Attachment congressional

This document pretains to SAT-MOD-20050301-00054 for Modification on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATMOD2005030100054_476264

LISA MURKOWSKI 510 L STREET,SUITE 550 ANCHORAGE, AK 99501-1956 ALASKA Q (907) 271-3735 MAJORITY DEPUTY WHIP ."* "0 101 1 2 AVENUE, ~ ~ Box 7 Wnited Statu Senate 5 FAIRBANKS,AK 99701-6278 COMMITTEES: (907) 4560233 ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES P.O. Box 21647 CHAIRMAN, SUBCOMMITTEE ON WATERAND POWER WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0203 (202) 224-6665 si JUNEAU,AK 99802-1647 (907) 586-7400 FOREIGN RELATIONS 110 TRADINGBAY ROAD,SUITE 105 (202) 224-5301 FAX CHAIRMAN,SUECDMMI~EE ON KENAI, AK 99611-7716 EASTASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS December 16,2005 s (907) 283-5808 540 WATERSTREET,SUITE 101 ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS KETCHIKAN,AK 99901-6378 (907) 225-6880 INDIAN AFFAIRS 851 EAST WESTPDINT DRIVE,SUITE 307 WASILW AK 99654-7142 ?@ (907) 3767665 Ms. Martha Johnston Director of Congressional Affairs Federal Communications Commission 445 Twelfth Street SW Ivi P.0 Box 1030 31 1 WILLOWSTREET,BUILDING3 BETHEL,AK 99559-1030 (907) 543-1639 Washington, D.C. 20554 Dear Martha: Please find enclosed a copy of a letter I recently received from one of my constituents, Mr. Jon Shepherd of Palmer, Alaska. Mr. Shepherd has some concerns regarding his company's application to the Federal Communications Commission to gain authority to provide ancillary terrestrial component services. I would appreciate your review of his concerns and any assistance you might be able to provide Mr. Shepherd in resolving them. Please send your reply to my Washington, D.C., office. For administrative purposes, please reference Mr. Shepherd and the date of his letter to me in your response. Thank you in advance for your careful attention to this matter. Sincerely, isa Murkowski United States Senator Enclosure HOME PAGE AND WEB MAIL MURKOWSKI.SENATE.GOV

Y ‘PGDC W PORT GRAHAM DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 901 Cope Industrial Way, Palmer, AK 99645 Decembcr 15,2005 The Honorablc Lisa Murkowski 709 Hart Senate Office Suilding Washington, DC 205 10 Dear Senator Murkowski, I am writing to urge you to contact the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”)to emphasize the need for quick action on a pending matter that affects the ability of Globalstar LLC to provide enhanced telecommunications services to the citizens of Ala-ka. Globalstar has been providing limited voice and data Mobile Satellite Service to Alaskans for approximately five years and has an estabiished and growing presence in this state. Globalstar is also in the process of investing significant capital in the.constructionof a new earth station facility in Wasilla, Alaska, to communicate with its sateHite network. The new gateway, scheduled to provide full commercial service by June 2006,will ensure that Globalstar is able to provide robust, reliable service to its customers located in even the most remote areas of Alaska. Tn March 2005, Globalstar filed an application with the FCC seeking authority to provide “Ancillary Terrestrial Component,’’ or “ A T P Services in conjunction with its existing satellite services. ATC authority wiIl enable tilobalstar to dramatically improve the quality and ell’lciency or thc services it provides to its public safety and consumer customers. ATC authority also will allow Globalstar to deploy a number of new services - including e n h a n d broadband capabilities-that will benefit both existing and future customers, especially in Alaska. However, even though Globalstar’sATC application was filed more than nine months ago and is non-controversial, I understand that the FCC still has not acta3 on it. This dclay on Globalstar’s application a p p a t s to ignorc the undeniable public interest benefits that ATC authority would provide, and appears to disregard the existing and fbture communications needs of the company’s Alaskan customers. Without your intervention, I am concernd chat thc FCC will continue to delay action on Globalstar’spending ATC: application - a delay that will harm not only Globalstar, but the many current and future Alaskans who stand to benefit enormously from the services that Globalstar is poised to offer. cc. The Honorable Ted Stcvcns The Honorable Don Young Anthony J. Navma, President, Globalstar LLC

