STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL
Re:  Fixed and Mobile Services in the Mobile Satellite Service Bands at 1525-1559 MHz 
and 1626.5-1660.5 MHz, 1610-1626.5 MHz and 2483.5-2500 MHz, and 2000-2020 
MHz and 2180-2200 MHz, ET Docket No. 10-142.
During my time at the Commission, I have consistently supported efforts to remove 
regulatory barriers, create flexibility for licensees and prospective licensees, and therefore 
promote additional investment in communications services.  We can all agree that all Americans, 
no matter where they live or work, should have affordable access to robust and reliable broadband 
products and services.  At the same time, constructive public policy should aim to bring more 
spectrum to market while also promoting spectral efficiency.  Accordingly, I am pleased to 
support today’s effort to seek public comment on ideas to promote greater flexibility for mobile 
satellite service (MSS) licensees.  I also support our separate inquiry into proposals for making 
additional spectrum available for mobile broadband networks.
 
I am particularly interested in learning more about application of the Commission’s 
secondary market rules in the MSS context, as discussed in our Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.  
Consumers benefit most when spectrum licensees have multiple and equal opportunities to 
increase their spectral efficiency, no matter their technology.  Due to the time necessary to 
develop a full record on the ideas raised in our Notice of Inquiry, I urge that we move forward as 
quickly as possible on the rulemaking aspect of this proceeding.  Given the condition of 
America’s economy, it is more important than ever to do all we can to bolster investment and 
opportunities for innovation and job growth.  America’s wireless consumers, and the companies 
that serve them, should not be forced to bear the costly burden of unnecessary delay.
I thank the teams from the Office of Engineering and Technology, the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau and the International Bureau for your important work.