Mobile-Satellite Service at 1610-1626.5 and 2483.5-2500 Mhz

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 2

[ET Docket No. 92-28; FCC 95-70]

Mobile-Satellite Service at 1610-1626.5 and 2483.5-2500 Mhz

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule; clarification and correction of typographical

errors.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) affirms the decision

in the Report and Order (R&O) in this proceeding to allocate the 1610-

1626.5 MHz (1.6 GHz) and 2483.5-2500 MHz (2.4 GHz) bands for

geostationary orbit (GSO) and non-geostationary orbit (low-Earth orbit

or LEO) mobile-satellite service (MSS) use, and clarifies that the

Commission made no finding in that decision as to whether both types of

systems would be authorized. We also clarify the meaning of

international footnotes RR753F and RR731E, but defer to the

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 1995 World

Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-95) action on modification of these

footnotes. Finally, we note that we will explore with the National

Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) the

possibility of Government or shared Government/non-Government bands

being made available to assist in satisfying MSS/radiodetermination

satellite service (RDSS) feeder link requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 31, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ray LaForge, Office of Engineering and Technology, telephone (202) 739-

0598.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's

Memorandum Opinion and Order in ET Docket No. 92-28 adopted on February

24, 1995 and released on March 20, 1995. The complete text of this

Memorandum Opinion and Order is available for inspection and copying

during normal business hours in the FCC Public Reference Center (Room

239), 1919 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20554. The complete text of

this Memorandum Opinion and Order also may be purchased from the

Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription

Service, Inc., 2100 M Street, NW, Suite 140, Washington DC 20036, (202)

857-3800.

Summary of Memorandum Opinion and Order

1. In the R&O, (See ET Docket No. 92-28, 9 FCC Rcd 536, 59 FR 9413

(1993)) we allocated the 1.6 and 2.4 GHz bands for LEO and GSO MSS on a

primary basis. We stated that this allocation supports the growing

demand for mobile communications, permits the introduction of new

satellite services, and conforms to the 1992 World Administrative Radio

Conference (WARC-92) spectrum allocation for these bands.

2. On March 30, 1994, Loral Qualcomm Satellite Services, Inc.

(LQSS) filed a Petition for Clarification and Partial Reconsideration

of the R&O requesting that the Commission (1) clarify that the R&O was

intended only to allocate spectrum for MSS but did not establish

eligibility requirements for MSS licensees; (2) increase the power flux

density (PFD) values in RR753F and clarify that these values represent

thresholds that determine when coordination with terrestrial users is

required, rather than absolute limits; (3) modify RR731E to apply a -15

dBW/4 kHz EIRP limit to all MSS uplinks and eliminate the requirement

for protection of aeronautical radionavigation systems; and (4)

identify spectrum below 15 GHz that can be used for MSS feeder links.

3. We concur with LQSS that the R&O made no finding on the

desirability of LEO versus GSO systems. In the Notice of Proposed Rule

Making (NPRM) (see ET Docket 92-28, 7 FCC Rcd 6414, 57 FR 43434

(September 21, 1992)) we proposed to require MSS systems licensed in

the 1.6 and 2.4 GHz bands to operate in non-geostationary orbits. The

R&O did not make any determination of this issue. However, the recent

Report and Order in the service rules proceeding decided this issue in

favor of LEO satellite systems. See CC Docket No. 92-166, 9 FCC Rcd

5936, 59 FR 53294 (1994).

