[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25591-25592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-10095]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket No. 07-253; FCC 08-98]


Ancillary Terrestrial Components in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Big LEO Bands

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Currently, Globalstar, Inc. (Globalstar) operates a Mobile-
Satellite Service (MSS) system in the 1610-1626.5 MHz band (Big LEO L-
band) and the 2483.5-2500 MHz band (Big LEO S-band). Globalstar, a code 
division multiple access (CDMA) system, is authorized to operate an 
ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) in the 1610-1615.5 MHz and 
2487.5-2493 MHz segments of the Big LEO bands. By this decision, the 
Federal Communications Commission (Commission) increases the spectrum 
in which Big LEO MSS systems using CDMA technology operate ATC. As a 
result, the Commission increases the spectrum in which Globalstar may 
operate ATC in the Big LEO L-band to include the 1610-1617.775 MHz 
band, an increase of 2.275 megahertz, and in the Big LEO S-band to 
include the 2483.5-2495 MHz band, an increase of six megahertz.

DATES: Effective June 6, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Griboff, 202/418-0657.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1610-1626.5 MHz band and 2483.5-2500 MHz 
band were allocated to the MSS for low-earth orbiting satellites in 
1994. Currently, CDMA MSS systems, of which Globalstar is the only 
operational system, have exclusive MSS use of the 1610-1617.775 MHz 
segment of the L-band and the 2483.5-2500 MHz segment of the L-band.
    ATC allows MSS systems to provide coverage in areas where the 
satellite signal is blocked, particularly in side buildings, by using 
terrestrial base stations that operate in the same frequency bands as 
the satellite systems. In order for an MSS system to operate ATC, it 
must meet several criteria to ensure that the ATC is part of the MSS 
system and not a stand-alone terrestrial system.
    In 2003, the Commission authorized CDMA Big LEO MSS systems to 
operate ATC in 11 megahertz of their authorized spectrum: 5.5 megahertz 
at 1610-1615.5 MHz in the Big LEO L-band, and 5.5 megahertz at 2487.5-
2493 MHz in the Big LEO S-band. In 2006, Globalstar requested that the 
Commission authorize it to operate ATC in all of the spectrum assigned 
to Globalstar, currently the 1610-1618.725 MHz and 2483.5-2500 MHz 
bands.
    By a Report and Order and Order Proposing Modification, the 
Commission increases the spectrum in which CDMA Big LEO MSS systems may 
operate ATC to 7.775 megahertz at 1610-1617.775 MHz in the Big LEO L-
band and 11.5 megahertz at 2483.5-2495 MHz in the Big LEO S-band, a 
total increase of 8.775 megahertz from the previous ATC authorization 
of eleven megahertz to an ATC authorization of 19.275 megahertz. The 
Commission does not authorize CDMA Big LEO MSS operators to operate ATC 
in the L-band segment at 1617.775-1618.725 MHz because that segment is 
shared time division multiple access (TDMA) Big LEO MSS, and it is 
highly likely that ATC would cause harmful interference to the only 
TDMA Big LEO MSS currently operational, operated by Iridium Satellite 
LLC. The Commission also does not authorize ATC in the 2495-2500 MHz 
segment of the Big LEO S-band because that segment is shared with the 
fixed and mobile services, including the Broadband Radio Service/
Educational Broadband Service (BRS/EBS), and it is highly likely that 
ATC would cause harmful interference to that service.
    The Commission also establishes strict out-of-band emissions limits 
for the upper edge of the ATC S-band (2495 MHz) to ensure that ATC will 
not cause harmful interference to BRS Channel 1 operations in the 2496-
2502 MHz band.
    The Commission proposes to modify Globalstar's MSS license pursuant 
to its authority under Section 316 of the Communications Act, to 
reflect that Globalstar will have authority to operate ATC in the bands 
1610-1617.775 MHz and 2483.5-2495 MHz. This license modification will 
serve the public interest by providing more capable and flexible MSS/
ATC service offerings in the Big LEO bands. Globalstar may protest the 
proposed modification of its license within 30 days of publication of 
this Report and Order and Order Proposing Modification in the Federal 
Register.
    This Report and Order and Order Proposing Modification does not 
contain new or modified information collection requirements subject to 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. In 
addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified 
``information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees,'' pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief 
Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).
    The Commission will send a copy of this Report and Order and Order 
Proposing Modification in a report to be sent to Congress and the 
Government Accountability Office pursuant to the Congressional Review 
Act, see 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A).

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 25

    Satellites.

    Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.

Final Rules

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal Communications 
Commission amends 47 CFR part 25 to read as follows:

[[Page 25592]]

PART 25--SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 25 continues to read:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 701-744. Interprets or applies Sections 4, 
301, 302, 303, 307, 309 and 332 of the Communications Act, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154, 301, 302, 303, 307, 309 and 332, 
unless otherwise noted.


