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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 19 / Monday, February 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules Frequency Allocations to permit FSS
downlinks in the band.
AT&T urges the Commission to carefully evaluate a number of technical concerns that could impact incumbent DBS and 17/24 GHz BSS operators.
AT&T states that the Commission should consider whether authorizing FSS downlinks in the 17.317.7 GHz band could constrain future development or modifications of existing DBS systems, and the effect it might have on new applicants to provide DBS feeder link service. AT&T
further argues that any rulemaking should consider the effect of proposed changes on other bands, such as the 24.7525.25 GHz band, which is currently available for FSS uplinks.
AT&T further suggests that we seek comment on the effect that allowing FSS
downlinks in the 17.317.7 GHz band could have on operations that are colocated with, or near to, U.S. DBS
licensees facilities. Finally, AT&T
contends that we should make clear that use of the 17.317.7 GHz band for FSS
downlinks does not extend to earth stations in motion, nor to nongeostationary satellite orbit NGSO
satellites.
SES claims that none of AT&Ts contentions impede the Commission from initiating a rulemaking. SES
further disputes AT&Ts claim that authorizing FSS downlinks in the 17.3
17.7 GHz band could limit future modifications of BSS networks.
According to SES, AT&Ts claims are speculative and outweighed by the potential benefits of promoting more efficient spectrum use. SES also asserts that we should not prejudge whether FSS downlinks in the 17.317.7 GHz band can be used to communicate with user terminals, including terminals in motion.
We propose to permit GSO FSS
space-to-Earth communications in the 17.317.8 GHz band. We also propose technical rules to prevent harmful interference between stations or services in this band. With appropriate technical safeguards to protect incumbents, permitting the use of this band for GSO
FSS downlink services would facilitate deployment of advanced satellite systems and enable the most effective and efficient use of the spectrum. We further propose to define extended Kaband frequencies and to establish routine licensing criteria for earth stations seeking to operate in those frequencies.

broadband access services using highthroughput satellites. In these systems, end user terminals uplink to space stations using one set of frequencies, and the space station downlinks traffic to earth station terminals using a separate set of frequencies and back into the internet backbone. The satellites in these systems typically use spot-beam technology and high-order frequency re-use to significantly increase capacity and spectral efficiency.
Over the last ten years there has been an increase in the number of space stations using Ka-band frequencies that serve, or intend to serve, customers in the United States. In its petition for rulemaking, SES argues that there is a particular need for additional Ka-band spectrum for FSS gateway earth stations to support high-throughput satellite communications.14 SES argues that the full benefits from these systems cannot be achieved without access to sufficient gateway spectrum to support multiple spot beams for expanded downlink connectivity. SES states that permitting FSS downlink communications in the 17.317.7 GHz band would help to address the need for more spectrum and enable enhanced space station performance in communicating with gateway earth stations. SES further states that having the additional spectrum for space-to-Earth communications in turn would allow U.S. consumers to enjoy greater access to innovative satellite services both at home and during their travels by air and sea. Telesat states that it shares the concerns expressed by SES regarding the limited availability of FSS
frequencies that can be used to operate gateway earth stations to support the burgeoning development of Ka-band satellite services. Telesat further argues that the 17 GHz band is well-suited to supplement the frequency capacity available for this purpose, both in terms of its functionality for FSS operators in the Ka-band, including Telesat and SES, and the compatibility of their use with other authorized uses of the band.
Telesat emphasizes that there is increasingly limited spectrum and providing for the expanded use of the 17 GHz band to support growing demand for FSS Ka-band downlink spectrum while not jeopardizing existing operations in the band will enhance the use of spectrum for the public good. AT&T does not dispute
Proposed GSO FSS Allocation in the 17.317.8 GHz Band The Ka-band is used extensively by FSS operators to provide satellite-based
14 SES Petition at 3. As an example, SES cites its SES17 satellite that will use all the Ka-band spectrum allocated for FSS in the space-to-Earth direction. See, IBFS File No. SATPDR20190305
00014 grant stamp dated May 8, 2020.

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the need for additional spectrum but asks that any rulemaking must be carefully tailored to allow the Commission and interested parties to fully consider and evaluate SESs proposals and their potential impact on current and future DBS and BSS
operators.
We propose to make the 17.317.8
GHz band available for more intensive use by FSS satellite operators, to meet the need for additional Ka-band GSO
FSS downlink spectrum. We note that the need for additional spectrum for these services also has been recognized internationally.15 We seek comment on this potential need for additional Kaband GSO FSS downlink spectrum and on our proposed changes to the U.S.
Table 16 and other Commission rules.
In particular, we propose to add a primary allocation to the FSS in the space-to-Earth direction in the U.S.
Table to permit FSS downlinks from geostationary satellites to operate in the 17.317.7 GHz band on a co-primary co-equal basis 17 with other primary services in that band.18 In addition, as discussed below, we propose certain changes to the U.S. Table to permit GSO
FSS space-to-Earth operations in the adjacent 17.717.8 GHz band. We note that in the 17.717.8 GHz band a bidirectional allocation currently exists in the International Table for ITU Region 2, but not in the U.S. Table. FSS operation in the 17.717.8 GHz band is limited to the Earth-to-space direction in the United States. We propose to revise the allocation to permit FSS in the space-toEarth direction. We also propose to permit authorization of FSS receiving 15 There is already a primary allocation to the FSS
space-to-Earth in the 17.717.8 GHz in all three ITU Regions internationally. See 47 CFR 2.106. The 2019 World Radiocommunication Conference WRC19 also adopted Resolution 174 WRC19
inviting the ITUR to complete the sharing and compatibility studies necessary to consider a possible new primary allocation to the FSS spaceto-Earth in Region 2 in the 17.317.7 GHz band.
See also Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada, Consultation on the Utilization of the Bands 18.819.3 GHz and 28.6
29.1 GHz, and the Bands 17.317.7 GHz, 19.319.7
GHz and 29.129.25 GHz by the Fixed-Satellite Service, available at https www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/
smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf11441.html.
16 The proposed changes to the U.S. Table herein refer to changes to the U.S. Non-Federal Table of Frequency Allocations in the Allocation Table. See 47 CFR 2.105a.
17 A service designated as co-primary must share operations with other services designated as coprimary in the frequency band on a co-equal basis.
See Redesignation of the 17.719.7 GHz Frequency Band, Blanket Licensing of Satellite Earth Stations in the 17.720.2 GHz and 27.530.0 GHz Frequency Bands, and the Allocation of Additional Spectrum in the 17.317.8 GHz and 24.7525.25 GHz Frequency Bands for Broadcast Satellite Service Use, 13 FCC Rcd 19923 at n.4 1998.
18 We also propose a consequential modification to footnote US402. 47 CFR 2.106.

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