ICO Global Chmn. Craig McCaw dismissed Cingular Wireless and Spri...

FCC this week, citing analysis commissioned by Telcordia, that ATC usage of MSS spectrum proposed by ICO would eat up capacity of satellite uplink. They concluded even “modest” ancillary terrestrial networks would pose risk to rendering satellite incapable of providing any MSS services (CD May 14 p4). “It’s much more complex than the incredibly simplistic Telcordia approach to it,” McCaw told us. He reiterated message of several recent ICO filings at FCC -- that company was seeking to provide limited terrestrial services in MSS band to serve underserved rural areas and not to compete with larger cellular operators. “We don’t understand what they are worried about,” McCaw said of wireless operators. “We are after new areas,” he said, citing “global vertical markets” such as U.S. multinational corporations, govt. agencies with global presence, underserved rural customers. Of reaction of wireless carriers, he said: “We're almost mystified except to say that we understand that there’s a tendency not to want to see anybody else in the wireless space.” ICO has asked FCC to move “expeditiously” on its request to use MSS spectrum for terrestrial wireless operations. “Our satellites are complete and ready to launch. We have a lot of work to do to integrate the plan,” McCaw said. “It’s very painful to have to delay.” ICO Vp-External Affairs Gerry Salemme didn’t disagree with conclusion of Telcordia analysis that “at most” 18 ATC handsets could operate outdoors and transmit at full power per CDMA carrier pair within one of ICO’s satellite beams. But he said Telcordia ignored “many techniques that would allow the terrestrial and satellite components to be integrated into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.” By using dynamic spectrum assignment, multiple satellite beams and other mitigation measures, ICO could provide ATC service on co-frequency basis to 1.6 million additional users in U.S., he said: “For Telcordia to exclude these techniques from its analysis, yet pretend to be making a careful study, is like playing Hamlet without the prince.” Globalstar has opposed severance of any part of spectrum for assignment to separate ATC provider. Company has told FCC it could use L/S band MSS spectrum in select urban areas while maintaining MSS service in U.S. and that MSS-ATC service could be coordinated with another CDMA/MSS licensee in band. Bill Adler, Globalstar vp-legal & regulatory affairs, said Telcordia analysis didn’t properly account for extent to which MSS operators would dynamically manage channels to make some spectrum available for terrestrial use and rest for MSS in same geographical areas.