PUBLIC Copy of Exhibits A through C

0923-EX-ST-2013 Text Documents

Google Inc.

2013-09-30ELS_141851

                                                                                         Google Inc.
                                                                          File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013



Date:                 September 30, 2013
Subject:              Request for Confidentiality
FCC File Number:      0923-EX-ST-2013

To Whom It May Concern:

       Google Inc. (“Google”), pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552 and Sections 0.457 and 0.459 of the
Commission's Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.457, 0.459, hereby requests that certain information
complementary to its above-referenced application for Special Temporary Authority (“STA
Application”) be treated as confidential and not subject to public inspection. The designated
information constitutes confidential and proprietary information that, if subject to public disclosure,
would cause significant commercial, economic, and competitive harm. As described below,
Google’s request satisfies the standards for grant of such requests set forth in Sections 0.457 and
0.459 of the Commission’s Rules.

       In accordance with Section 0.459(b) and in support of this request, Google provides the
following information:

1.     Identification of the Information for Which Confidential Treatment is Sought:

       Google’s request for confidential treatment is limited to the following information that has
       been redacted from the STA application and complementary exhibits:

       Application:

       [REDACTED]


       Google does not seek to withhold from public inspection information in the STA application
       necessary for interference mitigation, including applicant name, contact information, test
       location, frequency, output power, effective radiated power, emission characteristics and
       modulation.


       Exhibit A - STA Justification:

       Google requests confidential treatment of the following highlighted text from Exhibit A that
       contains confidential and proprietary information regarding the proposed tests/experiments.

       The STA is needed for demonstration and testing of technology

       [REDACTED]

      Timely grant of this STA request will serve the public interest by allowing Google to test and
demonstrate
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                                                                                                     Google Inc.
                                                                                      File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013


        [REDACTED]

       Grant of this experimental STA will not adversely impact any authorized user of RF
spectrum.

        [REDACTED]

        Exhibit B - Technical Information:

Google requests confidential treatment of the following portions from Exhibit B that contain
confidential and proprietary information regarding the proposed tests/experiments.

        [REDACTED]


        Exhibit C - Spectrum Documentation:

Confidential treatment is sought for Exhibit C in its entirety.


2.      Identification of the Commission proceeding in which the information was submitted or
        a description of the circumstances giving rise to the submission.

        The above-referenced Exhibits were submitted to the Commission in support of the STA
        Application. These Exhibits were filed with the Office of Engineering and Technology on
        September 30, 2013. For additional information, please see File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013.

3.      Explanation of the degree to which the information is commercial or financial or
        contains a trade secret or is privileged.

        The information requested to be kept confidential has significant commercial value. The
        details of the STA Application tests/experiments may include trade secret information. The
        Commission has clarified that confidential treatment should be afforded to trade secrets.1
        Google’s tests/experiments and proprietary wireless applications using particular
        radiofrequency equipment represent a “secret commercially valuable plan” within the
        meaning of a trade secret as recognized by the Commission.

        In addition, agreements entered into between Google and the parties identified above require
        that confidential information of the parties be held in strict confidence, and that such
        information not be disclosed to any third party (with limited exceptions not applicable to this
        request). The manufacturer name and model number constitutes confidential trade secrets,
        technical information, and business information under the agreements.

1
        Examination of Current Policy Concerning the Treatment of Confidential Information Submitted to the
Commission, Report and Order, GC Docket No. 96-55, at para. 3, (released August 4, 1998) (defining “trade secrets” for
purpose of Commission rules on confidential treatment).
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                                                                                       Google Inc.
                                                                        File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013


4.   Explanation of the degree to which the information concerns a service that is
     competitive.

     The services and technologies that are the subject of this STA Application have not yet been
     fully developed but are expected to lead to material developments in markets subject to fierce
     competition from multiple U.S. and non-U.S. third parties.

5.   Explanation of how disclosure of the information could result in substantial competitive
     harm.

     The technology under development is highly sensitive and confidential in nature. The release
     of such information would provide valuable insight into Google’s technology innovations
     and potential business plans and strategies. Public disclosure will jeopardize the value of the
     technology under examination by enabling others to utilize Google’s information to develop
     similar products in a similar timeframe.

6.   Identification of any measures taken by the requesting party to prevent unauthorized
     disclosure.

     Google has taken steps to keep confidential the information set forth in the confidential
     exhibits by limiting the number of people involved in the tests/experiments to only those on a
     “need to know” basis, and by requiring that all third parties involved in the preliminary
     analysis execute robust nondisclosure agreements.

7.   Identification of whether the information is available to the public and the extent of any
     previous disclosures of the information to any third parties.

     The information contained in the confidential exhibits is not available to the public, and has
     only been disclosed to third parties pursuant to the restrictive safeguards described above.

     Google voluntarily provides the information to the Commission at this time with the
     expectation that it will be treated confidentially in accordance with the Commission's rules.
     See Critical Mass Energy Project v. Nuclear Regulatory Comm 'n, 975 F.2d 871, 879 (D.C.
     Cir. 1992) (commercial information provided on a voluntary basis "is 'confidential' for the
     purpose of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Exemption 4 if it is of a kind that would
     customarily not be released to the public by the person from whom it was obtained.")

8.   Justification of the requested period of confidentiality

     Google expects that confidential treatment is necessary for the length of the proposed
     experiment and thereafter in order to protect its evolving business and technology strategies.




