Mr. Donald Abelson

Chief of the International Bureau

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th Street SW

Washington, D.C. 20554

Dear Mr. Abelson:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA),
on behalf of the Executive Branch Agencies, has approved the release of
an additional Executive Branch proposal for WRC-07. This proposal
considers the federal agency inputs toward the development of the U.S.
Proposals for WRC-07.

The enclosed document contains a draft U.S. proposal for agenda item
1.6. This proposal is forwarded for your consideration and review by
your WRC-07 Advisory Committee. Jim Vorhies of my staff is the primary
contact for NTIA.

> Sincerely,
>
> *(Original signed November 17, 2005)*
>
> Fredrick R. Wentland
>
> Associate Administrator
>
> Office of Spectrum Management

Enclosure

# United States of America

## DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE

**Agenda Item 1.6 (Res. 414)**: to consider additional allocations for
the aeronautical mobile (R) service in parts of the bands between
108 MHz and 6 GHz, in accordance with Resolution **414 (WRC‑03)** and,
to study current satellite frequency allocations, that will support the
modernization of civil aviation telecommunication systems, taking into
account Resolution **415 (WRC‑03)**;

**Background Information:** This proposal considers additional
allocations for the aeronautical mobile (R) service (AM(R)S ) in parts
of the bands between 108 MHz and 6 GHz, in accordance with
Resolution **414 (WRC‑03)**.

Existing AM(R)S bands are nearing saturation in high traffic areas. In
addition, new applications and concepts in air traffic management put
further pressure on existing AM(R)S bands. Resolution **414 (WRC-03)**
states that new technologies to support air navigation may not conform
to the definition of aeronautical radionavigation in the Radio
Regulations. WRC-03 provided a mechanism to implement these new aviation
technologies by adding AM(R)S use in the 108-117.975 MHz band by
footnote **5.197A**. One emerging application driving requirements for
new AM(R)S spectrum is the integration of command and control for
unmanned aircraft (UAs) into air traffic services (ATS) airspace.
Conversely, AM(R)S spectrum is not appropriate for UA payload data use,
such as downlinking information and operational data from the UA.

ITU-R Working Party 8B (WP8B) and the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) developed a draft operational concept, and
technology selection criteria and procedures for new aviation
technology. WP8B and ICAO determined that the new aviation systems
require two distinct categories of AM(R)S spectrum. The first category
for surface applications could support high data throughput over
moderate transmission distances. There is a high degree of reuse of this
spectrum. For surface applications, ICAO and WP8B recommended 5 091-5
150 MHz as a suitable band. WP8B is also studying the band 5 091-5 150
MHz under agenda item 1.5 for the purpose of aeronautical mobile
telemetry applications.

The second category for bidirectional air to ground applications could
support a moderate data throughput over longer propagation distances out
to radio line-of-sight. These applications require a number of distinct
channels to allow for sector-to-sector assignments. For radio
line-of-sight applications, ICAO and WP8B recommended 960-1 024 MHz as a
suitable band.

**Proposal:**

**USA/ / 1 MOD**

890-1 300 MHz

**Reasons:** To provide allocations to support evolving AM(R)S
applications**.**

**USA/ / 2 MOD**

4 800-5 570 MHz

**Reasons:** To provide allocations to support evolving AM(R)S
applications**.**

**USA/ /3 ADD**

**5.328\[C\]** The band 960-1 024 MHz may also be used by the
aeronautical mobile (R) service on a primary basis, limited to systems
operating in accordance with recognized international aeronautical
standards. Such use shall be in accordance with Resolution **\[AM(R)S
960\]** and shall not cause harmful interference to nor claim protection
from stations operating in the aeronautical radionavigation service
operating in accordance with international aeronautical standards.

**Reasons:** To provide allocations to support evolving AM(R)S
applications**.** Compatibility with regard to existing aeronautical
radionavigation service (ARNS) systems will be addressed as a part of
standards development for the new AM(R)S system.

**USA/ /4 ADD**

**5.367\[A\]** The band 5 091-5 150 MHz may also be used by the
aeronautical mobile (R) service on a primary basis, limited to systems
operating in accordance with recognized international aeronautical
standards.

**Reasons:** To provide allocations to support evolving AM(R)S
applications**.** Compatibility with regard to existing aeronautical
radionavigation service (ARNS) systems will be addressed as a part of
standards development for the new AM(R)S system.

**USA/ /5 ADD**

RESOLUTION \[AM(R)S 960\] (WRC‑07)

Use of the band 960-1 024 MHz by aeronautical services

The World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2007),

> considering

a\) the current allocation of the frequency band 960-1 164 MHz to the
aeronautical radionavigation service (ARNS);

b\) the use of the band 960-1 215 MHz by the aeronautical
radionavigation service is reserved on a worldwide basis for the
operation and development of airborne electronic aids to air navigation
and any directly associated ground-based facilities per No. **5.328**;

c\) that new technologies are being developed to support communications
and air navigation, including airborne and ground surveillance
applications;

d\) that new applications and concepts in air traffic management which
are data intensive are being developed,

> recognizing

a\) that precedence must be given to the ARNS operating in the frequency
band 960-1 164 MHz;

b\) that, in accordance with Annex 10 of the Convention of the
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) on international civil
aviation, all aeronautical systems must meet standards and recommended
practices (SARPs) requirements;

c\) that compatibility criteria between aeronautical mobile (route)
service (AM(R)S) systems and the ARNS operating in the frequency band
960-1 024 MHz will be established by ICAO through the development of
relevant Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for the
communication systems;

d\) that all compatibility issues between AM(R)S systems operating in
the 960-1024 MHz band and ARNS systems in that band must be addressed
and resolved prior to such AM(R)S systems being placed into use,

> noting

that no compatibility criteria currently exist between AM(R)S systems
proposed for operations in the frequency band 960-1 024 MHz and the
existing ARNS aeronautical systems in the band,

> resolves

1 that the provisions of this Resolution and of No. **5.328C** shall
enter into force on \[x\] November 2007;

2 that any AM(R)S systems planned to operate in the frequency band
960-1 024 MHz shall, as a minimum, have performance standards published
in Annex 10 of the ICAO Convention on International Civil Aviation, and
that those performance standards will ensure compatibility with ARNS
systems operating in accordance with international (ICAO) standards;

3 that any AM(R)S systems operating in the band 960-1 024 MHz shall
impose no constraints on the operation and future development of co-band
aeronautical radionavigation systems operating in accordance with
international (ICAO) standards,

> instructs the Secretary-General

to bring this Resolution to the attention of ICAO.