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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 DA 98-842 News media information 202/418-0500 Fax-On-Demand 202/418-2830 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov ftp.fcc.gov Released: May 4, 1998 THE FCC'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE 1999 WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE PROPOSES PRELIMINARY VIEWS ON WRC-99 ISSUES The WRC-99 Advisory Committee is assisting the Commission in the development of proposals for the 1999 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-99). On April 27, 1998, at its second meeting, the Advisory Committee proposed preliminary views on several issues that are to be addressed at WRC-99. We request comments on these preliminary views. The proposed preliminary views were developed by four of the ten Informal Working Groups (IWGs) that report to the FCC's WRC-99 Advisory Committee. IWG-3, which handles issues on Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS) operations above 1 GHz, proposed preliminary views on four issues. IWG-6, which addresses Broadcasting-Satellite Service issues related to Appendices S30 and S30A also proposed preliminary views on four issues. IWG-7, which deals with Fixed and Fixed-Satellite Service operations in the 36-51 GHz band, and IWG-8, which deals with other Fixed and Fixed-Satellite Service operations, each proposed one preliminary view. An overview and summary of the preliminary views that were proposed is provided below. The complete text of these preliminary views is available in the FCC's International Reference Center, 2000 M Street, N.W., Room 102, Washington, D.C. (telephone: 202-418-1492) or by accessing the FCC's WRC-99 world wide web site at: http://fcc.gov/wrc-99. To comment on these preliminary views, please submit an original and one copy of your comment to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission, 1919 M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20554. Comments should refer to specific preliminary views by document number. Parties preferring to e-mail their comments should address their comments to: wrc-99@fcc.gov. The deadline for comments on the proposed preliminary views is May 15, 1998. The comments provided will be of assistance to the FCC in its upcoming consultations with the U.S. Department of State, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, and other government agencies for the purposes of developing approved U.S. preliminary views. Once approved by agreement among these agencies of the U.S. Government, preliminary views may be used by U.S. delegations to stimulate discussion and feedback and to attempt to achieve common proposals with other countries on these issues. The proposed preliminary views set forth herein may evolve in the course of interagency discussions and therefore do not constitute a final U.S. Government position on any issue. I. Preliminary Views of IWG-3 (Informal Working Group on Mobile Satellite Service Above 1 GHz (Including NGSO MSS Feederlink Matters)/ Radionavigation-Satellite Service (GPS) Matters) A. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.9: Resolution 220 (WRC-97) Feasibility of Sharing Between Aeronautical Radionavigation and Radionavigation-Satellite Systems Operating or Planned for Operation in the Band 1559-1610 MHz, and the Mobile-Satellite Service (Space-to-Earth), in a Portion of the Band 1559-1567 MHz ((WAC/013(27.04.98)) BACKGROUND: The U.S. proposed at WRC-97 that there should be no changes in the allocations of the 1559-1610 MHz band in which the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other Aeronautical Radionavigation and Radionavigation-Satellite Service (RNSS) systems operate or may operate in the future. The U.S. was concerned that any changes could result in significant interference to critical existing operations and may limit the ability to implement important, future GPS-related services. GPS is a free service that is used by governments, consumers worldwide and by commercial airlines. Although no changes were adopted for this band at WRC-97, there was strong support for allocating a portion of the band from 1559-1567 MHz for shared use with the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS). This issue will be revisited at the WRC-99. The U.S. is actively participating in sharing studies that are currently being done in ITU Radiocommunication (ITU-R) Working Party 8D. PRELIMINARY VIEW: The U.S. objective in this area is to ensure the integrity of Aeronautical Radionavigation and RNSS allocations in the band 1559-1610 Mhz, including GPS services. It is essential that RNSS safety-of-life services be protected from co-frequency interference. The studies undertaken to date by MSS proponents do not fully support an MSS allocation. New uses of GPS, both safety-of-life and otherwise, continue to be developed. Even if current uses could be protected, consideration should be given to future growth for GPS and RNSS systems. Issues of intra-service sharing and requirements should be addressed in advance of, or at least in conjunction with, any consideration of sharing between RNSS and MSS. B. