Federal Communications Commission FCC 04-286
1
STATEMENT OF
CHAIRMAN MICHAEL K. POWELL
Re: In the Matter of Procedures to Govern the Use of Satellite Earth Stations on Board Vessels in the 
5925-6425 MHz/3700-4200 MHz Bands and the 14.0-14.5 GHz/11.7-12.2 GHz Bands (Adopted 
December 15, 2004).
Today we open another frontier for broadband – the world’s oceans.  We expect to be connected 
wherever we are, even if that means in the middle of the ocean.  Whether for vacationers on a cruise ship, 
students taking academic courses at sea, or merchant ships communicating to their coastal headquarters –
Earth Stations on Vessels (ESVs) help to provide telecommunications services and internet access for any 
marine craft large enough for a satellite dish.
Today we establish licensing and service rules for ESVs in the C- and Ku-bands.  It is our goal to 
strike the appropriate balance between the interests of ESV and incumbent users in the bands.  Thus, 
today’s order allows ESVs to continue operating in the C-and Ku-bands, but requires ESV operators to 
protect fixed terrestrial and fixed-satellite service incumbents from interference and requires operators in 
both bands to collect and maintain vessel tracking data to assist in identifying and resolving sources of 
interference.
As broadband technologies continue to expand and become an increasingly vital component of 
modern communications, the market for broadband via satellite continues to grow.  Thus, by continuing 
to support licenses for ESV operations, we are today, advancing the Commission’s goals and objectives 
for market-driven deployment of broadband technologies.  I thank the International Bureau and my fellow 
Commissioners for all of their hard work on this item.