[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 41 (Thursday, March 2, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 11644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-5128]



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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 2

[ET Docket No. 95-18; FCC 95-39]


Allocation of Spectrum at 2 GHz for Use by the Mobile-Satellite 
Service

agency: Federal Communications Commission.

action: Proposed rule.

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summary: By this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the Commission 
proposes to allocate 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz and 
2165-2200 MHz to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS). This proposal 
responds to petitions filed by Celsat, Inc., TRW, and the Personal 
Communications Satellite Corporation for spectrum in the 2 GHz range to 
operate satellites providing personal communications services. This 
Notice of Proposed Rule Making solicits comment on the proposed 
allocation, including the necessity and means of moving incumbent 
Broadcast Auxiliary Service and microwave licensees to another band; on 
technical requirements for MSS in the proposed bands; and on awarding 
MSS licenses in the proposed bands by competitive bidding.

comment dates: Comments are due March 9, 1995. Reply comments are due 
March 27, 1995.

for further information contact: Sean White, Office of Engineering and 
Technology, (202) 776-1624.

supplementary information: This is a summary of the Commission's Notice 
of Proposed Rule Making, adopted January 30, 1995, and released January 
31, 1995. The full text of this Commission decision is available for 
inspection and copying during regular business hours in the FCC 
Reference Center (Room 239), 1919 M Street NW., Washington, DC. The 
complete text of this decision also may be purchased from the 
Commission's duplication contractor, International Transcription 
Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 2100 M Street NW., Suite 140, 
Washington, DC 20037.

Summary of Notice of Proposed Rule Making

    1. In this Notice of Proposed Rule Making, the Commission proposes 
to allocate 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz 
to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS). The 1992 World Administrative 
Radio Conference (WARC-92) allocated the 1970-1980 MHz (Earth-to-space) 
and 2160-2170 MHz (space-to-Earth) bands in Region 2 and the 1980-2010 
MHz (Earth-to-space) and 2170-2200 MHz (space-to-Earth) bands worldwide 
to MSS. In the June 1994 Memorandum Opinion and Order in GEN Docket No. 
90-314, 59 FR 32830, June 24, 1994, we allocated the 1850-1990 MHz band 
to terrestrial broadband personal communications services (PCS). 
Because of this, it does not appear to be practicable to make a 
domestic allocation of 2 GHz spectrum for MSS that is consistent with 
the international allocation without jeopardizing the availability of 
spectrum for PCS.
    2. We believe that a need exists for allocating a substantial 
amount of spectrum for MSS. There is significant consumer demand for 
convenient mobile services such as telephone, high-rate data and fax, 
and video. MSS can provide such communications in remote or rural areas 
not covered by terrestrially based mobile services, and can provide 
nationwide public safety coverage. We also believe that use of 2 GHz 
frequencies can help minimize transmission costs and ensure a 
relatively low cost service that will be within the economic reach of a 
large segment of the population. Thus, the proposed allocation of 70 
MHz of spectrum to MSS should give the public, especially rural 
Americans, access to new and competitive services and technologies.
    3. Any 2 GHz MSS allocation should be as consistent as possible 
with the WARC-92 worldwide MSS allocation, to help ensure a truly 
universal service. We therefore believe that incorporating use of the 
1990-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz bands allocated for MSS by WARC-92 is 
desirable. At the same time, we believe that 70 megahertz is needed to 
accommodate all MSS demand, and so propose to allocate 1990-2025 MHz 
and 2165-2200 MHz to MSS.
    4. This allocation would require that the candidate bands be 
cleared of Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) incumbents in the 1990-
2025 MHz band. In order to accommodate these incumbents, we propose to 
add 35 megahertz at the upper end of the BAS spectrum to offset the 35 
megahertz we are allocating to MSS, making the BAS allocation 2025-2145 
MHz. MSS providers would have to bear the costs of moving BAS licensees 
to their new band. The proposed MSS allocation would also require 
relocation of microwave incumbents. We addressed this issue in the 
First Report and Order and Third Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET 
Docket No. 92-9, 58 FR 46457, September 2, 1993, and propose to follow 
the same procedures, requiring that MSS licensees bear the entire cost 
of relocating BAS and microwave incumbents in the 1990-2025 MHz and 
2165-2200 MHz bands.
    5. The Commission solicits public comment on the proposed 
allocation, the proposal to relocate BAS and microwave incumbents, any 
other sharing or technical matters pertinent to the proposed 
allocation, and our proposal to allocate licenses in the proposed MSS 
spectrum by competitive bidding.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 2

    Frequency allocations and radio treaty matters, Radio.

Federal Communications Commission.
William F. Caton,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-5128 Filed 3-1-95; 8:45 am]
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