**Before the**

**Federal Communications Commission**

**Washington, D.C. 20554**

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| In the Matter of                 | *  | Call Sign S2115              |
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| Globalstar Licensee LLC          | ** | Call Sign E970381            |
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| GUSA Licensee LLC                | *  | Call Sign S2110              |
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| Iridium Constellation LLC        | ** | Call Sign E960132            |
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| Iridium Satellite LLC            | *  | Call Sign E960622            |
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| Iridium Carrier Services         | ** |                              |
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| Modification of Authority to     | *  |                              |
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| Operate a Mobile Satellite       | ** |                              |
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**ORDER PROPOSING MODIFICATIONS**

**Adopted: May 7, 2008 Released: May 7, 2008**

By the Commission:

1.  By this Order we propose to modify the authorizations of Globalstar
    Licensee LLC and GUSA Licensee LLC (collectively Globalstar), and
    Iridium Constellation LLC, Iridium Satellite LLC, and Iridium
    Carrier Services (collectively Iridium), to operate space and earth
    stations in the "Big LEO"[^1] mobile-satellite service (MSS). This
    Order is issued pursuant to the recently released *Big LEO Spectrum
    Sharing Second Order,*[^2] released on November 9, 2007, to
    implement revisions to the spectrum licensing and sharing
    arrangements in the 1610-1626.5 MHz band. Specifically, this
    Order 1) proposes to modify Globalstar's licenses to specify that
    operations in the 0.95 megahertz of spectrum in the
    1617.775-1618.725 MHz band are on a shared basis with the Iridium
    system, and 2) proposes to modify Globalstar's licenses to remove
    authority for operations in the 1618.725 -1621.35 MHz band. This
    Order also 1) proposes to modify Iridium's license to authorize use
    of 0.475 megahertz of spectrum in the 1617.775-1618.25 MHz band on a
    shared basis with the Globalstar system, and 2) proposes to modify
    Iridium's license with respect to the 1618.725-1621.35 MHz band,
    previously authorized on a shared basis, to specify operations on an
    exclusive basis.[^3]

2.  The Commission adopted a revised band sharing plan in the *Big LEO
    Spectrum Sharing Second Order* on November 9, 2007. That *Order*
    became effective January 14, 2008.[^4] Consistent with the *Big LEO
    Spectrum Sharing Second Order*, we propose to modify Globalstar
    Licensee LLC's space station license to specify that operations in
    the 1617.775-1618.725 MHz band are on a shared basis, and to remove
    the 1618.725-1621.35 MHz band from the authorization. We also
    propose to modify Iridium's space station license such that Iridium
    is authorized to operate its system using transmissions throughout
    the 1617.775-1626.5 MHz band, on a shared basis with the Globalstar
    system for Earth-to-space transmissions in the 1617.775-1618.725 MHz
    band, and on an exclusive basis in the 1618.725-1626.5 MHz band.

3.  Globalstar asserts that the decisions in the *Big LEO Spectrum
    Sharing Second Order* do not alter its ability to use Big LEO
    spectrum outside the United States. [^5] Globalstar indicates that
    any other result would be contrary to law and Commission policy. We
    reject this assertion. Although Globalstar's space station
    authorization in 1995 indicated that it was "for the purpose of
    providing a mobile satellite service in the United States," the
    Commission in 1996 eliminated the distinction between domestic and
    international satellite systems in its *DISCO* proceeding.[^6] To
    this end, the Commission automatically modified the licenses of all
    U.S. MSS operators to allow them to offer both domestic and
    international services.[^7] In fulfillment of obligations under the
    International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations,[^8] the
    United States is the licensing administration for the Globalstar
    space stations. We view specification of the terms and conditions of
    operation of those space stations, including the permissible range
    of frequencies on which they may operate, as a necessary part of the
    FCC's role as licensing authority.[^9]

4.  Accordingly, the proposed modifications of the space station
    authorizations would apply to the two systems' global space station
    operations. In addition, we propose to modify the two systems'
    mobile earth terminal authorizations for U.S. operations to make
    similar changes.

5.  We note that Globalstar has indicated that cessation of space
    station operations in the 1618.725-1621.35 MHz band may present
    significant difficulties in some countries in which Globalstar earth
    station authorizations are limited to less than the full remaining
    1610-1618.725 MHz uplink band.[^10] For these instances, we will
    entertain a waiver or modification of the limitation of space
    station frequencies below 1618.725 MHz.

