Joint Opposition to MSV request to exclude disputed Spectrum (July 06, 2006)

0150-EX-RR-2004 Text Documents

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

2006-07-11ELS_76923

                                                                       i—f‘Cl_etyppj
                                                                           has g Th 5i0 ygea es

    July 6, 2006

    Ms. Marlene Dortch, Secretary                                                   ~8 2506C
    Federal Communications Commission                              teral Communicationg Sommissi
    445 12th Street, S.W.                                                 Mine of Secraiqpy _
                                                                         wie:   —       uOm       sion


    Washington, DC 20554

Attn:      —Mr. John Giusti, Acting Chief, International Bureau
           Mr. Julius Knapp, Acting Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology

                   Re:      Joint Opposition to MSV Request to Exclude Disputed Spectrum
                            File Numbers Listed on Exhibit A

Dear Ms. Dortch:

             BT Americas Inc., FTMSC US LLC, MVS USA, Inc., Satamatics, Inc., SkyWave
Mobile Communications Corp., Stratos Communications, Inc., Telenor Satellite Inc., and Thrane
& Thrane Airtime Ltd. (collectively, the "Licensees"),‘ together with Inmarsat Ventures Limited
("Inmarsat"), oppose the letter request in which MSV asks the Commission to "clarify" that
existing authorizations to provide Inmarsat services exclude certain L—Band frequency segments
that Inmarsat has used to provide service to the United States for years, but that MSV now
desires to use for its proposed hybrid MSS/ATC system (the "Disputed Spectrum"). The subject
proceedings are listed in Exhibit A.

1.         INTRODUCTION

                MSV has raised the issue of Disputed Spectrum in response to virtually every
application for authority to provide Inmarsat services filed over the last year, and MSV‘s current
submission adds nothing newsubstantively to the debate. Inmarsat and the Licensees have
previously shown that Commussion precedent does not provide MSV with any special rights to
the Disputed Spectrum. Moreover, contrary to MSV‘s assertion, the Commission has not yet
"taken firm action" regarding the Disputed Spectrum, but rather has explicitly recognized that




‘      Certain of the Licensees are not specifically identified in Exhibits A or B of MSV‘s Letter
       Request but all have an interest in this proceeding as entities authorized either by STA or
       "full" Communication licenses to provide Inmarsat services. MSV has requested that the
       requested relief apply to all entities authorized to communicate over the Inmarsat system.
       Letter from Jennifer Manner, Mobile Satellite Ventures LP, to Marlene H. Dortch, FCC, at
       Exhibits A and B (filed June 20, 2006) ("MSV Letter Request").


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6, 2006
Page 2

the use of the Disputed Spectrum is "an issue pending before the International Bureau"" and is an
"issue pending in connection with [the grantee‘s] request for regular authority.‘"

                  As demonstrated below, MSV does not "own," or have the right to demand the
"return" of, any L—Band spectrum. Moreover, the existing Commission licenses that are the
subject of MSV‘s request expressly are not constrained to the frequencies "coordinated for"
Inmarsat in the expired 1999 spectrum sharing agreement ("SSA"). Rather, MSV‘s request is
another attempt to use the Commission‘s licensing process to seek to improve MSV‘s bargaining
position in the international spectrum negotiations in which MSV heretofore has consistently
refused to participate. The Commission has twice rejected similar efforts by MSV to stifle the
provision of competitive L—Band services in the United States, and it should similarly reject
MSV‘s latest effort.

               Moreover, excluding the Disputed Spectrum from existing authorizations to
provide Inmarsat services would not be a "clarification," as MSV argues. Rather, it would (i)
require a change in longstanding Commission policy governing the L—Band, and (i1) constitute a
license modification that is subject to the full protections afforded by Section 316 of the
Communications Act. Fortunately, the Commission can (and should) dismiss MSV‘s request
without further consideration because MSV has no right to the Disputed Spectrum, and this is not
the proper forum to resolve MSV‘s claims in any event.

IL.       MSV DoEs NoT "OwnN" SPECIFIC L—BAND SPECTRUM SEGMENTS, AND DOES NOT
          HAvE THE RIGHT TO "RECALL®"SPECTRUM FROM OTHER L—BAND OPERATORS

          A.      The 1999 SSA Expired and Does Not Govern Use of L—Band Spectrum

               The use of the L—Band by MSV, Inmarsat, and three other satellite operators is
governed by the 1996 Mexico City Memorandum of Understanding (the "Mexico City MOU" or
the "MOU"). The Mexico City MOU does not assign specific frequencies to any L—Band
operator. Rather, frequency assignments are made through successively negotiated SSAs, each
with a one—year term, and based on the actual usage and short term projections of each system.*
The most recent annual SSA, covering the twelve months ended December 1999, expired by its
o




      See generally experimental license authorizations cited in MSV Letter Request at 2, n.4.
      MSV mischaracterizes the authorization of Hughes Network Systems Sub LLC ("HNS").
      HNS requested operations only in certain L—Band frequency segments, and the Commission
      granted this request.
      See, e.g., Stratos Communications, Inc. Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No.
      SES—STA—20060310—00419 (granted May 12, 2006). Nor does the February 17 report
      required in connection with certain STA grants prejudge the outcome of this issue.
      FCC Hails Historic Agreement on International Satellite Coordination, Report No. IN 96—16
      (rel. Jun. 25, 1996).


