies between 1610 MHz and 1660.5 MHz shall not exceed −70 dBW/MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the band 1559–1587.42 MHz. The e.i.r.p. of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth generated by such stations shall not exceed −80 dBW, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in that band.

(b) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in service on or before July 21, 2002 with assigned uplink frequencies between 1610 MHz and 1626.5 MHz shall not exceed −64 dBW/MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the band 1587.42–1605 MHz. The e.i.r.p. of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth generated by such stations shall not exceed −74 dBW, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the 1587.42–1605 MHz band.

(c) The e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in service after July 21, 2002 with assigned uplink frequencies between 1610 MHz and 1660.5 MHz shall not exceed −70 dBW/MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the band 1559–1605 MHz. The e.i.r.p. of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such stations shall not exceed −80 dBW, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the 1559–1605 MHz band.

(d) As of January 1, 2005, the e.i.r.p. density of emissions from mobile earth stations placed in service on or before July 21, 2002 with assigned uplink frequencies between 1610 MHz and 1660.5 MHz (except Standard A and B Inmarsat terminals used as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System ship earth stations) shall not exceed −70dBW/MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the 1559–1605 MHz band. The e.i.r.p. of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such stations shall not exceed −80 dBW, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in the 1559–1605 MHz band. Standard A Inmarsat terminals used as Global Maritime Distress and Safety System ship earth stations that do not meet the e.i.r.p. density limits specified in this paragraph may continue operation until December 31, 2007. Inmarsat-B terminals manufactured more than six months after Federal Register publication of the rule changes adopted in FCC 03–283 must meet these limits. Inmarsat B terminals manufactured before then are temporarily grandfathered under the condition that no interference is caused by these terminals to aeronautical satellite radio-navigation systems. The full-compliance deadline for grandfathered Inmarsat-B terminals is December 31, 2012.

(e) The e.i.r.p density of emissions from mobile earth stations with assigned uplink frequencies between 1990 MHz and 2025 MHz shall not exceed −70 dBW/MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval, in frequencies between 1559 MHz and 1610 MHz. The e.i.r.p. of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such stations between 1559 MHz and 1605 MHz shall not exceed −80 dBW, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval. The e.i.r.p. of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such stations between 1605 MHz and 1610 MHz manufactured more than six months after Federal Register publication of the rule changes adopted in FCC 03–283 shall not exceed −80 dBW, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval.

(f) Mobile earth stations placed in service after July 21, 2002 with assigned uplink frequencies in the 1610–1660.5 MHz band shall suppress the power density of emissions in the 1605–1610 MHz band to an extent determined by linear interpolation from −70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz to −10 dBW/MHz at 1610 MHz.

(g) Mobile earth stations manufactured more than six months after Federal Register publication of the rule changes adopted in FCC 03–283 with assigned uplink frequencies in the 1610–1626.5 MHz band shall suppress the power density of emissions in the 1605–1610 MHz band-segment to an extent determined by linear interpolation from −70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz to −10 dBW/MHz at 1610 MHz averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval. The e.i.r.p of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such stations shall not exceed a level determined by linear interpolation from −80 dBW at 1605 MHz to −20 dBW at 1610 MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval.

(h) Mobile earth stations manufactured more than six months after Federal Register publication of the rule changes adopted in FCC 03–283 with assigned uplink frequencies in the 1626.5–1660.5 MHz band shall suppress the power density of emissions in the 1605–1610 MHz band-segment to an extent determined by linear interpolation from −70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz to −46 dBW/MHz at 1610 MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval. The e.i.r.p of discrete emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such stations shall not exceed a level determined by linear interpolation from −80 dBW at 1605 MHz to −56 dBW at 1610 MHz, averaged over any 2 millisecond active transmission interval.

(i) The e.i.r.p density of carrier-off state emissions from mobile earth stations manufactured more than six months after Federal Register publication of the rule changes adopted in FCC 03–283 with assigned uplink frequencies between 1 and 3 GHz shall not exceed −80 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1610 MHz band averaged over any two millisecond interval.

(j) A Root-Mean-Square detector shall be used for all power density measurements.

[69 FR 5710, Feb. 6, 2004, as amended at 70 FR 19318, Apr. 13, 2005]

§ 25.217 - Default service rules.

(a) The technical rules in this section apply only to licenses to operate a satellite system in a frequency band granted after a domestic frequency allocation has been adopted for that frequency band, but before any frequency-band-specific service rules have been adopted for that frequency band.

(b)(1) For all NGSO-like satellite licenses, except as specified in paragraph (b)(4) of this section, for which the application was filed pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 25.157 after August 27, 2003, authorizing operations in a frequency band for which the Commission has not adopted frequency band-specific service rules at the time the license is granted, the licensee will be required to comply with the technical requirements in paragraphs (b)(2) through (4) of this section, notwithstanding the frequency bands specified in these sections: §§ 25.143(b)(2)(ii) (except NGSO FSS systems) and (iii) (except NGSO FSS systems), 25.204(e), and 25.210(f) and (i).

(2) In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the Commission will coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding the operations of any licensees authorized to operate in a shared government/non-government frequency band, pursuant to the procedure set forth in § 25.142(b)(2)(ii).

(3) Mobile earth station licensees authorized to operate with one or more space stations subject to paragraph (b)(1) of this section must comply with the requirements in §§ 25.285 and 25.287, notwithstanding the frequency bands specified in those sections. In addition, earth station licensees authorized to operate with one or more space stations described in paragraph (b)(1) of this section in frequency bands shared with terrestrial wireless services shall comply with the requirements in § 25.203(c).

(4) For all small satellite licensees, for which the application was filed pursuant to § 25.122 or § 25.123, authorizing operations in a frequency band for which the Commission has not adopted frequency-band specific service rules at the time the license is granted, the licensee will not be required to comply with the technical requirements specified in this section.

(c)(1) For all GSO-like satellite licenses for which the application was filed pursuant to the procedures set forth in § 25.158 after August 27, 2003, authorizing operations in a frequency band for which the Commission has not adopted frequency band-specific service rules at the time the license is granted, the licensee will be required to comply with the following technical requirements, notwithstanding the frequency bands specified in these rule provisions: §§ 25.143(b)(2)(iv), 25.204(e), and 25.210(f), (i), and (j).

(2) In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, the Commission will coordinate with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regarding the operations of any licensees authorized to operate in a shared government/non-government frequency band, pursuant to the procedure set forth in § 25.142(b)(2)(ii).

(3) Earth station licensees authorized to operate with one or more space stations described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section shall comply with the earth station antenna performance verification requirements in § 25.132, and the antenna gain pattern requirements in § 25.209(a) and (b). In addition, earth station licensees authorized to operate with one or more space stations described in paragraph (c)(1) of this paragraph in frequency bands shared with terrestrial wireless services shall comply with the requirements in § 25.203(c).

(4) In addition to the requirements set forth in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, earth station licensees with a gain equivalent or higher than the gain of a 1.2 meter antenna operating in the 14.0–14.5 GHz band, authorized to operate with one or more space stations described in paragraph (c)(1) of this paragraph in frequency bands greater than 14.5 GHz shall be required to comply with the antenna input power density requirements set forth in § 25.212(c).

(d) [Reserved]

(e) In the event that the Commission adopts frequency band-specific service rules for a particular frequency band after it has granted one or more space station or earth station licenses for operations in that frequency band, those licensees will be required to come into compliance with the frequency band-specific service rules within 30 days of the effective date of those rules, unless otherwise specified by either Commission or Bureau Order.

[68 FR 51508, Aug. 27, 2003, as amended at 70 FR 59277, Oct. 12, 2005; 79 FR 8323, Feb. 12, 2014; 82 FR 59986, Dec. 18, 2017; 85 FR 43735, July 20, 2020; 86 FR 11644, Feb. 26, 2021]

§ 25.218 - Off-axis EIRP density envelopes for FSS earth stations transmitting in certain frequency bands.

(a) Applicability. This section applies to applications for fixed and temporary-fixed FSS earth stations transmitting to geostationary space stations in the conventional C-band, extended C-band, conventional Ku-band, extended Ku-band, conventional Ka-band, extended Ka-band, or 24.75–25.25 GHz, and applications for ESIMs transmitting in the conventional C-band, conventional Ku-band, conventional Ka-band, except for applications proposing transmission of analog command signals at a band edge with bandwidths greater than 1 MHz or transmission of any other type of analog signal with bandwidths greater than 200 kHz.

(b) Routine processing. Earth station applications subject to this section may be routinely processed if they meet the applicable off-axis EIRP density envelopes set forth in this section.

(c) Analog earth station operation in the conventional or extended C-bands. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc, as defined in § 25.103:

29.5–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 8.5dBW/4 kHzfor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 32.5–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 9.2° < θ ≤ 48°. −9.5dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is the angle in degrees from a line from the earth station antenna to the assigned orbital location of the target satellite. The EIRP density levels specified for θ > 7° may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in up to 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc, as defined in § 25.103:

32.5–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 3° ≤ θ ≤ 48°. −9.5dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. These EIRP density levels may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy and in up to 10% of the range of θ angles not included in that region, on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(3) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

19.5–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(d) Digital earth station operation in the conventional or extended C-bands. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc:

26.3–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 5.3dBW/4 kHzfor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 29.3–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 9.2° < θ ≤ 48°. −12.7dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The EIRP density levels specified for θ > 7° may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in up to 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

29.3–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 3° ≤ θ ≤ 48°. −12.7dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. These EIRP density levels may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy and in up to 10% of the range of θ angles not included in that region, on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(3) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

16.3–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(4) A license application for earth station operation in a network using variable power density control of earth stations transmitting simultaneously in shared frequencies to the same target satellite receiving beam may be routinely processed if the applicant certifies that the aggregate off-axis EIRP density from all co-frequency earth stations transmitting simultaneously to the same target satellite receiving beam, not resulting from colliding data bursts transmitted pursuant to a contention protocol, will not exceed the off-axis EIRP density limits permissible for a single earth station, as specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3) of this section.