6.  Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY PROPOSED, pursuant to Section 316 of the
    Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 316, that the space station license
    of Globalstar Licensee LLC (Call Sign S2115), and the associated
    blanket mobile earth terminal license of GUSA Licensee LLC (Call
    Sign E970381), BE MODIFIED to specify that MSS Earth-to-space
    transmissions are limited to the 1610-1618.725 MHz band, and that
    such transmissions in the 1617.775-1618.725 MHz band are on a
    shared, co-primary basis with such transmissions from the Iridium
    system.

7.  IT IS FURTHER HEREBY PROPOSED, pursuant to Section 316 of the
    Communications Act, 47 U.S.C. § 316, that the space station license
    of Iridium Constellation LLC (Call Sign S2110), and the associated
    blanket mobile earth terminal licenses of Iridium Carrier Services
    (Call Sign E960132) and Iridium Satellite LLC (Call Sign E960622),
    BE MODIFIED to permit transmissions in the 1617.775-1618.725 MHz
    band on a shared, co-primary basis for uplink transmission and on a
    secondary basis for downlink transmission, and to specify that
    operations in the 1618.725-1621.35 MHz band are no longer on a
    shared basis with the Globalstar system

8.  IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, pursuant to section 1.87(a) of the
    Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.87(a), Globalstar Licensee LLC,
    GUSA Licensee LLC, Iridium Constellation LLC, Iridium Carrier
    Services, and Iridium Satellite LLC may file, no later than
    thirty (30) days from the release date of this Order, a written
    statement showing with particularity why their licenses should not
    be modified as proposed in this Order.

9.  If the licensee raises a substantial and material question of fact,
    a hearing may be required to resolve such question of fact pursuant
    to section 1.87 of the Commission's rules.[^11] Upon review of the
    statements and/or additional information furnished, the Commission
    may modify the subject licenses as proposed, deny the modification,
    or set the matter of modification for hearing. If no written
    statements are filed by thirty (30) days from the release date of
    this Order, the licensee will be deemed to have consented to a
    modification as proposed in this Order, and a final order will be
    issued.

10. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order Proposing
    Modification SHALL BE SENT BY CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT
    REQUESTED, to:

Mr Anthony J Navarra

461 S. Milpitas Boulevard

Milpitas CA 95035

Jennifer D. Hindin

Wiley Rein LLP

1776 K Street, NW

Washington DC 20006

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

Marlene H. Dortch

Secretary

[^1]: "Big LEO" refers to low-Earth orbit (LEO) mobile satellite
    services above 1 GHz.

[^2]: Spectrum and Service Rules for Ancillary Terrestrial Components in
    the 1.6/2.4 GHz Big LEO Bands, IB Docket No. 07-253, Review of the
    Spectrum Sharing Plan Among Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit Mobile
    Satellite Service Systems in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Bands, IB Docket No.
    02-364, *Second Order on Reconsideration, Second Report and Order,
    and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking*, FCC 07-194, 22 FCC Rcd 19733
    (2007) (*Big LEO Spectrum Sharing Second Order*). The *Big LEO
    Spectrum Sharing Second Order* revised a band sharing plan adopted
    in a prior order, Review of the Spectrum Sharing Plan Among
    Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit Mobile Satellite Service Systems
    in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Bands, IB Docket No. 02-364, Amendment of Part 2
    of the Commission's Rules to Allocate Spectrum Below 3 GHz for
    Mobile and Fixed Services to Support the Introduction of New
    Advanced Wireless Services, including Third Generation Wireless
    Systems, ET Docket No. 00-258, *Report and Order, Fourth Report and
    Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking,* FCC 04-134, 19 FCC
    Rcd 13356 (2004) *(Big LEO Spectrum Sharing Order*).

[^3]: Iridium is already authorized to operate on an exclusive basis in
    the 1621.35-1626.5 MHz band.

[^4]: 72 FR 70807 (December 13, 2007).

[^5]: Ex parte presentation of Globalstar, Inc., dated March 24, 2008,
    in IB Docket No. 02-364, at 2 (Globalstar Ex Parte).

[^6]: *See Amendment to the Commission's Regulatory Policies Governing
    Domestic Fixed Satellites and Separate International Satellite
    Systems*, Report and Order 11 FCC Rcd 2429, 2430 at ¶ 9 (1996)
    (*DISCO I*).

[^7]: *DISCO I*, 11 FCC Rcd at 2440, ¶ 73.

[^8]: Radio Regulation 18.1.

[^9]: Furthermore, because space stations necessarily operate beyond the
    territorial jurisdiction of any country, a space station license
    necessarily has "extra-territorial" effect.

[^10]: Globalstar Ex Parte at 5.

[^11]: 47 C.F.R. § 1.87.