FCC Application or Notification for Spectrum Leasing Arrangement or Private Commons Arrangement: WT and PSHS Bureaus
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
09/18/2024
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
01/31/2027
1,697
1,116
2,878
1,135
1,763,375
1,443,825
FCC Form 608 is a multi-purpose form. It is used to provide notification or request approval for any spectrum leasing arrangement (âLeaseâ) entered into between an existing licensee in certain Wireless and/or Public Safety Radio Services and a spectrum lessee. This form also is required to notify or request approval for any spectrum subleasing arrangement (âSubleaseâ). The data collected on the form is used by the FCC to determine whether the public interest would be served by the Lease or Sublease. The form is also used to provide notification for any Private Commons Arrangement entered into between a licensee, lessee, or sublessee and a class of third-party users (as defined in Section 1.9080 of the Commissionâs Rules).
On March 15, 2024, the Commission released a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in GN Docket No. 23-65 and IB Docket No. 22-271, FCC 24-28, (Report and Order), which adopted a regulatory framework for the provision of supplemental coverage from space (SCS). This proceeding will enable collaborations between satellite service providers and terrestrial service providers to offer ubiquitous connectivity directly to consumer handsets using spectrum that was previously allocated only to terrestrial service. The Commission anticipates that SCS will enable consumers in areas not covered by terrestrial networks to be connected using their existing devices via satellite-based communications. SCS is a crucial component of the Commissionâs vision for a âsingle network future,â in which satellite and terrestrial networks work seamlessly together to provide coverage that neither network can achieve on its own.
The Report and Order adopts new part 1 rules that require spectrum lessees to provide certain information in existing FCC Form 608. Namely, under new section 1.9047, such parties must provide: (1) a certification that the parties are entering into the leasing arrangement for the purpose of fulfilling the part 25 entry criteria; (2) a description of which method, single or multiple terrestrial licensee, the parties are utilizing to meet the part 25 entry criteria; and (3) if the parties are utilizing the multiple terrestrial licensee method, the parties should: (a) describe the nature of the leasing arrangement(s); and (b) demonstrate how the entirety of the geographically independent area (GIA) is covered by the lease arrangement(s). This process utilizes the Commissionâs current application approval and notification processing procedures, which will remove unnecessary delay by employing the procedures that are already in place.
Entities completing FCC Form 608 for the purposes of providing SCS must notify the Commission that the application is related to SCS. To properly comply, entities will indicate that the application is for SCS by so indicating in a new checkbox on Form 608. This process utilizes an existing Commission form, which will remove confusion by employing the procedures that are already in place.
This information collection will result in program change increases of 581 to the number of respondents, 581 to the annual number of responses, and 1,743 to the total estimated burden hours and $319,550 in annual cost in order to complete the new SCS lease disclosures.
$0
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Dorothy Stifflemire 202 418-7349
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:
(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;
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.