4. Further in regard to footnote RR753F, in the R&O, we concluded

that the international footnotes adopted for the 1.6 and 2.4 GHz bands

by WARC-92 were intended to form the basis for international

notification and coordination of various satellite systems, and to

ensure that new and existing systems are afforded protection from

harmful interference. We therefore adopted footnote RR753F

domestically. While the PFD values prescribed by RR753F may be viewed

by LQSS as excessively conservative, we believe that the proper forum

for modifying these values is WRC-95. However, we concur with LQSS and

commenting parties that these values were not intended as absolute

limits. We thus clarify that the PFD values prescribed by RR753F are

coordination thresholds that may be exceeded with the consent of all

affected parties. [[Page 21049]]

5. Further, RR731E was one of the bases for international agreement

on the use of the 1.6 GHz band for the implementation of new mobile-

satellite services. We believe that the proper forum for modifying this

footnote is WRC-95. However, consistent with our interpretation of

RR753F, we clarify that the EIRP values may be exceeded with the

consent of all affected parties.

6. In the R&O, we noted that there may be difficulties in

identifying spectrum below 15 GHz for MSS LEO feeder link operations.

We stated that we would be exploring all options to ensure that

adequate unencumbered spectrum is available for feeder link

requirements. In a recent Report to NTIA, we recommended that the

shared Government/non-Government bands at 3600-3700 and 5850-5925 MHz

be made available for exclusive non-Government use. We noted that the

3600-3700 MHz band was identified in our negotiated rule making

regarding MSS above 1 GHz as one of the more likely candidates for MSS/

RDSS feeder link spectrum. We intend to explore with NTIA the

possibility of feeder link spectrum being made available from these and

other existing Government or shared Government/non-Government bands

that may be reallocated for exclusive non-Government use.

7. Accordingly, It is Ordered, that the Petition for Clarification

and Partial Reconsideration submitted by Loral Qualcomm Satellite

Services, Inc. Is Granted to the extent indicated herein, and Is Denied

in all other respects. This action is taken pursuant to Sections 4(i),

303(c), (f), (g), and (r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as

amended, 47 U.S.C. sections 154(i), 303(c), (f), (g), and (r). Since

there were a few typographical errors in the Table as published in the

R&O, we are also placing below in Amendatory Text a corrected copy of

the Table of Frequency Allocations, 47 CFR 2.106, that reflects all of

the modifications to the Table that were made in the R&O.

List of Subjects 47 CFR Part 2

Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.

William F. Caton,

Acting Secretary.

Amendatory Text

Part 2 of chapter I of title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations

is amended as follows:

PART 2--FREQUENCY ALLOCATIONS AND RADIO TREATY MATTERS--GENERAL

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation in Part 2 continue to read:

Authority: Sec. 4, 302, 303, and 307 of the Communications Act

of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154, 154(i), 302, 303,

303(r), and 307, unless otherwise noted.

2. Section 2.106, the Table of Frequency Allocations, is amended as

follows:

a. The entries for 1610-1626.5 MHz are removed and new entries for

1610-1626.5 MHz are added in numerical order.

b. The entry for 2483.5-2500 MHz is removed and a new entry for

2483.5-2500 MHz is added in numerical order.

c. The entries for the 22.5-22.55, 22.55-23, 24.25-24.45, 24.45-

24.65, and 24.65-24.75 GHz are removed and new entries for 22.5-22.55,

22.55-23, 24.25-24.45, 24.45-24.65, and 24.65-24.75 GHz are added in

numerical order.

d. INTERNATIONAL FOOTNOTES Nos. 731E, 731F, 753F, 881A, 881B, 882E,

882F, and 882G are added; and Nos. 733A, 733E, 734, 753, and 753C are

revised.

e. UNITED STATES (US) FOOTNOTE US319 is revised and NON-GOVERNMENT

(NG) FOOTNOTE NG147 is revised.

The additions, deletions, and revisions read as follows:

Sec. 2.106 Table of Frequency Allocations.

International Table United States Table FCC use designators

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Government Non-Government Special-use

allocation MHz allocation MHz allocation MHz Allocation MHz Allocation MHz Rule part(s) frequencies

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * * *

*

1610-1610.6 1610-1610.6 1610-1610.6 1610-1610.6 1610-1610.6 ............

AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AVIATION ...............

RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATI RADIONAVIGATI (87)

N N N ON ON SATELLITE

MOBILE RADIODETERMINAT MOBILE- RADIODETERMINA RADIODETERMINA COMMUNICATI

SATELLITE ION SATELLITE SATELLITE TION- TION- ON (25)

(Earth-to- (Earth-to- (Earth-to- SATELLITE SATELLITE

space) space) space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to-

MOBILE RADIODETERMINAT space) space)

SATELLITE ION-SATELLITE MOBILE- MOBILE-

(Earth-to- (Earth-to- SATELLITE SATELLITE

space) space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to-

space) space)

722 727 730 731 722 731E 732 722 727 730 722 731E 732 722 731E 732 ............ ...............

731E 732 733 733 733A 733C 731E 732 733 733 733A 733E 733 733A 733E

733A 733B 733E 733D 733E 733A 733B 733E US208 US260 US208 US260

733F US319 US319

1610.6-1613.8 1610.6-1613.8 1610.6-1613.8 1610.6-1613.8 1610.6-1613.8 ............ ...............

[[Page 21050]]A AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AVIATION ...............

ERONAUTICAL RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATI RADIONAVIGATI (87)

RADIONAVIGATIO N N ON ON SATELLITE

N RADIODETERMINAT MOBILE- RADIODETERMINA .............. COMMUNICATI

MOBILE ION-SATELLITE SATELLITE TION- RADIODETERMINA ON (25)

SATELLITE (Earth-to- (Earth-to- SATELLITE TION

(Earth-to- space) space) (Earth-to- SATELLITE

space) MOBILE- RADIO-ASTRONOMY space) (Earth-to-

RADIO-ASTRONOMY SATELLITE Radiodeterminat MOBILE- space)

(Earth-to- ion-Satellite SATELLITE MOBILE

space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to- SATELLITE

RADIO-ASTRONOMY space) space) (Earth-to-

RADIO- space)

ASTRONOMY RADIO-

ASTRONOMY

722 727 730 731 722 731E 732 722 727 730 722 731E 732 722 731E 732 ............ ...............

731E 732 733 733 733A 733C 731E 732 733 733 733A 733E 733 733A 733E

733A 733B 733E 733D 733E 734 733A 733B 733E 734 US208 734 US208

733F 734 734 US260 US319 US260 US319

1613.8-1626.5 1613.8-1626.5 1613.8-1626.5 1613.8-1626.5 1613.8-1626.5 ............ ...............

AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AERONAUTICAL AVIATION ...............

RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATI RADIONAVIGATI (87)

N N N ON ON SATELLITE

MOBILE RADIODETERMINAT MOBILE RADIODETERMINA RADIODETERMINA COMMUNICATI

SATELLITE ION-SATELLITE SATELLITE TION- TION ON (25)

(Earth-to- (Earth-to- (Earth-to- SATELLITE SATELLITE

space) space) space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to-

Mobile- MOBILE- Radiodeterminat space) space)

Satellite SATELLITE ion-Satellite MOBILE- MOBILE

(space-to- (Earth-to- (Earth-to- SATELLITE SATELLITE

Earth) space) space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to-

Mobile Mobile space) space)

Satellite Satellite Mobile- Mobile

(space-to- (space-to- Satellite Satellite

Earth) Earth) (space-to- (space-to-

Earth) Earth)

722 727 730 731 722 731E 731F 722 727 730 722 731E 731F 722 731E 731F ............ ...............

731E 731F 732 732 733 733A 731E 731F 732 732 733 733E 732 733 733E

733 733A 733B 732C 733D 733E 733 733A 733B US208 US260 US208 US260

733E 733F 733E US319 US319

* * * * * *

*

2483.5-2500 2483.5-2500 2483.5-2500 2483.5-2500 2483.5-2500 ............ ...............

FIXED FIXED FIXED RADIODETERMINA RADIODETERMINA SATELLITE ...............

MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE TION- TION- COMMUNICATI

MOBILE- RADIODETERMINAT RADIO-LOCATION SATELLITE SATELLITE ON (25)

SATELLITE ION-SATELLITE MOBILE- (space-to- (space-to-

(space-to- (space-to- SATELLITE Earth) 753A Earth) 753A

Earth) Earth) 753A (space-to- MOBILE MOBILE

Radiolocation RADIOLOCATION Earth) SATELLITE SATELLITE

MOBILE- Radiodeterminat (space-to- (space-to-

SATELLITE ion-Satellite Earth) Earth)

(space-to- (space-to-

Earth) Earth) 753A

733F 752 753 752 753D 753F 752 753C 753F 752 753F US41 752 753F US41 ............ ...............

753A 753B 753C US319 US319 NG147

753F

* * * * * *

*

22.50-22.55 22.50-22.55 22.50-22.55 22.50-22.55 22.50-22.55 ............ ...............

FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED DOMESTIC ...............

MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE PUBLIC

US211 US211 FIXED (21)

PRIVATE

OPERATIONAL

FIXED

MICROWAVE

(94)

22.55-23 22.55-23 22.55-23 22.55-23 22.55-23 ............ ...............

[[Page 21051]]F FIXED FIXED FIXED FIXED DOMESTIC

IXED INTER-SATELLITE INTER-SATELLITE INTER- INTER- PUBLIC

INTER-SATELLITE MOBILE MOBILE SATELLITE SATELLITE FIXED (21)

MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE PRIVATE

OPERATIONAL

FIXED

MICROWAVE

(94)

SATELLITE

COMMUNICATI

ONS (25).

879 879 879 879 US278 879 US278 ............ ...............

* * * * * *

*

24.25-24.45 24.25-24.45 24.25-24.45 24.25-24.45 24.25-24.45 ............ ...............

FIXED RADIONAVIGATION RADIONAVIGATION RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO AVIATION ...............

FIXED N N (87)

MOBILE

24.45-24.65 24.45-24.65 24.45-24.65 24.45-24.65 24.45-24.65 ............ ...............

FIXED RADIONAVIGATION RADIONAVIGATION INTER- INTER- SATELLITE ...............

INTER-SATELLITE INTER-SATELLITE FIXED SATELLITE SATELLITE COMMUNICATI

INTER-SATELLITE RADIONAVIGATIO RADIONAVIGATIO ON (25)

MOBILE N N

882E 882E 882E 882E ............ ...............

24.65-24.75 24.65-24.75 24.65-24.75 24.65-24.75 24.65-24.75 ............ ...............

FIXED INTER-SATELLITE FIXED INTER- INTER- SATELLITE ...............

INTER-SATELLITE RADIO-LOCATION INTER-SATELLITE SATELLITE SATELLITE COMMUNICATI

SATELLITE MOBILE RADIO-LOCATION- RADIO-LOCATION- ON (25)

(Earth-to- 882E 882F SATELLITE SATELLITE

space) (Earth-to- (Earth-to-

space) space)

* * * * * *

*

International Footnotes

* * * * *

731E--The use of the band 1610-1626.5 MHz by the mobile-

satellite service (Earth-to-space) and by the radiodetermination-

satellite service (Earth-to-space) is subject to the application of

the coordination and notification procedures set forth in Resolution

46 (WARC-92). A mobile earth station operating in either of the

services in this band shall not produce an e.i.r.p. density in

excess of -15 dB(W/4 kHz) in the part of the band used by systems

operating in accordance with the provisions of No. 732, unless

otherwise agreed by the affected administrations. In the part of the

band where such systems are not operating, a value of -3 dB (W/4

kHz) is applicable. Stations of the mobile-satellite service shall

not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from,

stations in the aeronautical radionavigation service, stations

operating in accordance with the provisions of No. 732 and stations

in the fixed service operating in accordance with the provisions of

No. 730.