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6, 2006
Page 3

own terms when MSV declined to extend the agreement." That SSA is no longer is in effect, and
it has not been replaced or extended.©

                Under the MOU, no L—Band operator has the exclusive, permanent right to any
particular frequency,"‘ and "no operator can assert any claim with respect to a specific piece of
spectrum.”8 Because no operator "owns" any L—Band frequency, and because there is no SSA in


5
    See Brief for Appellee (FCC), AMSC Subsidiary Corporation v. FCC, Case No. 99—1513, p.
    34—35 (D.C. Cir. May 17, 2000) (Public Copy) ("One is reminded of the man who killed his
    parents and asked for mercy because he was an orphan. As AMSC acknowledges in its brief
    ... it was AMSC that vetoed the proposed extension of the operating agreement, despite the
    absence of any immediate interference problem, ‘believing it was better strategically to force
    the issue of how to deal with the spectrum shortage."") (emphasis supplied). As with any
    contract, the December 31, 1999 expiration date of the 1999 agreement could not have been
    extended without the express written consent of each party thereto.
    See Final Reply Brief for Appellant (AMSC), AMSC Subsidiary Corporation v. FCC, Case
    No. 99—1513, p. 2 (D.C. Cir. May 17, 2000) (Public Copy) ("AMSC DC Circuit Reply
    Brief") (AMSC is MSV s predecessor) ("Beginning January 1, 2000, there has not even been
    such a short—term sharing arrangement [governing use of the L—Band]"); Letter from Lon C.
    Levin, Vice President and Regulatory Counsel, AMSC, to Secretary, FCC, Oct. 19, 1999
    ("As of January 1, 2000, there is no spectrum sharing agreement among the five operators").
    Accord MSY Sub. LLC, 20 FCC Red 9752, 9765 [ 34 (2005) ("MSY 101° Order") (noting
    that operators‘ spectrum assignments change from year to year, and that "While the most
    recent operator—to—operator agreement dates from 1999, the five parties have continued to
    coordinate their operations informally and have been operating interference—free"); MSV Sub.
    LLC, 20 FCC Red 479, 487 « 23 (2005) ("MSY 63.5° Order"‘) ("While the most recent annual
    operator—to—operator agreement has not been renewed since 1999, the five parties have
    continued to coordinate their operations informally and have been operating interference—
    free"); Kitcomm Satellite Communications Ltd., 19 FCC Red 6069, « 9 (2004) ("While the
    operator—to—operator agreement expired in 1999, the five parties have continued to coordinate
    their operations informally and have been operating interference—free"); AMSC Subsidiary
    Corp. v. FCC, 216 F.3d 1154, 1159—1160 (D.C. Cir. 2000) ("AMSC v. FCC") (noting that
    there has not been any interference since the last agreement expired in 1999).
    See Flexibilityfor Delivery of Communications by MSS Providers in the 2 GHz Band, the L—
    Band, and the 1.6/2.4 GHz Bands, 20 FCC Red 4616, 4629 n.91 (2005) ("In the L—Band, all
    licensees have equal rights to all channels in the band."); SatCom Systems, Inc., et al., 14
    FCC Red 20798, 20803 «[ 8 (1999) ("TMT‘) ("The 1996 operator—to—operator agreement
    provided each system with an amount of spectrum based upon its current and projected near—
    term traffic requirements. Thus unlike most international coordination agreements that create
    permanent assignments of specific spectrum, here the operators‘ assignments could change
    from year to year."); COMSAT Corporation d/b/a Comsat Mobile Communications, et al., 16
    FCC Red 21661, 21670 6 (2001) ("COMSAT Order") (the MOU creates a "unique
    framework to facilitate annual spectrum assignment agreements among the operators").
    COMSAT Order, 16 FCC Red at 21699« 73.


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6, 2006
Page 4

effect assigning any specific frequency to any operator, (i) no operator today has any spectrum
assignment today that it can "loan" to another, and (11) no operator has any spectrum loan today
for which it can "demand" the return. Even MSV‘s predecessor has recognized that, since the
expiration of the 1999 SSA, "no country and no system have their own unique L—band
frequencies.”9 Thus, the continued use of the L—Band to provide Inmarsat services to, from, and
within, the United States not only is proper and legal, but also is fully consistent with
Commission precedent that allows such operations on a non—harmful interference basis in the
absence of a spectrum sharing agreement.‘"

             B.     Commission L—Band Authorizations Do Not Constrain Operations to Specific
                    L—Band Spectrum Segments

                MSV is wrong that licensing conditions constrain the Licensees‘ operations to
assignments made in the long—defunct 1999 SSA. To the contrary, Commission L—Band
authorizations reflect the dynamic nature of L—Band assignments and expressly provide for
continued operations in the absence of specific L—Band assignments, and without regard to the
1999 SSA. In virtually every Commission "full" authorization to provide L—Band service,
including two MSV authorizations granted just last year, the Commission has not constrained the
specific band segments that a licensee may use.‘‘ Specifically, these L—Band authorizations
typically contain two different conditions (i) one that does not constrain service to any specific
portion of L—Band, but which requires service be provided on a non—harmful interference basis in
the absence of an SSA, and (ii) one constraining the licensee to the "portions" on the band
specified in an SSA when such an agreement is in existence.

