Part 5 Experimental FAQ

Part 5 experimental licenses are intended for non-federal entities such as commercial companies and universities seeking to conduct non-revenue generating experiments.

Even though the tabular list of frequencies in part 5 grant documents only show transmit information, both transmit and receive information is required to complete the NTIA space data record sheet, and the license may contain conditions related to receive frequencies used as part of the experiment.  The receive frequencies are also included in the necessary ITU filing.  In order to facilitate processing and authorization, information concerning receive frequencies should be included as part of the mission description.

Applicants should file three to six months before a launch integration date, but no earlier than a year.

Yes, you must submit all documents regardless of launch date

Yes, an ITU filing is required any time a request involves communications to or from a satellite.  This requirement stems from our treaty obligations with the ITU.  Article 11.2 of the ITU Radio Regulations states that any frequency assignment to a transmitting station and its associated receiving stations shall be notified to the Bureau if the assignment is capable of causing harmful interference to any other service of another administration, or if the assignment is to be used for international radiocommunication. 

The Space Bureau’s Transparency Initiative webpages on Coordination have information on How to Prepare an ITU Filing.

Consult the Transparency Initiative Experimental License Checklists for Satellites and the Experimental License Checklist for Earth Stations to ensure that your application is complete and that technical information is accurate.  Applications are not accepted or reviewed until all submission materials are complete and accurate. Please review the entire application package before submitting.

Double check the accuracy of emission designators, power levels, EIRP, EIRP densities, and ensure that your points of communication are authorized and complete.

Make sure that your application includes mission description, ITU filings, Orbital Debris Mitigation Plan and NTIA technical data.

Include plans to identify the space station(s) following deployment and whether space station tracking will be active or passive.  Additionally, include whether prior to deployment, the space station(s) will be registered with the 18th Space Defense Squadron or its successor entity.  Most applicants tend to overlook these elements when following the NASA ODAR format, which does not include this information. 

For earth stations, include a clear statement indicating the request is for operation of an earth station.

Applications should include a contact person who is available throughout the duration of the experiment, including launch and operation, and who is capable of answering additional questions regarding the mission or technical aspects. If that person does not have authority to sign the application on behalf of the application, then someone with signing authority must sign the application. This scenario can occur for missions in which the contact person is a faculty member, or when a consultant or legal professional is listed as the contact.

Please contact OET for general experimental process inquires or status of pending requests.  They will reach out to SB-ESLD or SB-SLD if needed.

Requests for operations outside of current Commission rules require a clear statement on how the applicant intends to prevent or mitigate any interference to current authorized users in the requested band(s).

If protection of communications links from harmful interference is important to the mission, the applicant may choose to apply under part 25.  Additionally, if an applicant has completed its proof of concept experiment under part 5, it should transition to part 25 for any subsequent operational phase.

Pre-coordination, which takes place prior to filing an application, is helpful if the requested bands are shared with federal users.  NTIA manages a process, which can be found in chapter eight of NTIA’s Manual of Regulations for Federal Radiofrequency Spectrum Management (often referred to as the “Redbook”). For additional guidance, please see the Transparency Initiative pages on Coordination.

The FCC will engage in the formal coordination with NTIA once an applicant’s part 5 application has been accepted and is under review.

It depends on the type of coordination.  Proof of coordination is required for earth stations operating in bands on co-equal rights with fixed services.  Additionally, if coordination has completed, an applicant may ask that agency to submit on its letterhead evidence that coordination has been completed, or an applicant may provide other supporting documentation.  However, please be mindful of confidentiality rules when submitting documentation.

All satellite operators must register with the 18th Space Defense Squadron or its successor.  The 18th Space Defense Squadron manages the website, space-track.org, that tracks satellites in space and provides conjunction warnings.  Registration information is available at space-track.org and is free of charge.