(e) Analog earth station operation in the conventional Ku-band. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc:

21–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 0dBW/4 kHzfor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 24–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 9.2° < θ ≤ 19.1°. −8dBW/4 kHzfor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The EIRP density levels specified for θ > 7° may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in up to 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

24–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 3° ≤ θ ≤ 19.1°. −8dBW/4 kHzfor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. These EIRP density levels may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy and in up to 10% of the range of θ angles not included in that region, on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(3) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

11–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(f) Digital earth station operation in the conventional Ku-band. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc:

15–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. −6dBW/4 kHzfor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 18–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 9.2° < θ ≤ 19.1°. −14dBW/4 kHzfor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The EIRP density levels specified for θ > 7° may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in up to 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

18–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 3° ≤ θ ≤ 19.1°. −14dBW/4 kHzfor 19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. These EIRP density levels may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy and in up to 10% of the range of θ angles not included in that region, on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(3) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

5–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(4) A license application for earth station operation in a network using variable power density control of earth stations transmitting simultaneously in shared frequencies to the same target satellite receiving beam may be routinely processed if the applicant certifies that the aggregate off-axis EIRP density from all co-frequency earth stations transmitting simultaneously to the same target satellite receiving beam, not resulting from colliding data bursts transmitted pursuant to a contention protocol, will not exceed the off-axis EIRP density limits permissible for a single earth station, as specified in paragraphs (f)(1) through -(f)(3) of this section.

(g) Analog earth station operation in the extended Ku-band. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc:

21–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 0dBW/4 kHzfor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 24–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 9.2° < θ ≤ 48°. −18dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, and N is as defined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section. The EIRP density levels specified for θ > 7° may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in up to 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

24–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 3° ≤ θ ≤ 48°. −18dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. These EIRP density levels may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy and in up to 10% of the range of θ angles not included in that region, on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(3) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

11–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(h) Digital earth station operation in the extended Ku-band. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc:

15–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. −6dBW/4 kHzfor 7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 18–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 9.2° < θ ≤ 48°. −24dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 180°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. The EIRP density levels specified for θ > 7° may be exceeded by up to 3 dB in up to 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from ±7–180°, and by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

18–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 3° ≤ θ ≤ 48°. −24dBW/4 kHzfor 48° < θ ≤ 85°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section. These EIRP density levels may be exceeded by up to 6 dB in the region of main reflector spillover energy and in up to 10% of the range of θ angles not included in that region, on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(3) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

5–25log10θdBW/4 kHzfor 1.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°.
Where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(4) A license application for earth station operation in a network using variable power density control of earth stations transmitting simultaneously in shared frequencies to the same target satellite receiving beam may be routinely processed if the applicant certifies that the aggregate off-axis EIRP density from all co-frequency earth stations transmitting simultaneously to the same target satellite receiving beam, not resulting from colliding data bursts transmitted pursuant to a contention protocol, will not exceed the off-axis EIRP density limits permissible for a single earth station, as specified in paragraphs (h)(1) through (h)(3) of this section.

(i) Digital earth station operation in the conventional or extended Ka-band. (1) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc:

32.5–25log(θ)dBW/MHzfor2.0° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 11.5dBW/MHzfor7° ≤ θ ≤ 9.2°. 35.5–25log(θ)dBW/MHzfor9.2° ≤ θ ≤ 19.1°. 3.5dBW/MHzfor19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(2) For co-polarized transmissions in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

35.5–25log(θ)dBW/MHzfor3.5° ≤ θ ≤ 7°. 14.4dBW/MHzfor7° < θ ≤ 9.2°. 38.5–25log(θ)dBW/MHzfor9.2° < θ ≤ 19.1°. 6.5dBW/MHzfor19.1° < θ ≤ 180°.
where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(3) The EIRP density levels specified in paragraphs (i)(1) and (2) of this section may be exceeded by up to 3 dB, for values of θ > 7°, over 10% of the range of theta (θ) angles from 7–180° on each side of the line from the earth station to the target satellite.

(4) For cross-polarized transmissions in the plane tangent to the GSO arc and in the plane perpendicular to the GSO arc:

22.5–25log(θ)dBW/MHzfor2.0° < θ ≤ 7.0°.
where θ is as defined in paragraph (c)(1) of this section.

(5) A license application for earth station operation in a network using variable power density control of earth stations transmitting simultaneously in shared frequencies to the same target satellite receiving beam may be routinely processed if the applicant certifies that the aggregate off-axis EIRP density from all co-frequency earth stations transmitting simultaneously to the same target satellite receiving beam, not resulting from colliding data bursts transmitted pursuant to a contention protocol, will not exceed the off-axis EIRP density limits permissible for a single earth station, as specified in paragraphs (i)(1) through (4) of this section.

(j) Non-qualifying applications. Applications for authority for fixed earth station operation in the conventional C-band, extended C-band, conventional Ku-band, extended Ku-band, conventional Ka-band, extended Ka-band, or 24.75–25.25 GHz, that do not qualify for routine processing under relevant criteria in this section, § 25.211, or § 25.212 are subject to the requirements in § 25.220.

[81 FR 55339, Aug. 18, 2016, as amended at 84 FR 53656, Oct. 8, 2019; 85 FR 44787, July 24, 2020; 87 FR 72407, Nov. 25, 2022]

§ 25.219 - [Reserved]

§ 25.220 - Non-routine transmit/receive earth station operations.

(a) The requirements in this section apply to applications for, and operation of, earth stations transmitting in the conventional or extended C-bands, the conventional or extended Ku-bands, or the conventional or extended Ka -bands that do not qualify for routine licensing under relevant criteria in § 25.211, § 25.212, or § 25.218.

(b) Applications filed pursuant to this section must include the information required by § 25.115(g)(1).

(c) [Reserved]

(d)(1) The applicant must submit the certifications listed in paragraphs (d)(1)(i) through (d)(1)(iv) of this section. The applicant will be authorized to transmit only to the satellite systems included in the coordination agreements referred to in the certification required by paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section. The applicant will be granted protection from receiving interference only with respect to the satellite systems included in the coordination agreements referred to in the certification required by paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, and only to the extent that protection from receiving interference is afforded by those coordination agreements.

(i) [Reserved]

(ii) A statement from the satellite operator that it has coordinated the operation of the subject non-conforming earth station accessing its satellite(s), including its required downlink power density based on the information contained in the application, with all adjacent satellite networks within 6° of orbital separation from its satellite(s), and the operations will operate in conformance with existing coordination agreement for its satellite(s) with other satellite systems, except as set forth in paragraph (d)(4) of this section.

(iii) A statement from the satellite operator that it will include the subject non-conforming earth station operations in all future satellite network coordinations, and

(iv) A statement from the earth station applicant certifying that it will comply with all coordination agreements reached by the satellite operator(s).

(2) Unless the non-routine uplink transmission levels are permitted under a coordination agreement with the space station operator, or unless coordination with the operator is not required pursuant to § 25.140(d)(3) or (d)(4), the operator of an earth station licensed pursuant to this section must reduce its transmitted EIRP density to levels at or within relevant routine limits:

(i) Toward the part of the geostationary orbit arc within one degree of a subsequently launched, two-degree-compliant space station receiving in the same uplink band at an orbital location within six degrees of the earth station's target satellite, and

(ii) Toward a two-degree-compliant space station receiving in the same uplink band at an orbital location more than six degrees away from the target satellite if co-frequency reception by the space station is adversely affected by the non-routine earth station transmission levels.

(3) In the event that a coordination agreement discussed in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section is reached, but that coordination agreement does not address protection from interference for the earth station, that earth station will be protected from interference to the same extent that an earth station that meets the requirements of § 25.209 of this title would be protected from interference.

(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, a party applying for an earth station license pursuant to this section will not be required to certify that its target satellite operator has reached a coordination agreement with another satellite operator whose satellite is within 6° of orbital separation from its satellite in cases where the off-axis EIRP density level of the proposed earth station operations will be less than or equal to the levels specified by the applicable off-axis EIRP envelope set forth in § 25.218 of this chapter in the direction of the part of the geostationary orbit arc within 1° of the nominal orbit location of the adjacent satellite.

(e)–(f) [Reserved]

(g) Applicants filing applications for earth stations pursuant to this section must provide the following information for the Commission's public notice:

(1) Detailed description of the service to be provided, including frequency bands and satellites to be used. The applicant must identify either the specific satellites with which it plans to operate, or the eastern and western boundaries of the geostationary satellite orbit arc it plans to coordinate.

(2) The diameter or equivalent diameter of the antenna.

(3) Proposed power and power density levels.

(4) Identification of any rule or rules for which a waiver is requested.

[70 FR 32256, June 2, 2005, as amended at 72 FR 50030, Aug. 29, 2007; 73 FR 70902, Nov. 24, 2008; 74 FR 57099, Nov. 4, 2009; 78 FR 14927, Mar. 8, 2013; 79 FR 8324, Feb. 12, 2014; 81 FR 55341, Aug. 18, 2016; 83 FR 34491, July 20, 2018; 84 FR 53656, Oct. 8, 2019; 87 FR 72407, Nov. 25, 2022]

§§ 25.221–25.223 - §[Reserved]

§ 25.224 - Protection of receive-only earth stations in the 17/24 GHz BSS.

(a) Notwithstanding § 25.209(c) of this part, receive-only earth stations operating in the 17/24 GHz broadcasting-satellite service can claim no greater protection from interference than they would receive if the equivalent antenna diameter were equal to or greater than 45 cm and the antenna meets the co-polar and cross-polar performance patterns represented by the following set of formulas (adopted in Recommendation ITU–R BO.1213–1, dated November 2005) that are valid for D/λ ≥11:

(b) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to 17/24 GHz BSS telemetry earth stations. Those earth stations are subject to the antenna performance standards of § 25.209(a) and (b) of this part.

[72 FR 50031, Aug. 29, 2007]

§ 25.225 - Geographic Service Requirements for 17/24 GHz Broadcasting Satellite Service.

(a) Each operator of a 17/24 GHz BSS space station that is used to provide video programming directly to consumers in the 48 contiguous United States (CONUS) must provide comparable service to Alaska and Hawaii, unless such service is not technically feasible or not economically reasonable from the authorized orbital location.

(b) Each operator of a 17/24 GHz BSS space station subject to paragraph (a) of this section must design and configure its space station to be capable of providing service to Alaska and Hawaii, that is comparable to the service that such satellites will provide to CONUS subscribers, from any orbital location capable of providing service to either Alaska or Hawaii to which it may be located or relocated in the future.

(c) If an operator of a 17/24 GHz BSS space station that is used to provide video programming directly to consumers in the United States relocates or replaces a 17/24 GHz BSS space station at a location from which service to Alaska and Hawaii had been provided by another 17/24 GHz BSS space station, the operator must use a space station capable of providing at least the same level of service to Alaska and Hawaii as previously provided from that location.