               The genesis of current Commussion L—Band policy is the October 1999 order
granting U.S. market access to TMI (now MSV Canada). In that case, the Commussion explicitly
considered the impact of the expiration of the 1999 SSA when addressing how operations would




°        AMSC DC Circuit Reply Brief at 2.
@ Moreover, MSV‘s attempt to cloak Inmarsat‘s continued use of the Disputed Spectrum as
  "interference" is unavailing. MSV Letter Request at 3. The Commission repeatedly has
  found that the L—Band operators have been operating on a non—harmful interference basis,
  including as recently as twice last year in authorizing MSV‘s two next—generation L—Band
         spacecraft. MSY 101° Order, 20 FCC Red at 9765 « 34; MSY 63.5° Order, 20 FCC Red at
         487 § 23. Moreover, the fact that one MSS operator‘s use of spectrum in a given region
         precludes another MSS operator from using the same band segment in the same region is not
         "interference." If it were, no one (including MSV) would be able to provide service on a
         non—harmful interference basis.
         See Exhibit B (attached hereto) (providing ten examples of L—band authonizations from 1999—
         2005 that demonstrate this licensing policy); MSF 1017° Order, 20 FCC Red at 9773—9774 «]
         59;, MSY 63.5° Order, 20 FCC Red at 492 «] 37.
    "_   See Exhibit B.


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6. 2006
Page 5

occur "without an agreement assigning each of the five operators L—band frequencies.""" In
other words, the Commission clearly understood that when the 1999 SSA expired on December
31, 1999, so, too, would the frequency assignments embodied in that agreement. That makes
sense, because the only thing the 1999 SSA did was to assign specific band segments to specific
operators.‘" The licensing conditions that the Commission adopted to cover the absence of a
SSA do not preclude operations in any specific portion of the L—Band uplink or downlink
spectrL;m, but rather simply provide for operations to be conducted on a non—harmful interference
basis.‘

               The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit had
reason to examine those licensing conditions, when MSV‘s predecessor challenged the TMZ
decision as wrongly allowing TMI to operate in bands previously coordinated for MSV‘s
exclusive use. In denying MSV‘s challenge, the Court of Appeals provided the following
explanation of the licensing framework in the TMZ:

                Although the METs would be licensed to receive MSS from the TMI
                satellite throughout the Upper L—band, their licenses would be conditioned
                upon receiving service only in those portions of the Upper L—band
                coordinated for the use of the TMI satellite, and not on spectrum
                coordinated for [MSV].

                This license condition comes into play, however, only when there is a
                coordination agreement in effect. ... If no new coordination agreement
                was reached, [MSV] argued, then the new METs would be free to operate
                anywhere in the Upper L— band . . ..

                The Commussion responded to this concern by further conditioning the
                new earth station licenses upon non—interference with [MSV] . . . [i]n the
                absence of any continuing operator—to—operator agreement in the L—Band.‘"

In other words, the Court of Appeals recognized that in permitting TMI‘s entry into the United
States market in 1999, the Commission allowed L—Band operators to operate on frequencies that

12
     TMI, 14 FCC Red at 20814« 33 (operations "will be on a non—interference basis until a
     future operator—to—operator agreement is reached."); see also Mobile Satellite Ventures
     Subsidiary LLC, 19 FCC Red 4672, 4675 $ 8 (2004) ("in the absence of a continuing annual
     operator—to—operator coordination agreement . . . operation . . . will be on a non—harmful
     interference basis.").
     The Mexico City MOU provides the framework for entering into SSAs, but does not itself
     assign any part of the L—Band to any system. Such spectrum assignments were done in the
     1999 SSA and in prior SSAs. The 1999 SSA did not establish the technical "umbrella" under
     which MSV and Inmarsat are able to coexist with one another. That was done in a 1992
     bilateral technical coordination agreement.
"_ See COMSAT Order, 14 FCC Red at 21712 115(d).
_ AMSC v. FCC, 216 F.3d at 1158 (emphasis added).


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6, 2006
Page 6

previously had been coordinated for MSV‘s use once the spectrum assignments established in
the 1999 SSA were no longer in effect."‘

               That TMI was free, under the Commission‘s licensing conditions, to operate in
bands not coordinated for TMI‘s use in the 1999 SSA was the fundamental underpinning of
MSV‘s appeal. MSV‘s appeal was based on the theory that TMI‘s ability to operate in "MSV‘s
spectrum" constituted an impermissible modification of MSV‘s license. In addressing that
argument, the Commission and the court all thought the same thing—that TMI was not
constrained by the 1999 SSA after the expiration of that agreement.

