Update #1: The FCC initially opened a 90-day registration period ending July 18, 2018 to permit unregistered users to submit applications. This period was extended by the FCC an additional 90-days, to October 17, 2018. The list of FCC registered/authorized users will be used in their deliberations of expanding use of the spectrum.

Topic: Public Information Statement for users of GEONETCast Americas receive stations in the US, US Possessions (e.g., Puerto Rico) and US Territories

Date/Time Issued: July 16, 2018 2010Z

Product(s) or Data Impacted: GEONETCast Americas receive stations in the US

Date/Time of Initial Impact: April 19, 2018

Date/Time of Expected End: July 18, 2018

Length of Outage/Event: N/A

Details/Specifics of Change: The United States (US) frequency regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), is considering whether or not to share the commercial fixed satellite downlink band, or portions thereof, with wireless broadband. The FCC has ordered a freeze on registering new receive-only stations in the 3.7.4.2 GHz frequency band, but will accept applications from receive-only stations through July 18, 2018 which were operational on or before April 19, 2018.

This action only applies to stations within the US and its possessions and territories. See http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/ to begin an application.

GEONETCast Americas user Earth stations receive data at 3840 MHz and could be impacted by this proposed action.

Users of existing GEONETCast receive stations may register their operational stations before the July 18, 2018 cutoff date to be considered in the FCC deliberations.

This action is a US domestic spectrum proposal and does not apply to users located outside the US and its possessions and territories.

Contact Information for Further Information: gnc.americas@noaa.gov

Web Site(s) for applicable information:

See http://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/ to begin an application

See https://transition.fcc.gov/ib/sd/se/s312reg.pdf for a sample application

See https://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2018/db0419/DA-18-398A1.pdf for the description of the action by the US frequency regulator

See https://www.fcc.gov/document/bureaus-announce-freeze-and-limited-filing-window-37-42-ghz-band and click on Frequently Asked Questions link for more information

See https://www.fcc.gov/research-reports/guides/frequently-asked-questions-faq-processing-earth-station-applications for FAQs on Earth station application processing