[72 FR 50033, Aug. 29, 2007]

§§ 25.226–25.227 - §[Reserved]

§ 25.228 - Operating and coordination requirements for earth stations in motion (ESIMs).

(a) GSO FSS ESIM transmissions must comport with the applicable EIRP density limits in § 25.218, unless coordinated pursuant to the requirements in § 25.220.

(b) Each FSS ESIM must be self-monitoring and, should a condition occur that would cause the ESIMs to exceed its authorized off-axis EIRP density limits in the case of GSO FSS ESIMs or any emission limits included in the licensing conditions in the case of NGSO FSS ESIMs, the ESIM must automatically cease transmissions within 100 milliseconds, and not resume transmissions until the condition that caused the ESIM to exceed those limits is corrected.

(c) Each FSS ESIM must be monitored and controlled by a network control and monitoring center (NCMC) or equivalent facility. Each ESIM must comply with a “disable transmission” command from the NCMC within 100 milliseconds of receiving the command. In addition, the NCMC must monitor the operation of each ESIM in its network, and transmit a “disable transmission” command to any ESIM that operates in such a way as to exceed the authorized off-axis EIRP density limit for GSO FSS ESIMs or any emission limits included in the licensing conditions in the case of NGSO FSS ESIMs. The NCMC must not allow the ESIM(s) under its control to resume transmissions until the condition that caused the ESIM(s) to exceed the authorized EIRP density limits is corrected.

(d) ESIM licensees must ensure installation of ESIM terminals on vehicles by qualified installers who have an understanding of the antenna's radiation environment and the measures best suited to maximize protection of the general public and persons operating the vehicle and equipment. An ESIM terminal exhibiting radiation exposure levels exceeding 1.0 mW/cm 2 in accessible areas, such as at the exterior surface of the radome, must have a label attached to the surface of the terminal warning about the radiation hazard and must include thereon a diagram showing the regions around the terminal where the radiation levels could exceed the maximum radiation exposure limit specified in 47 CFR 1.1310 Table 1.

(e) The following requirements govern all ESV operations:

(1) ESV operators must control all ESVs by a NCMC or equivalent facility located in the United States, except that an ESV on U.S.-registered vessels may operate under control of a NCMC location outside the United States provided the ESV operator maintains a point of contact within the United States that will have the capability and authority to cause an ESV on a U.S.-registered vessel to cease transmitting if necessary.

(2) There must be a point of contact in the United States, with phone number and address, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with authority and ability to cease all emissions from the ESVs, either directly or through the facilities of a U.S. NCMC or a NCMC located in another country with which the United States has a bilateral agreement that enables such cessation of emissions.

(3) ESV NCMC operators communicating with ESVs on vessels of foreign registry must maintain detailed information on each such vessel's country of registry and a point of contact for the relevant administration responsible for licensing those ESVs.

(f) For all VMES operations, there must be a point of contact in the United States, with phone number and address, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with authority and ability to cease all emissions from the VMESs.

(g) The following requirements govern all ESAA operations:

(1) There must be a point of contact in the United States, with phone number and address, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with authority and ability to cease all emissions from the ESAAs.

(2) All ESAA terminals operated in U.S. airspace, whether on U.S.-registered civil aircraft or non-U.S.-registered civil aircraft, must be licensed by the Commission. All ESAA terminals on U.S.-registered civil aircraft operating outside of U.S. airspace must be licensed by the Commission, except as provided by section 303(t) of the Communications Act.

(3) Prior to operations within a foreign nation's airspace, the ESAA operator must ascertain whether the relevant administration has operations that could be affected by ESAA terminals, and must determine whether that administration has adopted specific requirements concerning ESAA operations. When the aircraft enters foreign airspace, the ESAA terminal must operate under the Commission's rules, or those of the foreign administration, whichever is more constraining. To the extent that all relevant administrations have identified geographic areas from which ESAA operations would not affect their radio operations, ESAA operators may operate within those identified areas without further action. To the extent that the foreign administration has not adopted requirements regarding ESAA operations, ESAA operators must coordinate their operations with any potentially affected operations.

(h) The following requirements govern all operations in the 3700–4200 MHz (space-to-Earth) and 5925–6425 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands of ESVs receiving from or transmitting to GSO satellites in the Fixed-Satellite Service:

(1) ESVs must not operate in the 5925–6425 MHz (Earth-to-space) and 3700–4200 MHz (space-to-Earth) frequency bands on vessels smaller than 300 gross tons.

(2) ESV operators transmitting in the 5925–6425 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency band to GSO satellites in the Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) must not seek to coordinate, in any geographic location, more than 36 megahertz of uplink bandwidth on each of no more than two GSO FSS satellites.

(3) ESVs, operating while docked, for which coordination with terrestrial stations in the 3700–4200 MHz band is completed in accordance with § 25.251, will receive protection from such terrestrial stations in accordance with the coordination agreements, for 180 days, renewable for 180 days.

(4) ESVs in motion must not claim protection from harmful interference from any authorized terrestrial stations to which frequencies are already assigned, or any authorized terrestrial station to which frequencies may be assigned in the future in the 3700–4200 MHz (space-to-Earth) frequency band.

(5) ESVs operating within 200 km from the baseline of the United States, or within 200 km from a U.S.-licensed fixed service offshore installation, must complete coordination with potentially affected U.S.-licensed fixed service operators prior to operation. The coordination method and the interference criteria objective will be determined by the frequency coordinator. The details of the coordination must be maintained and available at the frequency coordinator, and must be filed with the Commission electronically via the International Bureau Filing System (http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/) to be placed on public notice. The coordination notifications must be filed in the form of a statement referencing the relevant call signs and file numbers. Operation of each individual ESV may commence immediately after the public notice that identifies the notification sent to the Commission is released. Continuance of operation of that ESV for the duration of the coordination term must be dependent upon successful completion of the normal public notice process. If, prior to the end of the 30-day comment period of the public notice, any objections are received from U.S.-licensed Fixed Service operators that have been excluded from coordination, the ESV licensee must immediately cease operation of that particular station on frequencies used by the affected U.S.-licensed Fixed Service station until the coordination dispute is resolved and the ESV licensee informs the Commission of the resolution. As used in this section, “baseline” means the line from which maritime zones are measured. The baseline is a combination of the low-water line and closing lines across the mouths of inland water bodies and is defined by a series of baseline points that include islands and “low-water elevations,” as determined by the U.S. Department of State's Baseline Committee.

(6) An ESV must automatically cease transmission if the ESV operates in violation of the terms of its coordination agreement, including, but not limited to, conditions related to speed of the vessel or if the ESV travels outside the coordinated area, if within 200 km from the baseline of the United States, or within 200 km from a U.S.-licensed fixed service offshore installation. Transmissions may be controlled by the ESV network control and monitoring center. The frequency coordinator may decide whether ESV operators should automatically cease transmissions if the vessel falls below a prescribed speed within a prescribed geographic area.

(7) ESV transmissions in the 5925–6425 MHz (Earth-to-space) band shall not exceed an EIRP spectral density towards the radio-horizon of 17 dBW/MHz, and shall not exceed an EIRP towards the radio-horizon of 20.8 dBW. The ESV network shall shut-off the ESV transmitter if either the EIRP spectral density towards the radio-horizon or the EIRP towards the radio-horizon is exceeded.

(i) For ESAA transmissions in the 14.0–14.5 GHz band from international airspace within line-of-sight of the territory of a foreign administration where fixed service networks have primary allocation in this band, the maximum power flux density (pfd) produced at the surface of the Earth by emissions from a single aircraft carrying an ESAA terminal must not exceed the following values unless the foreign Administration has imposed other conditions for protecting its fixed service stations:

−132 + 0.5 · θdB(W/(m 2 · MHz))Forθ ≤ 40°. −112dB(W/(m 2 · MHz))For40° <θ ≤90°.
Where: θ is the angle of arrival of the radio-frequency wave (degrees above the horizontal) and the aforementioned limits relate to the pfd under free-space propagation conditions.

(j) The following requirements govern all ESIMs transmitting to GSO or NGSO satellites in the Fixed-Satellite Service in the 14.0–14.5 GHz band.

(1) Operations of ESIMs in the 14.0–14.2 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency band within 125 km (for ESVs and VMESs) or within radio line of sight (for ESAAs) of the NASA TDRSS facilities on Guam (latitude 13°36′55″ N, longitude 144°51′22″ E), White Sands, New Mexico (latitude 32°20′59″ N, longitude 106°36′31″ W and latitude 32°32′40″ N, longitude 106°36′48″ W), or Blossom Point, Maryland (latitude 38°25′44″ N, longitude 77°05′02″ W) are subject to coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC). Licensees must notify the Space Bureau once they have completed coordination. Upon receipt of such notification from a licensee, the Space Bureau will issue a public notice stating that the licensee may commence operations within the coordination zone in 30 days if no party has opposed the operations. When NTIA seeks to provide similar protection to future TDRSS sites that have been coordinated through the IRAC Frequency Assignment Subcommittee process, NTIA will notify the Commission's Space Bureau that the site is nearing operational status. Upon public notice from the Space Bureau, all Ku-band ESIM licensees must cease operations in the 14.0–14.2 GHz band within 125 km (for ESVs and VMESs) or within radio line of sight (for ESAAs) of the new TDRSS site until the licensees complete coordination with NTIA/IRAC for the new TDRSS facility. Licensees must notify the Space Bureau once they have completed coordination for the new TDRSS site. Upon receipt of such notification from a licensee, the Space Bureau will issue a public notice stating that the licensee may commence operations within the coordination zone in 30 days if no party has opposed the operations. The ESIM licensee then will be permitted to commence operations in the 14.0–14.2 GHz band within 125 km (for ESVs and VMESs) or within radio line of sight (for ESAAs) of the new TDRSS site, subject to any operational constraints developed in the coordination process.

(2) Within 125 km (for ESVs and VMESs) or within radio line of sight (for ESAAs) of the NASA TDRSS facilities identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this section, ESIM transmissions in the 14.0–14.2 GHz (Earth-to-space) band shall not exceed an EIRP spectral density towards the horizon of 12.5 dBW/MHz, and shall not exceed an EIRP towards the horizon of 16.3 dBW.

