Goto Section: 25.142 | 25.144 | Table of Contents
FCC 25.143
Revised as of October 1, 2007
Goto Year:2006 |
2008
Sec. 25.143 Licensing provisions for the 1.6/2.4 GHz mobile-satellite service
and 2 GHz mobile-satellite service.
(a) System license. Applicants authorized to construct and launch a system
of technically identical satellites will be awarded a single “blanket”
license. In the case of non-geostationary satellites, the blanket license
will cover a specified number of space stations to operate in a specified
number of orbital planes. In the case of geostationary satellites, as part
of a geostationary-only satellite system or a
geostationary/non-geostationary hybrid satellite system, an individual
license will be issued for each satellite to be located at a geostationary
orbital location.
(b) Qualification Requirements—(1) General Requirements . Each application
for a space station system authorization in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite
Service or 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service shall describe in detail the
proposed satellite system, setting forth all pertinent technical and
operational aspects of the system, and the technical and legal
qualifications of the applicant. In particular, each application shall
include the information specified in Sec. 25.114. Non-U.S. licensed systems
shall comply with the provisions of Sec. 25.137.
(2) Technical qualifications. In addition to providing the information
specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, each applicant and letter of
intent filer shall demonstrate the following:
(i) That a proposed system in the 1.6/2.4 GHz MSS frequency bands employs a
non-geostationary constellation or constellations of satellites;
(ii) That a system proposed to operate using non-geostationary satellites be
capable of providing mobile satellite services to all locations as far north
as 70 deg. North latitude and as far south as 55 deg. South latitude for at
least 75% of every 24-hour period, i.e. , that at least one satellite will
be visible above the horizon at an elevation angle of at least 5 deg. for at
least 18 hours each day within the described geographic area;
(iii) That a system proposed to operate using non-geostationary satellites
be capable of providing mobile satellite services on a continuous basis
throughout the fifty states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, i.e.,
that at least one satellite will be visible above the horizon at an
elevation angle of at least 5 deg. at all times within the described
geographic areas; and
(iv) That a system only using geostationary orbit satellites, at a minimum,
be capable of providing mobile satellite services on a continuous basis
throughout the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, if
technically feasible.
(v) That operations will not cause unacceptable interference to other
authorized users of the spectrum. In particular, each application in the
1.6/2.4 GHz frequency bands shall demonstrate that the space station(s)
comply with the requirements specified in Sec. 25.213.
(3) [Reserved]
(c) Replacement of Space Stations Within the System License Term. Licensees
of 1.6/2.4 GHz mobile-satellite systems authorized through a blanket license
pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section need not file separate
applications to construct, launch and operate technically identical
replacement satellites within the term of the system authorization. However,
the licensee shall certify to the Commission, at least thirty days prior to
launch of such replacement(s) that:
(1) The licensee intends to launch a space station that is technically
identical to those authorized in its system authorization, and
(2) Launch of this space station will not cause the licensee to exceed the
total number of operating space stations authorized by the Commission.
(d) In-Orbit Spares. Licensees need not file separate applications to
operate technically identical in-orbit spares authorized as part of the
blanket license pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. However, the
licensee shall certify to the Commission, within 10 days of bringing the
in-orbit spare into operation, that operation of this space station did not
cause the licensee to exceed the total number of operating space stations
authorized by the Commission.
(e) Reporting requirements. (1) All operators of 1.6/2.4 GHz
Mobile-Satellite Service systems and 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service systems
shall, on October 15 of each year, file with the International Bureau and
the Commission's Columbia Operations Center, Columbia, Maryland, a report
containing the following information current as of September 30 of that
year:
(i) Status of satellite construction and anticipated launch dates, including
any major problems or delays encountered;
(ii) A listing of any non-scheduled space station outages for more than 30
minutes and the cause or causes of the outage;
(iii) A detailed description of the utilization made of the in-orbit
satellite system. That description should identify the percentage of time
that the system is actually used for U.S. domestic or transborder
transmission, the amount of capacity (if any) sold but not in service within
U.S. territorial geographic areas, and the amount of unused system capacity.
2 GHz Mobile Satellite systems receiving expansion spectrum as part of the
unserved areas spectrum incentive must provide a report on the actual number
of subscriber minutes originating or terminating in unserved areas as a
percentage of the actual U.S. system use; and
(iv) Identification of any space stations not available for service or
otherwise not performing to specifications, the cause or causes of these
difficulties, and the date any space station was taken out of service or the
malfunction identified.
(2) All operators of 1.6/2.4 GHz mobile-satellite systems shall, within 10
days after a required implementation milestone as specified in the system
authorization, certify to the Commission by affidavit that the milestone has
been met or notify the Commission by letter that it has not been met. At its
discretion, the Commission may require the submission of additional
information (supported by affidavit of a person or persons with knowledge
thereof) to demonstrate that the milestone has been met.
