[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 4, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59140-59144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-25388]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket 99-81; FCC 00-302]


Policies and Service Rules for the Mobile Satellite Service in 
the 2 GHz Band

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission has adopted licensing 
and service rules for entities to provide Mobile Satellite Service in 
the 2 GHz Band, specifically the 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz 
frequency bands. System proponents currently on file are required to 
amend their proposals to comply with the adopted rules. Following a 
public comment period, qualified systems will be authorized to operate. 
Upon launch, these new systems will provide mobile voice, data, 
Internet and other services to U.S. consumers for communications in the 
United States and around the world.

DATES: Effective November 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., TW-
325, Washington, DC 20554.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information regarding the 
Report and Order contact Howard Griboff (202) 418-0657 of the 
International Bureau. For more information regarding the information 
collections in the Report and Order, contact Judy Boley at 202-418-
0214; 445 12th Street SW., Rm. 1-C804, Washington DC 20554 or via 
internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Report 
and Order in IB Docket No. 99-81; FCC 00-302, adopted August 14, 2000 
and released on August 25, 2000. The complete text of this Report and 
Order is available for inspection and copying during normal business 
hours in the FCC Reference Center (Room), 445 12th Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20554, and also may be purchased from the Commission's 
copy contractor, International Transcription Service, Inc. (ITS, Inc.), 
1231 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20036, (202) 857-3800.

Summary of Report and Order

    The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules for the 2 
GHz (1990-2025MHz/2165-2200 MHz) mobile satellite services (MSS). These 
systems will provide mobile voice, data, Internet and other services to 
U.S. consumers for communications in the United States and around the 
world. The systems under consideration include geostationary and non-
geostationary orbit systems.
    The Commission adopted an innovative band arrangement that can 
accommodate the multiple and technically-diverse systems that have 
requested authorization and described the method to be used for 
licensing. Pursuant to the Commission's new rules, each authorized 
system will receive an equal share of the available frequencies. A 
licensee will select the specific frequencies in which its primary 
service operations will take place at the time it has launched one 
satellite into its intended orbit. In addition, because there are a 
number of incumbent terrestrial services (e.g., broadcast auxiliary 
service and and fixed microwave service) in the 2 GHz MSS bands, each 
authorized system will have flexibility to operate at other frequencies 
in the band. This flexibility may lower the costs of relocating 
incumbent systems and facilitate quicker deployment of service. To 
encourage delivery of mobile satellite services to rural service areas, 
the Commission reserved an additional spectrum segment to be awarded in 
equal shares to systems demonstrating that a percentage of their 
capacity is contracted with service providers that offer service to 
consumers in rural and unserved service areas.
    The Commission found that it was not necessary to apply financial 
qualification requirements to the applicants because there is 
sufficient spectrum to accommodate all of the proposed systems. 2 GHz 
MSS licenses will be for a fifteen-year period. Consistent with its 
past spectrum management policies, the Commission is requiring that 
system proponents enter non-contingent satellite manufacturing 
contracts within one year of authorization and launch of authorized 2 
GHz MSS systems no later than six years from the date of authorization. 
System proponents will have to complete critical design review (CDR) 
within two years of authorization. The rules require that physical 
construction of all satellites in the system commence within two and a 
half years of authorization (non-geostationary systems) and three years 
of authorization (geostationary systems). Construction and launch of 
the first two satellites must be complete within three and a half years 
of grant for non-geostationary systems and five years for geostationary 
systems. Non-compliance with implementation milestones will result in 
cancellation of the authorization. Failure to file a timely 
certification of milestone compliance, or filing disclosure of non-
compliance, will result in automatic cancellation of an operator's 
system authorization with no further action required on the 
Commission's part.
    In addition, the new rules require disclosure, prior to 
authorization, of orbital debris mitigation measures for 2 GHz MSS 
systems. The Commission also addressed provision of distress and safety 
communications and 911 services, and stated that it would study this 
issue in greater detail in the pending Global Mobile Personal 
Communications by Satellite proceeding.
    The system proponents are required to amend their proposals to 
comply with the rules adopted on or before November 3, 2000. Following 
a public comment period, qualified systems will be authorized to 
operate.

Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

A. Need for, and Objectives of, This Report and Order

    This Report and Order establishes a spectrum authorization approach 
to accommodate all proposed 2 GHz MSS systems, and service rules to 
govern the 2 GHz MSS systems. These actions are designed to assign the 
2 GHz MSS spectrum to applicants, or reserve the 2 GHz MSS spectrum in 
the case of letter of intent filers, in an efficient manner. At the 
same time, these rules are designed to ensure systems implement their 
proposals in a manner that serves the public interest and results in 
the continued deployment of mobile satellite services to the public, 
with minimal disruption to existing 2 GHz band permittees and 
licensees.