(3) Operations of ESIMs in the 14.47–14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space) frequency band in the vicinity (for ESVs and VMESs) or within radio line of sight (for ESAAs) of radio astronomy service (RAS) observatories observing in the 14.47–14.5 GHz band are subject to coordination with the National Science Foundation (NSF). The appropriate NSF contact point to initiate coordination is Electromagnetic Spectrum Management Unit, NSF, Division of Astronomical Sciences, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Arlington VA 22314; Email: [email protected]. Licensees must notify the Space Bureau once they have completed coordination. Upon receipt of the coordination agreement from a licensee, the Space Bureau will issue a public notice stating that the licensee may commence operations within the coordination zone in 30 days if no party has opposed the operations. Table 1 provides a list of each applicable RAS site, its location, and the applicable coordination zone.

Table 1 to § 25.228(j)(3)—Applicable Radio Astronomy Service (RAS) Facilities and Associated Coordination Distances

Observatory Latitude (north) Longitude (west) Radius (km) of
coordination zone
Arecibo, Observatory, Arecibo, PR18°20′37″66°45′11″Island of Puerto Rico. Green Bank, WV38°25′59″79°50′23″160. Very Large Array, near Socorro, NM34°04′44″107°37′06″160. Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, Rosman, NC35°11′59″82°52′19″160. U of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory, Stinchfield Woods, MI42°23′56″83°56′11″160. Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) stations:Owens Valley, CA37°13′54″118°16′37″160 *. Mauna Kea, HI19°48′05″155°27′20″50. Brewster, WA48°07′52″119°41′00″50. Kitt Peak, AZ31°57′23″111°36′45″50. Pie Town, NM34°18′04″108°07′09″50. Los Alamos, NM35°46′30″106°14′44″50. Fort Davis, TX30°38′06″103°56′41″50. North Liberty, IA41°46′17″91°34′27″50. Hancock, NH42°56′01″71°59′12″50. St. Croix, VI17°45′24″64°35′01″50.

* Owens Valley, CA operates both a VLBA station and single-dish telescopes.

(4) When NTIA seeks to provide similar protection to future RAS sites that have been coordinated through the IRAC Frequency Assignment Subcommittee process, NTIA will notify the Commission's Space Bureau that the site is nearing operational status. Upon public notice from the Space Bureau, all Ku-band ESIMs licensees must cease operations in the 14.47–14.5 GHz band within the relevant geographic zone (160 kms for single-dish radio observatories and Very Large Array antenna systems and 50 kms for Very Long Baseline Array antenna systems for ESVs and VMESs, radio line of sight for ESAAs) of the new RAS site until the licensees complete coordination for the new RAS facility. Licensees must notify the Space Bureau once they have completed coordination for the new RAS site and must submit the coordination agreement to the Commission. Upon receipt of such notification from a licensee, the Space Bureau will issue a public notice stating that the licensee may commence operations within the coordination zone in 30 days if no party opposed the operations. The ESIMs licensee then will be permitted to commence operations in the 14.47–14.5 GHz band within the relevant coordination distance around the new RAS site, subject to any operational constraints developed in the coordination process.

(5) ESIMs licensees must use Global Positioning Satellite-related or other similar position location technology to ensure compliance with the provisions of subparagraphs 1–3 of this paragraph.

[84 FR 53656, Oct. 8, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 44787, July 24, 2020; 88 FR 21441, Apr. 10, 2023]

§§ 25.229–25.249 - §[Reserved]

§ 25.250 - Sharing between NGSO MSS Feeder links Earth Stations in the 19.3–19.7 GHz and 29.1–29.5 GHz Bands.

(a) NGSO MSS applicants shall be licensed to operate in the 29.1–29.5 GHz band for Earth-to-space transmissions and 19.3–19.7 GHz for space-to-Earth transmissions from feeder link earth station complexes. A “feeder link earth station complex” may include up to three (3) earth station groups, with each earth station group having up to four (4) antennas, located within a radius of 75 km of a given set of geographic coordinates provided by NGSO-MSS licensees or applicants.

(b) Licensees of NGSO MSS feeder link earth stations separated by 800 km or less are required to coordinate their operations, see § 25.203. The results of the coordination shall be reported to the Commission.

[61 FR 44181, Aug. 28, 1996]

§ 25.251 - Special requirements for coordination.

(a) The administrative aspects of the coordination process are set forth in § 101.103 of this chapter in the case of coordination of terrestrial stations with earth stations, and in § 25.203 in the case of coordination of earth stations with terrestrial stations.

(b) The technical aspects of coordination are based on Appendix 7 of the International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations and certain recommendations of the ITU Radiocommunication Sector (available at the address in § 0.445 of this chapter).

[66 FR 10630, Feb. 16, 2001, as amended at 78 FR 8430, Feb. 6, 2013]

§ 25.252 - [Reserved]

§ 25.253 - Special requirements for ancillary terrestrial components operating in the 1626.5–1660.5 MHz/1525–1559 MHz bands.

(a) An ancillary terrestrial component in these bands shall:

(1) In any band segment coordinated for the exclusive use of an MSS applicant within the land area of the U.S., where there is no other L-Band MSS satellite making use of that band segment within the visible portion of the geostationary arc as seen from the ATC coverage area, the ATC system will be limited by the in-band and out-of-band emission limitations contained in this section and the requirement to maintain a substantial MSS service.

(2) In any band segment that is coordinated for the shared use of the applicant's MSS system and another MSS operator, where the coordination agreement existed prior to February 10, 2005 and permits a level of interference to the other MSS system of less than 6% ΔT/T, the applicant's combined ATC and MSS operations shall increase the system noise level of the other MSS to no more then 6% ΔT/T. Any future coordination agreement between the parties governing ATC operation will supersede this paragraph.

(3) In any band segment that is coordinated for the shared use of the applicant's MSS system and another MSS operator, where a coordination agreement existed prior to February 10, 2005 and permits a level of interference to the other MSS system of 6% ΔT/T or greater, the applicant's ATC operations may increase the system noise level of the other MSS system by no more than an additional 1% ΔT/T. Any future coordination agreement between the parties governing ATC operations will supersede this paragraph.

(4) In a band segment in which the applicant has no rights under a coordination agreement, the applicant may not implement ATC in that band.

(b) ATC base stations shall not exceed an out-of-channel emissions measurement of −57.9 dBW/MHz at the edge of a MSS licensee's authorized and internationally coordinated MSS frequency assignment.

(c) An applicant for an ancillary terrestrial component in these bands shall:

(1) Demonstrate, at the time of application, how its ATC network will comply with the requirements of footnotes US308 and US315 to the table of frequency allocations contained in § 2.106 of this chapter regarding priority and preemptive access to the L-band MSS spectrum by the aeronautical mobile-satellite en-route service (AMS(R)S) and the global maritime distress and safety system (GMDSS).

(2) Coordinate with the terrestrial CMRS operators prior to initiating ATC transmissions when co-locating ATC base stations with terrestrial commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) base stations that make use of Global Positioning System (GPS) time-based receivers.

(3) Provide, at the time of application, calculations that demonstrate the ATC system conforms to the ΔT/T requirements in paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3) of this section, if a coordination agreement that incorporates the ATC operations does not exist with other MSS operators.

(d) Applicants for an ancillary terrestrial component in these bands must demonstrate that ATC base stations shall not:

(1) Exceed a peak EIRP of 31.9–10*log (number of carriers) dBW/200kHz, per sector, for each carrier in the 1525–1541.5 MHz and 1547.5–1559 MHz frequency bands;

(2) Exceed an EIRP in any direction toward the physical horizon (not to include man-made structures) of 26.9–10*log (number of carriers) dBW/200 kHz, per sector, for each carrier in the 1525–1541.5 MHz and 1547.5–1559 MHz frequency bands;

(3) Exceed a peak EIRP of 23.9 −10*log(number of carriers) dBW/200 kHz, per sector, for each carrier in the 1541.5–1547.5 MHz frequency band;

(4) Exceed an EIRP toward the physical horizon (not to include man-made structures) of 18.9–10*log(number of carriers) dBW/200 kHz, per sector, for each carrier in the 1541.5–1547.5 MHz frequency band;

(5) Exceed a total power flux density level of −56.8 dBW/m 2/200 kHz at the edge of all airport runways and aircraft stand areas, including takeoff and landing paths from all carriers operating in the 1525–1559 MHz frequency bands. The total power flux density here is the sum of all power flux density values associated with all carriers in a sector in the 1525–1559 MHz frequency band, expressed in dB(Watts/m 2/200 kHz). Free-space loss must be assumed if this requirement is demonstrated via calculation;

(6) Exceed a total power flux density level of −56.6 dBW/ m 2/200 kHz at the water's edge of any navigable waterway from all carriers operating in the 1525–1541.5 MHz and 1547.5–1559 MHz frequency bands. The total power flux density here is the sum of all power flux density values associated with all carriers in a sector in the 1525–1541.5 MHz and 1547.5–1559 MHz frequency bands, expressed in dB(Watts/m 2/200 kHz). Free-space loss must be assumed if this requirement is demonstrated via calculation;

(7) Exceed a total power flux density level of −64.6 dBW/ m 2/200 kHz at the water's edge of any navigable waterway from all carriers operating in the 1541.5–1547.5 MHz frequency band. The total power flux density here is the sum of all power flux density values associated with all carriers in a sector in the 1541.5–1547.5 MHz frequency band, expressed in dB(Watts/m 2/200 kHz). Free-space loss must be assumed if this requirement is demonstrated via calculation;

(8) Exceed a peak antenna gain of 16 dBi;

(9) Generate EIRP density, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, greater than −70 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1605 MHz band or greater than a level determined by linear interpolation in the 1605–1610 MHz band, from −70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz to −46 dBW/MHz at 1610 MHz. The EIRP, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, of discrete out-of-band emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such base stations shall not exceed −80 dBW in the 1559–1605 MHz band or exceed a level determined by linear interpolation in the 1605–1610 MHz band, from −80 dBW at 1605 MHz to −56 dBW at 1610 MHz. A root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one megahertz or equivalent and no less video bandwidth shall be used to measure wideband EIRP density for purposes of this rule, and narrowband EIRP shall be measured with a root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one kilohertz or equivalent.

