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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 52 / Friday, March 19, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
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application fees and categories for geostationary space stations instead. In September 2019, the Commission revised and updated the rules governing DBS processing procedures to align them with the streamlined processing procedures for GSO FSS satellites. The Commission found that there is little difference technically between GSO FSS
satellite systems and DBS systems in geostationary orbit, and that DBS license applications could be processed in the same manner as GSO FSS satellites under a first-come, first-serve basis.222
Given the technical and regulatory similarities between GSO FSS satellites and DBS satellites, there is no need to maintain a separate filing fee for DBS
satellites and we adopt our proposal to assess filing fees for DBS satellites under the proposed fees for geostationary space stations, which also apply to GSO FSS satellite applications.
170. Unified Space and Earth Station Licenses. The Commission created a set of temporary rules regarding fees for unified space and earth station licenses in the Further Streamlining Part 25
Rules Governing Satellite Services Report and Order.223 In the Report and Order, we assessed a fee for unified license applications that is equal to the combined fees of the relevant space station license application and earth station blanket-license application. 224
However, we qualified those fees as a simple, clear solution until the comprehensive Commission application fee rulemaking is completed. 225 We further qualified those as interim fee decisions . . . that will be considered in the larger application fee rulemaking, and may change significantly based on the analyses conducted there. 226 In the Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services proceeding, we received public comments favoring our adoption of that fee. Intelsat supported a fee that reflected the dual earth station and space station elements of the unified license. 227 Viasat supported fees that were commensurate with the lower rates applicable to additional earth stations in an assignment or transfer of control application, or an additional site-based application. 228
222 DBS Streamlining Report and Order, 34 FCC
Rcd at 901617, para. 8.
223 Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services, Report and Order, FCC Rcd 2020.
224 Id. at 13, para. 34.
225 Id.
226 Id. at 12, para. 33.
227 Intelsat License LLC Comments, FCC 20159, IB Docket No. 18314, at 6 rec. Mar. 18, 2020.
228 Viasat, Inc. Comments, FCC 20159, IB Docket No. 18314, at 67 rec. Mar. 18, 2020.

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171. In this current proceeding, EchoStar contends that if we allow applications for unified space and earth station licenses, we should also adopt a cost-based fee for these filings, no greater than the sum of the filing fees for the component space and earth station licenses, and the fee should be reduced to reflect any material reductions in the information required for Commission review and to account for other administrative efficiencies offered by unified license filings.229 SIA also contends that a unified licensing fee structure for space and earth stations should be cost-based.230
172. We adopt a cost-based approach for unified space and earth station license fees. At this time, we adopt a fee that is equal to the combined, cost-based fees of the relevant space station license application and earth station blanket license as adjusted herein, consistent with the approach that we adopted in our Further Streamlining Part 25 Rules Governing Satellite Services Report and Order. In the future, once Commission staff has more experience with processing new unified license applications and the costs incurred to do so, we may reevaluate our methodology and the fee amount as appropriate.
173. International Broadcast Stations.
An International Broadcast Station IBS
uses broadcast frequencies between 5,950 kHz and 26,100 kHz to provide its broadcast service which is intended to be received in foreign countries.231 This service also is known as High Frequency Broadcasting HF or Shortwave Broadcasting. Unlike other broadcasting services, HF broadcasters are authorized frequencies on a seasonal basis.
Currently, two seasons exist: A Summer season and a Winter season. The adjustment of frequencies between seasons results mainly from changes in propagation conditions, altered programming needs, and objectionable interference situations. In the NPRM, we proposed new cost-based fees. We received no comment on these proposals and adopt the following costbased fees for IBS services listed below.
229 EchoStar
Comments at 7.
Comments at 8.
231 See 47 CFR 73.701a defining IBS as a broadcasting station employing frequencies allocated to the broadcasting service between 5900
and 26100 kHz, the transmissions of which are intended to be received directly by the general public in foreign countries. A station may be authorized more than one transmitter. There are both Federal and non-Federal Government international broadcast stations; only the latter are licensed by the Commission . . . .
230 SIA

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Application IBS New Construction Permit IBS Construction Permit Modification
IBS New License
IBS License Renewal
IBS Frequency Assignment ..
IBS Transfer of Control
IBS STA

New fee $4,010
4,010
905
230
80
595
395

174. Permit to Deliver Programs to Foreign Broadcast Stations. We adopt the proposed cost-based permit to deliver programs to foreign broadcast stations fees in the NPRM. An application for 325c authorization for a new license, license renewal, license transfer of control, or an STA is received in electronic or hard copy format and reviewed for completeness. If the application is complete, then it will be placed on public notice for 30 days and reviewed. The application is reviewed by a staff engineer to ensure foreign station facilities are accurate and approved via treaty guidelines. Upon a positive review of the application by engineering and legal staff the application is uploaded into IBFS. The application is coordinated within the Commission for further analysis, enforcement violations, and possible ownership/applicant issues. If there are no problems, then the application will be granted, and the Public Notice of the grant will be released. In the NPRM, the Commission proposed new cost-based fees for these applications. We received no objections to these proposals.
175. We adopt the following costbased fees for section 325c authorizations proposed in the NPRM
and summarized below.
Application 325c 325c 325c 325c 325c
New License
License Modification ..
License Renewal
STA
Transfer of Control

New fee $360
185
155
155
260

176. International Fixed Public Radio.
We eliminate this fee category from the application fee schedule as proposed in the NPRM because this service was removed from the Commissions rules in 2010.232
177. Exemptions. In the NPRM, the Commission explained that section 8d2 of the RAY BAUMS Act allows the Commission to eliminate an application fee when the Commission determines that the cost of collecting the 232 In 2010, the Commission eliminated Part 23 of its rules governing International Fixed Public Radiocommunication Services. Elimination of Part 23 of the Commissions Rules, IB Docket No. 05
216, Report and Order, 25 FCC Rcd 541 2010.

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