B. Summary of Significant Issues Raised in Comments in Response to the 
IRFA

    There were no comments which solely discussed or addressed the 
IRFA. The Commission has nonetheless considered any potential 
significant economic impact of the rules on small entities, and has 
designed its rules to reduce regulatory burdens on these entities 
accordingly.

[[Page 59141]]

C. Description and Estimate of Number of Small Entities to Which Rules 
Will Apply

    The Commission has not developed a definition of small entities 
applicable to geostationary or non-geostationary orbit fixed-satellite 
or mobile satellite service operators. Therefore, the applicable 
definition of small entity is the definition under the Small Business 
Administration (SBA) rules applicable to Communications Services, Not 
Elsewhere Classified. This definition provides that a small entity is 
one with $11.0 million or less in annual receipts. 13 CFR 121.201, 
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code 4899. According to Census 
Bureau data, there are 848 firms that fall under the category of 
Communications Services, Not Elsewhere Classified, which could 
potentially fall into the 2 GHz MSS category. Of those, approximately 
775 reported annual receipts of $11 million or less and qualify as 
small entities. U.S. Bureau of Census, U.S. Department of Commerce, 
1992 Census of Transportation, Communications, Utilities, UC92-S-1, 
Subject Series, Establishment and Firm Size, Table 2D, Employment Size 
of Firms: 1992, SIC Code 4899 (issued May 1995). The rules adopted in 
this Report and Order apply only to entities providing 2 GHz mobile 
satellite service. At least one of the 2 GHz MSS system proponents may 
be considered a small business at this time. Small businesses often do 
not have the financial ability to become 2 GHz MSS system operators 
because of the high implementation costs associated with satellite 
systems and services. By the time of system implementation, we expect 
that the one small entity will no longer be considered a small business 
due to the capital requirements for launching and operating its 
proposed system. Therefore, because of the high implementation costs of 
providing 2 GHz MSS, we believe that this Report and Order will have no 
significant impact on small entities.

D. Description of Projected Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Other 
Compliance Requirements

    The rules adopted in the Report and Order affect those entities 
applying for 2 GHz MSS space station and earth station authorizations 
and those participating in assignment of 2 GHz MSS spectrum. As an 
initial matter, the nine 2 GHz MSS system proponents under 
consideration in this Report and Order are required to submit 
amendments to their previously-filed applications or letters of intent, 
to conform their proposed systems to the spectrum authorization and 
service rules adopted herein, including an orbital debris statement. 
The adopted rules also require each authorized 2 GHz MSS system to 
notify the Commission that it has met construction milestones, notify 
the Commission as to which spectrum block it chooses as its preferred 
spectrum block at the time that the first satellite in its system 
reaches its intended orbit, and, if it desires additional spectrum 
under the rural service initiative, notify the Commission of how it has 
achieved the required rural service criteria. Once operational, the 2 
GHz MSS systems may need to coordinate with each other the use of 
spectrum outside of its preferred spectrum block. These negotiations 
are likely to require the skills of engineers to evaluate the technical 
requirements of co-frequency spectrum sharing and/or adjacent frequency 
operation on a non-interference basis.

