[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5128]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Part 2
[ET Docket No. 95-18; FCC 95-39]
Allocation of Spectrum at 2 GHz for Use by the Mobile-Satellite
Service
agency: Federal Communications Commission.
action: Proposed rule.
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summary: By this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the Commission
proposes to allocate 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz and
2165-2200 MHz to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS). This proposal
responds to petitions filed by Celsat, Inc., TRW, and the Personal
Communications Satellite Corporation for spectrum in the 2 GHz range to
operate satellites providing personal communications services. This
Notice of Proposed Rule Making solicits comment on the proposed
allocation, including the necessity and means of moving incumbent
Broadcast Auxiliary Service and microwave licensees to another band; on
technical requirements for MSS in the proposed bands; and on awarding
MSS licenses in the proposed bands by competitive bidding.
comment dates: Comments are due March 9, 1995. Reply comments are due
March 27, 1995.
for further information contact: Sean White, Office of Engineering and
Technology, (202) 776-1624.
supplementary information: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice
of Proposed Rule Making, adopted January 30, 1995, and released January
31, 1995. The full text of this Commission decision is available for
inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC
Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street NW., Washington, DC. The
complete text of this decision also may be purchased from the
Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription
Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140,
Washington, DC 20037.
Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making
1. In this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the Commission proposes
to allocate 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz
to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS). The 1992 World Administrative
Radio Conference (WARC-92) allocated the 1970-1980 MHz (Earth-to-space)
and 2160-2170 MHz (space-to-Earth) bands in Region 2 and the 1980-2010
MHz (Earth-to-space) and 2170-2200 MHz (space-to-Earth) bands worldwide
to MSS. In the June 1994 Memorandum Opinion and Order in GEN Docket No.
90-314, 59 FR 32830, June 24, 1994, we allocated the 1850-1990 MHz band
to terrestrial broadband personal communications services (PCS).
Because of this, it does not appear to be practicable to make a
domestic allocation of 2 GHz spectrum for MSS that is consistent with
the international allocation without jeopardizing the availability of
spectrum for PCS.
2. We believe that a need exists for allocating a substantial
amount of spectrum for MSS. There is significant consumer demand for
convenient mobile services such as telephone, high-rate data and fax,
and video. MSS can provide such communications in remote or rural areas
not covered by terrestrially based mobile services, and can provide
nationwide public safety coverage. We also believe that use of 2 GHz
frequencies can help minimize transmission costs and ensure a
relatively low cost service that will be within the economic reach of a
large segment of the population. Thus, the proposed allocation of 70
MHz of spectrum to MSS should give the public, especially rural
Americans, access to new and competitive services and technologies.
3. Any 2 GHz MSS allocation should be as consistent as possible
with the WARC-92 worldwide MSS allocation, to help ensure a truly
universal service. We therefore believe that incorporating use of the
1990-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz bands allocated for MSS by WARC-92 is
desirable. At the same time, we believe that 70 megahertz is needed to
accommodate all MSS demand, and so propose to allocate 1990-2025 MHz
and 2165-2200 MHz to MSS.
4. This allocation would require that the candidate bands be
cleared of Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) incumbents in the 1990-
2025 MHz band. In order to accommodate these incumbents, we propose to
add 35 megahertz at the upper end of the BAS spectrum to offset the 35
megahertz we are allocating to MSS, making the BAS allocation 2025-2145
MHz. MSS providers would have to bear the costs of moving BAS licensees
to their new band. The proposed MSS allocation would also require
relocation of microwave incumbents. We addressed this issue in the
First Report and Order and Third Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET
Docket No. 92-9, 58 FR 46457, September 2, 1993, and propose to follow
the same procedures, requiring that MSS licensees bear the entire cost
of relocating BAS and microwave incumbents in the 1990-2025 MHz and
2165-2200 MHz bands.
5. The Commission solicits public comment on the proposed
allocation, the proposal to relocate BAS and microwave incumbents, any
other sharing or technical matters pertinent to the proposed
allocation, and our proposal to allocate licenses in the proposed MSS
spectrum by competitive bidding.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 2
Frequency allocations and radio treaty matters, Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-5128 Filed 3-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-M
