ANCILLARY TERRESTRIAL COMPONENT DECISION MAY NOT COME UNTIL JAN.
Decision on use of ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) by mobile satellite service (MSS) providers may not be released until Jan., senior FCC staffer said, but draft item is circulating on 8th floor. Commission has been considering whether MSS providers such as New ICO and Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) should be allowed to use ATC to supplement existing satellite services (CD Sept 3 p1). International Bureau Chief Donald Abelson didn’t confirm timing of decision by Commission, but said in late Nov. briefing that it intended to make decision by end of year (CD Nov 25 p5).
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Industry sources said FCC was likely to support MSS providers, and auctions might not be option. However, source close to decision said complete agreement among Commissioners was unlikely. Mobile wireless carriers oppose ATC use by MSS providers, preferring open auction of spectrum instead. Abelson mentioned auctions briefly in Nov. session: “[Commission will] work with Congress to get the permission to auction satellite spectrum. The flexibility to be able to auction is the important piece, and we need to study it carefully.”
Increasing number of ex parte filings have been made in recent weeks. New ICO filed most-recent one, reaffirming its commitment to satellite industry. “We look forward to FCC implementation of regulatory and spectrum policies that will make 2 GHz MSS services like those contemplated by ICO viable,” it said. Source said companies wanted to make sure Commissioners knew ATC would not be way to get around provision of satellite services.