(3) All operators of 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service systems must begin
system construction upon award of a service link license to U.S.-based
applicants, or upon designation of spectrum for non-U.S.-based systems, in
accordance with milestones set forth in the respective system's
authorization. All operators of 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service systems
shall, within 10 days after a required implementation milestone as specified
in the system authorization, certify to the Commission by affidavit that the
milestone has been met or notify the Commission by letter that it has not
been met. At its discretion, the Commission may require the submission of
additional information (supported by affidavit of a person or persons with
knowledge thereof) to demonstrate that the milestone has been met. Failure
to file timely certification of milestones, or filing disclosure of
non-compliance, will result in automatic cancellation of the authorization
with no further action required on the Commission's part.
(f) Safety and distress communications. (1) Stations operating in the
1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service and 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service that
are voluntarily installed on a U.S. ship or are used to comply with any
statute or regulatory equipment carriage requirements may also be subject to
the requirements of sections 321(b) and 359 of the Communications Act of
1934. Licensees are advised that these provisions give priority to radio
communications or signals relating to ships in distress and prohibits a
charge for the transmission of maritime distress calls and related traffic.
(2) Licensees offering distress and safety services should coordinate with
the appropriate search and rescue organizations responsible for the
licensees service area.
(g) [Reserved]
(h) Prohibition of certain agreements. No license shall be granted to any
applicant for a space station in the mobile satellite service operating at
1610–1626.5/2483.5–2500 MHz if that applicant, or any persons or companies
controlling or controlled by the applicant, shall acquire or enjoy any
right, for the purpose of handling traffic to or from the United States, its
territories or possession, to construct or operate space segment or earth
stations, or to interchange traffic, which is denied to any other United
States company by reason of any concession, contract, understanding, or
working arrangement to which the Licensee or any persons or companies
controlling or controlled by the Licensee are parties.
(i) Incorporation of ancillary terrestrial component base stations into a
1.6/2.4 GHz mobile-satellite service network or a 2 GHz mobile-satellite
service network. Any licensee authorized to construct and launch a 1.6/2.4
GHz or a 2 GHz mobile-satellite system may construct ancillary terrestrial
component (ATC) base stations as defined in Sec. 25.201 at its own risk and
subject to the conditions specified in this subpart any time after
commencing construction of the mobile-satellite service system.
(j) Pre-operational build-out and testing. An MSS licensee may, without
further authority from the Commission and at its own risk, engage in
pre-operational build-out and conduct equipment tests for the purpose of
making such adjustments and measurements as may be necessary to assure
compliance with the terms of the technical provisions of its MSS license,
ATC operation requirements, the rules and regulations in this Part and the
applicable engineering standards. Prior to engaging in such pre-operational
build-out and testing, an MSS licensee must notify the Commission concerning
the initiation of MSS system satellite construction and the MSS operator's
intent to construct and test ATC facilities. This notification must take the
form of a letter formally filed with the Commission in the appropriate MSS
license docket. Such letter shall specify the frequencies on which the MSS
licensee proposes to engage in pre-operational testing and shall specify the
name, address, telephone number and other such information as may be
necessary to contact a MSS licensee representative for the reporting and
mitigation of any interference that may occur as a result of such
pre-operational testing and build-out. MSS licensees engaging in
pre-operational build-out and testing must also comply with Sec. Sec. 5.83, 5.85(c),
5.111, and 5.117 of this chapter relating to experimental operations. An MSS
licensee may not offer ATC service to the public for compensation during
pre-operational testing. In order to operate any ATC base stations, such a
licensee must meet all the requirements set forth in Sec. 25.149 and must have
been granted ATC authority.
(k) Aircraft. ATC mobile terminals must be operated in accordance with
25.136(a). All portable or hand-held transceiver units (including
transceiver units installed in other devices that are themselves portable or
hand-held) having operating capabilities in the 2000–2020/2180–2200 MHz or
1610–1626.5 MHz/2483.5–2500 MHz bands shall bear the following statement in
a conspicuous location on the device: “This device may not be operated while
on board aircraft. It must be turned off at all times while on board
aircraft.”
[ 59 FR 53328 , Oct. 21, 1994, as amended at 61 FR 9945 , Mar. 12, 1996; 62 FR 5930 , Feb. 10, 1997; 65 FR 59143 , Oct. 4, 2000; 68 FR 33649 , June 5, 2003;
68 FR 47858 , Aug. 12, 2003; 68 FR 51504 , Aug. 27, 2003; 70 FR 59277 , Oct.
12, 2005]
Goto Section: 25.142 | 25.144
Goto Year: 2006 |
2008
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