Satellite Operators Raise H-Block Concerns

Wireless carriers led by CTIA are continuing a series of meetings at the FCC to ask for a month’s delay and explain their concerns. Comrs. Copps and Adelstein sat in on meetings. If the FCC proceeds with a vote, the H-block item would be placed on the sunshine notice for the meeting late Thurs., cutting off further lobbying. “Everyone [at the Commission] recognizes there are legitimate interference concerns,” said a carrier source: “It would make sense to delay it for a month, but the one big issue is making sure they develop the right service rules.”

Verizon Wireless has also been lobbying the FCC this week on its own, including a meeting with Wireless Bureau Chief John Muleta. The carrier said in an ex parte letter it stressed the importance of testing for interference before release of final service rules. “We discussed the importance of not taking action on the H block until the results of such testing are known. In particular, we noted the importance of… ensuring that the H block is not used in a manner that would harm existing wireless customers.” Nextel has been at the FCC carrying its message that the spectrum can be used safely without interfering with PCS incumbents.

The satellite interests say instead FCC should reallocate the 5 MHz to mobile satellite service (MSS) providers. The spectrum from 1995 MHz to 2000 MHz had been part of a 70 MHz allocation for MSS, but was cut in Jan. 2003 (CD Jan 31/03 p1). SIA said it still believes MSS operators could use the 5 MHz as part of a globally harmonized allocation (CD April 17/03 p5), but barring that, service providers in the H-block should be required to protect adjacent operations by incumbent MSS licensees.

SIA said a proposal by wireless operators for a guard band is unacceptable because it would require MSS to give up additional globally harmonized spectrum, a move that would “devastate ongoing efforts to deploy global MSS systems in the 2 GHz band.” Instead, “the Commission should clearly place the onus of undertaking that [interference] mitigation on any new H-block licensees,” especially since it indicated previously it would do so, SIA said.

SIA said PCS H-block base stations would likely overload MSS receivers in the adjacent band, in addition to causing out-of-band emissions. An engineering study submitted by MSS licensee Terrestar supported the proposal. Specifically, Terrestar said its analysis looks at how potential operations would affect the satellite it plans to launch. The company said out-of-band emissions could be reduced with additional filtering, but without it, “the [base station (BTS)] carrier frequency will need to leave a guard band of 2.25 MHz with respect to the lower edge (2000 MHz) of the MSS uplink band to keep the OOB psd below the threshold of -13 dBm/MHz.” Attorney Jonathan Blake, representing Terrestar, said the company wanted to show the concerns are “real and concrete” and to ensure that they are considered in any further service rule proceedings.

The larger satellite issue is how the final decision will affect the industry, said SIA Exec. Dir. David Cavossa. While the general perception may be “that there’s overcapacity of spectrum in the satellite industry and a lack of demand of satellite industry services…, you can’t make that statement broadly about the satellite industry.” In order to determine overcapacity, you have to look at different regions, and then at specific industries and bands, he said. While the FCC has lauded the use of satellites for rural services, particularly broadband, Cavossa said that understanding hadn’t translated into other areas: “We're worried that in the future, they may start picking away at other spectrum.” - Howard Buskirk, Jeanene Timberlake