Satellite Operators Push for Spectrum Frontiers Siting Tiers, Definitions

Earth station siting rules in the spectrum frontiers order could result in limitations inconsistent with upper microwave flexible use system (UMFUS) development and future satellite broadband plans, satellite broadband operators told FCC acting General Counsel Brendan Carr, said a docket 14-177 ex parte filing posted Friday. The operators said the earth station siting conditions impair fixed satellite service (FSS) providers from offering service particularly in unserved and underserved areas. They recommended tiered population coverage limits for FSS earth stations in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands, allowing earth stations to cover higher percentages of a license area's population the lower the population density of the area. They said there need to be better definitions of transient population limits and recommended definitions to follow for such concepts as major event venues, arterial streets and highways, and urban mass transit routes. The operators recommended eliminating the three-earth station limit on FSS operators in a given county for the 28 GHz band or partial economic area for the 39 GHz band. They pushed for a database for tracking UMFUS facilities as a means for identifying areas of UMFUS deployment. Satellite representatives at the meeting were from Boeing, EchoStar, Intelsat, Inmarsat, OneWeb, O3b and SES. Satellite interests and the Fixed Wireless Communications Coalition have been at odds over tiering approaches and transient population limit definitions (see 1704210042).