0
2. Revise paragraphs (a)(2)(iii) and (b)(5)(ii) of Sec.  25.149 to read 
as follows:


Sec.  25.149  Application requirements for ancillary terrestrial 
components in the mobile-satellite service networks operating in the 
1.5/1.6 GHz, 1.6/2.4 GHz and 2 GHz mobile-satellite service.

    (a) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iii) In the 1610-1626.5 MHz/2483.5-2500 MHz bands (Big LEO bands), 
ATC operations are limited to the 1610-1617.775 MHz, 1621.35-1626.5 
MHz, and 2483.5-2495 MHz bands and to the specific frequencies 
authorized for use by the MSS licensee that seeks ATC authority.
* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (5) * * *
    (ii) In the Big LEO bands, MSS ATC is limited to no more than 7.775 
MHz of spectrum in the L-band and 11.5 MHz of spectrum in the S-band. 
Licensees in these bands may implement ATC only on those channels on 
which MSS is authorized, consistent with the Big LEO band-sharing 
arrangement.
* * * * *

0
3. Add paragraph (d) to Sec.  25.254 to read as follows:


Sec.  25.254  Special requirements for ancillary terrestrial components 
operating in the 1610-1626.5 MHz/2483.5-2500 MHz bands.

* * * * *
    (d) To avoid interference to an adjacent channel licensee in the 
Broadband Radio Service (BRS), the power of any ATC base station 
emission above 2495 MHz shall be attenuated below the transmitter power 
(P) measured in watts in accordance with the standards below. If these 
measures do not resolve a documented interference complaint received 
from the adjacent channel BRS licensee, the provisions of Sec.  25.255 
shall apply.
    (1) For base stations, the attenuation shall be not less than 43 + 
10 log (P) dB at the upper edge of the authorized ATC band, unless a 
documented interference complaint is received from an adjacent channel 
licensee in the BRS. Provided that a documented interference complaint 
cannot be mutually resolved between the parties, the following 
additional attenuation requirements set forth in subsections (2)-(5) 
shall apply:
    (2) If a pre-existing BRS base station suffers harmful interference 
from emissions caused by a new or modified ATC base station located 1.5 
km or more away, within 24 hours of the receipt of a documented 
interference complaint the ATC licensee must attenuate its emissions by 
at least 67 + 10 log (P) dB measured at 3 megahertz above the edge of 
the authorized ATC band, and shall immediately notify the complaining 
licensee upon implementation of the additional attenuation.
    (3) If a pre-existing BRS base station suffers harmful interference 
from emissions caused by a new or modified ATC base station located 
less than 1.5 km away, within 24 hours of the receipt of a documented 
interference complaint the ATC licensee must attenuate its emissions by 
at least 67 + 10 log (P) -20 log(D<INF>km</INF>/1.5) dB measured at 3 
megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band, or if both base 
stations are co-located, limit its undesired signal level at the pre-
existing BRS base station receiver(s) to no more than -107 dBm measured 
in a 5.5 megahertz bandwidth and shall immediately notify the 
complaining licensee upon such reduction in the undesired signal level.
    (4) If a new or modified BRS base station suffers harmful 
interference from emissions caused by a pre-existing ATC base station 
located 1.5 km or more away, within 60 days of receipt of a documented 
interference complaint the licensee of the ATC base station must 
attenuate its base station emissions by at least 67 + 10 log (P) dB 
measured at 3 megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band.
    (5) If a new or modified BRS base station suffers harmful 
interference from emissions caused by a pre-existing ATC base station 
located less than 1.5 km away, within 60 days of receipt of a 
documented interference complaint:
    (i) the ATC licensee must attenuate its base station emissions by 
at least 67 + 10 log (P) -20 log(D<INF>km</INF>/1.5) dB measured 3 
megahertz above the edge of the authorized ATC band, or
    (ii) if both base stations are co-located, the ATC licensee must 
limit its undesired signal level at the new or modified BRS base 
station receiver(s) to no more than -107 dBm measured in a 5.5 
megahertz bandwidth.
    (6) Compliance with these rules is based on the use of measurement 
instrumentation employing a resolution bandwidth of 1 MHz or greater. 
However, in the 1 MHz bands immediately above and adjacent to the 2495 
MHz a resolution bandwidth of at least one percent of the emission 
bandwidth of the fundamental emission of the transmitter may be 
employed. A narrower resolution bandwidth is permitted in all cases to 
improve measurement accuracy, provided the measured power is integrated 
over the full required measurement bandwidth (i.e., 1 MHz or 1 percent 
of emission bandwidth, as specified). The emission bandwidth is defined 
as the width of the signal between two points, one below the carrier 
center frequency and one above the carrier center frequency, outside of 
which all emissions are attenuated at least 26 dB below the transmitter 
power. When an emission outside of the authorized bandwidth causes 
harmful interference, the Commission may, at its discretion, require 
greater attenuation than specified in this section.
* * * * *
 [FR Doc. E8-10095 Filed 5-6-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P