(e) Applicants for an ancillary terrestrial component in these bands must demonstrate, at the time of the application, that ATC base stations shall use left-hand-circular polarization antennas with a maximum gain of 16 dBi and overhead gain suppression according to the following:

Angle from direction of maximum gain, in vertical plane, above antenna (degrees) Antenna discrimination pattern (dB) 0Gmax 5Not to Exceed Gmax −5 10Not to Exceed Gmax −19 15 to 55Not to Exceed Gmax −27 55 to 145Not to Exceed Gmax −30 145 to 180Not to Exceed Gmax −26

Where: Gmax is the maximum gain of the base station antenna in dBi.

(f) Prior to operation, ancillary terrestrial component licensees shall:

(1) Provide the Commission with sufficient information to complete coordination of ATC base stations with Search-and-Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) earth stations operating in the 1544–1545 MHz band for any ATC base station located either within 27 km of a SARSAT station, or within radio horizon of the SARSAT station, whichever is less.

(2) Take all practicable steps to avoid locating ATC base stations within radio line of sight of Mobile Aeronautical Telemetry (MAT) receive sites in order to protect U.S. MAT systems consistent with ITU–R Recommendation ITU–R M.1459. MSS ATC base stations located within radio line of sight of a MAT receiver must be coordinated with the Aerospace and Flight Test Radio Coordinating Council (AFTRCC) for non-Government MAT receivers on a case-by-case basis prior to operation. For government MAT receivers, the MSS licensee shall supply sufficient information to the Commission to allow coordination to take place. A listing of current and planned MAT receiver sites can be obtained from AFTRCC for non-Government sites and through the FCC's IRAC Liaison for Government MAT receiver sites.

(g) ATC mobile terminals shall:

(1) Be limited to a peak EIRP level of 0 dBW and an out-of-channel emissions of −67 dBW/4 kHz at the edge of an MSS licensee's authorized and internationally coordinated MSS frequency assignment.

(2) Be operated in a fashion that takes all practicable steps to avoid causing interference to U.S. radio astronomy service (RAS) observations in the 1660–1660.5 MHz band.

(3) Not generate EIRP density, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, greater than −70 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1605 MHz band or greater than a level determined by linear interpolation in the 1605–1610 MHz band, from −70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz to −46 dBW/MHz at 1610 MHz. The EIRP, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, of discrete out-of-band emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such mobile terminals shall not exceed −80 dBW in the 1559–1605 MHz band or exceed a level determined by linear interpolation in the 1605–1610 MHz band, from −80 dBW at 1605 MHz to −56 dBW at 1610 MHz. The EIRP density of carrier-off-state emissions from such mobile terminals shall not exceed −80 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1610 MHz band, averaged over a two-millisecond interval. A root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one megahertz or equivalent and no less video bandwidth shall be used to measure wideband EIRP density for purposes of this rule, and narrowband EIRP shall be measured with a root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one kilohertz or equivalent.

(h) When implementing multiple base stations and/or base stations using multiple carriers, where any third-order intermodulation product of these base stations falls on an L-band MSS band coordinated for use by another MSS operator with rights to the coordinated band, the MSS ATC licensee must notify the MSS operator. The MSS operator may request coordination to modify the base station carrier frequencies, or to reduce the maximum base station EIRP on the frequencies contributing to the third-order intermodulation products. The threshold for this notification and coordination is when the sum of the calculated signal levels received by an MSS receiver exceeds −70 dBm. The MSS receiver used in these calculations can be assumed to have an antenna with 0 dBi gain. Free-space propagation between the base station antennas and the MSS terminals can be assumed and actual signal polarizations for the ATC signals and the MSS system may be used.

[70 FR 19319, Apr. 13, 2005]

§ 25.254 - Special requirements for ancillary terrestrial components operating in the 1610–1626.5 MHz/2483.5–2500 MHz bands.

(a) An applicant for an ancillary terrestrial component in these bands must demonstrate that ATC base stations shall:

(1) Not exceed a peak EIRP of 32 dBW in 1.25 MHz;

(2) Not cause unacceptable interference to systems identified in paragraph (c) of this section and, in any case, shall not exceed out-of-channel emissions of −44.1 dBW/30 kHz at the edge of the MSS licensee's authorized frequency assignment;

(3) At the time of application, that it has taken, or will take steps necessary to avoid causing interference to other services sharing the use of the 2450–2500 MHz band through frequency coordination; and

(4) Base stations operating in frequencies above 2483.5 MHz shall not generate EIRP density, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, greater than −70 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1610 MHz band. The EIRP, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, of discrete out-of-band emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such base stations shall not exceed −80 dBW in the 1559–1610 MHz band. A root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one megahertz or equivalent and no less video bandwidth shall be used to measure wideband EIRP density for purposes of this rule, and narrowband EIRP shall be measured with a root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one kilohertz or equivalent.

(b) An applicant for an ancillary terrestrial component in these bands must demonstrate that mobile terminals shall:

(1) Meet the requirements contained in § 25.213 to protect radio astronomy service (RAS) observations in the 1610.6–1613.8 MHz band from unacceptable interference;

(2) Observe a peak EIRP limit of 1.0 dBW in 1.25 MHz;

(3) Observe an out-of-channel EIRP limit of −57.1 dBW/30 kHz at the edge of the licensed MSS frequency assignment.

(4) ATC mobile terminals operating in assigned frequencies in the 1610–1626.5 MHz band shall not generate EIRP density, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, greater than −70 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1605 MHz band or greater than a level determined by linear interpolation in the 1605–1610 MHz band, from −70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz to −10 dBW/MHz at 1610 MHz. The EIRP, averaged over any two-millisecond active transmission interval, of discrete out-of-band emissions of less than 700 Hz bandwidth from such mobile terminals shall not exceed −80 dBW in the 1559–1605 MHz band or exceed a level determined by linear interpolation in the 1605–1610 MHz band, from −80 dBW at 1605 MHz to −20 dBW at 1610 MHz. The EIRP density of carrier-off-state emissions from such mobile terminals shall not exceed −80 dBW/MHz in the 1559–1610 MHz band, averaged over a two-millisecond interval. A root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one megahertz or equivalent and no less video bandwidth shall be used to measure wideband EIRP density for purposes of this rule, and narrowband EIRP shall be measured with a root-mean-square detector function with a resolution bandwidth of one kilohertz or equivalent.

(c) Applicants for an ancillary terrestrial component to be used in conjunction with a Mobile-Satellite Service system using CDMA technology shall coordinate the use of the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service spectrum designated for CDMA systems using the framework established by the ITU in Recommendation ITU–R M.1186 (incorporated by reference, see § 25.108).

(d) To avoid interference to an adjacent channel licensee in the Broadband Radio Service (BRS), the power of any ATC base station emission above 2495 MHz shall be attenuated below the transmitter power (P) measured in watts in accordance with the standards below. If these measures do not resolve a documented interference complaint received from the adjacent channel BRS licensee, the provisions of § 25.255 shall apply.

(1) For base stations, the attenuation shall be not less than 43 + 10 log (P) dB at the upper edge of the authorized ATC band, unless a documented interference complaint is received from an adjacent channel licensee in the BRS. Provided that a documented interference complaint cannot be mutually resolved between the parties, the following additional attenuation requirements set forth in subsections (2)–(5) shall apply:

(2) If a pre-existing BRS base station suffers harmful interference from emissions caused by a new or modified ATC base station located 1.5 km or more away, within 24 hours of the receipt of a documented interference complaint the ATC licensee must attenuate its emissions by at least 67 + 10 log (P) dB measured at 3 megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band, and shall immediately notify the complaining licensee upon implementation of the additional attenuation.

(3) If a pre-existing BRS base station suffers harmful interference from emissions caused by a new or modified ATC base station located less than 1.5 km away, within 24 hours of the receipt of a documented interference complaint the ATC licensee must attenuate its emissions by at least 67 + 10 log (P) −20 log(Dkm/1.5) dB measured at 3 megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band, or if both base stations are co-located, limit its undesired signal level at the pre-existing BRS base station receiver(s) to no more than −107 dBm measured in a 5.5 megahertz bandwidth and shall immediately notify the complaining licensee upon such reduction in the undesired signal level.

(4) If a new or modified BRS base station suffers harmful interference from emissions caused by a pre-existing ATC base station located 1.5 km or more away, within 60 days of receipt of a documented interference complaint the licensee of the ATC base station must attenuate its base station emissions by at least 67 + 10 log (P) dB measured at 3 megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band.

(5) If a new or modified BRS base station suffers harmful interference from emissions caused by a pre-existing ATC base station located less than 1.5 km away, within 60 days of receipt of a documented interference complaint:

(i) the ATC licensee must attenuate its base station emissions by at least 67 + 10 log (P) −20 log(Dkm/1.5) dB measured 3 megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band, or

(ii) if both base stations are co-located, the ATC licensee must limit its undesired signal level at the new or modified BRS base station receiver(s) to no more than −107 dBm measured in a 5.5 megahertz bandwidth.

(6) Compliance with these rules is based on the use of measurement instrumentation employing a resolution bandwidth of 1 MHz or greater. However, in the 1 MHz bands immediately above and adjacent to the 2495 MHz a resolution bandwidth of at least one percent of the emission bandwidth of the fundamental emission of the transmitter may be employed. A narrower resolution bandwidth is permitted in all cases to improve measurement accuracy, provided the measured power is integrated over the full required measurement bandwidth (i.e., 1 MHz or 1 percent of emission bandwidth, as specified). The emission bandwidth is defined as the width of the signal between two points, one below the carrier center frequency and one above the carrier center frequency, outside of which all emissions are attenuated at least 26 dB below the transmitter power. When an emission outside of the authorized bandwidth causes harmful interference, the Commission may, at its discretion, require greater attenuation than specified in this section.

(e) Licensees of terrestrial low-power systems operating in the 2483.5–2495 MHz band shall operate consistent with the technical limits and other requirements specified in § 25.149(c)(4) and (g)(2)–(3).

Note to § 25.254:

The preceding rules of § 25.254 are based on cdma2000 and IS–95 system architecture. To the extent that a 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service licensee is able to demonstrate that the use of different system architectures would produce no greater potential interference than would be produced as a result of implementing the rules of this section, the licensee may apply for ATC authorization based on another system architecture.

