Attachment DA-11-1537A1[1].pdf

This document pretains to SAT-MOD-20101118-00239 for Modification on a Satellite Space Stations filing.

IBFS_SATMOD2010111800239_918316

PUBLIC NOTICE Federal Communications Commission News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 445 12th Street, S.W. Internet: http://www.fcc.gov Washington, D.C. 20554 TTY: 1-888-835-5322 DA 11-1537 SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 STATUS OF TESTING IN CONNECTION WITH LIGHTSQUARED’S REQUEST FOR ATC COMMERCIAL OPERATING AUTHORITY IB Docket No. 11-109 This Public Notice is issued pursuant to the provision of LightSquared Subsidiary LLC’s (LightSquared) conditional Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) authorization that LightSquared may not commence ATC operations until the Commission, in consultation with the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), finds that Global Positioning System (GPS) interference concerns have been satisfactorily resolved. Following extensive comments received as a result of the technical working group process required by the International Bureau’s Order and Authorization dated January 26, 2011,1 the Federal Communications Commission, in consultation with NTIA, has determined that additional targeted testing is needed to ensure that any potential commercial terrestrial services offered by LightSquared will not cause harmful interference to GPS operations.2 As a result of concerns raised by NTIA (on behalf of military and civilian federal agencies) and the GPS industry, the Commission conditioned the January 26, 2011 Order and Authorization on LightSquared sufficiently addressing the potential for harmful interference that its planned commercial terrestrial service could cause to GPS devices, including those used to protect national security and public safety. The conditional authorization required LightSquared to help organize and to fully participate in a technical working group to bring together LightSquared and the GPS community to address potential interference to GPS from LightSquared’s ATC operations. For more than three months, the technical working group, comprised of more than 120 participants including representatives from the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation and other federal agencies, the GPS community, various telecommunications companies and LightSquared, conducted an extensive set of tests, and LightSquared submitted a final report on June 30, 2011. The technical working group effort identified potential for harmful interference from LightSquared’s originally proposed deployment based 1 26 FCC Rcd 566 (Int’l Bur. 2011). 2 We note that NTIA has been active in consultations with key federal agencies potentially impacted by LightSquared’s proposed operations, as well as LightSquared itself. See NTIA’s Assistant Secretary Larry E. Strickling’s letter to Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn and Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari of September 9, 2011. http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021708329.

on operation of terrestrial transmitters in both the upper and lower 10 MHz portions of its spectrum. The FCC issued a public notice on June 30, 2011, seeking comment on the report.3 LightSquared submitted proposed mitigation techniques to remedy the interference to GPS simultaneously with the technical working group final report. 4 Notably, LightSquared proposed to revise its planned deployment to operate terrestrial transmitters only in the lower 10 MHz of its spectrum. The results thus far from the testing using the lower 10 MHz showed significant improvement compared to tests of the upper 10 MHz, although there continue to be interference concerns, e.g., with certain types of high precision GPS receivers, including devices used in national security and aviation applications. Additional tests are therefore necessary. We appreciate the extensive resources devoted by all of the participants in the technical working group and by the federal agencies and departments. We are satisfied that the process that was established through the conditional authorization, as well as the consultation process that exists between the FCC and NTIA, is meeting our objective to fully understand the potential for harmful interference and develop solutions before LightSquared is permitted to deploy service. We strongly encourage all parties to work in good faith and expeditiously towards a solution that serves our dual goals of facilitating the introduction of new wireless broadband services while protecting GPS against harmful interference. By the Chiefs, International Bureau & Office of Engineering and Technology --FCC-- 3 DA 11-1133 (June 30, 2011). 4 LightSquared Recommendations Concerning GPS Interference Concerns, at 1 (filed June 30, 2011), available in IB Docket No. 11-109. 2


Document Created: 2011-09-23 16:59:14
Document Modified: 2011-09-23 16:59:14
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