§101.103. Frequency coordination procedures. — Inbound Citations

(3) The coordination procedures specified in § 101.103 of this chapter and § 25.251 shall be applicable except that the information to be provided shall be that set forth in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, and that the 30-day period allowed for response to a request for coordination may be increased to a maximum of 45 days by mutual consent of the parties.

(a) The administrative aspects of the coordination process are set forth in § 101.103 of this chapter in the case of coordination of terrestrial stations with earth stations, and in § 25.203 in the case of coordination of earth stations with terrestrial stations.

(c) Licensees shall coordinate their facilities whenever the facilities have optical line-of-sight into other licensees' areas or are within the same geographic area. Licensees are encouraged to develop operational agreements with relevant licensees in the adjacent geographic areas. Incumbent public safety POFS licensee(s) shall retain exclusive rights to its channel(s) within the relevant geographical areas and must be protected in accordance with the procedures in § 101.103. A list of public safety incumbents is attached as Appendix I to the Memorandum Opinion and Order and Second Report and Order, Docket 98-206, released May 23, 2002. Please check with the Commission for any updates to that list.

(r) Operation of stations using frequencies in these bands is permitted to the extent specified in this paragraph (r). Licensees, except 24 GHz band licensees, may use either a two-way link or one frequency of a frequency pair for a one-way link and must coordinate proposed operations pursuant to the procedures required in § 101.103. The use of the band 18.3-19.3 GHz is limited to grandfathered stations. Licensees in the fixed-satellite service may require that licensees of grandfathered stations operating in the bands 18.3-19.3 GHz cease operations in accordance with the provisions in § 101.95. (Note that stations authorized as of September 9, 1983, to use frequencies in the band 17.7-19.7 GHz may, upon proper application, continue to be authorized for such operations, consistent with the above conditions in this paragraph (r) related to the 18.3-19.3 GHz band.) Applicants for one-way spectrum from 17.7-18.3 GHz for multichannel video programming distribution are governed by paragraph (r)(6) of this section. Licensees are also allowed to use one-way (unpaired) channels in the 17.7-17.74 GHz sub-band to pair with other channels in the FS portions of the 18 GHz band where, for example, the return pair is already in use and therefore blocked or in TDD systems. Stations used for MVPD operations in the 17.7-17.8 GHz band must coordinate with the Federal Government before operating in the zones specified in § 1.924(e) of this chapter.

(1) 1.25 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(2) 2 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channel:

(3) 2.5 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(4) [Reserved]

(5) 5 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(6) Multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) can use any size channels for one-way operations in the 17.7-18.58 GHz band for any permissible communications specified for this band in § 101.603 provided that they have coordinated the appropriate emission designators and power, but must request contiguous spectrum (minus spectrum that is already licensed or prior coordinated in the area and thus blocked). MVPD systems must meet the efficiency requirements of § 101.141. Spectrum at 18.3-18.58 GHz is only available for grandfathered stations. See § 101.85.

(7) 10 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(8) 20 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(9) 30 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(10) 40 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(11) 50 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(12) 80 Megahertz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(13) The frequencies on channels 35-39 listed in Table 13 are available for point-to-multipoint systems and are available by geographic area licensing in the 24 GHz Service to be used by the relevant licensee. The 24 GHz spectrum can be aggregated or disaggregated and does not have to be used in the transmit/receive manner shown except to comply with international agreements along the U.S. borders. Channels 35 through 39 are licensed in the 24 GHz Service by Economic Areas for any digital fixed service. Channels may be used at either nodal or subscriber station locations for transmit or receive but must be coordinated with adjacent channel and adjacent area users in accordance with the provisions of § 101.509. Stations also must comply with all applicable international coordination agreements.