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                                                                                      Google Inc.
                                                                       File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013

9.     Any other information that would be useful in assessing whether this request should be
       submitted.

       The information subject to this request for confidentiality should not be made available for
       public disclosure at any time. There is nothing material that public review of this
       information would add to the Commission’s analysis of Google’s request for an experimental
       authorization. STA grants are not subject to Public Notice requirements set forth in the
       Communications Act. Further, STA authorizations do not grant permanent rights to operate
       and do not permit the provision of commercial services to customers. See 47 C.F.R. § 5.3
       (describing limited scope of permissible experimental services.)

       Moreover, public disclosure of the sensitive information in the confidential exhibits to the
       STA Application after the Commission has ruled on the Request for Confidentiality is not
       necessary for the Commission to fulfill its regulatory responsibilities.

       Consistent with 47 C.F.R. § 0.459(d)(l), Google requests notification if release of the
       information subject to this request is requested pursuant to the FOIA or otherwise, so that
       Google may have an opportunity to oppose grant of any such request.


Sincerely yours,

       /s/
___________________________
Aparna Sridhar
Policy Counsel
Google Inc




                                                4


                                                                                    Google Inc.
                                                                     File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013

          EXHIBIT A – SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY JUSTIFICATION


       Google Inc. (“Applicant” or “Google”), pursuant to Section 5.61 of the Federal
Communications Commission’s (“FCC’s” or “Commission’s”) Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 5.61, hereby
requests Special Temporary Authority (“STA”) to conduct demonstrations of experimental
transmitters. The STA is sought for a period of 180 days beginning not later than October 14,
2013. Consistent with the standards set forth in Section 5.61, Google outlines below its need for
the requested STA and the compelling reasons why the STA should be granted expeditiously.

        Google offers technologies that span the entire wireless economy—including mobile
operating systems, mobile search, cloud-based services, and maps. Without exception, these
businesses depend on access to robust spectrum resources as well as wireless infrastructure.
Given the ever-increasing and competing demands on finite spectrum resources and wireless
infrastructure, Google has become an advocate for responsible shared use of spectrum resources,
an innovator in developing cutting-edge technologies to maximize the efficient reuse of
spectrum, and a pioneer in extending wireless infrastructure to underserved or unserved
communities.

         The STA is needed for demonstration and testing of technology



[REDACTED]



      Timely grant of this STA request will serve the public interest by allowing Google to test
and demonstrate



[REDACTED]


       Grant of this experimental STA will not adversely impact any authorized user of RF
spectrum



[REDACTED]12

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    [REDACTED]
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                                           Page 1 of 2


                                                                                   Google Inc.
                                                                    File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013

        In summary, grant of the requested STA is required for the purpose of allowing Google to
test and demonstrate innovative technology with the potential to advance numerous public
interest goals. For these reasons, Google requests approval of its STA application.




                                          Page 2 of 2


                                                                                    Google Inc.
                                                                     File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013


                        EXHIBIT B - TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Applicant Name:               Google Inc.
Applicant FRN:                0016069502

Legal Contact Details
Name of Contact:               Aparna Sridhar
Contact Details:               Policy Counsel
                               1101 New York Avenue, N.W., Second Floor
                               Washington, DC 20009

Technical Contact Details
Name of Contact:               Cyrus Behroozi
Contact Details:               1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
                               Mountain View, CA 94043
                               Phone: 650-906-9938
                               Email: cyrusb@google.com


[REDACTED]

                        [REDACTED]
Radius of Operation             Not to exceed 100 miles from
                                    geographic centerpoint
Geographic Centerpoint                  40° 25' 26.1" N
(Lat / Long. NAD 83)                   116° 16' 39.8" W
Equipment under test will not operate in a 25-mile radius around the coordinates of 40° 50'
1.5216" N / 115° 45' 40.7154" W.

Frequency Range /              High (MHz)             Low (MHz)
Tolerance
                               2145.0000              2155.0000

Frequency           Modulation       Emission         Bandwidth       Power Out       EIRP
Range /                              Designator       (MHz)           (Watts)         (dBW)
Tolerance
                    Digital          W7D              10              10 W            24.27

Antenna Details
                         [REDACTED]

                         [REDACTED]


                                                                                    Google Inc.
                                                                     File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013

Gain                     6 dBi
Beam Width at Half-      90
Power Point
Orientation in           NA
Horizontal Plane
Orientation in           NA
Vertical Plane

[REDACTED]
                                         [REDACTED]

                        [REDACTED]
Radius of Operation             Not to exceed 100 miles from
                                    geographic centerpoint
Geographic Centerpoint                 40° 25' 26.1" N
(Lat / Long. NAD 83)                  116° 16' 39.8" W
Equipment under test will not operate within a 25-mile radius around the coordinates of 40° 50'
1.5216" N / 115° 45' 40.7154" W.

Frequency Range /             High (MHz)             Low (MHz)
Tolerance
                              1745.0000              1755.0000

Frequency           Modulation       Emission         Bandwidth       Power Out      EIRP
Range /                              Designator       (MHz)           (Watts)        (dBW)
Tolerance
                    Digital          W7D              10              10 W           24.27

Antenna Details
                         [REDACTED]


Gain                     6 dBi
Beam Width at Half-      90
Power Point
Orientation in           NA
Horizontal Plane
Orientation in           NA
Vertical Plane

[REDACTED]




                                               2


                                        Google Inc.
                         File No. 0923-EX-ST-2013


EXHIBIT C – [REDACTED]



Document Created: 2013-09-30 17:50:08
Document Modified: 2013-09-30 17:50:08

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