§ 1.9020 - Spectrum manager leasing arrangements.

§ 1.9020 Spectrum manager leasing arrangements.

Cross Reference

Link to an amendment published at 87 FR 57417, Sept. 20, 2022.

(a) Overview. Under the provisions of this section, a licensee (in any of the included services) and a spectrum lessee may enter into a spectrum manager leasing arrangement, without the need for prior Commission approval, provided that the licensee retains de jure control of the license and de facto control, as defined and explained in this subpart, of the leased spectrum. The licensee must notify the Commission of the spectrum leasing arrangement pursuant to the rules set forth in this section. The term of a spectrum manager leasing arrangement may be no longer than the term of the license authorization.

(b) Rights and responsibilities of the licensee.

(1) The licensee is directly and primarily responsible for ensuring the spectrum lessee's compliance with the Communications Act and applicable Commission policies and rules.

(2) The licensee retains responsibility for maintaining its compliance with applicable eligibility and ownership requirements imposed on it pursuant to the license authorization.

(3) The licensee must retain a copy of the spectrum leasing agreement and make it available upon request by the Commission.

(c) Rights and responsibilities of the spectrum lessee.

(1) The spectrum lessee must comply with the Communications Act and with Commission requirements associated with the license.

(2) The spectrum lessee is responsible for establishing that it meets the eligibility and qualification requirements applicable to spectrum lessees under the rules set forth in this section.

(3) The spectrum lessee must comply with any obligations that apply directly to it as a result of its own status as a service provider (e.g., Title II obligations if the spectrum lessee acts as a telecommunications carrier or acts as a common carrier).

(4) In addition to the licensee being directly accountable to the Commission for ensuring the spectrum lessee's compliance with the Commission's operational rules and policies (as discussed in this subpart), the spectrum lessee is independently accountable to the Commission for complying with the Communications Act and Commission policies and rules, including those that apply directly to the spectrum lessee as a result of its own status as a service provider.

(5) In leasing spectrum from a licensee, the spectrum lessee must accept Commission oversight and enforcement consistent with the license authorization. The spectrum lessee must cooperate fully with any investigation or inquiry conducted by either the Commission or the licensee, allow the Commission or the licensee to conduct on-site inspections of transmission facilities, and suspend operations at the direction of the Commission or the licensee and to the extent that such suspension would be consistent with the Commission's suspension policies.

(6) The spectrum lessee must retain a copy of the spectrum leasing agreement and make it available upon request by the Commission.

(d) Applicability of particular service rules and policies. Under a spectrum manager leasing arrangement, the service rules and policies apply in the following manner to the licensee and spectrum lessee:

(1) Interference-related rules. The interference and radiofrequency (RF) safety rules applicable to use of the spectrum by the licensee as a condition of its license authorization also apply to the use of the spectrum leased by the spectrum lessee.

(2) General eligibility rules.

(i) The spectrum lessee must meet the same eligibility and qualification requirements that are applicable to the licensee under its license authorization, with the following exceptions. A spectrum lessee entering into a spectrum leasing arrangement involving a licensee in the Public Safety Radio Services (see part 90, subpart B and § 90.311(a)(1)(i) of this chapter) is not required to comply with the eligibility requirements pertaining to such a licensee so long as the spectrum lessee is an entity providing communications in support of public safety operations (see § 90.523(b) of this chapter). A spectrum lessee entering into a spectrum leasing arrangement involving a licensee in the Mobile Satellite Service with ATC authority (see part 25 of this chapter) is not required to comply with the eligibility requirements pertaining to such a licensee so long as the spectrum lessee meets the other eligibility and qualification requirements of paragraphs (d)(2)(ii) and (iv) of this section.

(ii) The spectrum lessee must meet applicable foreign ownership eligibility requirements (see sections 310(a), 310(b) of the Communications Act).

(iii) The spectrum lessee must satisfy any qualification requirements, including character qualifications, applicable to the licensee under its license authorization.

(iv) The spectrum lessee must not be a person subject to the denial of Federal benefits under the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (see § 1.2001 et seq. of subpart P of this part).

(v) The licensee may reasonably rely on the spectrum lessee's certifications that it meets the requisite eligibility and qualification requirements contained in the notification required by this section.

(3) Use restrictions. To the extent that the licensee is restricted from using the licensed spectrum to offer particular services under its license authorization, the use restrictions apply to the spectrum lessee as well.

