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

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Upper C-band -- PRA Emergency Justification Letter_08 17 2026.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-08-20	Available
Supporting statement OMB 3060-1272 (Emergency) FCC 26-46 (August 2026).docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-08-20	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
240876	3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections		Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 3060-1272	ICR Reference No: 202608-3060-010
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202403-3060-011
Agency/Subagency: FCC	Agency Tracking No: WTB
Title: 3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Emergency	Approval Requested By: 09/25/2026
Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/20/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	6 Months From Approved	05/31/2027
Responses	3,003	3,010
Time Burden (Hours)	104,160	109,680
Cost Burden (Dollars)	540,000	900,000

---

Abstract: 3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Transition Plans; 3.7 GHz Band Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections. This request is being submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to receive approval for a revision to a currently approved information collection which is necessary to implement the framework adopted by the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) for reforming the 3.7–4.2 GHz band (C-band).

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 modified, currently approved information collection no later than thirty-five (35) days after it is received at OMB. Under this revised information collection, the Commission will collect information that will be used to determine when, how, and at what cost existing operations in the 4.0–4.16 GHz portion of the C-band will be cleared. Specifically, this collection will serve as the starting point for planning and managing the process of efficiently and expeditiously clearing the 4.0–4.16 GHz portion of the C-band so that the 3.98–4.14 GHz band can be auctioned for flexible-use service licenses by July 4, 2027, pursuant to the Commission’s statutory mandate under the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act. On July 22, 2026, 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 26-46 (Upper C-band R&O) in which it reformed the use of the 4.0–4.2 GHz portion of the C-Band. The 4.0–4.2 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 4.0–4.2 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 Upper C-band R&O calls for the relocation of existing FSS operations in the C-band, making 160 megahertz (3.98–4.14 GHz) available for flexible-use terrestrial wireless service throughout the contiguous United States through a Commission-administered public auction of licenses that must be completed by July 4, 2027, pursuant to the OBBB Act mandate. The Commission adopted a robust transition schedule to achieve an expeditious clearing and 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. Pursuant to the Upper C-band R&O, all incumbent FSS operations in the contiguous United States must clear the 4.0–4.16 GHz portion of the C-band by December 30, 2030, or June 30, 2031, to ensure a timely transition process. The Commission concluded in the Upper C-band R&O that, before the public auction of new licenses commences, it is appropriate for potential bidders to: (1) know when they will get access to the spectrum in the 3.98–4.14 GHz portion of the C-band that is currently occupied by incumbent FSS space station operators and earth stations; and (2) have an estimate of how much they may be required to pay for incumbent relocation costs and incentive payments should they become Upper C-band wireless licensees.

---

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

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
3060-AM04	Final or interim final rulemaking	91 FR 48700	07/31/2026

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 53859	08/20/2026
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 53859	08/20/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

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

table that charts list of burden

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

---

ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Request	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	3,003	3,010	0	-7	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	104,160	109,680	0	-5,520	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	540,000	900,000	0	-360,000	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: The Commission has program changes to this information collection as a result of the information collections that were adopted in FCC 26-46. These program changes/decreases are as follows: decrease of 7 to the number of respondents, decrease of 7 to the annual number of responses, decrease of 5,520 to the annual burden hours and decrease of $360,000 to the annual cost. There are no adjustments to the information collection.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,990,099

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? No

---

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: 08/20/2026

---