§  25.118   Modifications not requiring prior authorization.

   (a) Earth station modifications, notification required. Earth station
   licensees may make the following modifications without prior Commission
   authorization, provided they notify the Commission, using FCC Form 312
   and Schedule B, within 30 days of the modification. The notification
   must be filed electronically through the International Bureau Filing
   System (IBFS) in accordance with the applicable provisions of part 1,
   subpart Y of this chapter.

   (1) Blanket-licensed earth station operators may add remote terminals
   operating on a primary basis without prior authorization, provided they
   have complied with all applicable frequency coordination procedures in
   accordance with § 25.251.

   (2) A licensee providing service on a private carrier basis may change
   its operations to common carrier status without obtaining prior
   Commission authorization. The licensee must notify the Commission using
   FCC Form 312 within 30 days after the completed change to common
   carrier status.

   (3) An earth station operator may change a point of communication
   without prior authorization, provided the operator does not repoint the
   earth station's antenna beyond any coordinated range; and

   (i) The change results from a space station relocation described in
   paragraph (e) of this section, or

   (ii) The new point of communication is a replacement GSO space station
   within ±0.15° of orbital longitude of the same location, with authority
   to serve the U.S., and the change does not entail any increase in the
   earth station's EIRP or EIRP density.

   (4) An earth station licensee may additionally:

   (i) Decrease antenna height; or

   (ii) Increase or decrease the earth station's PFD contour, provided the
   modification does not involve a change listed in paragraph (b)(2) of
   this section.

   (b) Earth station modifications, notification not required.
   Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section:

   (1) Equipment in an authorized earth station may be replaced without
   prior authorization and without notifying the Commission if the new
   equipment is electrically identical to the existing equipment.

   (2) Licensees may make other changes to their authorized earth
   stations, including the addition of new transceiver/antenna
   combinations, without notifying the Commission, provided the
   modification does not involve:

   (i) An increase in EIRP or EIRP density (either main lobe or off-axis);

   (ii) Additional operating frequencies;

   (iii) A change in polarization;

   (iv) An increase in antenna height;

   (v) Antenna repointing beyond any coordinated range; or

   (vi) A change from the originally authorized coordinates of more than 1
   second of latitude or longitude for stations operating in frequency
   bands shared with terrestrial systems or more than 10 seconds of
   latitude or longitude for stations operating in frequency bands not
   shared with terrestrial systems.

   (c)-(d) [Reserved]

   (e) Relocation of GSO space stations. A space station licensee may
   relocate a GSO space station without prior authorization, but upon 30
   days prior notice to the Commission and any potentially affected
   licensed spectrum user, provided that the operator meets the following
   requirements. The notification must be filed electronically on FCC Form
   312 through the International Bureau Filing System (IBFS) in accordance
   with the applicable provisions of part 1, subpart Y of this chapter:

   (1) The space station will be relocated to a position within ±0.15° of
   an orbital location assigned to the same licensee.

   (2) The licensee certifies that the space station will operate after
   the relocation within the technical parameters authorized and
   coordinated for the space station previously assigned to that location.

   (3) The licensee certifies that it will comply with all the conditions
   of its license for operation at the changed location.

   (4) The licensee certifies that it will limit operations of the space
   station to tracking, telemetry, and command functions during the
   relocation and satellite drift transition period.

   (5) The licensee certifies that:

   (i) It has assessed and limited the probability of the satellite
   becoming a source of debris as a result of collisions with large debris
   or other operational satellites at the new orbital location; and

   (ii) The proposed station-keeping volume of the satellite following
   relocation will not overlap a station-keeping volume reasonably
   expected to be occupied by any other satellite, including those
   authorized by the Commission, applied for and pending before the
   Commission, or otherwise the subject of an ITU filing and either in
   orbit or progressing towards launch.

   (6) The licensee certifies that the relocation will not result in a
   lapse of service for any current customer.

   (7) If the space station to be relocated is a DBS space station, the
   licensee certifies that there will be no increase in interference due
   to the operations of the relocated space station that would require the
   Commission to submit a proposed modification to the ITU Appendix 30
   Broadcasting-Satellite Service Plan and/or the Appendix 30A feeder-link
   Plan (both incorporated by reference, see § 25.108) to the ITU
   Radiocommunication Bureau. A DBS licensee that meets this certification
   requirement is not subject to the requirements in paragraph (e)(2) of
   this section.

   (8) If the space station to be relocated is a DBS space station, the
   licensee certifies that it will meet the geographic service
   requirements in § 25.148(c) after the relocation.

   (f) Repositioning of NGSO space stations. A licensee may reposition
   NGSO space stations within an authorized orbital plane without prior
   Commission approval, provided the licensee notifies the Commission of
   the repositioning 10 days in advance by electronic filing on Form 312
   in the International Bureau Filing System. The notification must
   specify all changes in previously authorized parameters and must
   certify the following:

   (1) The licensee will continue to comply with the conditions of the
   space station license and all applicable Commission rules, including
   geographic coverage requirements, after the repositioning;

   (2) The repositioning will not increase risk of harmful interference to
   other systems not permitted by coordination agreements;

   (3) The licensee will not request increased interference protection
   because of the repositioning;

   (4) The licensee will monitor collision risk during the maneuver and
   take any necessary evasive measures.

   (5) Any change of orbital altitude entailed by the repositioning will
   not exceed 10 kilometers in extent or 30 days in duration and the
   licensee has notified, or will notify, the operator(s) of any satellite
   within 20 kilometers of the interim orbit at least 10 days before
   commencing the repositioning maneuver.

   [ 62 FR 5928 , Feb. 10, 1997, as amended at  68 FR 62248 , Nov. 3, 2003;  68 FR 63999 , Nov. 12, 2003;  69 FR 47794 , Aug. 6, 2004;  70 FR 32253 , June
   2, 2005;  79 FR 8317 , Feb. 12, 2014;  81 FR 55329 , Aug. 18, 2016;  86 FR 11887 , Mar. 1, 2021]