(4) Designated entity/entrepreneur rules. A licensee that holds a license pursuant to small business, rural service provider, and/or entrepreneur provisions (see § 1.2110 and § 24.709 of this chapter) and continues to be subject to unjust enrichment requirements (see § 1.2111 and § 24.714 of this chapter) and/or transfer restrictions (see § 24.839 of this chapter) may enter into a spectrum manager leasing arrangement with a spectrum lessee, regardless of whether the spectrum lessee meets the Commission's designated entity eligibility requirements (see § 1.2110 of this chapter) or its entrepreneur eligibility requirements to hold certain C and F block licenses in the broadband personal communications services (see § 1.2110 and § 24.709 of this chapter), so long as the spectrum manager leasing arrangement does not result in the spectrum lessee's becoming a “controlling interest” or “affiliate” (see § 1.2110 of this chapter) of the licensee such that the licensee would lose its eligibility as a designated entity or entrepreneur.

(5) Construction/performance requirements. Any performance or build-out requirement applicable under a license authorization (e.g., a requirement that the licensee construct and operate one or more specific facilities, cover a certain percentage of geographic area, cover a certain percentage of population, or provide substantial service) always remains a condition of the license, and legal responsibility for meeting such obligation is not delegable to the spectrum lessee(s).

(i) The licensee may attribute to itself the build-out or performance activities of its spectrum lessee(s) for purposes of complying with any applicable performance or build-out requirement.

(ii) If a licensee relies on the activities of a spectrum lessee to meet the licensee's performance or build-out obligation, and the spectrum lessee fails to engage in those activities, the Commission will enforce the applicable performance or build-out requirements against the licensee, consistent with the applicable rules.

(iii) If there are rules applicable to the license concerning the discontinuance of operation, the licensee is accountable for any such discontinuance and the rules will be enforced against the licensee regardless of whether the licensee was relying on the activities of a lessee to meet particular performance requirements.

(6) Regulatory classification. If the regulatory status of the licensee (e.g., common carrier or non-common carrier status) is prescribed by rule, the regulatory status of the spectrum lessee is prescribed in the same manner, except that § 20.9(a) of this chapter shall not preclude a licensee in the services covered by that rule from entering into a spectrum leasing arrangement with a spectrum lessee that chooses to operate on a Private Mobile Radio Service (PMRS), private, or non-commercial basis.

(7) Regulatory fees. The licensee remains responsible for payment of the required regulatory fees that must be paid in advance of its license term (see § 1.1152). Where, however, regulatory fees are paid annually on a per-unit basis (such as for Commercial Mobile Radio Services (CMRS) pursuant to § 1.1152), the licensee and spectrum lessee are each required to pay fees for those units associated with its respective operations.

(8) E911 requirements. If E911 obligations apply to the licensee (see § 9.10 of this chapter), the licensee retains the obligations with respect to leased spectrum. However, if the spectrum lessee is a Contraband Interdiction System (CIS) provider, as defined in § 1.9003, then the CIS provider is responsible for compliance with § 9.10(r) regarding E911 transmission obligations.

(e) Notifications regarding spectrum manager leasing arrangements. A licensee that seeks to enter into a spectrum manager leasing arrangement must notify the Commission of the arrangement in advance of the spectrum lessee's commencement of operations under the lease. Unless the license covering the spectrum to be leased is held pursuant to the Commission's designated entity rules and continues to be subject to unjust enrichment requirements and/or transfer restrictions (see §§ 1.2110 and 1.2111, and §§ 24.709, 24.714, and 24.839 of this chapter) or restrictions in § 1.9046 and § 96.32 of this chapter, the spectrum manager lease notification will be processed pursuant to either the general notification procedures or the immediate processing procedures, as set forth herein. The licensee must submit the notification to the Commission by electronic filing using the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and FCC Form 608, except that a licensee falling within the provisions of § 1.913(d) may file the notification either electronically or manually. If the license covering the spectrum to be leased is held pursuant to the Commission's designated entity rules, the spectrum manager lease will require Commission acceptance of the spectrum manager lease notification prior to the commencement of operations under the lease.

(1) General notification procedures. Notifications of spectrum manager leasing arrangements will be processed pursuant to the general notification procedures set forth in this paragraph (e)(1) unless they are submitted and qualify for the immediate processing procedures set forth in paragraph (e)(2) of this section.

(i) To be accepted under these general notification procedures, the notification must be sufficiently complete and contain all information and certifications requested on the applicable form, FCC Form 608, including any information and certifications (including those of the spectrum lessee relating to eligibility, basic qualifications, and foreign ownership) required by the rules in this chapter and any rules pertaining to the specific service for which the notification is filed. No application fees are required for the filing of a spectrum manager leasing notification.

