FCC C-Band Downlink Registration FAQs (Updated Jan. 30, 2018)
Q. Why should I register/license my station’s C-Band satellite downlink dish with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)?
A. Ensuring that your downlink is registered/licensed with the FCC will help the commission better understand the extent to which C-Band frequencies are being used for satellite transmission/reception of broadcast programming.
Q. Is the FCC considering possible future uses of C-Band frequencies?
A. The FCC is considering allowing wireless-broadband services to use the C-Band frequency spectrum. This is the same spectrum that PRSS uses to transmit broadcast programming to interconnected stations. Assigning C-Band frequencies to wireless-broadband services could result in interference to unregistered/unlicensed C-Band satellite downlink dishes.
For example, a joint proposal submitted recently to the FCC by Intel and Intelsat seeks to allow satellite and wireless-broadband services to share C-Band frequencies in designated geographic areas. If the proposal is approved, stations using unregistered/unlicensed dishes in these areas risk losing frequency protection, and their dishes could begin to experience interference from wireless-broadband services.
Q. Can the PRSS help me to determine whether my dish is already registered/licensed with the FCC?
A. If you wish to know whether your C-Band downlink dish is registered/licensed with FCC, please contact NPR Distribution Engineer Mike Kirk at mkirk@npr.org. If it is determined that your station is registered/licensed, then you need take no further action.
Q. How do I register/license my station’s C-Band dish with the FCC and could the PRSS help me do this?
A. The typical process involves conducting a frequency coordination study and completing a FCC filing. The PRSS can assist you in getting your station’s dish registered/licensed at a discount available to interconnected stations. Contact NPR Distribution Engineer Mike Kirk at mkirk@npr.org for more information.
Posted: January 30, 2018