Federal Communications Commission FCC 12-161 Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of ) ) Revisions to Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission’s ) Rules to Govern the Use of Earth Stations Aboard ) Aircraft Communicating with Fixed-Satellite ) IB Docket No. 12-376 Service Geostationary-Orbit Space Stations ) Operating in the 10.95-11.2 GHz, 11.45-11.7 GHz, ) 11.7-12.2 GHz and 14.0-14.5 GHz Frequency ) Bands ) ) Service Rules and Procedures to Govern the Use ) IB Docket No. 05-20 of Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Service Earth ) (proceeding terminated) Stations in Frequency Bands Allocated to the ) Fixed Satellite Service ) NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING AND REPORT AND ORDER Adopted: December 20, 2012 Released: December 28, 2012 Comment Date: [75 days after date of publication in the Federal Register] Reply Comment Date: [105 days after date of publication in the Federal Register] By the Commission: Chairman Genachowski issuing a statement. TABLE OF CONTENTS Heading Paragraph # I. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................... 2 III. BACKGROUND.................................................................................................................................... 6 IV. DISCUSSION....................................................................................................................................... 11 A. ESAA Allocation ........................................................................................................................... 12 1. Operations on a Primary Basis in the 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth) Band ......................... 13 2. Operations on an Unprotected Basis in the 10.95-11.2 GHz and 11.45-11.7 GHz Bands (space-to-Earth) Within the United States.................................................................... 18 3. Operations on a Secondary Basis in the 14.0-14.5 GHz Band (Earth-to-Space)..................... 22 B. Coordination .................................................................................................................................. 25 1. Coordination with the Space Research Service in the 14.0-14.2 GHz Band........................... 25 2. Coordination with Radioastronomy Service Stations in the 14.47-14.5 GHz Band................ 30 a. Coordination Procedure .................................................................................................... 31 b. Relevant RAS Facilities.................................................................................................... 36 c. Future RAS Facilities........................................................................................................ 39 C. Technical Rules.............................................................................................................................. 41 Federal Communications Commission FCC 12-161 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 41 2. Off-Axis EIRP Density Limits Along the GSO Arc ............................................................... 44 3. Off-Axis EIRP Density in Directions Other than Along the GSO ARC................................. 54 4. Variations in Antenna Gain Pattern and Transmit EIRP Density............................................ 57 5. Antenna Pointing Accuracy Requirement Adopted ................................................................ 62 6. Shut-off Capability.................................................................................................................. 67 7. Dynamic EIRP Density Systems ............................................................................................. 72 8. Higher EIRP Density Levels Permitted if Coordinated........................................................... 79 9. Antenna Performance Standards for Receive Terminals in the 11.7-12.2 GHz (space- to-Earth) Band ......................................................................................................................... 84 10. Tracking/Data Logging Requirements .................................................................................... 86 11. Contention Protocols ............................................................................................................... 90 12. Protection of Terrestrial Systems ............................................................................................ 94 a. Power-flux Density Limits to Protect FS.......................................................................... 94 b. Minimum Elevation Angle................................................................................................ 99 D. Licensing Considerations............................................................................................................. 101 1. Blanket and Individual Terminal Licensing .......................................................................... 102 2. License Term......................................................................................................................... 105 3. Network Control and Monitoring Center Requirements ....................................................... 106 4. ALSAT and the Permitted List Point of Communication Designations................................ 109 5. Information Requirements..................................................................................................... 113 6. Procedures for Conforming Amendments/Modification Applications.................................. 114 E. Regulation of ESAA Operations on U.S.-Registered and Non-U.S.-Registered Aircraft ........... 119 1. U.S.-Registered Aircraft........................................................................................................ 120 a. Operations In or Near Foreign Nations........................................................................... 121 b. Operations Over International Waters. ........................................................................... 123 2. Non-U.S.-Registered Aircraft Operating in U.S. Airspace ................................................... 125 F. Law Enforcement......................................................................................................................... 132 G. Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Service ............................................................................ 139 H. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 141 V. NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING ...................................................................................... 142 A. Allocations ................................................................................................................................... 142 VI. PROCEDURAL MATTERS.............................................................................................................. 143 A. Regulatory Flexibility Act ........................................................................................................... 143 B. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995............................................................................................... 145 C. Congressional Review Act........................................................................................................... 147 D. Ex Parte Rules ............................................................................................................................. 148 E. Filing Requirements..................................................................................................................... 149 VII. ORDERING CLAUSES.................................................................................................................... 153 APPENDIX A – Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis APPENDIX B – Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis APPENDIX C - Final Rules APPENDIX D - Proposed Rules APPENDIX E - List of Commenters I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Report and Order, we provide for the efficient licensing of two-way in-flight broadband services, including Internet access, to passengers and flight crews aboard commercial airliners and private aircraft. These rules will enhance competition in an important sector of the mobile telecommunications market in the United States and promote the widespread availability of Internet 2 Federal Communications Commission FCC 12-161 access to aircraft passengers. The Report and Order establishes technical and licensing rules for Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAA), i.e., earth stations on aircraft communicating with Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) geostationary-orbit (GSO) space stations operating in the 10.95-11.2 GHz, 11.45-11.7 GHz, 11.7-12.2 GHz (space-to-Earth or downlink) and 14.0-14.5 GHz (Earth-to-space or uplink) frequency bands. Installed on the exterior of the aircraft, the earth stations provide a satellite-based communications link between the airborne commercial and private aircraft and terrestrial communications systems. Adopting these rules will reduce the administrative burdens on both applicants and the Commission, should allow the Commission to process ESAA applications up to 50 percent faster, and will speed the deployment of ubiquitous broadband service aboard