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

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or 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 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 208 (Thursday, October 29, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68055-68057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22037]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 27

[GN Docket Nos. 18-122 and 25-59; FCC 26-46; FR ID 374445]


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: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or 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: This rule is effective October 29, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew McArdell of the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau, at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d594bbb1a7b0a2fb98b694a7b1b0b9b995b3b6b6fbb2baa3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="99d8f7fdebfceeb7d4fad8ebfdfcf5f5d9fffafab7fef6ef">[email&#160;protected]</span></a> or 202-418-1576.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document announces that OMB approved 
the information collection requirements in 47 CFR 27.1412(e) on 
September 21, 2026. The Commission publishes this document as an 
announcement of the effective date for the amended rule. This document 
sets the addition of paragraph (e) to Sec.  27.1412, which was included 
in amendatory instruction 26 of the final rule published at 91 FR 48700 
(July 31, 2026), out as a separate instruction so the amendment can be 
incorporated into the CFR. When the FCC publishes a document announcing 
OMB approval of the information collection requirements

[[Page 68056]]

in 47 CFR 27.1412(b), (c), and (g), it will include a correction to 
amendatory instruction 26 to remove the addition of paragraph (e).

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). 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 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.
    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.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 27

    Communications common carriers, Communications requirements, Radio, 
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Telecommunications.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Commission amends 47 
CFR part 27 as follows:

PART 27--MISCELLANEOUS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

0
1. The authority citation for part 27 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  47 U.S.C. 154, 301, 302a, 303, 307, 309, 332, 336, 
337, 1403, 1404, 1451, and 1452, unless otherwise noted.


0
2. Amend Sec.  27.1412 by adding paragraph (e) to read as follows:


Sec.  27.1412  Transition plan.

* * * * *
    (e) Transition Plan. Eligible space station operators must publicly 
file with the Commission no later than November 5, 2026, a Transition 
Plan that describes the actions that must be taken to clear 4000-4160 
MHz and to migrate associated earth stations. Eligible space station 
operators shall have an opportunity to make any necessary

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updates or resolve any deficiencies in their individual Transition 
Plans.
    (1) The Transition Plan must detail the eligible space station 
operator's individual timeline and necessary actions for clearing 4000-
4160 MHz, including:
    (i) All existing space stations with operations that will need to 
be repacked;
    (ii) The number of new satellites, if any, that the space station 
operator will need to launch to maintain sufficient capacity post-
transition, including detailed descriptions of why such new satellites 
are necessary;
    (iii) The specific grooming plan for migrating existing services 
into new spectrum, including the pre- and post-transition frequencies 
that each customer will occupy;
    (iv) Any necessary technology upgrades or other solutions that the 
space station operator intends to implement;
    (v) The number and location of incumbent earth station antennas 
currently receiving the eligible space station operator's transmissions 
that will need to be transitioned;
    (vi) An estimate of the number of incumbent earth station antennas 
that will require retuning, repointing, or other modifications to 
receive content on new transponder frequencies post-transition; and
    (vii) The specific timeline by which the space station operator 
will implement the actions described in its plan.
    (2) To the extent that incumbent earth stations are not accounted 
for in eligible space station operators' Transition Plans, the 
Relocation Coordinator may assign responsibility for their transition 
to an eligible space station operator or ensure that migration steps 
and timelines are outlined in an individualized Earth Station 
Transition Plan as needed.
* * * * *

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene Dortch,
Secretary, Office of the Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2026-22037 Filed 10-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P


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