Upper C-Band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz Band

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collection requirements under OMB Control Number 3060-1272, as adopted in the Commission's Report and Order, Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26- 46.

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)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66010-66011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21324]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 27

[GN Docket Nos. 18-122 and 25-59; FCC 26-46; FR ID 372601]


Upper C-Band (3.98-4.2 GHz); Expanding Flexible Use of the 3.7 to 
4.2 GHz Band

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; announcement of effective date.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission 
(Commission) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
has approved the information collection requirements under OMB Control 
Number 3060-1272, as adopted in the Commission's Report and Order, 
Order of Proposed Modification, and Order on Reconsideration, FCC 26-
46.

DATES: Amendatory instructions 26 (47 CFR 27.1412(e)) and 35 (47 CFR 
27.1419), published at 91 FR 48700, July 31, 2026, are effective on 
October 19, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Williams, Office of the Managing 
Director, Federal Communications Commission, at (202) 418-2918 or 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4b795809c8ddaa39d98989d959987b4929797da939b82"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ecaf8d988495c2bb858080858d819fac8a8f8fc28b839a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that OMB approved 
the information collection requirements in 47 CFR 27.1412(e) and 
27.1419 on September 21, 2026. The Commission publishes this document 
as an announcement of the effective date for these amended rules.

Synopsis

    As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507), the Commission is notifying the public that it received final 
OMB approval on September 21, 2026, for the information collection 
requirements contained in 47 CFR 27.1412(e) and 27.1419. Under 5 CFR 
part 1320, an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information unless it displays a current, valid OMB Control Number.
    No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply 
with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act 
that does not display a current, valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 3060-1272. The 
foregoing notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
Public Law 104-13, October 1, 1995, and 44 U.S.C. 3507.
    The total annual reporting burdens and costs for the respondents 
are as follows:
    OMB Control Number: 3060-1272.
    Title: 3.7 GHz Band Space Station Operator Transition Plans; 3.7 
GHz

[[Page 66011]]

Band Incumbent Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections.
    OMB Approval Date: September 21, 2026.
    OMB Expiration Date: March 31, 2027.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit entities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents and Responses: 3,003 respondents 
and 3,003 responses.
    Estimated Hours per Response: 2,720 hours per eligible space 
station transition plan; 32 hours per incumbent earth station lump sum 
payment election.
    Frequency of Response: One-time reporting requirement.
    Obligation to Respond: Required to obtain or retain benefits. 
Statutory authority for this information collection is contained in 
sections 1, 2, 4(i), 4(j), 5(c), 201, 302, 303, 304, 307(e), and 309 of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 151, 152, 154(i), 
154(j), 155(c), 201, 302, 303, 304, 307(e), and 309.
    Total Annual Burden: 104,160 hours.
    Total Annual Cost: $540,000.

Needs and Uses

    On July 22, 2026, in furtherance of the goal of releasing more mid-
band spectrum into the market to support and enable next-generation 
wireless networks, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) 
adopted a Report and Order, FCC 26-46, 91 FR 48700 (Upper C-band R&O), 
in which it reformed the use of the 4.0-4.2 GHz portion of the C-Band. 
The 4.0-4.2 GHz band currently is allocated in the United States 
exclusively for non-Federal use on a primary basis for Fixed Satellite 
Service (FSS) and Fixed Service.
    Domestically, space station operators use the 4.0-4.2 GHz band to 
provide downlink signals of various bandwidths to licensed transmit-
receive, registered receive-only, and unregistered receive-only earth 
stations throughout the United States. The Upper C-band R&O calls for 
the relocation of existing FSS operations in the C-band, making 160 
megahertz (3.98-4.14 GHz) available for flexible-use terrestrial 
wireless service throughout the contiguous United States through a 
Commission-administered public auction of licenses that must be 
completed by July 4, 2027, pursuant to a statutory mandate in the One 
Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, section 40002(b)(2).
    The Commission adopted a robust transition schedule to achieve an 
expeditious clearing and relocation of FSS operations and ensure that a 
significant amount of spectrum is made available quickly for next-
generation wireless deployments, while also ensuring effective 
accommodation of relocated incumbent users. Pursuant to the Upper C-
band R&O, all incumbent FSS operations in the contiguous United States 
must clear the 4.0-4.16 GHz portion of the C-band by December 30, 2030, 
or June 30, 2031, to ensure a timely transition process. The December 
30 deadline applies to the top 75 Partial Economic Areas (PEAs) and 
aligns with the Federal Aviation Administration's first deadline to 
retrofit aircraft radio altimeters. The June 30 deadline applies to all 
other areas.
    The Commission concluded in the Upper C-band R&O that, before the 
public auction of new licenses commences, it is appropriate for 
potential bidders to: (1) know when they will get access to the 
spectrum in the 3.98-4.14 GHz portion of the C-band that is currently 
occupied by incumbent FSS space station operators and earth stations; 
and (2) have an estimate of how much they may be required to pay for 
incumbent relocation costs and incentive payments should they become 
Upper C-band wireless licensees. New Upper C-band wireless licensees 
are required to pay for the reasonable and necessary relocation costs 
of incumbent space station and incumbent earth station operators that 
are required to clear the 4.0-4.16 GHz portion of the C-band.
    To facilitate the provision of this information to potential 
auction bidders, the Commission is seeking approval for a modified 
information collection to permit it to collect the following 
information from incumbents as adopted in the Upper C-band R&O:

Transition Plans

    The Upper C-band R&O requires each eligible space station operator 
to submit to the Commission by November 5, 2026, and make available for 
public review, a detailed transition plan describing the necessary 
steps and estimated costs for the eligible space station operator to 
clear its existing operations in the 4.0-4.16 GHz portion of the C-band 
in the contiguous United States and its individual timeline for doing 
so. An eligible space station operator may make changes to its 
transition plan to update certain information or cure any defects that 
may be identified by the Commission or by relevant stakeholders during 
a public comment window.

Incumbent Earth Station Lump Sum Payment Elections

    The Upper C-band R&O provides an incumbent earth station operator 
with the option of: (1) accepting reimbursement payments for its 
reasonable and necessary relocation costs for the transition; or (2) in 
lieu of actual relocation costs, opting out of the formal relocation 
process and accepting a lump sum reimbursement payment for its 
incumbent earth stations on a per-site basis based on the average, 
estimated cost of relocating such incumbent earth stations. The Upper 
C-band R&O directs the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau to announce 
the lump sum that will be available per incumbent earth station as well 
as the process for electing lump sum payments and requires that, no 
later than 60 days after the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
announces the lump sum payment amounts, an incumbent earth station 
operator that wishes to receive a lump sum payment make an irrevocable 
lump sum payment election that will apply to such earth stations in the 
contiguous United States.
    This information collection will serve as the starting point for 
planning and managing the process of efficiently and expeditiously 
clearing the 4.0-4.16 GHz portion of the C-band, so that this spectrum 
can be auctioned for flexible-use service licenses.

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-21324 Filed 10-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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