[68 FR 33653, June 5, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004; 70 FR 19320, Apr. 13, 2005; 73 FR 25592, May 5, 2008; 78 FR 8430, Feb. 6, 2013; 82 FR 8819, Jan. 31, 2017; 88 FR 21441, Apr. 10, 2023]

§ 25.255 - Procedures for resolving harmful interference related to operation of ancillary terrestrial components operating in the 1.5/1.6 GHz and 1.6/2.4 GHz bands.

If harmful interference is caused to other services by ancillary MSS ATC operations, either from ATC base stations or mobile terminals, the MSS ATC operator must resolve any such interference. If the MSS ATC operator claims to have resolved the interference and other operators claim that interference has not been resolved, then the parties to the dispute may petition the Commission for a resolution of their claims.

[68 FR 33653, June 5, 2003, as amended at 78 FR 8267, Feb. 5, 2013]

§ 25.256 - Special Requirements for operations in the 3.65–3.7 GHz band.

Upon request from a terrestrial licensee authorized under subpart Z, part 90 that seeks to place base and fixed stations in operation within 150 km of a primary earth station, licensees of earth stations operating on a primary basis in the Fixed-Satellite Service in the 3.65–3.7 GHz band must negotiate in good faith with that terrestrial licensee to arrive at mutually agreeable operating parameters to prevent unacceptable interference.

[70 FR 24725, May 11, 2005, as amended at 78 FR 8430, Feb. 6, 2013]

§ 25.257 - Special requirements for NGSO MSS operations in the 29.1–29.25 GHz band regarding LMDS.

(a) Non-geostationary Mobile-Satellite Service (NGSO MSS) operators shall be licensed to use the 29.1–29.25 GHz band for Earth-to-space transmissions from feeder link earth station complexes. A “feeder link earth station complex” may include up to three (3) earth station groups, with each earth station group having up to four (4) antennas, located within a radius of 75 km of a given set of geographic coordinates provided by a NGSO MSS licensees or applicants pursuant to § 101.147.

(b) A maximum of seven (7) feeder link earth station complexes in the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii may be placed into operation, in the largest 100 MSAs, in the band 29.1–29.25 GHz in accordance with § 25.203 and § 101.147 of this chapter.

(c) One of the NGSO MSS operators licensed to use the 29.1–29.25 GHz band may specify geographic coordinates for a maximum of eight feeder link earth station complexes that transmit in the 29.1–29.25 GHz band. The other NGSO MSS operator licensed to use the 29.1–29.25 GHz band may specify geographic coordinates for a maximum of two feeder link earth station complexes that transmit in the 29.1–29.25 GHz band.

(d) Additional NGSO MSS operators may be licensed in this band if the additional NGSO MSS operator shows that its system can share with the existing NGSO MSS systems.

(e) All NGSO MSS operators shall cooperate fully and make reasonable efforts to identify mutually acceptable locations for feeder link earth station complexes. In this regard, any single NGSO MSS operator may identify only one feeder-link earth station complex protection zone in each category identified in § 101.147(y)(2) of this chapter until the other NGSO MSS operator has been given an opportunity to select a location from the same category.

[61 FR 44181, Aug. 28, 1996, as amended at 78 FR 8430, Feb. 6, 2013; 81 FR 55348, Aug. 18, 2016]

§ 25.258 - Sharing between NGSO MSS feeder-link stations and GSO FSS services in the 29.25–29.5 GHz band.

(a) Operators of NGSO MSS feeder link earth stations and GSO FSS earth stations in the band 29.25 to 29.5 GHz where both services have a co-primary allocation shall cooperate fully in order to coordinate their systems. During the coordination process both service operators shall exchange the necessary technical parameters required for coordination.

(b) Licensed GSO FSS earth stations in the vicinity of operational NGSO MSS feeder-link earth station complexes must, to the maximum extent possible, operate with frequency/polarization selections that will minimize unacceptable interference with reception of GSO FSS and NGSO MSS uplink transmissions in the 29.25–29.5 GHz band. Earth station licensees operating with GSO FSS systems shall be capable of providing earth station locations to support coordination of NGSO MSS feeder link stations under paragraphs (a) and (c) of this section. Operation of ubiquitously deployed GSO FSS earth stations in the 29.25–29.5 GHz frequency band must conform to the rules contained in § 25.218(i).

(c) Applicants for authority to use the 29.25–29.5 GHz band for NGSO MSS feeder uplinks will have to demonstrate that their systems can share with GSO FSS and NGSO MSS systems that have been authorized for operation in that band.

[67 FR 37336, May 29, 2002, as amended at 68 FR 16967, Apr. 8, 2003; 81 FR 55348, Aug. 18, 2016; 84 FR 53659, Oct. 8, 2019]

§ 25.259 - Time sharing between NOAA meteorological satellite systems and non-voice, non-geostationary satellite systems in the 137–138 MHz band.

(a) The space stations of a non-voice, non-geostationary Mobile-Satellite Service (NVNG MSS) system time-sharing downlink spectrum in the 137–138 MHz band with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellites shall not transmit signals into the “protection areas” of the NOAA satellites.

(1) With respect to transmission in the 137.333–137.367 MHz, 137.485–137.515 MHz, 137.605–137.635 MHz, and 137.753–137.787 MHz bands, the protection area for a NOAA satellite is the area on the Earth's surface in which the NOAA satellite is in line of sight from the ground at an elevation angle of five degrees or more above the horizon. No NVNG MSS satellite shall transmit in these bands when it is in line of sight at an elevation angle of zero degrees or more from any point on the ground within a NOAA satellite's protected area for that band.

(2) With respect to transmission in the 137.025–137.175 MHz and 137.825–138 MHz bands, the protection area for a NOAA satellite is the area on the Earth's surface in which the NOAA satellite is in line of sight from the ground at any elevation angle above zero degrees. No NVNG MSS satellite shall transmit in these bands when at a line-of-sight elevation angle of zero degrees or more from any point on the ground within a NOAA satellite's protected area for that band. In addition, such an NVNG MSS satellite shall cease transmitting when it is at an elevation angle of less than zero degrees from any such point, if reasonably necessary to protect reception of the NOAA satellite's signal.

(3) An NVNG MSS licensee is responsible for obtaining the ephemeris data necessary for compliance with these restrictions. The ephemeris information must be updated system-wide on at least a weekly basis. For calculation required for compliance with these restrictions an NVNG MSS licensee shall use an orbital propagator algorithm with an accuracy equal to or greater than the NORAD propagator used by NOAA.

(b) An NVNG licensee time sharing spectrum in the 137–138 MHz band must establish a 24-hour per day contact person and telephone number so that claims of harmful interference into NOAA earth stations and other operational issues can be reported and resolved expeditiously. This contact information must be made available to NOAA or its designee. If the NTIA notifies the Commission that NOAA is receiving unacceptable interference from a NVNG licensee, the Commission will require such NVNG licensee to terminate its interfering operations immediately unless it demonstrates to the Commission's reasonable satisfaction, and that of NTIA, that it is not responsible for causing harmful interference into the worldwide NOAA system. An NVNG licensee assumes the risk of any liability or damage that it and its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents and subcontractors may incur or suffer in connection with an interruption of its Mobile-Satellite Service, in whole or in part, arising from or relating to its compliance or noncompliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

(c) Each satellite in a NVNG licensee's system time-sharing spectrum with NOAA in the 137–138 MHz band shall automatically turn off and cease satellite transmissions if, after 72 consecutive hours, no reset signal is received from the NVNG licensee's gateway earth station and verified by the satellite. All satellites in such NVNG licensee's system shall be capable of instantaneous shutdown on any sub-band upon command from such NVNG licensee's gateway earth station.

[62 FR 59296, Nov. 3, 1997, as amended at 78 FR 8430, Feb. 6, 2013; 79 FR 8324, Feb. 12, 2014]

§ 25.260 - Time sharing between DoD meteorological satellite systems and non-voice, non-geostationary satellite systems in the 400.15–401 MHz band.

(a) The space stations of a non-voice, non-geostationary Mobile-Satellite Service (NVNG MSS) system time-sharing downlink spectrum in the 400.15–401.0 MHz band with Department of Defense (DoD) satellites shall not transmit signals into the “protection areas” of the DoD satellites.

(1) The protection area for such a DoD satellite is the area on the Earth's surface in which the DoD satellite is in line of sight from the ground at an elevation angle of five degrees or more above the horizon.

(2) An NVNG MSS space station shall not transmit in the 400.15–401 MHz band when at a line-of-sight elevation angle of zero degrees or more from any point on the ground within the protected area of a DoD satellite operating in that band.

(3) An NVNG MSS licensee is responsible for obtaining the ephemeris data necessary for compliance with this restriction. The ephemeris information must be updated system-wide at least once per week. For calculation required for compliance with this restriction an NVNG MSS licensee shall use an orbital propagator algorithm with an accuracy equal to or greater than the NORAD propagator used by DoD.

(b) An NVNG licensee time sharing spectrum in the 400.15–401 MHz band must establish a 24-hour per day contact person and telephone number so that claims of harmful interference into DoD earth stations and other operational issues can be reported and resolved expeditiously. This contact information must be made available to DoD or its designee. If the NTIA notifies the Commission that DoD is receiving unacceptable interference from a NVNG licensee, the Commission will require such NVNG licensee to terminate its interfering operations immediately unless it demonstrates to the Commission's reasonable satisfaction, and that of NTIA, that it is not responsible for causing harmful interference into the worldwide DoD system. A NVNG licensee assumes the risk of any liability or damage that it and its directors, officers, employees, affiliates, agents and subcontractors may incur or suffer in connection with an interruption of its Mobile-Satellite Service, in whole or in part, arising from or relating to its compliance or noncompliance with the requirements of this paragraph.

(c) Each satellite in a NVNG licensee's system time-sharing spectrum with DoD in the 400.15–401 MHz band shall automatically turn off and cease satellite transmissions if, after 72 consecutive hours, no reset signal is received from the NVNG licensee's gateway earth station and verified by the satellite. All satellites in such NVNG licensee's system shall be capable of instantaneous shutdown on any sub-band upon command from such NVNG licensee's gateway earth station.

(d) Initially, a NVNG licensee time-sharing spectrum with DoD in the 400.15–401 MHz band shall be able to change the frequency on which its system satellites are operating within 125 minutes of receiving notification from a DoD required frequency change in the 400.15–401 MHz band. Thereafter, when a NVNG licensee constructs additional gateway earth stations located outside of North and South America, it shall use its best efforts to decrease to 90 minutes the time required to implement a DoD required frequency change. A NVNG licensee promptly shall notify the Commission and NTIA of any decrease in the time it requires to implement a DoD required frequency change.

