WASHINGTON-The United States is honing preparations to press for additional global mobile satellite spectrum at the World Radiocommunication Conference this fall in Geneva, but prospects appear more promising for big low-earth-orbit mobile phone systems than for little LEO data systems.
The U.S. delegation, led by former congressman John Bryant (D-Texas) recently wrapped up two weeks of advance negotiations at the Conference Preparatory Meeting in Geneva. The WRC will be held Oct. 27-Nov. 21 in Geneva.
For little LEOs, the WRC preparatory conference continued a string of disappointing developments on the spectrum front. The conference report concluded that more interference studies are needed before it can be determined whether spectrum can be allocated internationally for shared use between little LEOs and terrestrial private wireless licensees.
“I am not optimistic that there will be any significant spectrum allocation at this conference,” said R.T. Gregg, director of regulatory affairs for Orbital Communications Corp., a little LEO based in Dulles, Va.
Little LEOs failed to secure more spectrum at the 1995 WRC to accommodate a competitive landscape with multiple service providers envisioned by U.S. regulators. The lack of little LEO spectrum poses problems for licensing and satellite policy at the Federal Communications Commission.
“We are also looking for additional spectrum to fill out our system to meet customer needs,” said Gregg. “It’s not necessarily good news for us.”
Thomas Keller, a Washington, D.C., attorney for the American Association of Railroads, nevertheless remains cautious. Railroads are heavy users of private wireless frequencies. Keller said little LEO companies could conduct sharing studies between now and this fall and make a play for little LEO-land mobile radio sharing in Geneva. He also expressed concern about potential interference problems in regard to a proposed expansion of the VHF band for maritime mobile radio operations.
At the same time, Keller said the WRC preparatory conference was successful. “This is a blueprint for the future.”
Big LEOs, which operate above 1 GHz, are searching for more feeder link spectrum. Iridium Inc., TRW Inc. and Loral Corp. have been granted permits. The FCC is studying the financial qualifications of two more, Constellation Communications Inc. and Mobile Communications Holdings Inc. The FCC may open another filing window for big LEO applications this summer.
At home, mobile phone satellite firms face a different challenge.
An MSS coalition is fighting an FCC ruling that requires mobile satellite operators to finance the relocation of incumbent 2 GHz users before they can gain access to that spectrum.
“Imposition of relocation costs on 2 GHz MSS systems … would unfairly burden those systems in light of the U.S. international commitments following WRC-95 to coordinate and implement transitional arrangements for terrestrial radio systems in the 2 GHz MSS bands, regardless of whether any MSS providers seek to access the U.S. market at 2 GHz,” the companies told the FCC in a May 20 petition for reconsideration.
The group includes ICO Global Communications, Comsat Corp., Personal Communication Satellite Corp., Celsat America Inc. and Hughes Space and Communications International.
