Don't Grant Globalstar 'Privileged Access' to Unlicensed Spectrum, Google Says

The FCC shouldn’t grant Globalstar “privileged” or “priority access” to the 2472 to 2483.5 MHz spectrum for its terrestrial low-power service (TLPS), Google said in an ex parte notice posted Friday in docket 13-213. Google also raised concerns that real-world operation of TLPS may “differ substantially” from the conditions that were tested at the commission. Globalstar rebuked critics of its testing conditions in recent filings (see 1503300050). “Globalstar’s request raises a basic question whether it is consistent with the public interest for a Commission licensee to leverage that permission to gain preferential use of spectrum outside the scope of its license, particularly when that other spectrum has been designated for unlicensed use on a shared basis,” Google said. Globalstar can instead ask the commission to operate an ancillary terrestrial network, like a 10 MHz time-division LTE system, on the spectrum above 2483.5, which it already has a license for, Google said. Google said Globalstar may need to submit an application for reallocation of the 2472 to 2483.5 MHz spectrum from unlicensed to exclusive use for the commission to review. Such an application isn’t necessary, said Globalstar General Counsel Barbee Ponder in an interview. “We really don’t understand why Google has at this late date decided to express any positions in the proceeding,” he said. “We think the FCC’s rules they proposed a year and a half ago are in the consumer’s best interests. The demonstrations we recently completed at the FCC show there is no harmful impact on unlicensed services.” Globalstar planned to have filed a response Monday to Google’s ex parte filing, he said.