Satellite Provider SES to Reimburse Qualfying Stations for the $435 Filing Fee
The FCC issued a public notice imposing a temporary freeze on applications to add or modify fixed-satellite service (FSS) earth station licenses and receive-only registrations in the 3.7 – 4.2 GHz frequency band. At the same time, the FCC created a short window during which operators of existing FSS stations in that band must register or license a C-band station that is currently in use in order to receive future FCC consideration. The window provides a limited opportunity for current earth station operators to be entered into the FCC’s database, providing the FCC with more complete and accurate information on existing earth stations. The FCC will use this information in considering whether and how to allow other services to use this band.
The freeze does not affect applications to renew or cancel current earth station authorizations, or to correct location data regarding earth station licenses and registrations. But the registration window only applies to stations that were constructed and operational as of the April 19 public notice, and the window closes on October 17, 2018 (extended from the previous July deadline).
The steps for registering a receive-only earth station during this window can be found H E R E
Separately, the FCC issued an order requiring C-band earth stations that were registered before April 19, 2018 to submit a certification that the information in that registration remains correct. Unfortunately, the FCC has not yet released instructions on how to submit the required certification.
The FCC acknowledged concerns raised by the satellite industry regarding the burdens and costs associated with the existing registration framework, including the need for a coordination report. In response, the public notice introduces a temporary waiver of the coordination report requirement. Removing this requirement reduces the cost of registering from ~$1100 per earth station, to solely the $435 FCC application fee.
Reimbursement by SES may be available to U.S. C-band Earth Station operators that submit new registrations for C-band antennas operating in the contiguous United States (i.e., cable systems, radio broadcasters, video broadcasters, DTH providers, video programmers, MVPDs, etc.; not in Hawaii and Alaska), subject to the following conditions: (i) proof of submission of the FCC registration fee must be submitted to FCCregistration@ses.com by October 31, 2018; (ii) only new registrations submitted between July 25, 2018 and October 17, 2018 are eligible for reimbursement; (iii) reimbursement is limited to the registration fee of $435 per Earth Station; and (iv) reimbursement is at all times subject to the availability of appropriate funds by SES. No other charges or costs will be reimbursed by SES. Operators’ eligibility is not dependent on the size of their operations, but our goal is to assist those for whom the cost of the fee is a barrier to registration.
In order to be considered eligible for reimbursement, please attach and send your confirmation of payment from the FCC to FCCregistration@ses.com. Once received, it will be checked to determine eligibility status. If eligible, it will be reimbursed. We are currently working on the method of reimbursement and will keep you updated. Please note that SES may request a W-9 from your company in order to process the reimbursement. We thank you in advance for your patience. If you are not eligible for reimbursement for any reason, we will notify you.
For operators with, or entities serving, large numbers of earth stations at geographically diverse sites (more than 25 sites), please contact FCCregistration@ses.com to discuss a method for doing so using a batch filing approach.
