*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 15593* PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission 445 12th St., S. W. Washington, D. C. 20554 News Media Information 202 / 418- 0500 Internet: http:// www. fcc. gov TTY: 1- 888- 835- 5322 DA 02- 554 Released: March 6, 2002 COMMISSION STAFF INVITES TECHNICAL COMMENT ON THE CERTAIN PROPOSALS TO PERMIT FLEXIBILITY IN THE DELIVERY OF COMMUNICATIONS BY MOBILE SATELLITE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN THE 2 GHZ BAND, THE L- BAND, AND THE 1.6/ 2.4 GHZ BAND IB Docket No. 01- 185 ET Docket No. 95- 18 Comment Date: March 15, 2002 On August 17, 2001, the Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the above captioned proceeding to obtain comment on proposals to bring flexibility to the delivery of communications by mobile satellite service (“ MSS”) providers. The Commission sought comment on two proposals regarding whether and how the Commission might bring flexibility in MSS spectrum. The first proposal, if implemented would permit MSS operators in certain 1 DA 02- 554 frequency bands to provide service in areas where the MSS signals are attenuated by integrating terrestrial operations with their networks using assigned MSS frequencies. The alternative proposal would open portions of the MSS bands for any operator to provide a terrestrial service that could either be offered in conjunction with MSS or as an alternative mobile service. To further its consideration of these proposals, the Commission staff invites limited additional technical comment on certain issues raised in the NPRM. Specifically, Commission staff requests comment on the following issues: € From a purely technical point of view, can the operations of mobile satellite services (MSS) in the 2 GHz band, L- band and Big LEO band be “severed” from terrestrial operations in each band? In other words, is it technically feasible for one operator to provide terrestrial services and another operator to provide satellite services in the same MSS band? If not, why not? Parties should specifically address any band- specific rules, orders or agreements that might pose additional technical obstacles to severing terrestrial and satellite operations. € Assuming terrestrial and satellite operations can be severed: € how would severing the operations affect domestic and foreign satellite operations? terrestrial operations? € how would severing the operations affect service to remote and rural areas? to urban areas? € how would the technical requirements for separate services differ from the technical requirements for integrated MSS ATC? € how would severing the operations affect adjacent channel operations (both satellite and terrestrial)? € what requirements are necessary for an integrated MSS ATC system to avoid adjacent channel and/ or adjacent band interference? € how do the technical requirements that integrated MSS ATC systems must observe to avoid creating harmful interference differ from those that freestanding terrestrial mobile systems would have to observe? Parties are encouraged to provide a detailed, technical discussion in response to these questions and should address any other logically related, technical issues or limitations relevant to severing terrestrial operations from satellite operations in the MSS bands that are the subject of this proceeding. 2 DA 02- 554 A copy of the initiating NPRM is available during regular business hours at the FCC Reference Center, Portals II, 445 12th Street, S. W., Suite CY- A257, Washington, D. C. 20554, (202) 418- 0270. A copy of the petition may also be found by searching on the Commission’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) at (insert 01- 185 into the Proceeding block). Interested parties may file, electronically or by paper, comments concerning this matter on or before March 15, 2002. All filings must reference IB Docket No. 01- 185 and ET Docket No. 95- 18. If filing paper copies, send an original and four copies to the Acting Commission Secretary, William Caton, Portals II, 445 12th Street, SW, Suite TW- A325, Washington, D. C. 20554. Comments may be filed using the ECFS. Comments filed through the ECFS can be sent as an electronic file via the Internet to . If using this method, please reference the docket number, 01- 185 in the Proceeding block. Generally, only one copy of an electronic submission must be filed. In completing the transmittal screen, commenters should include their full name, postal service mailing address, and the applicable docket or rulemaking number( s). Parties may also submit electronic comments by Internet e-mail. To get filing instructions for e- mail comments, commenters should send an e- mail to ecfs@ fcc. gov, including "get form " in the body of the message. A sample form and directions will be sent in reply. After filing your comments electronically, please send an e- mail to Carmell Weathers, cweather@ fcc. gov, indicating that comments have been filed. This is a "permit but disclose" proceeding for purposes of the Commission's ex parte rules. As a "permit but disclose" proceeding, ex parte presentations will be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 1.1206 of the Commission's rules applicable to non- restricted proceedings. Parties making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that memoranda summarizing the presentation must contain a summary of the substance of the presentation and not merely a listing of the subjects discussed. More than a one or two sentence description of the views and arguments presented is generally required. Other rules pertaining to oral and written presentations are set forth in Section 1.1206( b) as well. For further information contact Trey Hanbury of the International Bureau, Planning & Negotiations Division, at (202) 418- 0766 or ghanbury@ fcc. gov. The TTY number is (202) 418- 0484. - FCC - 3