Attachment Inmarsat - MOO DA 1

This document pretains to SES-LIC-20120426-00397 for License on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESLIC2012042600397_1096199

                                               Federal Communications Commission                            DA 15—815



                                                   Before the
                                      Federal Communications Commission
                                            Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                                            )
                                                            )
Inmarsat Mobile Networks, Inc.                              )    IBFS File Nos. SES—LIC—20120426—00397
                                                            )    SES—AMD—20120823—00781, and
                                                            )    SES—AMD—20150114—00008
Application to Operate a Fixed—Satellite                    )
Service Gateway Earth Station Facility in                   )    Call Sign: E120072
Lino Lakes, Minnesota with the Inmarsat—S F2                )
Space Station                                               )


                                  MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

Adopted: July 14, 2015                                                    Released: July 14, 2015

By the Chief, Satellite Division, International Bureau:

I.       INTRODUCTION

         1. By this Memorandum Opinion and Order we grant in part, and deny in part, the Petition of
Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) to reconsider or clarify a condition adopted on a license granted to
Inmarsat Mobile Networks, Inc. (Inmarsat) for operations in the 29.1—29.25 GHz frequency band.‘ The
license granted Inmarsat authority to construct and operate a Fixed—Satellite Service (FSS) earth station at
Lino Lakes, Minnesota to communicate with Inmarsat‘s recently launched Inmarsat—5 F2 space station,
operating at the 55° W.L. orbital location. Iridium filed a petition for reconsideration or clarification of a
condition on Inmarsat‘s use of the 29.1—29.25 GHz frequency band, in which Iridium also operates. —For
the reasons discussed below, we grant Iridium‘s petition in part, and deny it in part.

IL.      DISCUSSION

        2. The Inmarsat License Order, in response to concerns raised by Iridium about the impact of
Inmarsat‘s proposed operations on the feeder links Irldlum uses for its mobile satellite service (MSS)
operations, includes the condition that:

         Inmarsat‘s operations in the 29.1—29.25 GHz band shall be on a non—interference basis
         to MSS feeder link ... operations. Inmarsat must cease operations in the event of any interference
         into ... MSS feeder link operations. In addition, Inmarsat may not claim interference protection
         from ... MSS feeder link operations in this frequency band.

         3. Iridium‘s petition seeks reconsideration or clarification of this condition." First, Iridium seeks


‘ Inmarsat Mobile Networks, Inc., Order and Authorization and Declaratory Ruling, DA 15—392 (Rel. March 30,
2015) (Inmarsat License Order).

 Inmarsat License Order at [ 41(€).

* Tridium Satellite LLC, Petition for Reconsideration or Clarification, filed April 29, 2015 (Iridium Petition).


                                  ~~~— Federal Communications Commission                   o          _ DA 15—815



clarification of whether the condition applies only with respect to MSS feeder links already licensed, or
whether, as Iridium believes it should; also with respect to MSS feeder links that may be licensed in the
future.* Second, Iridium asks for clarification that this conditionapplies to the receivers on the Inmarsat—
5 F2 space station, i.e., that Inmarsat cannot claim protection for any reception of signals in the 29.1—
29.25 GHz frequency band by the Inmarsat—5 F2 satellite."

              4. Inmarsat opposed the petition as "unwarranted and unnecessary."" Inmarsat states that its
operationsinthe 29.1©29.25 GHzband are governed ‘by a coordination agreementbetween the parties,
and that the LinoLakesoperations will be within the terms of that coordination. Expanding the condition
to cover future feeder link stations, Inmarsat states, could change the terms of the coordination and
expandIridium‘s rights under the agreement." Iridium replied to Inmarsat‘s opposition stating, insum;,;>
that Inmarsat has mischaracterized the terms of the coordination agreement between the parties.s

         5. We grant Iridium‘s petition insofar as it requests clarification that the condition applies with
respect to both current and future MSS feeder links. According to the Ka—Band Plan, the FSS (Earth—to—
space) allocation of the 29.1—29.25 GHz frequency band is designated to feeder links to MSS space
stations. As a consequence, Inmarsat‘s operations in 29.1—29.25 GHz frequency band may not cause
interference to existing or future MSS feeder link operations.

          6. We deny Iridium‘s request insofar as it seeks clarification that the condition applies to all
reception of signals by the Inmarsat—5 F2 satellite in the 29.1—29.25 GHz frequency band. The condition
applies to transmissions from the Lino Lakes® earth station and reception of those specific signals by the
receivers on the Inmarsat—5 F2 satellite. The condition does not apply, however, to reception at the
receivers on the Inmarsat—5 F2 satellite of other signals from Inmarsat earth stations in the 29.1—29.25
GHz frequency band. We decline to expand the scope of our decision beyond the specific Inmarsat
facilities involved. Questions relevant to additional Inmarsat facilities may be addressed in connection
with a specific licensing request, or through the international coordination process, as appropriate."
Therefore, we deny this portion of Iridium‘s petition.




* Id. at 4.

* Id. at 5.

© Inmarsat Mobile Networks, Inc., Opposition to Petition for Reconsideration or Clarification (filed May 11, 2015)
(Inmarsat Opposition). Inmarsat filed both a public (redacted) Opposition and an unredacted Opposition, subject to a
request for confidential treatment pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §§ 0.457 and 0.459.

? Id. at 3.

® Tridium Satellite LLC,. Reply to Opposition to Petition for Reconsideration or Clarification (filed May 19, 2015).
Iridium filed both a public (redacted) Reply and an unredacted Reply, subject to a request for confidential treatment
pursuant to 47 C.E.R. §§ 0.457 and 0.459.

° See International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulation 9.6.

                                                          2


                                 Federal Communications Commission                             DA 15—815



XIL.    ORDERING CLAUSE

       7. Accordingly it is ORDERED, pursuant to 47 C.F.R. §§ 1.2 and 1.106, that Iridium Satellite
LLC‘s Petition for Reconsideration or Clarification of the Inmarsat License Order, DA 15—392, is
GRANTED IN PART, and DENIED IN PART.

        8. This action is issued pursuant to Sections 0.261 of the Commission‘s rules on delegated
authority, 47 C.F.R. § 0.261, and is effective immediately.



                                       FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION



                                        Jose P. Albuquerque
                                        Chief, Satellite Division
                                        International Bureau



Document Created: 2015-07-15 14:39:42
Document Modified: 2015-07-15 14:39:42

© 2024 FCC.report
This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FCC