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 NEWS  Federal  Communications  Commission  445  12  th  Street,  S.  W.  Washington,  D.  C.  20554  This  is  an  unofficial  announcement  of  Commission  action.  Release  of  the  full  text  of  a  Commission  order  constitutes  official  action.  See  MCI  v.  FCC.  515  F  2d  385  (D.  C.  Circ  1974).  News  Media  Information  202  /  418-  0500  Internet:  http://  www.  fcc.  gov  TTY:  1-  888-  835-  5322 
 FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE:  NEWS  MEDIA  CONTACT:  February  9,  2004  Jacki  Ponti  (202)  418-  0436 
 Email:  jacki.  ponti@  fcc.  gov 
 COMMISSION  PROPOSES  FLEXIBLE  USE  OF  KU-  BAND  FREQUENCIES  TO  FURTHER  FACILITATE  PROVISION  OF  BROADBAND  SATELLITE  SERVICES  ON  AIRPLANES 


 Washington,  D.  C.-  Today,  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  proposed  rules  that  address  the  growing  demand  for  two-  way  broadband  data  and  communications  capabilities  onboard  aircraft.  In  a 
 Notice  of  Proposed  Rulemaking,  the  Commission  proposed  a  regulatory  framework  for  licensing  the  operation  of  Aeronautical  Mobile  Satellite  Service  (AMSS)  systems  to  communicate  with  fixed-  satellite 
 service  (FSS)  networks  in  the  Ku-  band  frequencies.  AMSS  potentially  offers  consumers  the  benefits  of  broadband  services  while  traveling  by  air,  both  domestically  and  internationally.  Aircraft  Earth  stations 
 (AESs)  in  the  AMSS  can  be  used  to  provide  broadband  telecommunications  services  to  passengers  and  crew  on  commercial,  government,  and  executive/  private  aircraft.  The  Notice  responds  to  an  emerging 
 marketplace  need  by  potentially  permitting  more  flexible  use  of  the  Ku-  band  while  protecting  existing  fixed  terrestrial  and  satellite  services  from  harmful  interference. 


 Specifically,  the  Notice 
 1.  examines  frequency  allocation  issues  in  the  Ku-  band  where  AMSS  systems  will  operate  and  seeks  comments  on  procedures  to  protect  space  research  service  and  radio  astronomy  service  sites 


 from  AMSS  operations  in  the  band; 
 2.  proposes  rules  and  procedures  to  license  AMSS  networks  that  would  permit  blanket  licensing  of  an  AMSS  network  similar  to  the  licensing  rules  for  very  small  aperture  terminals  (VSATs)  that 


 currently  operate  in  the  Ku-  band; 
 3.  seeks  comment  on  the  establishment  of  a  regulatory  framework  that  could  enable  foreign-  licensed  AES  terminals  to  operate  in  United  States  airspace  without  causing  harmful  interference  to 


 domestic  operations. 
 International  Bureau  Contacts:  Steven  Spaeth  (202)  418-  1539;  Arthur  Lechtman  (202)  418-  1465. 


 IB  Docket  No.  05-  20 


 -FCC- 
 News  about  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  can  also  be  found 
 on  the  Commission’s  web  site  www.  fcc.  gov. 
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