Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Proposed Rebate Categories and Amounts for Radio Altimeter Retrofits To Support the Upper C-band Transition

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) invites interested parties to comment on proposed categories, dollar amounts, and any other relevant information or procedures in connection with rebates to support retrofits of radio altimeters mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the introduction of terrestrial wireless services in the Upper C-band. In Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band, GN Docket Nos. 25-59 and 18-122, Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26-46 (July 24, 2026) (Upper C-band R&O), the Commission established that new 3.7 GHz Service licensees will provide rebates to defined classes of eligible aircraft owners and operators to facilitate their compliance with the FAA's radio altimeter retrofit requirements and directed the Bureau to develop and seek public comment on its proposed rebate categories, dollar amounts, and other relevant procedures for administering the rebates.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 200 (Monday, October 19, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66130-66132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21280]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[GN Docket No. 25-59; DA 26-1076; FR ID 372889]


Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Seeks Comment on Proposed 
Rebate Categories and Amounts for Radio Altimeter Retrofits To Support 
the Upper C-band Transition

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of comments.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
(Bureau) invites interested parties to comment on proposed categories, 
dollar amounts, and any other relevant information or procedures in 
connection with rebates to support retrofits of radio altimeters 
mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the 
introduction of terrestrial wireless services in the Upper C-band. In 
Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 
GHz Band, GN Docket Nos. 25-59 and 18-122, Report and Order, Order of 
Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26-46 (July 
24, 2026) (Upper C-band R&O), the Commission established that new 3.7 
GHz Service licensees will provide rebates to defined classes of 
eligible aircraft owners and operators to facilitate their compliance 
with the FAA's radio altimeter retrofit requirements and directed the 
Bureau to develop and seek public comment on its proposed rebate 
categories, dollar amounts, and other relevant procedures for 
administering the rebates.

DATES: Comments are due on or before October 26, 2026; reply comments 
are due on or before November 16, 2026.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by GN Docket No. 25-59, 
by any of the following methods:
    [ssquf] Federal Communications Commission's Website: <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard">https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings/standard</a>. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments.
    [ssquf] People with Disabilities: Contact the FCC to request 
reasonable accommodations (accessible format documents, sign language 
interpreters, CART, etc.) by email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bdfbfefe888d89fddbdede93dad2cb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d2949191e7e2e692b4b1b1fcb5bda4">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or phone: 202-418-
0530.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McArdell, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2f6e414b5d4a5801624c6e5d4b4a43436f494c4c01484059"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="46072822342331680b25073422232a2a0620252568212930">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's

[[Page 66131]]

document (Public Notice), in GN Docket No. 25-59, DA 26-1076, released 
on October 5, 2026. The Public Notice includes the following appendix: 
Appendix A, Proposed Radio Altimeter Rebate Categories and Amounts. The 
complete text of this document, including the appendix, is available on 
the Commission's website at <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1076A1.pdf">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1076A1.pdf</a>, or by using the search function for GN Docket No. 25-59 
on the Commission's ECFS web page at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs">https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs</a>.
    Ex Parte Rules. This proceeding shall be treated as a ``permit but-
disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the Commission's ex parte 
rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must file a copy of any 
written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any oral presentation 
within two business days after the presentation (unless a different 
deadline applicable to the Sunshine period applies). Persons making 
oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the 
presentation must (1) list all persons attending or otherwise 
participating in the meeting at which the ex parte presentation was 
made, and (2) summarize all data presented and arguments made during 
the presentation. If the presentation consisted in whole or in part of 
the presentation of data or arguments already reflected in the 
presenter's written comments, memoranda or other filings in the 
proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such data or 
arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other filings 
(specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where such data 
or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the 
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex 
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must 
be filed consistent with rule 1.1206(b). In proceedings governed by 
rule 1.49(f) or for which the Commission has made available a method of 
electronic filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda 
summarizing oral ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, 
must be filed through the electronic comment filing system available 
for that proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., 
.doc, .xml, .ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding 
should familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.

