Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Upper C-Band Clearinghouse Selection Criteria and Submission Process

Issuing agencies

Abstract

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) announces that it has received detailed selection criteria and related submission instructions for proposals for the position of Upper C-band Clearinghouse. 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 provided for the creation of an independent, third-party Upper C-band Clearinghouse to oversee the cost-related aspects of the Upper C-band transition, including the receipt, review, and disposition of all actual cost and lump sum reimbursement claims. The Upper C-band Clearinghouse will also administer the rebates for adjacent band radio altimeter retrofits.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 205 (Monday, October 26, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67313-67314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21732]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

[GN Docket No. 25-59; DA 26-1099; FR ID 373608]


Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Upper C-Band 
Clearinghouse Selection Criteria and Submission Process

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau 
(Bureau) announces that it has received detailed selection criteria and 
related submission instructions for proposals for the position of Upper 
C-band Clearinghouse. 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 provided for the creation of an independent, third-party 
Upper C-band Clearinghouse to oversee the cost-related aspects of the 
Upper C-band transition, including the receipt, review, and disposition 
of all actual cost and lump sum reimbursement claims. The Upper C-band 
Clearinghouse will also administer the rebates for adjacent band radio 
altimeter retrofits.

DATES: Potential clearinghouse candidates must email the selection 
committee with any questions about the selection criteria or submission 
requirements no later than October 23, 2026. Potential clearinghouse 
candidates must submit proposals according to the filing instructions 
contained in the selection committee's notification no later than 
November 9, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Potential candidate questions and submissions should be 
emailed to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#81d3d1c2d2e4ede4e2f5e8eeefc2eeecece8f5f5e4e4c1e6ece0e8edafe2eeec"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1f3f1e2f2c4cdc4c2d5c8cecfe2ceccccc8d5d5c4c4e1c6ccc0c8cd8fc2cecc">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.
    For detailed instructions for submitting comments, see the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McArdell, Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#31705f554354461f7c52704355545d5d715752521f565e47"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="02436c667067752c4f61437066676e6e426461612c656d74">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's 
document (Public Notice), in GN Docket No. 25-59, DA 26-1099, released 
on October 9, 2026. The Public Notice includes the following 
attachment: Updated Request for Proposals: Relocation Payment 
Clearinghouse; Upper C-band (3.98-4.2 GHz), FCC GN Docket No. 25-59. 
The complete text of the Public Notice is available on the Commission's 
website at <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1099A1.pdf">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1099A1.pdf</a>, 
and the attachment is available at <a href="https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1099A2.pdf">https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-1099A2.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) announces that it has received detailed selection criteria and 
related submission instructions for proposals for the position of Upper 
C-band Clearinghouse.
    On July 24, 2026, the Commission released the Upper C-band R&O, 91 
FR 48700, which adopted rules to make 160 megahertz of mid-band 
spectrum available for flexible use throughout the contiguous United 
States by transitioning incumbent Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) 
operations out of 4.0-4.16 GHz. The Upper C-band R&O provided for the 
creation of an independent, third-party Upper C-band Clearinghouse to 
oversee the cost-related aspects of the transition, including the 
receipt, review, and disposition of all actual cost and lump sum 
reimbursement claims. The Upper C-band Clearinghouse will also 
administer the rebates for adjacent band radio altimeter retrofits.
    The Upper C-band R&O required a selection committee of stakeholders 
to establish detailed selection criteria based upon the Upper C-band 
Clearinghouse's duties set forth in section 27.1414(c) of the 
Commission's rules and to notify the Bureau of such criteria within 30 
days of its initial meeting. The Commission directed the Bureau to 
issue a public notice that: (1) notifies the public of the detailed 
selection criteria; (2) outlines the submission requirements; and (3) 
provides the closing dates for candidate submissions. The selection 
committee timely notified the Bureau of its updated selection criteria 
and proposal submission instructions on October 7, 2026.
    The selection committee's notification, attached to the October 9, 
2026, Public Notice, specifies its detailed selection criteria and 
instructions for filing proposals for the clearinghouse position. The 
selection committee requests that potential clearinghouse candidates 
with any questions about the selection criteria or submission 
requirements may email the selection committee no later than October 
23, 2026, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6735372434020b0204130e080924080a0a0e1313020227000a060e0b4904080a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b494b58487e777e786f72747558747676726f6f7e7e5b7c767a727735787476">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Potential clearinghouse 
candidates must submit proposals according to the filing instructions 
contained in the selection committee's notification no later than 
November 9, 2026.
    The selection committee and potential clearinghouse candidates are 
reminded that the selection process must comply

[[Page 67314]]

with all requirements of the Upper C-band R&O and the Commission's 
rules. The selection committee shall inform the Commission of its 
choice no later than December 15, 2026, after which the Bureau will 
release a public notice seeking comment on whether that entity meets 
the selection criteria. The Bureau will then issue a final order 
announcing whether the selection criteria has been satisfied. After 
release of a decision finding that the clearinghouse selectee meets the 
relevant criteria, the selection committee will be dissolved without 
further action by the Commission.

Federal Communications Commission.
Amy Brett,
Chief of Staff, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.
[FR Doc. 2026-21732 Filed 10-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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