[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 239 (Thursday, December 13, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70807-70808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24104]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 25

[IB Docket No. 02-364; FCC 07-194]


Review of the Spectrum Sharing Plan Among Non-Geostationary 
Satellite Orbit Mobile Satellite Service Systems in the 1.6/2.4 GHz 
Bands

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: Currently, Globalstar, Inc. (Globalstar) and Iridium Satellite 
LLC (Iridium) are the two operational providers of Mobile-Satellite 
Service (MSS) in the 1610-1626.5 MHz band (Big LEO L-band). By this 
decision, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) revises 
the spectrum sharing plan between the two systems. Specifically, the 
Commission assigns Globalstar exclusive access to the 1610-1617.775 MHz 
segment of the L-band, assigns Iridium exclusive access to the 
1618.725-1626.5 MHz segment, and assigns for sharing between the two 
MSS providers a small segment of the L-band, at 1617.775-1618.725 MHz.

DATES: Effective: January 14, 2008.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Howard Griboff, 202/418-0657.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 1610-1626.5 MHz band (Big LEO L-band) 
and

[[Page 70808]]

2483.5-2500 MHz band (Big LEO S-band) was allocated to the Mobile-
Satellite Service (MSS) for low-earth orbiting satellites (Big LEOs) in 
1994. The Commission assigned the 1610-1621.35 MHz segment in the 
Earth-to-space (uplink) direction for up to four code division multiple 
access (CDMA) MSS systems, paired with the 2483.5-2500 MHz band for the 
four CDMA MSS systems in the space-to-Earth (downlink) direction. The 
Commission designated the 1621.35-1626.5 MHz segment for a single time 
division multiple access (TDMA) system (uplink and downlink). Since 
1994, only one CDMA system, operated by Globalstar, Inc. (Globalstar), 
and one TDMA system, operated by Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium), have 
launched and operated. In the antecedent Big LEO Spectrum Sharing 
Order, the Commission reassigned the 1618.25-1621.35 MHz segment of the 
band, formerly used for MSS solely by Globalstar, for sharing between 
the two systems. See Review of the Spectrum Sharing Plan Among Non-
Geostationary Satellite Orbit Mobile Satellite Service Systems in the 
1.6/2.4 GHz Bands; Allocation of Spectrum Below 3 GHz for Mobile and 
Fixed Services To Support the Introduction of New Advanced Wireless 
Services, Including Third Generation Wireless Systems (Big LEO Spectrum 
Sharing Order), 69 FR 48157, Aug. 9, 2004. The Commission also sought 
comment on sharing an additional 2.25 megahertz of spectrum, at 1616-
1618.25 MHz, between the two systems. See Spectrum Sharing Plan Among 
Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit Mobile Satellite Service Systems in 
the 1.6/2.4 GHz Bands (Big LEO Spectrum Sharing Further Notice), 69 FR 
48192, Aug. 9, 2004.
    Based on the record generated in this proceeding, the Commission 
revises its prior decision to assign the 1618.25-1621.35 MHz segment 
for sharing between the two systems. Instead, the Commission reassigns 
the 1618.725-1621.35 MHz segment to TDMA systems (Iridium) for 
exclusive use, and requires sharing in a small portion of the L-band, 
at 1617.775-1618.725 MHz, in order to accommodate the realities of 
Globalstar's CDMA channel plan. As a result of this action, Globalstar 
will have exclusive MSS use of 7.775 megahertz of spectrum in the L-
band at 1610-1617.775 MHz, Iridium will have exclusive use of 7.775 
megahertz of spectrum at 1618.725-1626.5 MHz, and the two MSS operators 
will share 0.95 megahertz of spectrum at 1617.775-1618.725 MHz. As a 
result of this decision, the Big LEO Spectrum Sharing Further Notice 
has become moot. The Commission delegates authority to its 
International Bureau to modify the MSS licenses of Iridium and 
Globalstar in accordance with this decision, pursuant to Section 316 of 
the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. 316.
    This Second Order on Reconsideration and Second Report and Order 
does not contain new or modified information collection requirements 
subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-
13. In addition, therefore, it does not contain any new or modified 
``information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer 
than 25 employees,'' pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief 
Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(4).

Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-24104 Filed 12-12-07; 8:45 am]
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