               Indeed, if the Commission had intended to constrain operations to the spectrum
last designated in the 1999 SSA, there would have been no debate at the Commission or in the
Court of Appeals about what the "operation on a non—harmful—interference basis" condition
meant, or how the Commission would implement or enforce that license condition.‘* Rather, the
Commission simply would have specifically constrained the bands in which TMI service could
be provided to the portions designated for TMI‘s usage in the 1999 SSA. Notably, the
Commission did not do so.

                The Commission followed this same course in granting market access over the
Inmarsat system in the 2001 COMSAT Order. MSV‘s claim that the COMSAT Order
constrained Inmarsat distributors to the frequency assignments that expired when the last SSA
terminated on December 31, 1999‘° is belied by the express language of that decision. The
Commission recognized that two years had passed since the TMI decision, and that there still
was no SSA. Even in the face of these different facts, the Commission expressly rejected MSV s
request to constrain Inmarsat‘s L—Band distributors to using the frequency assignments last made
in the expired 1999 SSA. The express language of this order contradicts MSV‘s assertions that
Inmarsat service is constrained to the frequencies "coordinated for the Inmarsat system" in the
expired 1999 SSA:

               [U]nlike the TMI Order, we cannot state that Inmarsat will be operating
               on frequencies coordinatedfor it and that there is no chance of
               interference. The absence of [an SSA), however, is not a sufficient basis
               upon which to deny the pending applications.
                                                  %o%o%



" Id. at 1158—1159 (citing TMI, 14 FCC Red at 20826 $« 63—64).
* See COMSAT Order, 14 FCC Red at 21697, 21699 « 68, 72. MSV voiced its concern to the
   Commussion that lack of an agreement "could take away lower L—band spectrum coordinated
   for [ MSV‘s] system in the 1999 operator—to—operator agreement" and that, "under these
   circumstances," the Commission should "explain what operation on a non—interference basis
   means or how the Commission will implement or enforce this license condition." I¢4. at
   21697 4 68. The Commission rejected MSV‘s argument, stating: "We believe that the non—
   interference requirement promulgated in our rules and in the ITU Radio Regulations is
   sufficiently clear and needs no further explanation ... ." Id. at 21699« 72.
  MSV Letter Request at 3.


 Ms. Marlene Dortch
 July 6, 2006
 Page 7

                  [T)he absence of an operator—to—operator agreement since 1999 has not led
                  to any complaints of harmful interference by any of the five L—band
                  operators. ... This experience provides additional support for our belief
                  that spectrum limitation concerns are best addressed in the L—band
                  coordination process.
                                                      * ock %


                  [T}here is no permanent assignment of specific spectrum to any L—band
                  operator. Thus, no operator can assert any claim with respect to a specific
                  piece of spectrum.""

 Recognizing that the last SSA had expired, the ordering clauses in paragraphs 115(c) and (d) of
 the COMSAT Order provide as follows: (i) in the absence of an SSA, the Commiussion did not
 constrain the portions of the L—Band in which service can be provided, but rather required that
 service be provided on a non—harmful interference basis, and (ii) once such an SSA is in
 existence, constrain the licensee to the "portions" on the band coordinated for its use in that
 SSA.*‘ That the Commission did not constrain the frequencies that could be used in the absence
 of a SSA is reinforced by the express recognition earlier in the COMSAT Order that Inmarsat
 distributors were not being limited to operation on "frequencies coordinated for [Inmarsat]" in
 that circumstance.""

               MSV is wrong that paragraph 115(c) of the ordering clauses in the COMSAT
Order constrains L—Band uses to the segments last assigned in the 1999 SSA. MSV‘s reading
ignores the express text in paragraph 71 of the COMSAT Order, and the plain language of
paragraph 115(d) of the ordering clauses, which apply in the absence of an SSA, and do not
preclude the use of any specific L—Band segment."" Analogous provisions in MSV s recent




 °*   COMSAT Order, 16 FCC Red at 21698—21699 4 71—73 (emphasis supplied).
      Id. at 21712 @ 115(c)—(d).
no




      1d. at 21698, 21699 C« 71, 72 & n.175. Paragraph 115(c) of the COMSAT Order — limiting
ba
13




      spectrum assignments to "the most recent annual L—Band operator—to—operator agreement" —
      is fully consistent with this interpretation. Paragraph 115(c) provides a mechanism for
      conforming the license terms to any spectrum sharing agreement entered into under the MOU
      after the date of the COMSAT Order.
      There is no validity to MSV‘s claim that Inmarsat use of the L—Band "is likely to spread to
ho
 t




      additional frequencies" MSV Letter at 1. To the extent there ever was any question about
      the bands Inmarsat intends to use, Inmarsat has clarified that it intends to use for United
      States service the same portions of the L—Band that Inmarsat has been using for years to serve
      the United States. This commitment not to expand the portion of the band over which
      Inmarsat currently provides service to the United States, in the absence of a new spectrum
      sharing agreement, renders MSV ‘s speculation moot.


