§ 25.118   Modifications not requiring prior authorization.

   (a) Earth station license modifications, notification required.
   Authorized earth station operators may make the following modifications
   to their licenses without prior Commission authorization, provided that
   the operators notify the Commission, using FCC Form 312 and Schedule B,
   within 30 days of the modification. This 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) Licensees may make changes to their authorized earth stations
   without obtaining prior Commission authorization, provided that they
   have complied with all applicable frequency coordination procedures in
   accordance with § 25.251, and the modification does not involve:

   (i) An increase in EIRP or EIRP density (both main lobe and side lobe);

   (ii) An increase in transmitted power;

   (iii) A change in coordinates of more than 1 second in latitude or
   longitude for stations operating in frequency bands that are shared
   with terrestrial systems; or

   (iv) A change in coordinates of 10 seconds or greater in latitude or
   longitude for stations operating in frequency bands that are not shared
   with terrestrial systems.

   (2) Except for replacement of equipment where the new equipment is
   electrically identical to the existing equipment, an authorized earth
   station licensee may add, change or replace transmitters or antenna
   facilities without prior authorization, provided:

   (i) The added, changed, or replaced facilities conform to any
   applicable requirements in § 25.209;

   (ii) The particulars of operations remain unchanged;

   (iii) Frequency coordination is not required; and

   (iv) The maximum power and power density delivered into any antenna at
   the earth station site shall not exceed the values calculated by
   subtracting the maximum antenna gain specified in the license from the
   maximum authorized e.i.r.p. and e.i.r.p. density values.

   (3) Authorized VSAT earth station operators may add VSAT remote
   terminals without prior authorization, provided that they have complied
   with all applicable frequency coordination procedures in accordance
   with § 25.251.

   (4) 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
   Form 312 within 30 days after the completed change to common carrier
   status.

   (5) Earth station operators may change their points of communication
   without prior authorization, provided that the change results from a
   space station license modification described in paragraph (e) of this
   section, and the earth station operator does not repoint its antenna.
   Otherwise, any modification of an earth station license to add or
   change a point of communication will be considered under § 25.117.

   (b) Earth station license modifications, notification not required.
   Notwithstanding paragraph (a)(2) of this section, 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.

   (c)-(d) [Reserved]

   (e) Relocation of GSO space stations. A space station operator may
   modify its license 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. This
   notification must be filed electronically on 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 licensee will relocate a Geostationary Satellite
   Orbit (GSO) space station to another orbit location that is assigned to
   that licensee;

   (2) The relocated space station licensee will operate with the same
   technical parameters as the space station initially assigned to that
   location, or within the original satellite's authorized and/or
   coordinated parameters;

   (3) The space station licensee certifies that it will comply with all
   the conditions of its original license and all applicable rules after
   the relocation;

   (4) The space station licensee certifies that it will comply with all
   applicable coordination agreements at the newly occupied orbital
   location;

   (5) The space station licensee certifies that it has completed any
   necessary coordination of its space station at the new location with
   other potentially affected space station operators, including
   coordination of station-keeping volume.

   (6) The space station licensee certifies that it will limit operations
   of the space station to Tracking, Telemetry, and Control (TT&C)
   functions during the relocation and satellite drift transition period;
   and

   (7) The space station licensee certifies that the relocation of the
   space station does not result in a lapse of service for any current
   customer.

   (8) A DBS space station licensee must certify 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
   ("BSS") Plan and/or the Appendix 30A feeder link Plan to the ITU
   Radiocommunication Bureau.

   (9) For DBS licensees, the space station licensee must certify that it
   will meet the geographic service requirements in § 25.148(c).

   (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]

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