INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Broadcast Engineers has issued a “regulatory alert” reminding stations to register Fixed Satellite Service earth stations — or to license them if they have not already done so. Additionally, this is the time to modify currently licensed or registered earth stations.
The SBE reminds members that it “is critical that you immediately see to the licensing or registration of your C-Band receive-only earth station within this window or risk losing the programming feeds.”
The Federal Communications Commission opened the registration window April 19, and it closes July 18. This period also coincides with the commission’s temporary freeze on applications for fixed satellite service earth stations and fixed microwave stations operating in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band (the C-Band downlink).
[Read why Tom Taggart objects to Commissioner O’Rielly’s plans for the C-Band.]
This move was in response to broadcasters’ concerns over the FCC’s attempts to carve out more spectrum for mobile broadband — and to “preserve the status quo in the C-Band pending FCC action” in the mid-band proceeding, according to the SBE.
The FCC is studying the “feasibility of allowing commercial wireless services to share use of specified frequencies between 3.1 and 4.2 GHz,” so accurately understanding the band’s current use is crucial.