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6, 2006
Page 8

license grants allow service when no SSA is in place, and without excluding specific L—Band
frequencies from MSV‘s authority.""

                Likewise, MSV‘s allegations related to "national spectrum" have been fully
briefed in the past year,"" and long have been settled in any event."° As an initial matter, MSV‘s
predecessor represented in litigation with the Commission that, since the expiration of the 1999
SSA, "no country and no system have their own unique L—band frequencies.”27 Moreover,
Commission policy is clear that no L—Band operator has the exclusive, permanent right to any
particular fzrgquency,28 and "no operator can assert any claim with respect to a specific piece of
spectrum."‘

                Furthermore, over seven years ago, the Commission soundly rejected the
protectionist theme that MSV now invokes again. In the TMI market access proceeding, the
Commission rejected MSV‘s calls to thwart the provision of competitive services until MSV
obtained access to additional spectrum in the MOU process, finding "that such a guid pro guo
would be inconsistent with U.S. market access commitments in the WTO Agreement. If the
United States is to obtain [additional spectrum] for its system, it should be done in the normal
course of the international coordination process.”30 The Commission should not change its
policy here.

IH.       EXCLUDING THE DISPUTED SPECTRUM FROM CURRENT AUTHORIZATIONS WOULD BE
          A CHANGE IN POLICY AND REQUIRE A SECTION 316 PROCEEDING

               As demonstrated above, any Commussion decision to modify the Licensees‘
authonizations to exclude the Disputed Spectrum would constitute a fundamental change in



* See MSYV 63.5° Order, 20 FCC Red at 487 « 23; MSV 101° Order, 20 FCC Red at 9765—9766
  34.
* See, e.g., Opposition of Inmarsat, File Nos. SES—LFS—20051011—01396 et al., at 5—9 (filed
  Dec. 7, 2005).
*° TML, 14 FCC Red at 20813 30.
~*_AMSC DC Circuit Reply Brief at 2. MSV‘s chart purporting to show several instances in
  which MSV has requested that Inmarsat cede to MSV the Disputed Spectrum is of no
      probative value. See MSV Letter, Exhibit E. As noted above, MSV has no lawful claim to
      the Disputed Spectrum. Since 2001, Inmarsat has attempted to reinitiate spectrum sharing
      negotiations with MSV, and the Mexico City process. Each time, MSV has refused to fulfill
      its obligations under the Mexico City MOU unless Inmarsat concedes spectrum to MSV even
      before the negotiations commence, and even before MSV makes the required evidentiary
      showing related to current usage and short term projections of need under the Mexico City
      MOU.
      See supra note 7.
* COMSAT Order, 16 FCC Red at 21699 $ 73.
°° TMLIL, 14 FCC Red at 20813 « 30.


 Ms. Marlene Dortch
 July 6, 2006
 Page 9

 longstanding Commission policy governing the L—Band. Thus, it would not be a mere
 "clarification" of the terms of the existing authorizations listed on Exhibit A. To the contrary,
 what MSV really seeks is a license modification under Section 316 of the Communications Act.
 Section 316 provides that station licenses "may be modified" by the Commission, but only after
 a hearing."‘ Thus, pursuant to the Communications Act, MSV‘s requested relief would require
 the Commission to notify the individual licensees in writing of the proposed action and the
 "grounds and reasons therefor," and provided an opportunity to "protest such proposed order. s132
 Such a modification may not be implemented without complying with the full procedural
 protections afforded by Section 316. Fortunately, the Commission can (and should) dismiss
 MSV‘s request without further consideration because MSV has no right to the Disputed
 Spectrum, and this is not the proper forum to resolve MSV‘s claims in any event.

                                               se se ue se ooke




3    47 U.S.C. § 316(a).
32
     Id. This requirement may not apply in the case of experimental authorizations or STAs.


Ms. Marlene Dortch
July 6, 2006
Page 10

                 For the foregoing reasons, the Commission should deny MSV‘s letter request to
exclude the Disputed Spectrum from authorizations to provide Inmarsat services.

                                                  Respectfully submitted,


          Is/                                            Is/
Linda J. Cicco                                    Eric Fishman
BT AMERICAS INC.                                  Holland & Knight LLP
11440 Commerce Park Drive                         2099 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Reston, VA 20191                                  Washington, DC 20006
                                                  Counsel to Thrane & Thrane Airtime Ltd.

          Is/                                             Is/
Keith H. Fagan                                    Lawrence J. Movshin
Senior Counsel                                    Lee J. Rosen
TELENOR SATELLITE, INC.                           WILKINSON BARKER KNAUER, LLP
1101 Wootton Parkway                              2300 N Street, NW., Suite 700
10th Floor                                        Washington, D.C. 20037
Rockville, MD 20852                               Counsel to MVS USA, Inc.

