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FCC RIN: 3060-AH60 Publication ID: Fall 2008 
Title: Streamlining Earth Station Licensing Rules (IB Docket No. 00-248) 
Abstract: The Commission has found several cases in which modifying or eliminating rules could facilitate licensing of earth stations, thereby expediting the provision of useful satellite services to the public, without unreasonably increasing the risk of harmful interference to existing earth station or space station operators, or terrestrial wireless operators in shared frequency bands. Specifically, this NPRM considers the following rule revisions: (1) Codifying streamlined procedures for case-by-case examination of earth stations using "non-routine" antennas, non-routine power levels, or both; (2) relaxing some current requirements, such as increasing power and power density limits, and allowing some temporary fixed earth stations to begin operation sooner than is now permitted; (3) streamlining the very small aperture terminal (VSAT) rules, and revising the Commission's power level rules to provide for various types of VSAT multiple access methods; (4) adopting a simplified license application form for "routine" earth stations; and (5) other miscellaneous rule revisions. The Commission also invites comment on extending these proposed rules to the KA-band. On September 26, 2002, the Commission adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding. This Further NPRM invited comment on refinements to the proposals in the NPRM to relax some earth station technical requirements, and on an alternative to the VSAT proposals in the NPRM. The Further NPRM also seeks comment on proposals made by commenters in response to the First NPRM. In the First Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission extended the license term for earth station licenses from 10 to 15 years. In the Second Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission adopted rules allowing unlicensed receive-only earth stations to receive transmissions from non-U.S.-licensed satellites on the Permitted List. In the Third Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission adopted a streamlined application form for certain earth station licenses, and adopted a mandatory electronic filing requirement for those earth station applications. In the Fourth Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission extended the mandatory electronic filing requirement to all earth station applications. In the Fifth Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission adopted the following proposals from the NPRM: (1) Codifying streamlined procedures for non-routine antennas; (2) relaxing power and power density limits, and allowing routine KU-band temporary fixed earth stations to begin operations sooner; (3) revising certain VSAT rules; and (4) other miscellaneous rule revisions. One petition for reconsideration was filed in response to this Order on July 5, 2005. In the Sixth Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission adopted revisions to the earth station antenna gain pattern requirements, as proposed in the Further Notice. Two petitions for reconsideration were filed in response to this Order on July 8, 2005. In the Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Commission invited comment on adopting off-axis EIRP envelops for C-band and KU-band FSS earth stations. In the Seventh Report and Order in this proceeding, the Commission considered and rejected its proposal in the NPRM to make revisions to part 23 of its rules. 
Agency: Federal Communications Commission(FCC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Long-Term Actions 
Major: Undetermined  Unfunded Mandates: No 
CFR Citation: 47 CFR 23    47 CFR 25   
Legal Authority: 47 USC 701 to 744   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  01/08/2001  66 FR 1283   
NPRM Comment Period End  05/07/2001    
First R&O  03/19/2002  67 FR 12485   
FNPRM  12/24/2002  67 FR 78399   
FNPRM Comment Period End  04/08/2003    
Second R&O (Release Date)  06/20/2003  68 FR 2247   
Second FNPRM   09/12/2003  68 FR 53702   
Third R&O  11/12/2003  68 FR 63994   
Fourth R&O  08/06/2004  69 FR 47790   
Fifth R&O  06/02/2005  70 FR 32249   
Sixth R&O  06/08/2005  70 FR 33373   
Third FNPRM  06/08/2005  70 FR 33426   
Seventh R&O  09/28/2005  70 FR 56580   
Public Notice/Petition for Recon  10/26/2005  70 FR 61825   
Next Action Undetermined  To Be Determined    
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined  Government Levels Affected: None 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Steven Spaeth
Assistant Division Chief
Federal Communications Commission
International Bureau, 445 12th Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20554
Phone:202 418-1539
Fax:202 418-0748
Email: steven.spaeth@fcc.gov