FCC Proposes to Reconfigure Upper C-Band Broadcast Earth Station Satellites May be Affected

This is a complex issue, and you should discuss it with your engineer.  The FCC has started a proceeding looking to auction a portion of the upper C-band for reconfiguration in the contiguous United States ranging from 180 megahertz (3.98–4.16 GHz) to the congressionally mandated minimum of 100 megahertz (3.98–4.08 GHz) for terrestrial wireless use.  The auction is to be completed by July 2027.

The upper C-band is used by existing Fixed Satellite Services (FSS), including broadcasters’ satellite earth stations.  The FCC is proposing to use the transition plan to protect existing users that it employed previously when clearing the lower C-band several years ago.  A key component of that proposal is to make sure your satellite earth stations qualify as an “incumbent service” and are registered with the FCC.

The FCC is proposing to use the same definition of “incumbent satellite earth station” that it used when reconfiguring the lower C-band. 

“Incumbent Earth Stations. The Commission previously defined “incumbent earth stations” for the Lower C-band transition to include fixed and temporary fixed earth stations that were operational as of April 19, 2018, and that: (1) continue to be operational; (2) were licensed or registered in the ICFS database on November 7, 2018; and (3) timely certified the accuracy of the information on file with the Commission by May 28, 2019. As with space stations, a freeze on the filing of new or modified earth station applications throughout the entire C-band was issued on April 19, 2018—the qualifying date for incumbency—and the freeze remains in place. Throughout the Lower C-band transition, Commission staff continuously updated its list of incumbent earth stations found to qualify under these criteria, the most recent of which was issued on November 19, 2025.”

If your earth station is not on the updated list (see link below), you may not be entitled to receive interference protection or reimbursement.

As noted above, this is a complex proceeding.  It is still at the beginning stage and will take a while before new rules are adopted.  Nonetheless, you should begin work with your engineer to make sure your earth stations will be protected when the band is reconfigured.

You can see the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking here.

You can see the Space Bureau’s Public Notice including the updated list of qualified incumbent earth stations here.