Attachment ex parte

This document pretains to SAT-AMD-20031118-00332 for Amended Filing on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATAMD2003111800332_415581

                                                                   EX PARTE OR LATE FILED


                                        Hughes Supply Co.
                                        P.O.Box 99                   I
                                        Pax, WV 25904


                                            01/06/2005


Via Hand Delivery
Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C.20554

       Re:     Mobile S&elliteVentures Subsidiary LLC
               Ex Parte Presentation
               IB Docket No. 01-185
               File No. SAT-MOD-20031118-00333 (ATC application)
               File No. SAT-AMD-20031118-00332(ATC application)
               File No. SES-MOD-20031118-01879(ATC application)

Dear Ms. Dortch:

       Hughes Supply Co. hereby urges the Commission to afford L-band Mobile Satellite
Service (“MSS”) operators greater flexibility in their provision of an Ancillary Terrestrial
Component (“ATC”), as requested by Mobile Satellite Ventures LP (“MSV”) in the above-
captioned proceedings. The increased flexibility requested by MSV will ensure that next-
generation MSS systems in the L-band can finally achieve the ubiquitous coverage, capacity, and
economies of scale needed for a true consumer service. In contrast, the restrictions on L-band
ATC advocated by Inmarsat Ventures plc (“Inmarsat”) will only ensure that MSS forever
remains a niche service catering to price-insensitive users operating in remote areas.

      Hughes Supply Co. has provided MSS since 2004 using the L-band satellites of MSV and
Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) Inc. We currently provide two-way radio service to the WV
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                                                                                         -




         While we have developed a viable business that includes current-generation MSS
satellites to serve niche markets, we arc?excited-ab?;t the*future potential for MSS when
supplemented with ATC. To date, MSS has been characterized by suitcase-sized user terminals,
limited coverage, low data rates, and equipment and service prices far exceeding that offered by
terrestrial wireless operators. Because the market for tlus type of service is small, the economies
of scale needed to drive down equipment andservice prices have not developed. With ATC,
however, MSS has the potential to evolve into a true consumer service. ATC will provide the
coverage, capacity, and economies of scale needed to bring MSS equipment and service prices to
affordable levels. Moreover, by overcoming sakel)nit&sig$al blockage in urban areas, ATC will
allow MSS to become a truly ubiquitots service, allowing service providers to market their


Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
[Date]
Page 2


products to customers not only in rural and remote areas but to customers in the most densely
populated urban cores as well.

       Hughes Supply Co. understands that concerns of potential interference that could delay
MSV’s development of a next-generation MSS system. These concerns are overstated and
speculative. For example, our customers will continue to use their satellite-only terminals after
MSV deploys ATC, but we are not concerned that these terminals will experience interference
from MSV’s ATC base stations. This is because our customers do not use their satellite-only
terminals in areas where MSV is expected to deploy base stations to overcome satellite signal
blockage. By definition, if MSV needs to deploy an ATC base station to overcome signal
blockage, our satellite-only terminals will not work effectively in those areas.

       The Commission is at a crossroads in the development of MSS technology. We urge the
Commission to follow the path of innovation and better consumer service by adopting MSV’s
proposals for increased flexibility for ATC in the L-band.


                                                     Very truly yours,


                                                     &!!$+-
                                                     Tom Hughes



Document Created: 2005-01-21 11:50:32
Document Modified: 2005-01-21 11:50:32

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