731F--The use of the band 1613.8-1626.5 MHz by the mobile-

satellite service (space-to-Earth) is subject to the application of

the coordination and notification procedures set forth in Resolution

46 (WARC-92).

* * * * *

733A--With respect to the radiodetermination-satellite and

mobile-satellite services the provisions of No. 953 do not apply in

the frequency band 1610-1626.5 MHz.

* * * * *

733E--Harmful interference shall not be caused to stations of

the radio astronomy service using the band 1610.6-1613.8 MHz by

stations of the radiodetermination-satellite and mobile-satellite

services. (No. 2904 applies.)

734--In making assignments to stations of other services,

administrations are urged to take all practicable steps to protect

the radio astronomy service in the band 1610.6-1613.8 MHz from

harmful interference. Emissions from space or air-borne stations can

be particularly serious sources of interference to the radio

astronomy service (see Nos. 343 and 344 and Article 36).

* * * * *

753--Different category of service: in France, the band 2450-

2500 MHz is allocated on a primary basis to the radiolocation

service (see No. 425). Such use is subject to agreement with

administrations having service operating or planned to operate in

accordance with the Table of Frequency Allocations which may be

affected.

* * * * *

753C--Different category of service: in Angola, Australia,

Bangladesh, Burundi, China, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, India, the

Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon,

Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,

Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Zaire

and Zambia, the allocation of the band 2483.5-2500 MHz to the

radiodetermination-satellite service (space-to-Earth) is on a

primary basis (see No. 425) subject to agreement obtained under the

procedure of Article 14 with other countries not listed in this

provision.

* * * * *

753F--The use of the band 2483.5-2500 MHz by the mobile-

satellite and the radiodetermination-satellite services is subject

to the application of the coordination and notification procedures

set forth in Resolution 46 (WARC-92). Coordination of space stations

of the mobile-satellite and radiodetermination-satellite services

with respect to terrestrial services is required only if the power

flux-density produced at the Earth's surface exceeds the limits in

No. 2566. In respect of assignments operating in this band, the

provisions of Section II, paragraph 2.2 of Resolution 46 (WARC-92)

shall also be applied to geostationary [[Page 21052]] transmitting

space stations with respect to terrestrial stations.

* * * * *

881A--Use of the 25.25-27.5 GHz band by the inter-satellite

service is limited to space research and Earth exploration-satellite

applications, and also transmissions of data originating from

industrial and medical activities in space.

881B--Space services using non-geostationary satellites

operating in the inter-satellite service in the band 27-27.5 GHz are

exempt from the provisions of No. 2613.

* * * * *

882E--The inter-satellite service shall not claim protection

from harmful interference from airport surface detection equipment

stations of the radionavigation service.

882F--Additional allocation: in Japan, the band 24.65-25.25 GHz

is also allocated to the radionavigation service on a primary basis

until 2008.

882G--In the band 24.75-25.25 GHz, feeder links to stations of

the broadcasting-satellite service shall have priority over other

users in the fixed-satellite service (Earth-to-space). Such other

users shall protect and shall not claim protection from existing and

future operating feeder-link networks to such broadcasting satellite

stations.

* * * * *

United States (US) Footnotes

* * * * *

US319--In the 137-138, 148-149.9, 149.9-150.05, 399.9-400.5,

400.15-401, 1610-1626.5, and 2483.5-2500 MHz bands, Government

stations in the mobile-satellite service shall be limited to earth

stations operating with non-Government space stations.

* * * * *

Non-Government (NG) Footnotes

* * * * *

NG147--Stations in the broadcast auxiliary service and private

radio services licensed as of July 25, 1985, or on a subsequent date

following as a result of submitting an application for license on or

before July 25, 1985, may continue to operate on a primary basis

with the mobile-satellite service and the radiodetermination

satellite service.

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 95-10418 Filed 4-28-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6712-01-M