*Pages 1--3 from Microsoft Word - 57743.doc* Federal Communications Commission Washington, D. C. 20554 DA 06- 1282 June 15, 2006 Dr. Abdul Rana 3190 Fairview Park Dr, Suite 400 Falls Church, VA 22042 Re: File No. SES- ASG- 20051109- 01546 Dear Dr. Rana: On November 9, 2005, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) seeking approval to assign to Arrowhead Global Solutions, Inc. (Arrowhead) multiple C-band 1 transmit/ receive Earth Stations (Assignment Application). As we explain below, the FCC has never issued licenses to the FAA for the earth stations listed in the Assignment Application, and consequently, cannot grant the request to assign such licenses to Arrowhead. However, it is our understanding that the request was filed for the purpose of ensuring that the FCC continues to maintain, in its database, records of these earth stations. Accordingly, the request will be granted to the extent that the FCC, will continue to maintain, in its database, records of these earth stations. These earth stations support the Alaska National Airspace Inter- facility Communications Systems (ANICS). We agreed to fully protect 2 FAA earth stations in Alaska which operate in the non- federal only allocated C- Band by entering them into the Commission’s database. Under the 1934 Communications Act, as amended, 3 the Commission has no authority to grant a Federal Government Agency a license to operate an earth station. The authority to authorize operation of such earth stations is granted by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the Department of Commerce. Since non- governmental frequency coordinators rely on FCC databases, and do not have access to NTIA databases which contain Federal Government authorizations, the Commission agreed that, to provide protection for these earth stations, 1 3700- 4200 and 5925- 6425 MHz bands. 2 The U. S. Table of Frequency Allocations, 47 C. F. R. § 2.106, includes coequal allocations for the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS), for which the FAA earth stations operate, and the Fixed Service (FS). 3 See 47 U. S. C. § 305. 1 Federal Communications Commission DA 06- 1282 2 it would include a listing of the ANICS earth stations in the Commission’s database. Because of software limitations on database entries, the Commission’s database showed these entries as licenses, even though no FCC license can be granted to the FAA. The Commission is working to eliminate these software limitations so that the data base entries can accurately reflect the source of the ANICS authorizations. Upon completion of these software changes, the Commission will revise the file numbers and other details of its database associated with these earth stations so as to reflect the source of the authorization. The revised file numbers and associated locations are shown in the attachment. With this action, the Commission will continue to maintain the protected status of these earth stations as long as the NTIA authorizations are maintained. We request that if the authorizations are removed from the NTIA database that the Commission be informed so that conforming changes can be made to the FCC’s database. Since these records do not constitute an authorization to the FAA, we cannot act on a request to assign the licenses listed in the pending Assignment Application. Accordingly, pursuant to Section 25.119 of the Commission rules, 47 C. F. R. § 25.119, and the Commission’s rules on delegated authority, 47 C. F. R. § 0.261, we deny the above- referenced Assignment Application. However, to the extent the application constitutes a request to maintain data base entries reflecting operations of the ANICS system, as authorized by NTIA, it is hereby granted. Sincerely, Scott A. Kotler Chief, Systems Analysis Branch Satellite Division International Bureau 2 Federal Communications Commission DA 06- 1282 3 Attachment Call Sign Current IBFS File No. To Be Revised IBFS File No. Earth Station Location E960329 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01165 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01165 BARTER ISLAND, AK E960330 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01170 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01170 CAPE ROMANZOF, AK E960331 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01171 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01171 GULKANA, AK E960332 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01172 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01172 GALENA, AK E960333 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01173 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01173 TALKEETNA, AK E960334 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01174 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01174 SHEMYA, AK E960335 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01175 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01175 GUSTAVUS, AK E960336 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01176 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01176 GAMBELL, AK E960337 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01177 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01177 BETTLES, AK E960338 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01178 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01178 TWIN CITY, AK E960339 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01179 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01179 CAPE NEWHENHAM, AK E960340 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01180 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01180 ANNETTE, AK E960341 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01181 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01181 ST PAUL, AK E960342 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01182 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01182 PORT HEIDEN, AK E960343 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01193 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01193 MIDDLETON ISLAND, AK E960344 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01183 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01183 NORTHWAY, AK E960345 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01157 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01157 KING SALMON, AK E960346 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01158 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01158 KOTZEBUE, AK E960347 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01194 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01194 BIORKA ISLAND (BKA), AK E960348 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01159 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01159 BIG DELTA, AK E960349 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01160 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01160 BETHEL, AK E960350 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01191 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01191 DEADHORSE, AK E960351 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01161 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01161 COLD BAY, AK E960352 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01162 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01162 UNALASKA/ DUTCH, AK E960353 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01163 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01163 FAIRBANKS, AK E960354 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01184 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01184 FORT YUKON, AK E960355 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01185 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01185 ILIAMNA, AK E960356 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01186 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01186 NOME, AK E960357 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01187 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01187 HOMER, AK E960358 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01188 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01188 YAKUTAT, AK E960359 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01189 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01189 JOHNSTONE POINT, AK E960360 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01192 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01192 SAND POINT, AK E960361 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01190 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01190 ST. MARY'S, AK E960362 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01169 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01169 BARROW, AK E960363 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01166 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01166 ANCHORAGE, AK E960364 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01164 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01164 JUNEAU, AK E960365 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01167 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01167 KENAI, AK E960366 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01168 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01168 UNALAKLEET, AK E960374 SES- LIC- 19960514- 01156 SES- DBE- 19960514- 01156 WOODY ISLAND, AK 3