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.10: To consider results of ITU-R studies out in accordance with Resolution 216 and take appropriate action on this subject. Use of the bands 1525-1559 MHz and 1626.5-1660.5 MHz by the Mobile-Satellite Service (WAC/014(27.04.98)) BACKGROUND: This generic MSS allocation, which was adopted at WRC-97, is intended to alleviate the current spectrum congestion for existing and planned geostationary orbit (GSO) and non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) MSS systems. Protection was afforded to the Global Mobile Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and the Aeronautical mobile-Satellite (Route) Service. ITU-R studies currently focus on determining the amount of spectrum these safety-of-life services require in the 1525-1559/1626.5-1660.5 MHz bands and the adequacy of the protection from MSS interference that should be afforded these services. PRELIMINARY VIEW: IWG-3 has agreed to a preliminary view that the footnotes containing the protection for the safety of life services from MSS interference may have to be revised to ensure the integrity of safety communications, depending on the outcome of the ITU-R studies. C. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.12: Resolution 121. Sharing Between NGSO MSS Feederlinks and GSO FSS Networks in the Bands 19.3-19.7 GHz and 29.1-29.5 GHz (WAC/015(27.04.98)) BACKGROUND: Resolution 121 requests that the ITU-R conduct a study of sharing possibilities between GSO FSS and NGSO MSS feederlinks in the bands 19.3-19.7 Ghz and 29.1-29.5 GHz. PRELIMINARY VIEW: Resolution 121 is no longer necessary because the issue of GSO/ NSGO sharing in the Feederlink bands is being resolved in ITU-R Working Party 4A. D. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 8.5: Secondary Mobile-Satellite Service in the band 14.0-14.5 GHz WAC/017(27.04.98) BACKGROUND: There is currently a secondary MSS allocatation at 14.0-14.5 GHz for land and maritime MSS, but there is no secondary allocation for Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Service (AMSS) in this band. The FCC has already authorized land and maritime satellite applications on a secondary basis. It now has AMSS applications pending. One MSS proponent uses the existing secondary allocations and has operated a viable commercial service for years without interfering with primary services in the 14.0- 14.5 GHz band. A similar situation may be expected for AMSS. Adding AMSS is consistent with the longtime U.S. goal of providing flexible, generic allocations within a service classification. PRELIMINARY VIEW: Support addition of a secondary Aeronautical Mobile Satellite use in the MSS secondary allocations in this band. II. Preliminary Views of IWG-6 (Informal Working Group on Appendices 30 and 30A Matters (Broadcasting-Satellite Service) A. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.21: Report of the Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau on Compatibility of the revised (by WRC-97) Regions 1 and 3 Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS) Bands and Feederlink Plans (WAC/018(27.04.98)) BACKGROUND: Resolution 533 (WRC-97) instructs the ITU's Radiocommunication Bureau (BR) to perform specific analyses regarding the compatibility of the new BSS Plans with other services sharing the same bands. Agenda Item 1.21 instructs WRC-99 to review the report of the BR. PRELIMINARY VIEW: The U.S. should follow closely the BR's analysis to ensure that U.S. services/networks are sufficiently protected from and not unduly restricted by the new Region 1 and 3 Plans that were adopted at WRC-97. B. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.19: Increasing BSS capacity assigned to Regions 1 and 3 BACKGROUND: Resolution 532 (WRC-97) establishes an Inter-Conference Representative Group (IRG) to study the feasibility of increasing the capacity assigned to each country in Regions 1 and 3 in the BSS and feeder link Plans. WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.19 requires that WRC-99 determine if it is possible to undertake the replanning. PRELIMINARY VIEW: The U.S. supports attempting to increase the capacity assigned to each country to the equivalent of 10 analogue channels, as described in Principle 1 in Annex 1 to Resolution 532 (WRC- 97). The U.S. is opposed to suppressing the existing Article 4 modification process at any time, particularly in regards to the Region 2 Plans. Additionally, any possible replanning must protect, and not introduce additional constraints upon, Region 2 services in order to be feasible, in accordance with Principles 7 and 8 of Annex 1 to Resolution 532 (WRC- 97). Finally, further work/technical studies are needed to completely develop the U.S. position on issues associated with agenda item 1.19. C. Preliminary View WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.20: Procedural Issues associated with Appendices S30 and S30A BACKGROUND Agenda Item 1.20 requires the consideration of possible merging of Articles 6 and 7 of Appendices S30 and S30A of the ITU Radio Regulations (the procedures for coordinating and notifying unplanned services with respect to the Plans) with Article S9. This agenda item may also involve general consideration of the procedures in Appendices S30 and