§  25.279   Inter-satellite service.

   (a) Any satellite communicating with other space stations may use
   frequencies in the inter-satellite service as indicated in § 2.106 of
   this chapter. This does not preclude the use of other frequencies for
   such purposes as provided for in several service definitions, e.g.,
   FSS. The technical details of the proposed inter-satellite link shall
   be provided in accordance with § 25.114(c).

   (b) Operating conditions. In order to ensure compatible operations with
   authorized users in the frequency bands to be utilized for operations
   in the inter-satellite service, these inter-satellite service systems
   must operate in accordance with the conditions specified in this
   section.

   (1) Coordination requirements with federal government users. (i) In
   frequency bands allocated for use by the inter-satellite service that
   are also authorized for use by agencies of the federal government, the
   federal use of frequencies in the inter-satellite service frequency
   bands is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the National
   Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).

   (ii) The Commission will use its existing procedures to reach agreement
   with NTIA to achieve compatible operations between federal government
   users under the jurisdiction of NTIA and inter-satellite service
   systems through frequency assignment and coordination practice
   established by NTIA and the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee
   (IRAC). In order to facilitate such frequency assignment and
   coordination, applicants shall provide the Commission with sufficient
   information to evaluate electromagnetic compatibility with the federal
   government users of the spectrum, and any additional information
   requested by the Commission. As part of the coordination process,
   applicants shall show that they will not cause interference to
   authorized federal government users, based upon existing system
   information provided by the government. The frequency assignment and
   coordination of the satellite system shall be completed prior to grant
   of construction authorization.

   (2) Coordination among inter-satellite service systems. Applicants for
   authority to establish inter-satellite service are encouraged to
   coordinate their proposed frequency usage with existing permittees and
   licensees in the inter-satellite service whose facilities could be
   affected by the new proposal in terms of frequency interference or
   restricted system capacity. All affected applicants, permittees, and
   licensees, shall at the direction of the Commission, cooperate fully
   and make every reasonable effort to resolve technical problems and
   conflicts that may inhibit effective and efficient use of the radio
   spectrum; however, the permittee or licensee being coordinated with is
   not obligated to suggest changes or re-engineer an applicant's proposal
   in cases involving conflicts.

   [ 59 FR 53331 , Oct. 21, 1994, as amended at  65 FR 59144 , Oct. 4, 2000]