FCC Reconfigures Upper C-Band – Existing Earth Stations Must Clear Band by 2030 or 2031 - Affects Broadcasters

Broadcasters have used “earth stations” (the C-Band) to receive network and syndicated programs.  Several years ago, the FCC reconfigured the lower C-band and moved earth stations that were registered with the FCC.  Stations were eligible to receive reasonable costs for moving their receiving equipment to new frequencies.  It was a long process requiring stations to register with the FCC to be eligible for reimbursement.  Some stations had their receiver stations shift from lower C band frequencies to upper C-band frequencies.

Last week, the FCC decided to reconfigure the upper portion of the C-Band (3.7-4.2GHZ) now used for earth stations.  This will create a large swarth of contiguous spectrum, 440 MHz, for 5G wireless services. A segment of the upper C-band (3.98 to 4.14GHZ) will be auctioned to wireless companies.  The lower C-band auction yielded about $80 billion. The FCC’s auction authority was reestablished by Congress in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”  The remainder of the upper band will be used as a “guard band” to avoid interference.   

Stations with earth station operations in the upper C band will be required to reconfigure the frequencies of their earth stations.  This includes stations that just moved to these frequencies from the lower C-band.

While there are some differences, the FCC plans to use the transition plan used previously in the lower C-band to reconfigure the upper C band.  This will include stations receiving reasonable costs for transitioning to new frequencies.  Stations will need to register their upper C-band earth stations with the FCC.

The FCC plans to reconfigure the top 75 Partial Economic Areas (PEA) by December 30, 2030.  A PEA is a market measurement used by the FCC.  Roughly it equates with the top markets.  The remaining areas must be reconfigured six months later by June 30, 2031.  

This is a complex proceeding that bears watching.  The first step is to contact your engineer/technical expert to see if you have earth stations now operating in the upper C-band. 

You can see the FCC’s decision here.