Synopsis

    With this Public Notice, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
(Bureau) invites interested parties to comment on proposed categories, 
dollar amounts, and any other relevant information or procedures in 
connection with rebates to support retrofits of radio altimeters 
mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to facilitate the 
introduction of terrestrial wireless services in the Upper C-band. The 
adjacent 4.2-4.4 GHz band is allocated for the operation of radio 
altimeters, which are aeronautical safety systems primarily used at 
altitudes less than 2,500 feet above ground level to measure aircraft 
height above terrain and obstacles in all phases of flight. In adopting 
the Upper C-band R&O, 91 FR 48700, July 31, 2026, the Commission worked 
in close coordination with a parallel FAA rulemaking to ensure a 
successful coexistence environment between new wireless operations and 
neighboring radio altimeters by increasing radio altimeters' robustness 
and signal rejection capabilities through retrofits. To ensure that new 
Upper C-band licensees may deploy on a predictable timeline aligned 
with the FAA's radio altimeter retrofit schedule, the Upper C-band R&O 
established that new 3.7 GHz Service licensees will, as a condition of 
their licenses, fund rebates to facilitate compliance with the FAA's 
retrofit requirements by defined classes of eligible aircraft owners 
and operators.
    In deciding to facilitate compliance with the FAA's requirements in 
this manner, the Commission specifically noted that the radio 
altimeters subject to the retrofit are in the adjacent band, that they 
are not being relocated, and that their Commission authorizations are 
not being modified, putting them in a distinct posture as compared with 
in-band incumbents. Accordingly, and considering the large scope of 
potential claims for rebates with accompanying administrative burdens 
and operational costs, the Commission declined to adopt an actual cost 
reimbursement framework, finding it neither appropriate nor practicable 
in this context. Instead, the Commission adopted a rebate structure 
that will establish set amounts for different categories of aircraft 
based on the number of radio altimeters involved in each upgrade, the 
general level of efforts involved in each type of retrofit, and other 
reasonable and necessary factors involved in accomplishing each 
category of retrofit, including timing considerations such as the 
relevant FAA deadline for compliance. The Commission explained that 
this rebate structure was intended to streamline the overall process to 
make support for the retrofits available more quickly and to prevent 
fraud, waste, and abuse. The rebate structure is also meant to minimize 
the operational costs of administering the rebates and help to ensure 
that these adjacent band stakeholders are able to meet the applicable 
retrofit deadlines imposed by the FAA. With these same factors in mind, 
the Commission also specified defined classes of eligible aircraft, as 
well as aircraft owners and operators, who must be subject to the FAA 
deadlines and operate in the airspace of the contiguous United States 
in order to qualify for the rebates. The Commission also determined 
that it would not be in the public interest to offer rebates to 
foreign-registered aircraft operators and owners given the fluid and 
itinerant nature of their operations in the airspace of the contiguous 
United States, and determined that other entities and radio altimeter 
equipment would not be eligible for rebates. The Commission delegated 
authority to the Bureau to implement the rebate structure adopted in 
the Upper C-band R&O.
    While the record to date reflects limited economic information 
relating to upgraded radio altimeters, we recognize that commenters and 
FAA have developed estimates in part based on experience with existing 
radio altimeter models. Based on these estimates, as well as more 
refined technical assistance provided by FAA subsequent to the 
completion of the FAA Final Rule, Appendix A hereto proposes draft 
categories and rebate amounts upon the type of aircraft, the number of 
radio altimeters each aircraft type has, and the relative level of 
effort involved in retrofitting such aircraft. Each aircraft category 
and corresponding rebate amount is predicated on certain assumptions, 
namely that the effort needed to upgrade an existing radio altimeter 
design will be less time- and resource-intensive than the acquisition 
and installation of an entirely new design. These draft rebate amounts 
also anticipate different timing and scheduling considerations for 
those entities that must comply with the FAA's first retrofit deadline 
in late 2030, as compared to those that must meet the second retrofit 
deadline in 2034. We seek comment on these draft rebate categories and 
dollar amounts, as well as the assumptions and methodology underlying 
these proposals. Given the lack of detailed supporting data in the 
current record, commenters recommending any adjustments are strongly 
encouraged to specify those changes in detail and provide supporting 
data,

[[Page 66132]]

documentation, and other record support for their recommendations.
    Finally, we also seek comment on any other requirements or guidance 
the Bureau can consider in terms of relevant information, 
documentation, or procedures that will be helpful to eligible aircraft 
owners and operators and enable the Upper C-band Clearinghouse to 
equitably and expeditiously administer the rebates. For example, what 
records or other documentation (such as maintenance logs) would be 
available across different aircraft categories that would sufficiently 
establish that the FAA-mandated retrofits have been completed by the 
relevant deadline and could serve as support for a rebate claim filed 
with the Upper C-band Clearinghouse? Should aircraft owners and 
operators be advised to provide any additional detail in such records 
reflecting, for example, the number of radio altimeters per aircraft, 
type of retrofit work (i.e., upgrade of an existing radio altimeter 
design, or installation of an entirely new design), and date of 
retrofit completion for each type of aircraft? What other documentation 
might supplement those records or serve as an alternative to achieve 
the same goals, such as detailed certifications by the eligible 
aircraft owner and operator? What information from other sources could 
be used to validate a claim (for example, the FAA maintains records 
regarding aircraft owner information associated with aircraft 
registrations, technical standard order authorizations for radio 
altimeters, and design approvals)? Commenters should address any 
documentation best practices that they suggest would both provide 
appropriate support for any rebate claim and enable the Upper C-band 
Clearinghouse to prevent any fraud, waste, or abuse in administering 
the rebates. Our intent in seeking comment on these matters is not to 
unduly constrain the Upper C-band Clearinghouse in developing any 
relevant claims processing procedures, but rather to develop a factual 
record and provide guidance to all stakeholders that will facilitate 
and expedite the administration of these rebates.
    Consistent with the Upper C-band R&O, the Bureau will issue a 
public notice finalizing the rebate categories and amounts, as well as 
any other requirements and guidance, as soon as feasible.

Federal Communications Commission.
Amy Brett,
Chief of Staff, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2026-21280 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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