(ii) The licensee must submit such notification at least 21 days in advance of commencing operations unless the arrangement is for a term of one year or less, in which case the licensee must provide notification to the Commission at least ten (10) days in advance of operation. If the licensee and spectrum lessee thereafter seek to extend this leasing arrangement for an additional term beyond the initial term, the licensee must provide the Commission with notification of the new spectrum leasing arrangement at least 21 days in advance of operation under the extended term.

(iii) A notification filed pursuant to these general notification procedures will be placed on an informational public notice on a weekly basis (see § 1.933(a)) once accepted, and is subject to reconsideration (see §§ 1.106(f), 1.108, 1.113).

(2) Immediate processing procedures. Notifications that meet the requirements of paragraph (e)(2)(i) of this section, and notifications for Contraband Interdiction Systems as defined in § 1.9003 that meet the requirements of paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section, qualify for the immediate processing procedures.

(i) To qualify for these immediate processing procedures, the notification must be sufficiently complete and contain all necessary information and certifications (including those relating to eligibility, basic qualifications, and foreign ownership) required for notifications processed under the general notification procedures set forth in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, and also must establish, through certifications, that the following additional qualifications are met:

(A) The license does not involve spectrum that may be used to provide interconnected mobile voice and/or data services under the applicable service rules and that would, if the spectrum leasing arrangement were consummated, create a geographic overlap with spectrum in any licensed Wireless Radio Service (including the same service), or in the ATC of a Mobile Satellite Service, in which the proposed spectrum lessee already holds a direct or indirect interest of 10% or more (see § 1.2112), either as a licensee or a spectrum lessee, and that could be used by the spectrum lessee to provide interconnected mobile voice and/or data services;

(B) The licensee is not a designated entity or entrepreneur subject to unjust enrichment requirements and/or transfer restrictions under applicable Commission rules (see §§ 1.2110 and 1.2111, and §§ 24.709, 24.714, and 24.839 of this chapter); and,

(C) The spectrum leasing arrangement does not require a waiver of, or declaratory ruling pertaining to, any applicable Commission rules; and

(D) The application does not involve a transaction in the Enhanced Competition Incentive Program (see subpart EE of this part).

(ii) A lessee of spectrum used in a Contraband Interdiction System qualifies for these immediate processing procedures if the notification is sufficiently complete and contains all necessary information and certifications (including those relating to eligibility, basic qualifications, and foreign ownership) required for notifications processed under the general notification procedures set forth in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, and must not require a waiver of, or declaratory ruling pertaining to, any applicable Commission rules.

(iii) Provided that the notification establishes that the proposed spectrum manager leasing arrangement meets all of the requisite elements to qualify for these immediate processing procedures, ULS will reflect that the notification has been accepted. If a qualifying notification is filed electronically, the acceptance will be reflected in ULS on the next business day after filing of the notification; if filed manually, the acceptance will be reflected in ULS on the next business day after the necessary data from the manually filed notification is entered into ULS. Once the notification has been accepted, as reflected in ULS, the spectrum lessee may commence operations under the spectrum leasing arrangement, consistent with the term of the arrangement.

(iv) A notification filed pursuant to these immediate processing procedures will be placed on an informational public notice on a weekly basis (see § 1.933(a)) once accepted, and is subject to reconsideration (see §§ 1.106(f), 1.108, 1.113).

(f) Effective date of a spectrum manager leasing arrangement. The spectrum manager leasing arrangement will be deemed effective in the Commission's records, and for purposes of the application of the rules set forth in this section, as of the beginning date of the term as specified in the spectrum leasing notification.

(g) Commission termination of a spectrum manager leasing arrangement. The Commission retains the right to investigate and terminate any spectrum manager leasing arrangement if it determines, post-notification, that the arrangement constitutes an unauthorized transfer of de facto control of the leased spectrum, is otherwise in violation of the rules in this chapter, or raises foreign ownership, competitive, or other public interest concerns. Information concerning any such termination will be placed on public notice.

(h) Expiration, extension, or termination of a spectrum leasing arrangement.

(1) Absent Commission termination or except as provided in paragraph (h)(2) or (h)(3) of this section, a spectrum leasing arrangement entered into pursuant to this section will expire on the termination date set forth in the spectrum leasing notification.

(2) A spectrum leasing arrangement may be extended beyond the initial term set forth in the spectrum leasing notification provided that the licensee notifies the Commission of the extension in advance of operation under the extended term and does so pursuant to the general notification procedures or immediate processing procedures set forth in this section, whichever is applicable. If the general notification procedures are applicable, the licensee must notify the Commission at least 21 days in advance of operation under the extended term.

