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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 19 / Monday, February 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules
earth stations in the 17.717.8 GHz band on a non-protected basis with respect to fixed service operations; such FSS
receiving earth stations would operate on a co-primary basis, however, vis-avis primary satellite operations in the band. We seek comment on these changes and proposals.
GSO FSS Transmissions in the 17.3
17.7 GHz Band. At present, neither the International Table for Region 2 nor the U.S. Table allows a space-to-Earth FSS transmission in the 17.317.7 GHz band.19 To accommodate such operations in the United States, on a coprimary basis, SES requests we revise the U.S. Table, specifically footnotes US402 and NG163. Footnote NG163, as currently written, limits use of the 17.3
17.7 GHz band by the BSS to geostationary satellites. SES asks that we revise this footnote to include a statement that Space stations in this band may transmit in the fixed-satellite service space-to-Earth on a primary basis, provided that such transmissions do not cause more interference, or require more protection from interference, than broadcasting-satellite service transmissions operating in accordance with the Commissions rules. 20 As a consequence of this change, SES also proposes edits to footnote US402 21 to include nonFederal FSS receiving earth stations among those not entitled to protection from Federal earth station transmissions in specific geographic areas. SES states that FSS downlinks in the 17 GHz band will be fully compatible with both satellite services authorized in the spectrum: Feeder links for direct broadcast satellite DBS networks and Reverse Band use for the downlink portion of 17/24 GHz BSS
operations. SES points out that no party opposes the SES Petition or presents any substantial obstacles to the rule revisions sought by SES to promote robust, flexible satellite use of spectrum.
AT&T, however, states that the Commission should make clear that any use of the 17.317.7 GHz band for FSS
downlinks would be limited to GSO
satellites. We note that the interference19 A

17.317.7 GHz space-to-Earth FSS allocation exists in ITU Region 1, and in the adjacent 17.7
17.8 GHz band in all three Regions. 47 CFR 2.106.
20 SES Petition, Rule Appendix at 1. SES models its proposed language on footnote 5.492 to the International Table of Allocations which permits FSS downlink transmissions in BSS Ku-band frequencies which are part of an ITU Appendix 30
Plan or List. See also, 47 CFR 2.106, n.5.492.
21 47 CFR 2.106, n.US402. This footnote defines two geographic areas and frequency segments in which 17/24 GHz BSS earth stations may not claim protection from earth stations transmitting to Federal satellites in the Earth-to-space direction.

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mitigation regime the Commission established for the BSS and DBS feeder links in the 17.317.7 GHz band presupposed only GSO satellites. In addition, Article 22 of the ITU Radio Regulations does not include equivalent power flux density limits at the Earths surface for the 17.317.8 GHz band that are necessary to protect earth stations receiving GSO transmissions from harmful interference from NGSO
operations. Accordingly, we propose to modify the U.S. Table, revise footnote US402, and adopt a new footnote NG58
to permit co-primary operation of FSS
downlink transmissions in the 17.3
17.7 GHz band, while limiting FSS
downlink operations to GSO satellite networks.22 To streamline the applicable restrictions to the 17.317.8
GHz band in the U.S. Table, we further propose to incorporate the use limits found in US271 and NG163 into the new footnote NG58 and remove US271
and NG163. We also propose consequential modifications to our licensing information requirements contained in 25.115e. We seek comment on these proposals.
GSO FSS Transmissions in the 17.7
17.8 GHz Band. In the U.S. Table, the 17.717.8 GHz band is allocated on a primary basis to the fixed service and to the FSS Earth-to-space limited, by footnote US271, to use by feeder links for the BSS.23 The International Table includes primary allocations to the FSS
both Earth-to-space and space-to-Earth in all three ITU Regions, including Region 2, in the 17.717.8 GHz band, and FSS operators may use this band to provide service outside of the United States.
With respect to sharing of the 17.7
and 17.8 GHz band with the fixed service, we note that in 2000, the Commission designated the 17.718.3
GHz band for primary use by terrestrial services.24 This designation was based in large part upon the conclusion, at that time, that sharing between terrestrial services and satellite services was not feasible, especially when satellite earth stations would be ubiquitously deployed. In 2017, 22 As a corresponding change, we also propose to similarly amend note 1 to 25.202a9 of our rules which addresses use of the 17.317.8 GHz band for BSS. 47 CFR 2.202a9.
23 47 CFR 2.106 and footnote US271. The use of the band 17.317.8 GHz by the FSS Earth-to-space is limited to feeder links for BSS.
24 Prior to 2000, the 17.718.3 GHz band was designated for shared co-primary use by GSO FSS
and fixed service operations. See 18 GHz Order, 15
FCC Rcd 13430. In 2000, in addition to designating the 17.718.3 GHz band for primary use by terrestrial services, the Commission also designated the 18.318.58 GHz band for co-primary use by GSO FSS and terrestrial fixed services, and the 18.5818.8 GHz band for primary use by GSO FSS.

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however, the Commission adopted a secondary allocation for the FSS spaceto-Earth in the 17.818.3 GHz band and also permitted blanket earth station licensing. In the 17.717.8 GHz band, we now propose to add a space-to Earth direction to the existing primary FSS
allocation in the U.S. Table, but also to add a footnote stipulating that earth stations receiving in the 17.717.8 GHz band are not entitled to protection from the fixed service. This would make these FSS downlink operations coprimary vis-a-vis other satellite operations in the band but treat them as secondary with respect to fixed service operations, consistent with the treatment of the FSS space-to-Earth operations vis-a-vis fixed services in the adjacent 17.818.3 GHz band.
Accordingly, if we permit GSO FSS
space-to-Earth operations in the 17.7
17.8 GHz band, we propose these operations would be conducted on a non-protected basis vis-a-vis the fixed service.25 We seek comment on these proposals and conclusions.
We note that allowing use of the 17.7
17.8 GHz band by the FSS space-toEarth would provide a contiguous band for FSS downlink operations at 17.3
18.3 GHz, along with the existing FSS
use in the 18.318.8 GHz band.26 This would facilitate operational efficiencies and flexibility to avoid interference and to use this contiguous spectrum in the most effective and efficient manner. We seek comment on our proposals and these conclusions. As discussed further below, we also seek comment on how our proposals would affect the existing operations of the incumbent fixed services in the 17.717.8 GHz band as well as the potential for the future development and deployment of other terrestrial services in this band. To the extent that commenters assert that our proposal would negatively impact existing and future terrestrial services in the 17.717.8 GHz band, these commenters should explain whether such impacts could be mitigated by any modifications to our proposals herein.
With respect to FSS operations vis-avis other satellite operations in the 25 In addition, the fixed service stations would be protected from harmful interference from GSO FSS
downlink operations, given the existing power flux density PFD limits for GSO space stations in 25.208c of the Commission rules. 47 CFR
25.208c. These PFD limits comport with established international standards for preventing harmful interference to fixed service stations and are applicable in the entire 17.719.7 GHz band.
See also infra at paragraph 24.
26 In 2000, the Commission also designated the 18.318.58 GHz band for co-primary use by GSO
FSS and fixed service and the 18.5818.8 GHz band for primary use by GSO FSS. See 18 GHz Order, 15
FCC Rcd at 13432, 13445, paragraphs 4 and 31.

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