(e) Once a NVNG licensee time-sharing spectrum with DoD in the 400.15–401 MHz band demonstrates to DoD that it is capable of implementing a DoD required frequency change within the time required under paragraph (d) of this section, thereafter, such NVNG licensee shall demonstrate its capability to implement a DoD required frequency change only once per year at the instruction of DoD. Such demonstrations shall occur during off-peak hours, as determined by the NVNG licensee, unless otherwise agreed by the NVNG licensee and DoD. Such NVNG licensee will coordinate with DoD in establishing a plan for such a demonstration. In the event that a NVNG licensee fails to demonstrate to DoD that it is capable of implementing a DoD required frequency change in accordance with a demonstration plan established by DoD and the NVNG licensee, upon the Commission's receipt of a written notification from NTIA describing such failure, the Commission shall impose additional conditions or requirements on the NVNG licensee's authorization as may be necessary to protect DoD operations in the 400.15–401 MHz downlink band until the Commission is notified by NTIA that the NVNG licensee has successfully demonstrated its ability to implement a DoD required frequency change. Such additional conditions or requirements may include, but are not limited to, requiring such NVNG licensee immediately to terminate its operations interfering with the DoD system.

[62 FR 59296, Nov. 3, 1997, as amended at 78 FR 8430, Feb. 6, 2013; 79 FR 8325, Feb. 12, 2014]

§ 25.261 - Sharing among NGSO FSS space stations.

Link to an amendment published at 88 FR 39792, June 20, 2023.

(a) Scope. This section applies to NGSO FSS operation with earth stations with directional antennas anywhere in the world under a Commission license, or in the United States under a grant of U.S. market access.

(b) Coordination. NGSO FSS licensees and market access recipients must coordinate in good faith the use of commonly authorized frequencies regardless of their processing round status.

(c) Default procedure. Absent coordination between two or more satellite systems, whenever the increase in system noise temperature of an earth station receiver, or a space station receiver for a satellite with on-board processing, of either system, ΔT/T, exceeds 6 percent due to interference from emissions originating in the other system in a commonly authorized frequency band, such frequency band will be divided among the affected satellite networks in accordance with the following procedure:

(1) Each of n (number of) satellite networks involved that were licensed or granted market access through the same processing round, except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, must select 1/n of the assigned spectrum available in each of these frequency bands. The selection order for each satellite network will be determined by the date that the first space station in each satellite system is launched and capable of operating in the frequency band under consideration;

(2) The affected station(s) of the respective satellite systems may operate in only the selected (1/n) spectrum associated with its satellite system while the ΔT/T of 6 percent threshold is exceeded;

(3) All affected station(s) may resume operations throughout the assigned frequency bands once the threshold is no longer exceeded.

(d) [Reserved]

(e) Sunsetting. Ten years after the first authorization or grant of market access in a processing round, the systems approved in that processing round will no longer be required to protect earlier-rounds systems, and instead will be required to share spectrum with earlier-round systems under paragraph (c) of this section.

[82 FR 59986, Dec. 18, 2017, as amended at 88 FR 39792, June 20, 2023]

§ 25.262 - Licensing and domestic coordination requirements for 17/24 GHz BSS space stations and FSS space stations transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band.

(a) A 17/24 GHz BSS or FSS applicant seeking to transmit in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band may be authorized to operate a space station at levels up to the maximum power flux density limits defined in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) of this section without coordinating its power flux density levels with adjacent licensed or permitted operators, as follows:

(1) For 17/24 GHz BSS applicants, up to the power flux density levels specified in § 25.140(b)(3) only if there is no licensed space station, or prior-filed application for a space station transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band at a location less than four degrees from the orbital location at which the applicant proposes to operate; and

(2) For FSS space station applicants transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band, up to the maximum power flux density levels in § 25.140(a)(3)(iii), only if there is no licensed 17/24 GHz BSS space station, or prior-filed application for a 17/24 GHz BSS space station, at a location less than four degrees from the orbital location at which the FSS applicant proposes to operate, and there is no licensed FSS space station, or prior-filed application for an FSS space station transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band, at a location less than two degrees from the orbital location at which the applicant proposes to operate.

(b) Any U.S. licensee or permittee authorized to transmit in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band that does not comply with the applicable power flux-density limits set forth in § 25.140(a)(3)(iii) and/or (b)(3) shall bear the burden of coordinating with any future co-frequency licensees and permittees of a space station transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band as required in § 25.114(d)(15)(ii).

(c) If no good faith agreement can be reached, the operator of the FSS space station transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band that does not comply with § 25.140(a)(3)(iii) or the operator of the 17/24 GHz BSS space station that does not comply with § 25.140(b)(3), shall reduce its power flux-density levels to be compliant with those specified in § 25.140(a)(3)(iii) and/or (b)(3) as appropriate.

(d) Any U.S. licensee or permittee of a space station transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band that is required to provide information in its application pursuant to § 25.140(a)(2) or (b)(4) must accept any increased interference that may result from adjacent space stations transmitting in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band that are operating in compliance with the rules for such space stations specified in §§ 25.140(a) and (b), 25.202(a)(9) and (e) through (g), 25.210(i) through (j), 25.224, 25.262, 25.264(h), and 25.273(a)(3).

(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, licensees and permittees will be allowed to apply for a license or authorization for a replacement satellite that will be operated at the same power level and interference protection as the satellite to be replaced.

[87 FR 72407, Nov. 25, 2022]

§ 25.263 - Information sharing requirements for SDARS terrestrial repeater operators.

This section requires SDARS licensees in the 2320–2345 MHz band to share information regarding the location and operation of terrestrial repeaters with WCS licensees in the 2305–2320 MHz and 2345–2360 MHz bands. Section 27.72 of this chapter requires WCS licensees to share information regarding the location and operation of base stations in the 2305–2320 MHz and 2345–2360 MHz bands with SDARS licensees in the 2320–2345 MHz band.

(a) SDARS licensees must select terrestrial repeater sites and frequencies, to the extent practicable, to minimize the possibility of harmful interference to WCS base station operations in the 2305–2320 MHz and 2345–2360 MHz bands.

(b) Notice requirements. SDARS licensees that intend to operate a new terrestrial repeater must, before commencing such operation, provide 10 business days prior notice to all potentially affected Wireless Communications Service (WCS) licensees. SDARS licensees that intend to modify an existing repeater must, before commencing such modified operation, provide 5 business days prior notice to all potentially affected WCS licensees.

(1) For purposes of this section, a “potentially affected WCS licensee” is a WCS licensee that:

(i) Is authorized to operate a base station in the 2305–2315 MHz or 2350–2360 MHz bands in the same Major Economic Area (MEA) as that in which the terrestrial repeater is to be located;

(ii) Is authorized to operate base station in the 2315–2320 MHz or 2345–2350 MHz bands in the same Regional Economic Area Grouping (REAG) as that in which the terrestrial repeater is to be located;

(iii) In addition to the WCS licensees identified in paragraphs (b)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section, in cases in which the SDARS licensee plans to deploy or modify a terrestrial repeater within 5 kilometers of the boundary of an MEA or REAG in which the terrestrial repeater is to be located, a potentially affected WCS licensee is one that is authorized to operate a WCS base station in that neighboring MEA or REAG within 5 kilometers of the location of the terrestrial repeater.

(2) For the purposes of this section, a business day is defined by § 1.4(e)(2) of this chapter.

(3) For modifications other than changes in location, a licensee may provide notice within 24 hours after the modified operation if the modification does not result in a predicted increase of the power flux density (PFD) at ground level by more than 1 dB since the last advance notice was given. If a demonstration is made by the WCS licensee that such modifications may cause harmful interference to WCS receivers, SDARS licensees will be required to provide notice 5 business days in advance of additional repeater modifications.

(4) SDARS repeaters operating below 2 watts equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) are exempt from the notice requirements set forth in this paragraph.

(5) SDARS licensees are encouraged to develop separate coordination agreements with WCS licensees to facilitate efficient deployment of and coexistence between each service. To the extent the provisions of any such coordination agreement conflict with the requirements set forth herein, the procedures established under a coordination agreement will control. SDARS licensees must maintain a copy of any coordination agreement with a WCS license in their station files and disclose it to prospective assignees, transferees, or spectrum lessees and, upon request, to the Commission.

(6) SDARS and WCS licensees may enter into agreements regarding alternative notification procedures.

(c) Contents of notice. (1) Notification must be written (e.g., certified letter, fax, or e-mail) and include the licensee's name, and the name, address, and telephone number of its coordination representative, unless the SDARS licensee and all potentially affected WCS licensees reach a mutual agreement to provide notification by some other means. WCS licensees and SDARS licensees may establish such a mutually agreeable alternative notification mechanism without prior Commission approval, provided that they comply with all other requirements of this section.

(2) Regardless of the notification method, notification must specify relevant technical details, including, at a minimum:

(i) The coordinates of the proposed repeater to an accuracy of no less than ±1 second latitude and longitude;

(ii) The proposed operating power(s), frequency band(s), and emission(s);

(iii) The antenna center height above ground and ground elevation above mean sea level, both to an accuracy of no less than ±1 meter;

(iv) The antenna gain pattern(s) in the azimuth and elevation planes that include the peak of the main beam; and

(v) The antenna downtilt angle(s).

(3) An SDARS licensee operating terrestrial repeaters must maintain an accurate and up-to-date inventory of its terrestrial repeaters operating above 2 watts average EIRP, including the information set forth in § 25.263(c)(2), which shall be available upon request by the Commission.

(d) Calculation of Notice Period. Notice periods are calculated from the date of receipt by the licensee being notified. If notification is by mail, the date of receipt is evidenced by the return receipt on certified mail. If notification is by fax, the date of receipt is evidenced by the notifying party's fax transmission confirmation log. If notification is by e-mail, the date of receipt is evidenced by a return e-mail receipt. If the SDARS licensee and all potentially affected WCS licensees reach a mutual agreement to provide notification by some other means, that agreement must specify the method for determining the beginning of the notice period.