E. Steps Taken To Minimize Significant Economic Impact on Small 
Entities and Significant Alternatives Considered

    In developing the rules and policies adopted in this Report and 
Order, the Commission has attempted to minimize the burdens on all 
entities in order to allow maximum participation in the 2 GHz MSS 
market, while achieving the item's other objectives. The Commission 
considered band arrangements that would have assigned specified blocks 
of spectrum based on modulation technology (i.e., code division 
multiple access or time division multiple access). Similarly, the 
Commission considered Globalstar's suggested band arrangement that 
would have required all systems to pre-negotiate a sharing 
architecture. The Commission rejected these alternatives, in part 
because these alternatives would have required all 2 GHz MSS operators 
to choose their technological parameters immediately, rather than 
allowing systems to optimize designs in order to promote innovation and 
reduce the economic impact of system build-out. In addition, to reduce 
the 2 GHz MSS operators' incumbent relocation costs, the Commission 
will exempt any 2 GHz MSS operator from relocation obligations if it is 
capable of sharing spectrum on a non-interference basis with the 
existing incumbent operations.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This Report and Order contains a new or modified information 
collection. The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
following information collection, as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. Comments on emergency request 
for approval of information collections are due on or before October 
25, 2000; public and agency comments on the regular request for 
approval of the information collections are due on or before December 
4, 2000.
    Comments should address: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways 
to enhance the quality, utility, and clarify of the information 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on the respondents, including the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology. These 
comments on both regular and emergency requests for approval of the 
information collection should be submitted to Judy Boley at 445 12th 
Street S.W., Rm. 1-C804, Washington DC 20554 or via internet at 
[email protected]; phone 202-418-0214. In addition, comments on the 
emergency request for approval of the information collections should be 
submitted to Edward C. Springer, OMB Desk Officer, Rm. 10236 NEOB, 725 
17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, or via the Internet to 
[email protected].
    OMB Approval Number: 3060-XXXX.
    Title: 2 GHz Mobile Satellite Service Reports.
    Form No.: NA.
    Type of Collection: New Collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit.
    Number of Respondents: 9.
    Estimated Time for Response: 3 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 27 hours.
    Estimated Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $14,000.
    Needs and Uses: The information will be used by the Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC) and interested members of the public to 
ensure compliance with the rules adopted for the 2 GHz mobile satellite 
service. Specifically, the rules require disclosure in the form of a 
narrative statement, through amendments to applications or letters of 
intent, of orbital debris mitigation design and operational strategies 
and a casualty risk assessment if planned post-mission disposal 
involves atmospheric re-entry of spacecraft. This requirement will 
permit the Commission and the public to comment on each system's 
design. 2

[[Page 59142]]

GHz mobile satellite systems receiving expansion spectrum as part of 
the rural and 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. This 
rule will permit the Commission to verify that service is being 
provided in rural and unserved areas. In addition, system proponents 
will have to complete critical design review (CDR) within two years of 
authorization. CDR is a new milestone for satellite services and will 
permit the Commission to more closely monitor system construction. 
Without such information, the FCC could not determine whether satellite 
licenses are operating in conformance with its rules.

Ordering Clauses

    Pursuant to Sections 4(i), 7, 302, 303(c), 303(e), 303(f) and 
303(r) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. Section 
154(i), 157, 302, 303(c), 303(e), 303(f) and 303(r), this Report and 
Order Is Adopted and that part 25 of the Commission's Rules Is Amended 
and is effective November 3, 2000.
    The applicants and LOI filers will be required to file conforming 
amendments and all necessary fees no later than November 3, 2000 for 
continued consideration in this processing round.
    The Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, as required by Section 604 of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act, Is Adopted.
    The Commission's Consumer Information Bureau, Reference Information 
Center, Shall Send a copy of this Report and Order, including the Final 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of 
the Small Business Administration.

List of Subjects in 47 CFR Part 25

    Satellites.

Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.

Rule Changes

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Federal 
Communications Commission amends 47 CFR part 25 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 25 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 47 U.S.C. 701-744. Interprets or applies Sections 4, 
301, 302, 303, 307, 309 and 332 of the Communications Act, as 
amended, 47 U.S.C. Sections 154, 301, 302, 303, 307, 309 and 332, 
unless otherwise noted.


    2. Section 25.114 is amended by revising paragraphs (c)(6)(iii) and 
(c)(21) to read as follows:


Sec. 25.114  Applications for space station authorizations.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (6) * * *
    (iii) If applicable, the feeder link and inter-satellite service 
frequencies requested for the satellite, together with any 
demonstration otherwise required by this chapter for use of those 
frequencies (see, e.g., Secs. 25.203(j) and (k));
* * * * *
    (21) Applications for authorizations in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-
Satellite Service or 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service shall also provide 
all information specified in Sec. 25.143.
* * * * *

    3. Section 25.115 is amended by revising paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 25.115  Application for earth station authorizations.

* * * * *
    (d) User transceivers in the NVNG, 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite 
Service, and 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service need not be individually 
licensed. Service vendors may file blanket applications for 
transceivers units using FCC Form 312, Main Form and Schedule B, and 
specifying the number of units to be covered by the blanket license. 
Each application for a blanket license under this section shall include 
the information described in Sec. 25.136.
* * * * *

    4. Section 25.121 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 25.121  License term and renewals.

    (a) License term. Licenses for facilities governed by this part 
will be issued for a period of 10 years, except that licenses and 
authorizations in the 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service will be issued for 
a period of 15 years.
* * * * *

    5. Section 25.133 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 25.133  Period of construction; certification of commencement of 
operation.

