3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Accelerated Relocation Elections and Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Emergency PRA Supporting Statement_3060-XXXX_Accelerated Relocation Payment Election+Lump Sum Election+Transition Plan Info Collection_5-4-20 (REVISED).docx Supporting Statement A	2020-05-04
Emergency Justification Letter (March 2020).pdf Supplementary Document	2020-03-25

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
240876	3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Accelerated Relocation Elections and Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-1272	ICR Reference No: 202003-3060-018
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No:
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WTB
Title: 3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Accelerated Relocation Elections and Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections
Type of Information Collection: New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 04/30/2020
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 05/05/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/26/2020
Terms of Clearance: Updated supporting statement during review.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2020	6 Months From Approved
Responses	3,010	0	0
Time Burden (Hours)	109,680	0	0
Cost Burden (Dollars)	900,000	0	0

---

Abstract: On February 28, 2020, in furtherance of the goal of releasing more mid-band spectrum into the market to support and enable next-generation wireless networks, the Commission adopted a Report and Order, FCC 20-22, (3.7 GHz Report and Order) in which it reformed the use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band, also known as the C-Band. The 3.7 GHz-4.2 GHz band currently is allocated in the United States exclusively for non-Federal use on a primary basis for Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) and Fixed Service. Domestically, space station operators use the 3.7-4.2 GHz band to provide downlink signals of various bandwidths to licensed transmit-receive, registered receive-only, and unregistered receive-only earth stations throughout the United States. The 3.7 GHz Report and Order calls for the relocation of existing FSS operations in the band into the upper 200 megahertz of the band (4.0-4.2 GHz) and making the lower 280 megahertz (3.7-3.98 GHz) available for flexible-use throughout the contiguous United States through a Commission-administered public auction of overlay licenses that is scheduled to occur later this year. The Commission adopted a robust transition schedule to achieve an expeditious relocation of FSS operations and ensure that a significant amount of spectrum is made available quickly for next-generation wireless deployments, while also ensuring effective accommodation of relocated incumbent users. The 3.7 GHz Report and Order establishes a deadline of December 5, 2025, for full relocation to ensure that all FSS operations are cleared in a timely manner, but provides an opportunity for accelerated clearing of the band by allowing incumbent space station operators to commit to voluntarily relocate on a two-phased accelerated schedule (with additional obligations and incentives for such operators), with a Phase I deadline of December 5, 2021, and a Phase II deadline of December 5, 2023. The Commission concluded in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order that, before the public auction of overlay licenses commences, it is appropriate for potential bidders to know when they will get access to the spectrum in the 3.7-3.98 GHz band that is currently occupied by incumbent FSS space station operators and earth stations, and to have an estimate of how much they may be required to pay for incumbent relocation costs and accelerated relocation payments should they become overlay licensees. To facilitate this providing this information to potential auction bidders, the Commission is seeking approval for a new information collection to permit it to collect the following information from incumbents as adopted in the 3.7 GHz Report and Order:

Emergency Justfication: The Commission seeks emergency processing under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 5 C.F.R. § 1320.13. The Commission is requesting approval from OMB for this new information collection no later than thirty-five (35) days after it is received at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under this new information collection, the Commission will collect information that will be used to determine when, how, and at what cost existing operations in the lower portion of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band will be relocated to the upper portion of the band. This collection will serve as the starting point for planning and managing the process of efficiently and expeditiously clearing of the lower portion of the band, so that this spectrum can be auctioned for flexible-use service licenses.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 47 USC 155(c), 201, 302, 303, 304 Name of Law: null
   US Code: 47 USC 307(e), 309 Name of Law: null
   US Code: 47 USC 151, 152, 154(i) and (j) Name of Law: null
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AK76	Final or interim final rulemaking	85 FR 17058	03/26/2020

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 17058	03/26/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 17058	03/26/2020
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Accelerated Relocation Elections and Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	3,010	0	0	3,010	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	109,680	0	0	109,680	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	900,000	0	0	900,000	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This is a new information collection resulting in a program change increase of 3,010 respondents, 3,010 responses, 109,680 total estimated burden hours and $900,000 in total estimated burden cost.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,598,880

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 03/26/2020

---