(14) Notwithstanding other provisions in 47 CFR part 101 and except for specified areas around Washington, DC, and Denver, Colorado, licensees of point-to-multipoint channel pairs 25-29 identified in paragraph (r)(13) of this section may continue to operate in accordance with the requirements of § 101.85 and may operate multiple low power transmitting devices within a defined service area. Operations are prohibited within 55 km when used outdoor and within 20 km when used indoor of the coordinates 38 deg.48′ N/76 deg.52′ W (Washington, DC area) and 39 deg.43′ N/104 deg.46′ W (Denver, Colorado area). The service area will be a 28 kilometer omni directional radius originating from specified center reference coordinates. The specified center coordinates must be no closer than 56 kilometers from any co-channel nodal station or the specified center coordinates of another co-channel system. Applicants/licensees do not need to specify the location of each individual transmitting device operating within their defined service areas. Such operations are subject to the following requirements on the low power transmitting devices:

(i) Power must not exceed one watt EIRP and 100 milliwatts transmitter output power;

(ii) A frequency tolerance of 0.001% must be maintained; and

(iii) The mean power of emissions shall be attenuated in accordance with the following schedule:

(A) In any 4 kHz band, the center frequency of which is removed from the center frequency of the assigned channel by more than 50 percent of the channel bandwidth and is within the bands 18,820-18,870 MHz or 19,160-19,210 MHz:

(B) In any 4 kHz band the center frequency of which is outside the bands 18.820-18.870 GHz: At least 43 + 10 log P (mean output power in watts) decibels.

(iv) Low power stations authorized in the band 18.8-19.3 GHz after June 8, 2000, are restricted to indoor use only. No new licenses will be authorized for applications received after April 1, 2002.

(f) All applicants for regular authorization must, before filing an application, major amendments to a pending application, or modifications to a license, prior coordinate the proposed frequency usage with existing users in the area and other applicants with previously filed applications in accordance with the procedures in § 101.103. In those frequency bands shared with the communication-satellite service, an applicant for a new station, for new points of communication, for the initial frequency assignment in a shared band for which coordination has not been previously effected, or for authority to modify the emission or radiation characteristics of an existing station in a manner that may increase the likelihood of harmful interference, must ascertain in advance whether the station(s) involved lie within the great circle coordination distance contours of an existing Earth station or one for which an application has been accepted for filing, and must coordinate his proposal with each such Earth station operator or applicant. For each potential interference path, the applicant must perform the computations required to determine that the expected level of interference to or from the terrestrial station does not exceed the maximum permissible interference power level in accordance with the technical standards and requirements of § 25.251 of this chapter. The Commission may, in the course of examining any application, require the submission of additional showings, complete with pertinent data and calculations in accordance with part 25 of this chapter, showing that harmful interference will not likely result from the proposed operation. (Technical characteristics of the Earth stations on file and coordination contour maps for those Earth stations will be kept on file for public inspection in the offices of the Commission's Space Bureau in Washington, DC.)

(i) The frequency coordination procedures of § 101.103 have been successfully completed;

(2) 31,075-31,225 MHz is authorized on a primary protected basis and is shared with private microwave point-to-point systems licensed prior to March 11, 1997, as provided in § 101.103(b).

(u) Stations licensed in this band prior to March 11, 1997, may continue their authorized operations, subject to license renewal, on the condition that harmful interference will not be caused to LMDS operations licensed in this band after June 30, 1997. Non-LMDS stations licensed after March 11, 1997, based on applications refiled no later than June 26, 1998 are unprotected and subject to harmful interference from each other and from stations licensed prior to March 11, 1997, and are licensed on a secondary basis to LMDS. In the sub-bands 31,000-31,075 MHz and 31,225-31,300 MHz, stations initially licensed prior to March 11, 1997, except in LTTS, and LMDS operations authorized after June 30, 1997, are equally protected against harmful interference from each other in accordance with the provisions of § 101.103(b). For stations, except in LTTS, permitted to relocate to these sub-bands, the following paired frequencies are available:

(c) In all other respects, coordination procedures are to follow the requirements of § 101.103(d) of this chapter to the extent that these requirements are not inconsistent with those specified in this part.

(b) equals the actual cost of relocating the link. Actual relocation costs include, but are not limited to, such items as: Radio terminal equipment (TX and/or RX—antenna, necessary feed lines, MUX/Modems); towers and/or modifications; back-up power equipment; monitoring or control equipment; engineering costs (design/path survey); installation; systems testing; FCC filing costs; site acquisition and civil works; zoning costs; training; disposal of old equipment; test equipment (vendor required); spare equipment; project management; prior coordination notification under § 101.103(d) of this chapter; site lease renegotiation; required antenna upgrades for interference control; power plant upgrade (if required); electrical grounding systems; Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) (if required); alternate transport equipment; and leased facilities. C also includes voluntarily relocating microwave incumbent's independent third party appraisal of its compensable relocation costs and incumbent transaction expenses that are directly attributable to the relocation, subject to a cap of two percent of the “hard” costs involved. C may not exceed $250,000 per link, with an additional $150,000 permitted if a new or modified tower is required.

