EchoStar Pushing Guidelines for UMFUS/FSS Spectrum Sharing

Fixed satellite service (FSS) operations need to retain primary status in the 40 GHz band, and sharing with upper microwave flexible use service (UMFUS) in other spectrum frontiers bands requires some conditions, EchoStar said in an FCC ex parte filing Thursday in docket 14-177. UMFUS access to the 47.2-50.2 GHz band should include rules that prioritize those services in urban care areas and require co-primary sharing for FSS earth stations and UMFUS base stations elsewhere, the company said. It said the 50.4-51.4 GHz band, where FSS is co-primary, should follow the same sharing regime but with a higher power flux density (PFD) limit because of the propagation characteristics of the band. The satellite maker urged the FCC to implement rules it adopted in 2003 allowing satellites to operate in the 39 GHz band at higher PFD levels when having to overcome atmospheric conditions like rain fade; those rules have been in limbo pending technical studies, the company said. EchoStar said letting UMFUS use the 24.75-25.25 GHz band should come with rules protecting broadcasting satellite service feeder links and gateway earth stations. The filing recapped a meeting between executives including Senior Vice President-Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Manner and International Bureau staffers including Satellite Division Chief Jose Albuquerque.