(3) If a spectrum leasing arrangement is terminated earlier than the termination date set forth in the notification, either by the licensee or by the parties' mutual agreement, the licensee must file a notification with the Commission, no later than ten (10) days after the early termination, indicating the date of the termination. If the parties fail to put the spectrum leasing arrangement into effect, they must so notify the Commission consistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) The Commission will place information concerning an extension or an early termination of a spectrum leasing arrangement on public notice.

(i) Assignment of a spectrum leasing arrangement. The spectrum lessee may assign its spectrum leasing arrangement to another entity provided that the licensee has agreed to such an assignment, is in privity with the assignee, and notifies the Commission before the consummation of the assignment, pursuant to the applicable notification procedures set forth in this section. In the case of a non-substantial (pro forma) assignment that falls within the class of pro forma transactions for which prior Commission approval would not be required under § 1.948(c)(1), the licensee must file notification of the assignment with the Commission, using FCC Form 608 and providing any necessary updates of ownership information, within 30 days of its completion. The Commission will place information related to the assignment, whether substantial or pro forma, on public notice.

(j) Transfer of control of a spectrum lessee. The licensee must notify the Commission of any transfer of control of a spectrum lessee before the consummation of the transfer of control, pursuant to the applicable notification procedures of this section. In the case of a non-substantial (pro forma) transfer of control that falls within the class of pro forma transactions for which prior Commission approval would not be required under § 1.948(c)(1), the licensee must file notification of the transfer of control with the Commission, using FCC Form 608 and providing any necessary updates of ownership information, within 30 days of its completion. The Commission will place information related to the transfer of control, whether substantial or pro forma, on public notice.

(k) Revocation or automatic cancellation of a license or a spectrum lessee's operating authority.

(1) In the event an authorization held by a licensee that has entered into a spectrum leasing arrangement is revoked or cancelled, the spectrum lessee will be required to terminate its operations no later than the date on which the licensee ceases to have any authority to operate under the license, except as provided in paragraph (j)(2) of this section.

(2) In the event of a license revocation or cancellation, the Commission will consider a request by the spectrum lessee for special temporary authority (see § 1.931) to provide the spectrum lessee with an opportunity to transition its users in order to minimize service disruption to business and other activities.

(3) In the event of a license revocation or cancellation, and the required termination of the spectrum lessee's operations, the former spectrum lessee does not, as a result of its former status, receive any preference over any other party should the spectrum lessee seek to obtain the revoked or cancelled license.

(l) Subleasing. A spectrum lessee may sublease the leased spectrum usage rights subject to the licensee's consent and the licensee's establishment of privity with the spectrum sublessee. The licensee must submit a notification regarding the spectrum subleasing arrangement in accordance with the applicable notification procedures set forth in this section.

(m) Renewal. Although the term of a spectrum manager leasing arrangement may not be longer than the term of a license authorization, a licensee and spectrum lessee that have entered into an arrangement whose term continues to the end of the current term of the license authorization may, contingent on the Commission's grant of the license renewal, renew the spectrum leasing arrangement to extend into the term of the renewed license authorization. The Commission must be notified of the renewal of the spectrum leasing arrangement at the same time that the licensee submits its application for license renewal (see § 1.949). The spectrum lessee may operate under the extended term, without further action by the Commission, until such time as the Commission shall make a final determination with respect to the renewal of the license authorization and the extension of the spectrum leasing arrangement into the term of the renewed license authorization.

(n) Community notification requirement for certain contraband interdiction systems. 10 days prior to deploying a Contraband Interdiction System that prevents communications to or from mobile devices, a lessee must notify the community in which the correctional facility is located. The notification must include a description of what the system is intended to do, the date the system is scheduled to begin operating, and the location of the correctional facility. Notification must be tailored to reach the community immediately adjacent to the correctional facility, including through local television, radio, Internet news sources, or community groups, as may be appropriate. No notification is required, however, for brief tests of a system prior to deployment.

[68 FR 66277, Nov. 25, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 72027, Dec. 10, 2004; 69 FR 77551, Dec. 27, 2004; 76 FR 31259, May 31, 2011; 80 FR 56816, Sept. 18, 2015; 81 FR 49065, July 26, 2016; 82 FR 22297, May 15, 2017; 82 FR 22759, May 18, 2017; 84 FR 66760, Dec. 5, 2019; 84 FR 57364, Oct. 25, 2019; 87 FR 57417, Sept. 20, 2022]