Federal Register: June 12, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 112)

DOCID: FR Doc 00-14610

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Federal Communications Commission

Docket ID: [ET Docket No. 98-237, FCC 00-181]

NOTICE: NOTICES

ACTION: Frequency allocations and radio treaty matters:

DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.

SUBJECT CATEGORY:

3650-3700 MHz Government Transfer

DATES: Effective May 22, 2000.

DOCUMENT SUMMARY:

This document modifies the freeze imposed on applications for new earth stations and major modifications
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in existing earth stations in the 36503700 MHz band, which is also referred to as the extended Cband. We are partially lifting the freeze to allow the acceptance of applications for new extended Cband earth station receive sites that are within close proximity (i.e., 10 miles or less) of an existing grandfathered extended Cband earth station receive site. Additionally, we are lifting the freeze with respect to major modifications to existing grandfathered extended Cband earth station receive sites.

SUMMARY:

3650-3700 MHz band (extended C-band); government transfer,

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

This is a summary of the Commission's Order, ET Docket 98237, FCC 00181, adopted May 17, 2000, and released May 22, 2000. The full text of this Commission decision is available for inspection and copying during normal business hours in the FCC Reference Information Center, Room CyA257, 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC, and also may be purchased from the Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription Service, (202) 857 3800, 1231 20th Street, NW Washington, DC 20036.

Summary of the Memorandum Opinion and Order

1. In the Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (``Notice and Order''), 64 FR 2462, January 14, 1999, the Commission proposed to allocate the 36503700 MHz band to the nongovernment fixed service on a primary basis. To ensure that adequate opportunities would continue to exist for the provision of fixed services in the 36503700 MHz band, the Commission stated that it would no longer accept applications for new earth stations or major modifications in existing earth station facilities for the fixedsatellite service (``FSS'') in the 36503700 MHz band. The Notice and Order grandfathered existing extended Cband earth stations.

2. The Commission continues to believe that a freeze limiting the growth of new earth station facilities in the extended Cband is necessary to ensure that adequate opportunities exist for fixed services in the 36503700 MHz band. As noted in the Notice and Order a broad range of fixed services could be implemented in the 36503700 MHz band which could help to achieve the overarching goals of Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by providing advanced telecommunications capability to all Americans. The proposals submitted by New Skies and the CBand Coalition to lift the freeze are unacceptable because such action would likely have the effect of significantly limiting or precluding future fixed service operations in this band. However, we find that a limited lifting of the freeze will provide relief for satellite users of the extended Cband without jeopardizing its future availability for terrestrial uses. We will therefore accept applications for new extended Cband earth stations or major modifications of an existing extended Cband earth station if the proposed earth station facilities are located in close proximity (i.e. 10 miles or less) to an existing, grandfathered extended Cband earth station in the 36503700 MHz band. We find that this will provide reasonable opportunities to obtain suitable real estate for the placement of new extended Cband earth stations near grandfathered extended Cband earth stations. Below is a list of existing sites. We find that the introduction of new extended Cband earth stations in close proximity to an existing grandfathered extended Cband earth stations will not substantially impede the opportunities for the introduction of fixed services in the 36503700 MHz band. Further, we find that this action will provide relief to satellite operators while having a de minimis impact on the opportunities for the provision of fixed services in the 36503700 MHz band.
Table 1.Authorized Extended CBand Earth Stations 1 (Receive at 36253700 MHz and Transmit at 58505925 MHz) 2 State/City North latitude West longitude California:

Carmel Valley............................................. 36 deg. 24'10" 121 deg. 38'48"

Culver City............................................... 34 deg. 01' 06" 118 deg. 24' 13"

Livermore................................................. 37 deg. 45' 39" 121 deg. 47' 50"

Los Angeles............................................... 34 deg. 01' 53" 118 deg. 27' 18" 34 deg. 01' 54" 118 deg. 27' 15" 34 deg. 01' 54" 118 deg. 27' 18.3" 34 deg. 01' 54" 118 deg. 27' 21.3"

Malibu.................................................... 34 deg. 04' 49.67" 118 deg. 53' 43.91" 34 deg. 04' 50.32" 118 deg. 53' 46.40"

Mountain House............................................ 37 deg. 45' 01" 121 deg. 35' 34" 37 deg. 45' 02" 121 deg. 35' 35"

Niles Canyon.............................................. 37 deg. 35' 56" 121 deg. 56' 32" 37 deg. 36' 00" 121 deg. 56' 35"

Salt Creek................................................ 38 deg. 56' 20.2" 122 deg. 08' 48" 38 deg. 56' 21" 122 deg. 08' 49.2" 38 deg. 56' 22.3" 122 deg. 08' 49.6"

Somis..................................................... 34 deg. 19' 31" 118 deg. 59' 41"

Sylmar.................................................... 34 deg. 19' 04" 118 deg. 29' 00" Florida:

Medley.................................................... 25 deg. 50' 26" 80 deg. 19' 03" 25 deg. 51' 19" 80 deg. 19' 52"

