PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 1919 M STREET N.W. WASHINGTON, DC 20554 News media Information 202/418-0500 Recorded listing of releases and texts 202/418-2222. Report No. SPB-119 March 19, 1998 SATELLITE POLICY BRANCH INFORMATION: Satellite Applications and Letters of Intent Accepted For Filing in the 2 GHz band The Commission has found, upon initial review, that the following applications and letters of intent are acceptable for filing in the 2 GHz band. The Commission reserves the right to return these applications if, upon further examination, it is determined that they are defective or not in conformance with the Commission's rules, regulations, and policies. The Commission emphasizes that neither initial acceptance of any of the following individual applications for filing, nor this Public Notice, should in any way be construed as evidence of any predisposition on the part of the Commission with respect to any international or domestic regulatory actions that must be effected or completed before these applications can be granted. In addition, neither initial acceptance of any of the following applications for filing, nor this Public Notice, should in any way be construed as evidence of any predisposition on the part of the Commission with respect to possible grant of an application. We further note that coordination with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which has primary jurisdiction over U.S. Government use of spectrum, must occur with respect to the proposed bands shared between Government and non-Government use prior to any grant of these applications. In addition to the 2 GHz band frequencies proposed below, the applicants propose to use a variety of feeder link frequencies. In some cases the proposed feeder link frequencies have not yet been allocated domestically for this purpose. Use of these bands for feeder links may be subject to domestic rulemaking as well as appropriate implementation of actions taken at World Radiocommunication Conferences. Some feeder link frequencies are in bands that are already under consideration in connection with current processing rounds. See, e.g., Public Notice, SPB-106, October 15, 1997 (Ka-Band processing round). Other proposed feeder link frequencies, such as those in the Ku-Band, may be considered in future processing rounds. This Public Notice is not intended to establish a processing round or to establish a cut-off date with respect to such frequencies. Nonetheless, commenters and petitioners are free to address issues pertaining to applicants' feeder link spectrum requests in response to the deadlines established by this public notice. It should also be noted that certain applicants request frequencies for inter-satellite links and the use of the requested bands may be subject to domestic rulemaking as well as implementation of appropriate actions taken at World Radiocommunication Conferences. In addition, certain other proceedings which may have a bearing on the applications listed in this public notice are the subject of requests for reconsideration. See, e.g., Amendment of Section 2.106 of the Commission's Rules to Allocate Spectrum at 2 GHz for Use by the Mobile-Satellite Service, 12 FCC Rcd 10446 (1997), Amendment of the Commission's Regulatory Policies to Allow Non-U.S. Licensed Space Stations to Provide Domestic and International Satellite Service in the U.S., FCC 97-399 (November 26, 1997). The following are the applications and letters of intent found acceptable for filing in the 2 GHz band: Celsat, Inc. File Nos. 26/27/28-DSS-P/LA-97 88-SAT-AMEND-98 Celsat has filed an application for authority to construct, launch, and operate the first of three geostationary satellites comprising a hybrid personal communications system for providing mobile voice, data, paging, messaging, facsimile, imaging, video and other digital services. Celsat proposes providing service from the 96o W.L. orbital position. Celsat requests 25 MHz of spectrum for uplink in the 1990-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 25 MHz of spectrum in the 2165-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). Celsat also requests 850 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 27.5-28.35 GHz bands and 850 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 17.7-18.35 GHz bands. The Boeing Company File Nos. 179-SAT-P/LA-97(16) 90-SAT-AMEND-98 The Boeing Company ("Boeing") has filed an application for authority to construct, launch, and operate sixteen non-geostationary satellites to provide a communications system for navigation and surveillance, air traffic management and GPS augmentation. Boeing requests 8.25 MHz in the 1990-1998.25 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 8.85 MHz in the 2170-2185 MHz band (space-to-Earth). Boeing also requests 109 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 14.391-14.500 GHz band and 109 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 11.591-11.700 GHz band. In addition, the proposed system's Navigation Augmentation Service payload would operate in 1565.42-1585.42 MHz GPS L1 band. The Commission and NTIA recognize that authorizing additional use of the 1565.42-1585.42 MHz band, currently used by GPS L1, will require that various technical and national policy issues be resolved. Mobile Communications Holdings, Inc. File No. 180-SAT-P/LA-97(26) Mobile