ESIM Rules Harmonization NPRM Gets Satellite Backing

Satellite interests applauded FCC efforts to harmonize and consolidate rules for vehicle-mounted earth stations, earth stations on vessels and earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA), and to allow operation of earth stations in motion (ESIM) in the Ka-band. Monday was the deadline for initial comments on the rules consolidation NPRM, replies due Aug. 30. Commissioners approved the NPRM in May (see 1705180042). The NPRM wasn't expected to get notable pushback (see 1705090018). ESIM rules should be identical for earth stations at fixed locations, Boeing said in docket 17-95, saying giving ESIMs co-primary status in the 18.3-18.8 GHz, 19.7-20.2 GHz, 28.35-38.6 GHz and 29.25-30 GHz bands would help deployment of broadband services with additional capacity for end users on mobile platforms. Previous waivers allowing mobility-based fixed satellite services in the Ka-band have shown such deployments don't hurt the operating environment, ViaSat said, saying power limits might be needed for Ka-band ESAAs operating in airspace within line-of-sight of a foreign territory where fixed service networks have an allocation. ESIMs in the Ka-band face the same interference issues as other earth stations operating there on a primary basis, so giving ESIMs primary status will cut burdens on ESIM operators without any corresponding increase in harm, Inmarsat said. It pushed for cutting regulatory barriers for U.S.-licensed earth stations aboard aircraft operating in foreign territory. Several operators also backed FCC proposals to eliminate the antenna pointing accuracy and data logging requirements in existing rules. Elefante Group said the FCC should make clear ESAAs include stratospheric platforms, like those it plans to deploy, and that ESIM deployments in the 18.3-18.8 GHz and 19.7-20.2 GHz bands don't inhibit deployment of other services there. The National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Radio Frequencies said any new ESIM uses should preserve the existing scientific use of the 18.6-18.8 GHz band, and an inventory of recent changes in the number and location of fixed earth stations and ESIMs would help in an assessment. It said there should be restriction of ESIM in frequencies adjacent to that band's earth exploration satellite service allocation until there's more technical parameter information available about proposed ESIMs. The Global Mobile Suppliers Association, when looking at possible effects on future services in the adjacent 27.5-28.35 GHz band, said the NPRM doesn't give enough ESIM operational information about possible deployments and asked that prospective ESIM operators submit usage scenario information, as well as channelization and out-of-band-emission information, for analyses based on real operating scenarios.