Melbourne................................................. 28 deg. 02' 25" 80 deg. 35' 48" 28 deg. 05' 10" 80 deg. 38' 10"

Miami..................................................... 25 deg. 48' 34" 80 deg. 21' 11" 25 deg. 48' 35" 80 deg. 21' 10" 25 deg. 48' 35" 80 deg. 21' 11"

Miramar 3................................................. 25 deg. 58' 32" 80 deg. 17' 00"

Orlando................................................... 28 deg. 25' 29" 81 deg. 07' 21" [[Page 36902]]

Palm Bay.................................................. 28 deg. 02' 28" 80 deg. 35' 42"

Guam: Pulantat............................................ 13 deg. 25' 00" 4 144 deg. 44' 57"

Maine: Andover............................................ 44 deg. 37' 57" 70 deg. 42' 01" 44 deg. 37' 58" 70 deg. 41' 54" Maryland:

Etam...................................................... 39 deg. 16' 48" 79 deg. 44' 14" 39 deg. 16' 50" 79 deg. 44' 13"

Clarksburg................................................ 39 deg. 13' 07" 77 deg. 16' 12"

Massachusetts: Whitinsville............................... 42 deg. 06' 59" 71 deg. 38' 08"

New Jersey: Franklin...................................... 41 deg. 07' 04" 74 deg. 34' 33"

New York: Staten Island................................... 40 deg. 36' 13" 74 deg. 10' 39"

North Carolina: West Jefferson............................ 36 deg. 25' 50" 81 deg. 23' 45"

Oregon: Moores Valley..................................... 45 deg. 20' 33" 123 deg. 17' 15"

Pennsylvania: Roaring Creek............................... 40 deg. 53' 34" 76 deg. 26' 23" 40 deg.53'35.9" 76 deg. 26' 22.6" 40 deg.53'37" 76 deg. 26' 22" 40 deg.53'37.5" 76 deg. 26' 21.8" Puerto Rico:

Carolina.................................................. 18 deg. 26' 00" 65 deg. 59' 35"

Caguas.................................................... 18 deg. 17' 53" 66 deg. 03' 14"

Cayey..................................................... 18 deg. 08' 00" 66 deg. 07' 57"

Humacao................................................... 18 deg. 09' 05" 65 deg. 47' 20"

Rio Piedras............................................... 18 deg. 14' 30" 66 deg. 01' 50" 18 deg. 22' 59" 66 deg. 04' 09"

Tennessee: Nashville...................................... 36 deg. 14' 06" 86 deg. 45' 21" 36 deg. 14' 5.7" 86 deg. 45' 19.4" 36 deg. 14' 5.7" 86 deg. 45' 21.4"

Texas: Woodland Hills..................................... 32 deg. 37' 48" 96 deg. 50' 33" Virginia:

Alexandria................................................ 38 deg. 47' 39" 77 deg. 09' 51"

Shenandoah Court.......................................... 38 deg. 43' 45" 78 deg. 39' 26"

Washington: Brewster...................................... 48 deg. 08' 49" 119 deg. 41' 28" 48 deg. 08' 51" 119 deg. 41' 29" West Virginia:

Lennox.................................................... 39 deg. 34' 07" 79 deg. 34' 45"

Rowlesburg................................................ 39 deg. 16' 52.1" 79 deg. 44' 10.7" 1 In addition, there is an extended Cband earth station on the Midway Atoll. 2 Most of these earth stations are authorized to make use of both Cband (37004200 MHz for downlinks and 5925 6425 MHz band for uplinks) and extended Cband frequencies (36253700 MHz for downlinks and 58505925 MHz for uplinks).
3 This is a receiveonly station.
4 Guam's longitude coordinate is East, not West. Table 2.Sites Authorized for Less Than the Full Extended CBand Band City, State Latitude Longitude 36853700 MHz...................... Miami, Florida............. 25 deg.28'48" 80 deg.10'48" Atlanta, Georgia........... 33 deg.52'38.23" 84 deg.27'58.35" Marietta, Georgia.......... 33 deg.55'41" 84 deg.29'45" Guaynabo, Puerto Rico...... 18 deg.34'10" 66 deg.23'00" San Juan, Puerto Rico...... 18 deg.22'00" 66 deg.07'00" 36503700 MHz...................... Auburn University, Alabama. 32 deg.35'47" 85 deg.29'27" Table 3.Authorized TT&C Sites
[Receive at 3698.53699.5 MHz and Transmit at 5923.55924.5 MHz] City/State Latitude Longitude Three Peaks, California......... 38 deg.8'51.9" 122 deg.47'38" Hawley, Pennsylvania............ 41 deg.27'51" 75 deg.7'47.9"

3. Pursuant to the authority contained in sections 4(i), 302, 303(e), 303(f), 303(g), 303(r), and 405 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, it is ordered that the Request For Relief and Modified Request For Emergency Relief and Request For Expedited Action filed by New Skies Satellites N.V., are hereby granted, in part, and denied in part. The application processing changes are effective May 22, 2000.
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Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 0014610 Filed 6900; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 671201P

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Rodney Conway, Office of Engineering and Technology, (202) 4182904.