S30A, or sharing criteria. PRELIMINARY VIEW: Changes to the procedures, planned or unplanned procedures, could seriously impact U.S. networks, for example, through "unintended consequences" or intentional restriction of flexibility. There are changes to sharing criteria that the U.S. could support, for example Section 5 of Annex 1 to Appendix S30. There are sharing situations that are not currently addressed, that should be addressed, such as protection of the 17 GHz Region 2 BSS from modifications to the Regions 1 and 3 Plan. The U.S. could support changes to the procedures of Article 4 that would facilitate modification of the Plans. Again, further work/regulatory/technical studies are needed to completely develop the U.S. position on these issues. D. Preliminary View Pertaining to Prior Consent BACKGROUND: The IRG, established by Resolution 532 (WRC-97), is also tasked with studying the possible combining of the direct-to-home transmission services by satellite broadcasting services in the planned and non-planned BSS bands and its implications on the Radio Regulations. This could involve studies of the possible convergence of BSS and FSS. (In addition, Resolution 536 (WRC-97) states that administrations wishing to provide satellite broadcasting services to other administrations should obtain the agreement of those other administrations before providing service.) PRELIMINARY VIEW No useful purpose has been identified for abandoning the present distinction between the BSS and the FSS. III. Preliminary View of IWG-7 (Informal Working Group on Fixed and Fixed-Satellite Service 36- 51 GHz Matters WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.5: Matters related to high-altitude radio-relay platforms (stratospheric stations) (WAC/020(27.04.98)) BACKGROUND: At WRC-97, the bands 47.2-47.5 GHz and 47.9-48.2 GHz (which were already allocated for the Fixed Service) were designated for stratospheric radio repeater services (which are also called High Altitude Platform Stations or HAPS). While a "designation" does not limit the use of a band by types of services for which it is already allocated, it does give guidance to administrations wishing to implement specific service types. Domestically, the FCC has proposed to permit Fixed Service use, including HAPS, in the band 47.2-48.2 GHz, using 5 sets of two 100 MHz paired channels with each pair being separated by 500 MHz. PRELIMINARY VIEW: IWG-7 has agreed on a preliminary view to continue to support the WRC-97 designation of the bands 47.2-47.5 GHZ and 47.9-48.2 GHz for use by stratospheric radio repeater services (i.e. HAPS). WRC-97 agreed to study how HAPS would share with other services that share these bands on a primary basis, with a view to determining if additional sharing is possible. If not, the United States will continue to support the bands' designation for HAPS. IV. Preliminary View of IWG-8 (Informal Working Group on Fixed and Fixed-Satellite Service Matters - Other Matters) WRC-99 Agenda Item 1.8: Regulatory and technical provisions to enable earth stations located on board vessels to operate in the fixed-satellite service networks in the bands 3700-4200 MHz and 5924- 6425 MHz (WAC/021(27.04.98)) BACKGROUND: This item concerns provision of broadband communications in the maritime context by earth stations on board vessels using frequencies and existing space segment in the fixed-satellite service. These facilities operate in three distinct modes: (i) at sea; (ii) while stationary in port; and (iii) in-motion along designated sea lanes while approaching or departing from port. This agenda item was proposed by the United States to WRC-97 and was approved for the WRC-99 agenda. The item is assigned to ITU-R Study Group 4-9S; Study Group 1 is listed as an interested group to provide guidance on associated regulatory issues. A Working Paper (Document 4-9S/13-E) was approved for submission by the U.S. to the first international meeting of ITU-R WP 4-9S. A related document, Document 4-9S/8, was submitted by Japan to that meeting; these documents were reconciled in a Draft New Report (Doc. 4-9S/TEMP/39). The Draft New Report contains the working plan for a Correspondence Group to complete all associated technical studies by the next international WP 4-9S meeting. This agenda item has the support of several other administrations, some of which are expected to make contributions at that meeting. PRELIMINARY. VIEW: The U.S. considers that operations at sea (beyond the as-yet-to-be-determined distance for near-shore coordination) by earth stations on board vessels in the fixed-satellite service do not present potential for interference to terrestrial stations and need not be coordinated. Operations while these facilities are stationary in port are being coordinated in the U.S. as fixed-satellite earth stations. Technical and regulatory issues remaining for resolution concern the potential for interference between in-motion operations by these facilities while close to shore and terrestrial stations in the fixed service. This view is consistent with the attached work plan adopted for the Correspondence Group. For additional information, please contact Damon C. Ladson or Maureen C. McLaughlin at 418-0420. _______________