       Is/                                               Is/
William K. Coulter                                Diane J. Cornell
DLA PIPER RUDNICK GRAY CARY LLP                   Vice President, Government Affairs
1200 19th Street, N.W.                            INMARSAT, INC.
Washington, DC 20036                              1100 Wilson Blyvd, Suite 1425
Counsel to FTMSC US, LLC                          Arlington, VA 22209

                                                        Is/
                                                 Alfred M. Mamlet
                                                 Marc A. Paul
                                                 Brendan Kasper
                                                 STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP
                                                  1330 Connecticut Avenue, NW
                                                 Washington, D.C. 20036
                                                 Counsel to Satamatics, Inc., SkyWave Mobile
                                                 Communications Corp., and Stratos
                                                 Communications, Inc.


                                        ExHIBIT
   Mobile Earth Stations Authorized to Use Inmarsat in the L band in the United States

Call Sign/File Number             Licensee

E010011                          Deere & Company
E040176                          Exxon Communications Company (Inmarsat B)
E050284                          FTMSC US, LLC
E000156                          Honeywell, Inc.
E020074                          Satamatics Worldwide Limited (Inmarsat D+)
SES—MSC—20000209—01020           SITA Information Networking Computing
E030055                          Skywave Mobile Communications Corp. (Inmarsat D+)
E000180                          Stratos (Inmarsat M—4)
E010047                          Stratos (Inmarsat M)
E010048                          Stratos (Inmarsat Mini—M)
E010049                          Stratos (Inmarsat B)
E010050                          Stratos (Inmarsat C)
E000280                          Telenor Satellite, Inc. (Inmarsat M—4)
E000282                          Telenor Satellite, Inc. (Inmarsat Mini—M)
E000283                          Telenor Satellite, Inc. (Inmarsat M)
E000284                          Telenor Satellite, Inc. (Inmarsat C)
E000285                          Telenor Satellite, Inc. (Inmarsat B)

   Fixed Earth Stations Authorized to Use Inmarsat in the L Band in the United States

Call Sign/File Number            Licensee

E970322                          Lockheed Martin Corporation
E980144                          Lockheed Martin Corporation
E890649                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
E980136                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
E980137                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
E990027                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
E990032                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
E990034                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
E940422                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
KA3Il                            Telenor Satellite, Inc.
KA249                            Telenor Satellite, Inc.
KA3O4                            Telenor Satellite, Inc.
KA3O0S5                          Telenor Satellite, Inc.
KA3lI2                           Telenor Satellite, Inc.
KA3l3                            Telenor   Satellite,   Inc.
KB34                             Telenor   Satellite,   Inc.
WA28                             Telenor   Satellite,   Inc.
WB36                             Telenor   Satellite,   Inc.


Exhibit A (continued)




                          Experimental Licenses Authorizing Use of Inmarsat

             Authorization Holder                    Call Sign           File Number

American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.                KE2XAE      0150—EX—RR—2004

The Boeing Company                                   KMZ2XDY     0099—EX—RR—2006

The Boeing Company                                   KB2XSY      0126—EX—ML—2005

California, State of                                 WC2XRK      0071—EX—RR—2005

Gulfstream                                           WB2XIJ      0070—EX—PL—2005

Lockheed Martin Corporation                          WA2XGJ      0197—EX—RR—2003

Lockheed Martin Corporation                          WAZXST      0055—EX—RR—2005

Maine Maritime Academy                               WC2XTX      0263—EX—PL—2001

Maritime Institute of Technology and                 WA2XCS      0059—EX—RR—2004
Graduate Studies

Rockwell Collins, Inc.                            KE2XAG         0106—EX—RR—2005

Telenor Satellite, Inc.                           WA2XGG         0144—EX—RR—2004

Telenor Satellite, Inc.                           WC2XNE         0143—EX—RR—2004

Telenor Satellite, Inc.                           WC2XRT         0023—EX—TC—2005

Telenor Satellite, Inc.                          WD2XLH          0023—EX—RR—2005
                                                bJ


                                          EXHIBIT B

                The following are examples of L—Band precedent showing two conditions: one
constraining spectrum assignments when a spectrum sharing agreement ("SSA") is in effect; and
one allowing service potentially to be provided anywhere in the L—Band on a non—harmful
interference basis in the absence of an SSA. In the latter case, the applicable standard is "non—
harmful interference" as provided by ITU Radio Regulation No. 4.4.

1.     TMI Market Access Order (1999)

       SatCom and TMI are authorized to use the spectrum in the 1545—1559 and 1646.5—1660.5
       MHz bands coordinated for the TMI satellite network in the 1999 annual operator—to—
       operator agreement, as well as any subsequent or appropriate agreements. In the absence
       of any continuing operator—to—operator agreement in the L—band, SatCom and TMI‘s
       operations—like those of AMSC—and the other operators with overlapping North
       America coverage areas, will be on a non—interference basis until a future operator—to—
       operator agreement is reached.

       * % o#



       Without an agreement assigning each of the five systems to specific operating
      frequencies, all systems must operate on a non—interference basis consistent with the ITU
      Radio Regulations.88

       FN88. Operations will be on a non—interference basis in accordance with 47 C.F.R. §
       25.111(b) and ITU Radio Regulation 84.4.