(a) On the day that a PCS entity files its prior coordination notice (PCN) in accordance with § 101.103(d) of this chapter, it must file a copy of the PCN with the clearinghouse. The clearinghouse will determine if any reimbursement obligation exists and notify the PCS entity in writing of its repayment obligation, if any. When the PCS entity receives a written copy of such obligation, it must pay directly to the PCS relocator or the voluntarily relocating microwave incumbent the amount owed within thirty days, with the exception of those businesses that qualify for installment payments. A business that qualifies for an installment payment plan must make its first installment payment within thirty days of notice from the clearinghouse. UTAM's first payment will be due thirty days after its reimbursement obligation is triggered, as described in § 24.247(b).

(iv) The applicant has successfully completed frequency coordination with the UMFUS licensees within the area in which the earth station generates a PFD, at 10 meters above ground level, of greater than or equal to −77.6 dBm/m 2/MHz with respect to existing facilities constructed and in operation by the UMFUS licensee. In coordinating with UMFUS licensees, the applicant shall use the applicable processes contained in § 101.103(d) of this chapter.

(d) For the coordination of all frequency assignments for fixed stations above 944 MHz, for each frequency authorized under this part, the interference protection criteria in § 101.105(a), (b), and (c) of this chapter and the frequency usage coordination procedures of § 101.103(d) of this chapter will apply.

(g) The frequencies listed in the tables found in the following paragraphs are available for assignment to television STL, television relay stations, and television translator relay stations. Licensees may use either a two-way link or one or both frequencies of a frequency pair for a one-way link and must coordinate proposed operations pursuant to procedures required in § 101.103(d) of this chapter. Licensees in the fixed-satellite service may require that licensees of grandfathered stations operating in the 18.3-18.58 GHz and 19.26-19.3 GHz bands cease operations in accordance with the provisions in § 101.95 of this chapter.

(1) 2 MHz maximum authorized bandwidth channel:

(2) [Reserved]

(3) 10 MHz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(4) 20 MHz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(5) 40 MHz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(6) 80 MHz maximum authorized bandwidth channels:

(b) For each frequency coordinated under this paragraph, the interference protection criteria in 47 CFR 101.105(a), (b), and (c) and the frequency usage coordination procedures in 47 CFR 101.103(d) will apply.

(iii) Except for public safety entities, harmful interference protection from MVDDS stations to incumbent point-to-point 12 GHz fixed stations is not required. Incumbent point-to-point private operational fixed 12 GHz stations, except for public safety entities, are required to protect MVDDS stations under the process described in § 101.103(d) of this part.

(c) Prior coordination of mobile assignments will be in accordance with the procedures in § 101.103(d) except that the prior coordination process for mobile (temporary fixed) assignments may be completed orally and the period allowed for response to a coordination notification may be less than 30 days if the parties agree.

(1) Prior to operating a fixed point-to-point transmitting facility in the 27,500-28,350 MHz band where the facilities are located within 20 kilometers of the boundary of the licensees authorized market area, the licensee must complete frequency coordination in accordance with the procedures specified in § 101.103(d)(2) of this chapter with respect to neighboring licensees that may be affected by its operations.

(7) Each application for new or modified nodal station on channels numbered 21, 22, 23, and 24 in the 10.6 GHz band must include an analysis of the potential for harmful interference to all other licensed and previously applied for co-channel and adjacent channel stations located within 80 kilometers of the location of the proposed station. The criteria contained in § 101.103(d)(2) must be used in this analysis. Applicants must certify that copies of this analysis have been served on all parties which might reasonably be expected to receive interference above the levels set out in § 101.103(d)(2) within 5 days of the date the subject application is filed with the Commission.

(2) On a co-equal basis with systems not licensed as LTTS prior to March 11, 1997, as provided in § 101.103(g).

(1) 29,100-29,250 MHz is shared on a co-primary basis with feeder links for non-geostationary orbit Mobile Satellite Service (NGSO/MSS) systems in the band and is limited to LMDS hub-to-subscriber transmissions, as provided in §§ 25.257 and 101.103(h) of this chapter.