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Frequently Asked Questions

The information contained on this page is intended to provide explanations in response to Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”). For more detailed information, please see the C-band Handbook located at www.CbandRPC.com/resources. Claimants may also reference training materials provided by the RPC via the Coupa Portal. For any questions, please email the RPC Service Desk at info@CbandRPC.com.

What is the C-band Relocation Payment Program?

On March 3, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a Report and Order in which it adopted rules to reform use of the C-band (3.7–4.2 GHz) by relocating existing satellite operations into the upper portion of the band (4.0–4.2 GHz) and making available 280 MHz of C-band spectrum (3.7–3.8 GHz) plus a 20 MHz guard band, for flexible use throughout the contiguous United States via an FCC auction of overlay licenses, Auction 107. The FCC requires overlay licensees to fund relocation costs for incumbent licensees to transition out of the band.

What is the Relocation Payment Clearinghouse?

The Relocation Payment Clearinghouse LLC (“RPC”) is an independent party responsible for the reimbursement of claims related to the C-band relocation efforts, among other cost-related activities associated with the C-band relocation.

How is the C-band relocation funded?

Overlay Licensees, who are licensees in the FCC’s 3.7 GHz Service, will fund the relocation costs of eligible entities in connection with the C-band relocation program.

How do I know if I'm eligible to submit a claim?

Please click here for information about eligibility. If you would like to speak with someone, please send an  email to us at info@CbandRPC.com and include your name and phone number and we will contact you as soon as possible.

How does the claims process work — start to finish?

Please click here for a step-by-step guide to the claims process.

What is Coupa?

Coupa (also referred to as the “Coupa Supplier Portal” or “Coupa Portal”) is the RPC’s claims reimbursement system. Coupa allows those who believe they are eligible to submit reimbursement claims through a secure portal and provides visibility into the claimant’s status of submitted claims approval and payment. Correspondence related to your account and/or claims(s) will come from the @coupahost.com email domain.

How do I get access to Coupa to submit a claim?

Please follow these steps to get started:

1.Request an invitation to submit a claim by emailing us at: info@CbandRPC.com
2.Put “SETUP” in the subject line.
3.Include the following information:
a.Claimant Name:
b.Point of Contact First & Last Name:
c.Title/Position:
d.Email Address:
e.Phone Number:

The RPC will follow up with you directly on the next steps, as described within the C-band RPC Handbook, located at www.CbandRPC.com/resources.

When will I receive payment?

Once the RPC approves a claim, it is required to prepare and submit a recordkeeping invoice to the Overlay Licensees and pay a claimant within 30 days of this invoice submission provided the funding is available and the claim is not subject to dispute.

How will payments be made?

The RPC will send wire transfers to the confirmed bank account from the claimant’s Coupa profile.

Who do I contact if I am having technical issues submitting a claim?

Please email the RPC Service Desk at info@CbandRPC.com.

Who can I email with questions?

Please email us at: info@CbandRPC.com

What is Jira?

Jira, by Atlassian, is a proprietary software used by the RPC for managing questions submitted to our service desk via info@CbandRPC.com.

Is my data secure?

All information uploaded to the Coupa Portal is subject to federal information security standards, including NIST 800-53, consistent with the FCC’s Report & Order. Documents may not be submitted to the RPC via RPC’s service desk.

With the exception of the setup of the claimant profile in Coupa, there should be no need for claimants to submit personally identifiable information to the RPC.

In line with information security best practices, claimants submitting information or documentation to the RPC via Coupa, file share systems, or any other means shall redact or remove any personally identifiable information that could result in identity theft or unauthorized access to financial accounts before submitting the documentation.

For these purposes, personally identifiable information includes a name or other identifier in combination with the data categories such as the following:

(1) individual’s social security number;
(2) driver’s license number or other state government assigned ID number;
(3) individual’s financial institution account number or debit card number, with or without the associated security code, access code, or password that would permit access to an individual’s financial accounts;
(4) individual’s credit card data, with or without the expiry date and security code;
(5) individual tax identification number;
(6) individual’s date of birth;
(7) the maiden name of the individual’s mother;
(8) a consumer’s health insurance policy number or other assigned identifier;
(9) an identification number assigned to the individual by the individual’s employer in combination with any required security code, access code, or password;
(10) an individual’s digitized or other electronic signature.

Fixed Service Licensee

  1. What is a Fixed Service licensee?

    A Fixed Service licensee is an incumbent licensee with a point-to-point Fixed Service license(s) in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band for fixed microwave services. Because the FCC adopted rules to sunset incumbent point-to-point Fixed Service use in the 3.7-4.2 GHz band in the contiguous United States, existing licensees, as of April 19, 2018, of licenses for permanent Fixed Service operations will have until December 5, 2023 to self-relocate their point-to-point links out of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band. Licensees with temporary Fixed Service licenses also have until December 5, 2023 to modify or replace their temporary fixed 3.7-4.2 GHz band equipment with comparable equipment that operates in other bands.

  2. What types of costs can a Fixed Service licensee request reimbursement for?

    Incumbent Fixed Service licensees that relocate out of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band by December 5, 2023 are eligible for reimbursement of their reasonable costs based on the “comparable facilities” standard used for the transition of microwave links out of other bands. “Comparable facilities” are defined generally by the FCC as facilities possessing certain characteristics in terms of throughput, reliability, and operating costs as compared to the incumbent’s pre-transition facilities. The Cost Catalog released by the FCC on July 30, 2020 identifies potential relocation costs that Fixed Service licensees may incur in Section IV Fixed Service Costs and provides a range of reasonable cost estimates for those items.

  3. What types of documents will a Fixed Service licensee need to submit?

    An eligible Fixed Service licensee may seek reimbursement for its reasonable relocation costs by submitting a claim to the RPC. All reimbursement claims to the RPC will be submitted and evaluated through the RPC’s claim system, Coupa. A Fixed Service licensee must first set up a claimant profile in Coupa. A Fixed Service licensee would need to provide the following information and documentation to the RPC to set up a profile: Email, Business Name, Business Entity Type, Primary Contact Person’s Name and Phone Number, Address, Technical Contact, Authorization to Submit Claims Form, Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN) / Employer Identification Number (EIN), Bank Information, W-9, Business License (or articles of incorporation filed with the Secretary of State, certificate of good standing, or similar document that recognizes the claimant as a business entity), FCC License, Tax Exemption Certification (if applicable), Claimant Type (Fixed Service licensee), and Operations Type (Permanent or Temporary).

    To submit a claim, a Fixed Service licensee will complete the requisite fields in Coupa and attach the applicable supporting documentation in Coupa. The RPC’s C-band Handbook describes the documentation that will be required in Appendix Section II. Examples of the supporting documentation include vendor invoices and receipts, proof of invoice payment, and timesheets for eligible labor costs. At its discretion, the RPC may request additional information as necessary to assess the reasonableness of costs submitted for reimbursement.

  4. How does a Fixed Service licensee show they are eligible to submit a claim for potential reimbursement?

    A Fixed Service licensee must demonstrate that it was an incumbent Fixed Service licensee. The RPC has interpreted the term incumbent Fixed Service licensee to be those licensees that held licenses that, based on a review of the FCC’s Universal Licensing System (ULS), were likely among the group of 87 licenses referred to in the draft of the FCC’s Report and Order, released on February 7, 2020.

NOTICE:

In the event of any conflict between the FCC’s Rules (as defined in the C-band Handbook) and the FAQs or other RPC documentation, the FCC’s Rules shall control. Program stakeholders and interested parties should consult with counsel regarding the substance and application of the FCC’s Rules that govern all matters associated with the C-band relocation.