       * * o%



       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED . . . TMI Communications and Company, L.P. IS
       AUTHORIZED to operate . . . in the portions of the 1545—1558.5 and 1646.5—1660 MHz
       band coordinated for the TMI satellite network in the most recent annual L—band
       operator—to—operator coordination agreement, to the extent indicated herein, in accordance
       with the technical specifications set forth in its application and its Radio Station
       Authorization, and consistent with the Commission‘s rules. In the absence of a continuing
       annual operator—to—operator coordination agreement, TMI‘s operation in the 1545—1558.5
       and 1646.5—1660 MHz band will be on a non—interference basis until a future operator—to—
       operator agreement is concluded.

SatCom Systems, Inc., et al., 14 FCC Red 20798, 20814 [« 33—34 & n.88, 20826 ] 64 (1999)
(emphasis added).

2.     COMSAT Order (2001)

       [UJnlike the TMI Order, we cannot state that Inmarsat will be operating on frequencies
       coordinatedfor it and that there is no chance of interference. The absence of [an
       operator—to—operator spectrum sharing] agreement, however, is not a sufficient basis upon
       which to deny the pending applications.


Exhibit B (continued)



        *o e ock



       [TJhe absence of an operator—to—operator agreement since 1999 has not led to any
       complaints of harmful interference by any of the five L—band operators. ... This
       experience provides additional support for our belief that spectrum limitation concerns
       are best addressed in the L—band coordination process. As in the TMI Order, we require
       that all services authorized herein be provided on a non—interference basis. We believe
       that the non—interference requirement promulgated in our rules and in the ITU Radio
       Regulations is sufficiently clear and needs no further explanation as Motient suggests.‘""

       FN175. 47 C.F.R. § 25.111(b) and ITU Radio Regulations, Article 84.2 [sic}].

        *o%oo%k



       [T}here is no permanent assignment of specific spectrum to any L—band operator. Thus,
       no operator can assert any claim with respect to a specific piece of spectrum.

        * * *



       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED . ..

       c. Operations shall be limited to the portions of the 1525—1559 and 1626.5—1660.5 MHz
       band coordinated for the Inmarsat satellite system in the most recent annual L—Band
       operator—to—operator agreement;

       d. In the absence of a continuing annual L—band operator—to—operator coordination
       agreement, operations of MET‘s in the 1525—1559 and 1626.5— 1660.5 MHz bands will be
       on a non—interference basis until a future operator—to—operator agreement is concluded.

COMSAT Corporation d/b/a Comsat Mobile Communications, et al., 16 FCC Red 21661, 2168—
21699 q 71—73 & n.175, 21712« 115 (2001) (emphasis added).

3.     Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC (2002)

       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC‘s MET
       operations shall be limited to the portions of the 1525—1559 and 1626.5—1660.5 MHz
       band coordinated for the satellite being accessed in the most recent annual L—band
       operator—to—operator agreement.

       IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in the absence of a continuing annual operator—to—
       operator coordination agreement, Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC‘s operation
       in the 1525—1559 and 1626.5—1660.5 MHz band will be on a non—harmful interference
       basis.

Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, 17 FCC Red 12894, 12896—12897 4 9—10 (2002)
(emphasis added).
                                               tb


Exhibit B (continued)




4.        National Systems & Research Co. (2002)

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that National Systems & Research Co.‘s MET operations
          shall be limited to the portions of the 1525—1 559 and 1626.5—1660.5 MHz band
          coordination for the satellite being accessed in the most recent annual L—band operator—to—
          operator agreement.

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the absence of a continuing annual operator—to—
          operator coordination agreement, National Systems & Research Co.‘s operation in the
          1525—1530 MHz, 1530—1 544 MHz, 1626.5—1645.5 MHz frequency bands (lower L—band)
          and the 1545—1559 MHz and 1646.5—1660.5 MHz (upper L—band) frequency bands will
          be on a non—interference basis until a future operator—to—operator agreement is concluded.
          National Systems & Research Co. shall not cause harmful interference to any other
          lawfully operating satellite or radio facility and shall cease operations upon written
          notification of such interference.

National Systems & Research Co., 17 FCC Red 12011, 12015 G« 11—12 (2002) (emphasis
added).


5.        Vistar Data Communications, Inc. (2002)

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Vistar Data Communications, Inc.‘s MET operations
          shall be limited to the portions of the 1525—1 559 and 1626.5—1660.5 MHz band
          coordinated for the satellite being accessed in the most recent annual L—band operator—to—
          operator agreement.

          1T IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the absence of a continuing annual operator—to—
          operator coordination agreement, Vistar Data Communications, Inc.‘s operation in the
          1525—1559 and 1626.5—1660.5 MHz band will be on a non—harmful interference basis.
          Consequently, in the absence of a coordination agreement, Vistar Data Communications,
          Inc. shall not cause harmful interference to any other lawfully operating satellite or radio
          facility and shall cease operations upon written notification of such interference.

