ESA Joins Ranks of TLPS Critics Backing Revised Globlstar Plans

The Entertainment Software Association joined the list of now-former opponents to Globalstar's terrestrial low-power service (TLPS) broadband plans. In a filing Tuesday in FCC docket 13-213, ESA said the out-of-band emission limits the satellite company proposed in revised TLPS plans "would likely address" the trade group's technical concerns about TLPS interference to wireless gaming console controllers. Wi-Fi Alliance also filed that it doesn't object to the adopting of TLPS rules if the FCC imposes Globalstar's suggested limits, after suggesting last week it might be changing its opposition (see 1612090043). The ESA filing, in a footnote, specified that members Microsoft, Nintendo of America and Sony Interactive Entertainment America all agreed with it. The three had been critical of Globalstar's original TLPS plans and the potential for gaming console interference (see 1609160070). In recent weeks such former opponents as the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, Sprint, NCTA and Wireless Communications Association International also signed off, leading some watchers to speculate the proceeding might have crossed the line into uncontroversial territory and possibly be acted on before the administration transition. Globalstar recappped a meeting between General Counsel Barbee Ponder and Vice President-Finance, Business Operations and Strategy Tim Taylor with FCC staffers including Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Julius Knapp about the revisions. Globalstar clarified that its proposed rules would apply only to low earth orbit mobile satellite service licensees authorized to operate in the 2483.5-2495 MHz band under Part 25 rules on satellite operation or TLPS operators in that band under Part 25, and not to broadband radio service licensees operating above 2495 MHz under Part 27 rules on miscellaneous wireless communications.