I Y FORT GRAHAM DEVELOPMENT C O W M ~ O N The Globalstar Stow Satellite services to handheld telephones are not a dream of the hture - they are a valuable reality today. Having survived a chapte~11 banknrptcy, Globalstar now provides voice and data Mobile Satellite Services (“MSS”) to roughly 183,000 customers,including first responders and other public safety personnel for whom satellite service may be the only means of communicdthg in the event of a disaster. Globalstar’s services proved their value to emergency response agencies in the wake UT this year’s Gulf Coast hurricanes. Globalstar is a Caliibrnia-based company with satellite earth slation facilities in Texas, Florida, Alaska, and Puetto Rico. It is in its sixth year of operations and provides services to customcrs in aII parts of the world except central and southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. Its 183,000 customers are spread across 120 different countries, but its largest markets are the U.S. and Canada. ‘l‘he company is moving to expand its service footprint by taking over or installing gateways in Venezuela, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, China, and India New customers me signing up at an amazing rate - the customer base grew at an average annual rate of 45 percent during the first five y a m of Globalstar’s existence, and it increased by 50 percent in the last 18 months. Globalstar is committed to providing its senices worldwide at prices comparable to those that terrestrial wireless subscribers have come to cxpect. For example, Globalstar’s U.S. customers can now purchase voice and data service in bulk for 17 cents per minute and pay no roaming or lung distance charges anywhere within North America and the portions of thr: Caribbean served by Globalstar’s Gateway in Puerto Rico. IJnlike terrestrial wireline and wireless networks, which can he disabled by natural disasters,terrorist attacks, and power outages, Globalstar’s satellite network is largcly unafkted by these events and Serves as a vital communications link during times of emergency. For example, during and after the recent hurricanes that struck the Gulf Coast, Globalstar’s MSS system remained operational and Globalstar customers, many of whom are first responders and state and federal emcrgency response agencies, were abIe to maintain vital wmmonications links. Globalstar provided approximately 10,000 additional handsets to public safety officials (including FEMA and thc governor’s offices in Louisiana and Mississippi) in the regions impacted by these storms, and the company was able to shift its system capacity to meet the surge of demand in the southeastern United States. Without Globalstar service, many state and federal agencies would have been left without communications links in the wake of these storms.

On March 1, 2 0 5 , Globalstar applied for ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) authority for its mobile satellite service (MSS) system. ATC is vital for Globalstar and its customers. ATC authority will enable Globalstar to offer truly ubiquitous voice and data communications solutions. Oflw MSS suffers from poor reception in urban areas where tall buildings and other structures can block satellite signals. ATC will enable Globalstar to eliminate t h gaps in coverage and will permit a new line o f more powerful communications devices. ATC will also enable Globalstar to offef mobile communications services in response to emergencies and natural disasters. The frst responders, emergency providers, and government agencies that Globalstar serves particularly need the scamless coverage ATC will d l c . ATC Will allow rhcse customers to have a ubiquitous and robust communications solution that can withstand the natural. and man-made disasters that often disable traditional terrestrial wireless and wireline communications systems. Chronolow of Globalstar's ATC Aptllicatioq March 1,2005 Globalstar files its ATC application. Thc application hlly complies with dl FCC rules and q u i r e s no waivcrs April 15,2005 Globalstar ATC application is placed on Public Notice May f6,2005 The period for public comment on Globalstar ATC application closes. Only two parties filed comments (the Wireless Communication Association (WCA) and the Socicty o f Broadcast Engineers (SBE)). Neither party challenged the application on its merits May 25,2005 NTIA sends a letter to the FCC staff asking that Globalstar bc required to meet certain radio frequency emission h i t s that are stricter than those required by FCC regulations. However, because the FCC failed to forward a copy of the letter tu Globalstar or place it in the record, Globalstar did not learn of NTIA's cmcerns until many months later May 26,2005 Globalstar filcs reply commentsaddressing WCA's and SBE's concerns Augast 2005 Cfobalstar erters into discussims with NTlA to adddress its w m s Oct. 17,2005 Globalstar resolves outstanding issues with NTIA and agrees to meet the emission limits requesled by N T I A in order to ensure an expeditious grant or its ATC application November 2005 NTlA approvcs Globalstar's proposed emission limits November 2005 Globalstar is told by FCC staff that an order is being drafted and a grant of its ATC application is imminent Week Dec. 5,2005 Globalstar is informed, without any explanation, that the &ail ATC order hiis lost momentum and cannot provide any assurances that it will he released before the end ofthe year


Document Created: 2006-01-13 15:04:00
Document Modified: 2006-01-13 15:04:00
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