(e) Duty to cooperate. SDARS licensees must cooperate in good faith in the selection and use of new repeater sites to reduce interference and make the most effective use of the authorized facilities. SDARS licensees should provide WCS licensees as much lead time as practicable to provide ample time to conduct analyses and opportunity for prudent repeater site selection prior to SDARS licensees entering into real estate and tower leasing or purchasing agreements. Licensees of stations suffering or causing harmful interference must cooperate in good faith and resolve such problems by mutually satisfactory arrangements. If the licensees are unable to do so, the Space Bureau, in consultation with the Office of Engineering and Technology and the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, will consider the actions taken by the parties to mitigate the risk of and remedy any alleged interference. In determining the appropriate action, the Bureau will take into account the nature and extent of the interference and act promptly to remedy the interference. The Bureau may impose restrictions on SDARS licensees, including specifying the transmitter power, antenna height, or other technical or operational measures to remedy the interference, and will take into account previous measures by the licensees to mitigate the risk of interference.

[75 FR 45069, Aug. 2, 2010, as amended at 78 FR 9619, Feb. 11, 2013; 88 FR 21441, Apr. 10, 2023]

§ 25.264 - Requirements to facilitate reverse-band operation in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band of 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS Service space stations.

Link to an amendment published at 87 FR 72407, Nov. 25, 2022.

(a) Each 17/24 GHz BSS space station applicant or licensee must submit a series of tables or graphs containing predicted off-axis gain data for each antenna that will transmit in the 17.3–17.8 GHz frequency band, in accordance with the following specifications. Using a Cartesian coordinate system wherein the X axis is tangent to the geostationary orbital arc with the positive direction pointing east, i.e., in the direction of travel of the satellite; the Y axis is parallel to a line passing through the geographic north and south poles of the Earth, with the positive direction pointing south; and the Z axis passes through the satellite and the center of the Earth, with the positive direction pointing toward the Earth, the applicant or licensee must provide the predicted transmitting antenna off-axis antenna gain information:

(1) In the X–Z plane, i.e., the plane of the geostationary orbit, over a range of ±30 degrees from the positive and negative X axes in increments of 5 degrees or less.

(2) In planes rotated from the X–Z plane about the Z axis, over a range of ±60 degrees relative to the equatorial plane, in increments of 10 degrees or less.

(3) In both polarizations.

(4) At a minimum of three measurement frequencies determined with respect to the entire portion of the 17.3–17.8 GHz frequency band over which the space station is designed to transmit: 5 MHz above the lower edge of the band; at the band center frequency; and 5 MHz below the upper edge of the band.

(5) Over a greater angular measurement range, if necessary, to account for any planned spacecraft orientation bias or change in operating orientation relative to the reference coordinate system. The applicant or licensee must state the reasons for including such additional information.

(6) The predictive gain information must be submitted to the Commission when a license application is filed for a 17/24 GHz BSS space station or within 60 days after completion of critical design review for the space station, whichever occurs later.

(b) A 17/24 GHz BSS space station applicant or licensee must submit power flux density (pfd) calculations based on the predicted gain data submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, as follows:

(1) The pfd calculations must be provided at the location of all prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations where the applicant's pfd level exceeds the coordination trigger of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band. In this rule, the term prior-filed U.S. DBS space station refers to any co-frequency Direct Broadcast Satellite service space station for which an application was filed with the Commission, or an authorization was granted by the Commission, prior to the filing of the information and certifications required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. The term prior-filed U.S. DBS space station does not include any applications (or authorizations) that have been denied, dismissed, or are otherwise no longer valid. Prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations may include foreign-licensed DBS space stations seeking authority to serve the United States market, but do not include foreign-licensed DBS space stations that have not filed applications with the Commission for market access in the United States.

(2) The pfd calculations must take into account the maximum permitted longitudinal station-keeping tolerance, orbital inclination and orbital eccentricity of both the 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS space stations, and must:

(i) Identify each prior-filed U.S. DBS space station at whose location the coordination threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz is exceeded; and

(ii) Indicate the extent to which the calculated pfd of the 17/24 GHz space station's transmissions in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band exceed the threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz at those prior-filed U.S. DBS space station locations.

(3) If the calculated pfd exceeds the threshold level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz at the location of any prior-filed U.S. DBS space station, the applicant or licensee must also provide with the pfd calculations a certification that all affected DBS operators acknowledge and do not object to such higher off-axis pfd levels. No such certification is required in cases where the DBS and 17/24 GHz BSS assigned operating frequencies do not overlap.

(4) The information and any certification required by paragraph (b) of this section must be submitted to the Commission when a license application is filed for a 17/24 GHz BSS space station or within 60 days after completion of critical design review for the space station, whichever occurs later. Otherwise, such information and certifications must be submitted to the Commission within 24 months after the grant of an operating license for a 17/24 GHz BSS space station or when the applicant or licensee certifies completion of critical design review, whichever occurs first.

(c) No later than 2 months prior to launch, each 17/24 GHz BSS space station licensee must update the predicted transmitting antenna off-axis gain information provided in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section by submitting measured transmitting antenna off-axis gain information over the angular ranges, measurement frequencies and polarizations specified in paragraphs (a)(1) through (5) of this section. The transmitting antenna off-axis gain information should be measured under conditions as close to flight configuration as possible.

(d) No later than 2 months prior to launch, or when applying for authority to change the location of a 17/24 GHz BSS space station that is already in orbit, each 17/24 GHz BSS space station licensee must provide pfd calculations based on the measured off-axis gain data submitted in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section, as follows:

(1) The pfd calculations must be provided:

(i) At the location of all prior-filed U.S. DBS space stations as defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, where the applicant's pfd level in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band exceeds the coordination trigger of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz; and

(ii) At the location of any subsequently filed U.S. DBS space station where the pfd level in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band calculated on the basis of measured gain data exceeds −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz. In this rule, the term subsequently filed U.S. DBS space station refers to any co-frequency Direct Broadcast Satellite service space station proposed in a license application filed with the Commission after the 17/24 GHz BSS operator submitted the predicted data required by paragraphs (a) through (b) of this section but before submission of the measured data required by this paragraph. Subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space stations may include foreign-licensed DBS space stations seeking authority to serve the United States market. The term does not include any applications (or authorizations) that have been denied, dismissed, or are otherwise no longer valid, nor does it include foreign-licensed DBS space stations that have not filed applications with the Commission for market access in the United States.

(2) The pfd calculations must take into account the maximum permitted longitudinal station-keeping tolerance, orbital inclination and orbital eccentricity of both the 17/24 GHz BSS and DBS space stations, and must:

(i) Identify each prior-filed U.S. DBS space station at whose location the coordination threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz is exceeded; and

(ii) Demonstrate the extent to which the applicant's or licensee's transmissions in the 17.3–17.8 GHz band exceed the threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz at those prior-filed U.S. DBS space station locations.

(e) If the pfd level calculated from the measured data submitted in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section is in excess of the threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz:

(1) At the location of any prior-filed U.S. DBS space station as defined in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, then the 17/24 GHz broadcasting-satellite operator must either:

(i) Coordinate its operations that are in excess of the threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz with the affected prior-filed U.S. DBS space station operator, or

(ii) Adjust its operating parameters so that at the location of the prior-filed U.S. DBS space station, the pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz is not exceeded.

(2) At the location of any subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station as defined in paragraph (d)(1) of this section, where the pfd level submitted in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, is also in excess of the pfd level calculated on the basis of the predicted data submitted in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section that were on file with the Commission at the time the DBS space station application was filed, then the 17/24 GHz broadcasting-satellite operator must either:

(i) Coordinate with the affected subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station operator all of its operations that are either in excess of the pfd level calculated on the basis of the predicted antenna off-axis gain data, or are in excess of the threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz, whichever is greater, or

(ii) Adjust its operating parameters so that at the location of the subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station, either the pfd level calculated on the basis of the predicted off-axis transmitting antenna gain data, or the threshold pfd level of −117 dBW/m 2/100 kHz, whichever is greater, is not exceeded.

(3) No coordination or adjustment of operating parameters is required in cases where the DBS and 17/24 GHz BSS operating frequencies do not overlap.

(f) The 17/24 GHz BSS applicant or licensee must modify its license, or amend its application, as appropriate, based upon new information:

(1) If the pfd levels submitted in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section, are in excess of those submitted in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section at the location of any prior-filed or subsequently-filed U.S. DBS space station as defined in paragraphs (b)(1) and (d)(1)of this section, or

(2) If the 17/24 GHz BSS operator adjusts its operating parameters in accordance with paragraphs (e)(1)(ii) or (e)(2)(ii) or this section.

(g) Absent an explicit agreement between operators to permit more closely spaced operations, U.S. authorized 17/24 GHz BSS space stations and U.S. authorized DBS space stations with co-frequency assignments may not be licensed to operate at locations separated by less than 0.2 degrees in orbital longitude.

(h) All operational 17/24 GHz BSS space stations must be maintained in geostationary orbits that:

(1) Do not exceed 0.075° of inclination.

(2) Operate with an apogee less than or equal to 35,806 km above the surface of the Earth, and with a perigee greater than or equal to 35,766 km above the surface of the Earth (i.e., an eccentricity of less than 4.7 × 10−4).

(i) U.S. authorized DBS networks may claim protection from space path interference arising from the reverse-band operations of U.S. authorized 17/24 GHz BSS networks to the extent that the DBS space station operates within the bounds of inclination and eccentricity listed below. When the geostationary orbit of the DBS space station exceeds these bounds on inclination and eccentricity, it may not claim protection from any additional space path interference arising as a result of its inclined or eccentric operations and may only claim protection as if it were operating within the bounds listed below:

(1) The DBS space station's orbit does not exceed 0.075° of inclination, and

(2) The DBS space station's orbit maintains an apogee less than or equal to 35,806 km above the surface of the Earth, and a perigee greater than or equal to 35,766 km above the surface of the Earth (i.e., an eccentricity of less than 4.7 × 10−4).

[76 FR 50431, Aug. 15, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 55348, Aug. 18, 2016]

§ 25.265 - Acceptance of interference in 2000–2020 MHz.

(a) MSS receivers operating in the 2000–2020 MHz band must accept interference from lawful operations in the 1995–2000 MHz band, where such interference is due to:

(1) The in-band power of any operations in 1995–2000 MHz (i.e., the portion of transmit power contained in the 1995–2000 MHz band); or

(2) The portion of out-of-band emissions contained in 2000–2005 MHz.

(b) [Reserved]

[78 FR 8267, Feb. 5, 2013]