Vistar Data Communications, Inc., 17 FCC Red 12899, 12903 C« 17—18 (2002) (emphasis
added).


6.        Infosat Communications, Inc. (2002)

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Infosat Communications, Inc. IS AUTHORIZED to
          operate in the 1525—1 530 MHz, 1530—1 544 MHz, and 1626.5—1645.5 MHz frequency
          bands (lower L—band) subject to the following conditions:

          b. Operations shall be limited to the portions of the lower L—band coordinated for TMI
          satellite network in the most recent annual L—band operator—to—operator agreement;

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that in the absence of a continuing annual L—band operator—
          to—operator coordination agreement, Infosat‘s operations of METs in the 1530—1559 and


Exhibit B (continued)




          1631.5—1660 MHz band will be on a non—harmful interference basis until a future
          operator—to—operator agreement is concluded.

Infosat Communications, Inc., 17 FCC Red 1610, 1615 ¢% 14—15 (2002) (emphasis added).


          Richtec Inc. (2003)

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Richtec‘s mobile earth station operations shall be
          limited to the portions of the 152 5—1 544 and 1626.5—1645.5 MHz band coordinated for
          the satellite being accessed in the most recent annual L—band operator—to—operator
          agreement. In the absence of a continuing annual L—band operator—to—operator
          coordination agreement, Richtec‘s operation in the 1525—1 530 MHz, 1530—1544 MHz,
          1626.5—1645.5 MHz frequency bands (lower L—bands) will be on a non—interference basis
          until a future operator—to—operator agreement is concluded. Richtec shall not cause
          harmful interference to any other lawfully operating satellite or radio facility and shall
          cease operations upon notification of such interference.

Richtec Inc., 18 FCC Red 3295, 3301 " 17 (2003) (emphasis added).


8.        MSV AMSC—1 (2004)

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC‘s MET
          operations shall be limited to 2.0 MHz of spectrum in each direction of the 1626.5—1645.5
          MHz and 1530—1 544 MHz band coordinated for the satellite being accessed in the most
          recent annual L—band operator—to—operator agreement, and that no additional spectrum
          will be requested or used.

          IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, in the absence of a continuing annual operator—to—
          operator coordination agreement, Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC‘s operation
          in the 1626.5—1645.5 MHz and 1530—1 544 MHz band will be on a non—harmful
          interference basis.

Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, 19 FCC Red 4672, 4675 «[ 7—8 (2004) (emphasis
added).


9.        SkyWave Mobile Communications, Corp. (2004)

          Licensee‘s mobile earth station operations shall be limited to the portions of the 1 525—
          1544 and 1626.5—1645.5 MHz band coordinated for the satellite being accessed in the
          most recent annual L—band operator—to—operator agreement. In the absence of a
          coordination agreement, Licensee‘s operation in the 1525—1544 and 1626.5—1645.5 MHz
          band will be on a non—hkarmful interference basis.

SkyWave Mobile Communications, Corp. License (Call Sign E030055, Special Condition 5899)
(emphasis added).


Exhibit B (continued)




10.     Satamatics, Inc. (2005)

        Licensee‘s mobile earth station operations shall be limited to the portions of the 1525—
        1544 and 1626.5—1645.5 MHz band coordinated for the satellite being accessed in the
        most recent annual L—band operator—to—operator agreement. In the absence of a
        coordination agreement, Licensee‘s operation in the 1525—1 544 and 1626.5—1645.5 MHz
        band will be on a non—harmful interference basis.

Satamatics, Inc. License (Call Sign EO20074, Special Condition 5899) {(emphasis added).


                                 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        I, Jeffrey A. Marks, hereby certify that on this 6" day of July, 2006, I caused to be served

a true copy of the foregoing, by first class mail, postage pre—paid (or as otherwise indicated) upon

the following:

James Ball*                                        Stephen Duall*
International Bureau                               International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                  Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                              445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                               Washington, DC 20554

JoAnn Ekblad*                                      Richard Engelman*
International Bureau                               International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                  Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                              445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                               Washington, DC 20554

Gardner Foster*                                    Howard Griboff*
International Bureau                               International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                  Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                              445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                               Washington, DC 20554

Fern Jarmulnek*                                    Andrea Kelly*
International Bureau                               International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                  Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                              445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                               Washington, DC 20554

Karl Kensinger*                                    Scott Kotler*®
International Bureau                               International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                  Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                              445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                               Washington, DC 20554

John Martin*                                      Robert Nelson*
International Bureau                              International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                 Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                             445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                              Washington, DC 20554


Roderick Porter*                      Cassandra Thomas*
International Bureau                  International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission     Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                 445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                  Washington, DC 20554

Bruce D. Jacobs                       Jennifer A. Manner
David S. Konczal                      Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP   Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC
2300 N Street, N.W.                   1002 Park Ridge Boulevard
Washington, DC 20037—1 128            Reston, Virginia 20191


* Via Electronic Mail


                                           UhkaAA—
                                        Jefre}’ (\/ Marks



Document Created: 2006-07-11 07:54:17
Document Modified: 2006-07-11 07:54:17

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