* * * * *
    (b) Each license for a transmitting earth station included in this 
part shall also specify as a condition therein that upon the completion 
of construction, each licensee must file with the Commission a 
certification containing the following information: The name of the 
licensee; file number of the application; call sign of the antenna; 
date of the license; a certification that the facility as authorized 
has been completed and that each antenna facility has been tested and 
is within 2 dB of the pattern specified in Secs. 25.209, 25.135 (NVNG 
MSS earth stations), or Sec. 25.213 (1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite 
Service and 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service earth stations); the date on 
which the station became operational; and a statement that the station 
will remain operational during the license period unless the license is 
submitted for cancellation. For stations authorized under 
Sec. 25.115(c) (Large Networks of Small Antennas operating in the 12/14 
GHz bands) and Sec. 25.115(d) (User Transceivers in the Mobile-
Satellite Service), a certificate must be filed when the network is put 
into operation.
* * * * *

    6. Section 25.136 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 25.136  Operating provisions for earth station networks in the 
1.6/2.4 GHz mobile-satellite service and 2 GHz mobile-satellite 
service.

    In addition to the technical requirements specified in Sec. 25.213, 
earth stations operating in the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service or 
2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service are subject to the following operating 
conditions:
    (a) User transceiver units associated with the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-
Satellite Service or 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service may not be operated 
on civil aircraft unless the earth station has a direct physical 
connection to the aircraft Cabin Communication system.
    (b) No person shall transmit to a space station unless the user 
transceiver is first authorized by the space station operator or by a 
service vendor authorized by that operator, and the specific 
transmission is conducted in accordance with the operating protocol 
specified by the system operator.
    (c) Any user transceiver unit associated with this service will be 
deemed, when communicating with a particular 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-
Satellite Service or 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service system pursuant to 
paragraph (b) of this section, to be temporarily associated with and 
licensed to the system operator or service vendor holding the blanket 
earth station license awarded pursuant to Sec. 25.115(d). The domestic 
earth station licensee shall, for this temporary period, assume the 
same licensee responsibility for the user transceiver as if the user 
transceiver were regularly licensed to it.

    7. Section 25.137 is amended by adding paragraph (d) to read as 
follows:

[[Page 59143]]

Sec. 25.137  Application requirements for earth stations operating with 
non-U.S. licensed space stations.

* * * * *
    (d) Earth station applicants requesting authority to operate with a 
non-U.S. licensed space station must demonstrate that the space station 
the applicant seeks to access has complied with all applicable 
Commission milestones, reporting requirements, and any other applicable 
service rules required for non-U.S. licensed systems to operate in the 
United States.

    8. Section 25.143 is amended by revising paragraphs (a), (b)(1), 
(b)(2), (e)(1), (e)(1)(iii), and (f)(1), and by adding paragraph (e)(3) 
to read as follows:


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) * * *
    (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, legal, and financial 
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. System 
proponents seeking authorization in the 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service 
also shall describe the design and operational strategies that they 
will use, if any, to mitigate orbital debris. Applicants must submit a 
casualty risk assessment if planned post-mission disposal involves 
atmospheric re-entry of the spacecraft.
    (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.
* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (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:
* * * * *
    (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
* * * * *
    (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) * * *
    (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.
* * * * *

    9. Section 25.201 is amended by adding the following definition in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec. 25. 201  Definitions.

* * * * *
    2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service. A mobile-satellite service that 
operates in the 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz frequency bands, or in 
any portion thereof.
* * * * *

    10. Section 25.202 is amended by revising paragraph (a)(4) to read 
as follows:


Sec. 25. 202  Frequencies, frequency tolerance and emission 
limitations.

    (a) * * *

[[Page 59144]]

    (4)(i) The following frequencies are available for use by the 1.6/
2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service:

1610-1626.5 MHz: User-to-Satellite Link
1613.8-1626.5 MHz: Satellite-to-User Link (secondary)
2483.5-2500 MHz: Satellite-to-User Link

    (ii) The following frequencies are available for use by the 2 GHz 
Mobile-Satellite Service:

1990-2025 MHz: User-to-Satellite Link
2165-2200 MHz: Satellite-to-User Link
* * * * *

    11. Section 25.203 is amended by revising paragraph (c) 
introductory text to read as follows:


Sec. 25.203  Choice of sites and frequencies.

* * * * *
    (c) Prior to the filing of an application, an earth station 
applicant shall coordinate the proposed frequency usage with existing 
terrestrial users and with applicants for terrestrial station 
authorizations with previously filed applications in accordance with 
the following procedure:
* * * * *

    12. Section 25.279 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 25.279  Inter-satellite service.

    (a) Any satellite communicating with other space stations may use 
frequencies in the inter-satellite service as indicated in Sec. 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 Sec. 25.114(c).
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 00-25388 Filed 10-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P