Communications Holdings, Inc. ("MCHI") has filed an application for authority to construct, launch, and operate twenty six non-geostationary satellites to provide voice and data communications services. MCHI requests 35 MHz in the 1990-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 35 MHz in the 2165-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). MCHI also requests 300 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 15400-15700 MHz bands and 300 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 6775-7075 MHz bands. Constellation Communications, Inc. File No. 181-SAT-P/LA-97(46) Constellation Communications, Inc. ("CCI") has filed an application for authority to construct, launch, and operate forty six non-geostationary satellites to provide data services. CCI requests 45 MHz in the 1980-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 35 MHz in the 2165- 2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). CCI also requests 159 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 5091-5250 MHz bands, 200 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 15.45-15.65 GHz and 375 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 6700-7075 MHz bands. Globalstar, L.P. File Nos. 182-SAT-P/LA-97(64) and 183 through 186-SAT-P/LA-97 Globalstar, L.P. ("Globalstar") has filed an application for authority to construct, launch, and operate sixty four non-geostationary satellites and four geostationary satellites to provide voice and data services. Globalstar requests 35 MHz in the 1990-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 35 MHz in the 2165-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). Globalstar also requests 200 MHz of NGSO feeder uplink spectrum in the 15.45-15.65 GHz band or 19.3- 19.6 GHz band and 100 MHz of NGSO feeder downlink spectrum in the 6700-6875 MHz bands. Globalstar requests four GSO orbital positions at 10o E.L., 100o E.L., 80o W.L. and 170o W.L. and 250 MHz of GSO feeder uplink spectrum in the 14.0-14.4 GHz band and 250 MHz of GSO feeder downlink spectrum in the 11.7-12.2 GHz bands. Globalstar also requests 100 MHz of inter-satellite link spectrum in the 59-64 GHz band to connect the GSO satellites with each other and with the NGSO satellites. Iridium, LLC. File No. 187-SAT-P/LA-97(96) Iridium, LLC. has filed an application for authority to construct, launch, and operate ninety six non-geostationary satellites to provide voice and data services. Iridium requests 35 MHz in the 1990-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 35 MHz in the 2165-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). Iridium also requests 400 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 29.1- 29.5 GHz band, 400 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 19.3-19.7 GHz band and 500 MHz of inter-satellite link spectrum in 23.18-23.38 GHz and 24.45-24.75 GHz bands. ICO Services Limited File No. 188-SAT-LOI-97 ICO Services Limited ("ICO") has filed a Letter of Intent requesting authority to provide primarily voice communications using ten to twelve non-geostationary satellites. ICO requests 30 MHz in the 1985-2015 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 30 MHz in the 2170-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). ICO also requests 100 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 5150-5250 MHz band and 100 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 6975-7075 MHz band. TMI Communications and Company, L.P. File No. 189-SAT-LOI-97 TMI Communications and Company, L.P. ("TMI") has filed a Letter of Intent requesting authority to provide voice and high speed data services using one geostationary satellite. TMI proposes providing service from the 106.5o W.L. orbital position. TMI requests 35 MHz in the 1990-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 35 MHz in the 2165-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). TMI also requests 500 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 12.75-13.25 GHz band, 500 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 10.7-10.95 GHz and 11.2-11.45 GHz bands, 1 MHz of TT&C uplink spectrum in 14.0-14.05 GHz or 14.45-14.50 GHz bands, and 300 KHz of TT&C downlink spectrum in 11.7-11.75 GHz and 12.15-12.20 GHz bands. Inmarsat Horizons File No. 190-SAT-LOI-97 Inmarsat Horizons ("Inmarsat") has filed a Letter of Intent requesting authority to provide voice and data communications using four geostationary satellites. Inmarsat proposes providing service from the 20.0o E.L., 110.0o E.L., 170.0o W.L., 90.0o W.L. orbital positions. Inmarsat requests 45 MHz in the 1980-2025 MHz band (Earth-to-space) and 40 MHz in the 2160-2200 MHz band (space-to-Earth). Inmarsat also requests 75 MHz of feeder uplink spectrum in the 6460.0-6535.0 MHz band and 75 MHz of feeder downlink spectrum in the 3635.0-3710.0 MHz . Comments or petitions regarding these applications may be filed on or before May 4, 1998. Replies and oppositions may be filed on or before June 3, 1998. Responses may be filed on or before June 18, 1998. A copy of these applications and responsive pleadings will be available for public inspection in the International Reference Center, Room 102, 2000 M St. N.W., Washington, D.C. and from ITS duplicating Services at 202-857-3800. For further information, contact Alex Roytblat at 202-418-7501 or Kathleen Campbell at 202-418-0753. - FCC -