Petition to Dismiss.

PETITION submitted by IRIDIUM CONSTELLATION LLC

Petition to Dismiss

2014-10-10

This document pretains to SES-LIC-20140610-00469 for License on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESLIC2014061000469_1064622

                                  Before the
                   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                          )
                                          )
Harris Corporation                        )       File Nos. SES-LIC-20140610-00469 and
                                          )                 SES-AMD-20140617-00525
Application for Fixed                     )
Earth Station License                     )


               PETITION TO DISMISS OF IRIDIUM SATELLITE LLC

      Iridium Constellation LLC (“Iridium”) hereby petitions to dismiss the above-

captioned application filed by Harris Corporation (“Harris”).


      In its application, Harris seeks a license for a new fixed satellite earth station.

The frequencies Harris proposes to use include the 29.25-29.3 GHz band. Iridium

demonstrates below that Harris’ application is incomplete because it does not address

the potential for Harris to cause unacceptable interference to Iridium’s non-

geostationary satellite orbit (“NGSO”) feeder links and TT&C links in the 29.25-29.3

GHz band.


                                                -2-

                                       DISCUSSION


       I.     INTEREST OF IRIDIUM


       Iridium operates a constellation of 66 NGSO mobile satellite service (“MSS”)

space stations in low earth orbit. Through its satellite constellation, the largest in the

world, Iridium is able to deliver communication services to first responders, public

safety personnel, the U.S. Department of Defense, border security officers, the aviation

industry, and the energy sector in addition to providing essential backup

communications across urban and rural areas alike.


       Every user communication on the Iridium satellite system is routed through a

gateway earth station. Iridium’s gateways operate on feeder link frequencies that

include the 29.25 -29.3 GHz band Harris proposes to use. Iridium also employs this

band for the uplink portion of the TT&C links it uses to control and command its space

stations. Iridium’s feeder links and TT&C links in the 29.25-29.3 GHz band are co-

primary with Harris’s proposed operations in the band.


       II.    HARRIS DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE POTENTIAL FOR
              CAUSING UNACCEPTABLE INTERFERENCE TO IRIDIUM

       Section 25.203(k) of the Commission’s rules requires Ka-band earth station

applicants such as Harris to show that: (1) they will not cause unacceptable interference

to co-channel MSS feeder link earth stations; or (2) their operations will be consistent

with the coordination agreements of the operators of the space stations at issue. Harris

does not satisfy either element of this test.


                                            -3-


      First, Harris did not, and could not, show compliance with a coordination

agreement with Iridium. The parties have not entered into a coordination agreement,

and Harris has not even attempted to coordinate its earth station.


      Second, Harris has not shown that it can avoid causing unacceptable interference

to Iridium. In fact, Harris’s above-captioned application makes no mention of Section

25.203(k) and is silent as to whether unacceptable interference will occur.

                                     CONCLUSION

      Harris proposes to operate on frequencies that include the 29.25-29.3 GHz band.

Iridium already employs this band on a primary basis for feeder links and for the

uplink portion of the TT&C links it uses to control and command its space stations. The

rules require Harris to show that it will not cause unacceptable interference to Iridium;

Harris did not make this showing. Accordingly, Harris’ application is incomplete, and

for the reasons stated herein the application should be dismissed.


                                         Respectfully submitted,
                                         IRIDIUM CONSTELLATION LLC
                                         By: /s/Donna Bethea Murphy
                                         Donna Bethea Murphy
                                         Vice President, Regulatory Engineering
                                         Iridium Constellation LLC
                                         1750 Tysons Boulevard
                                         Suite 1400
                                         McLean, VA 22102
                                         (703) 287-7400

October 10, 2014


                           CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

      I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the foregoing PETITION TO
DISMISS OF IRIDIUM CONSTELLATION LLC was sent by first class mail, postage
prepaid, this 10 day of October, 2014, to:




            Mr. Patrick T. Reilly
            Harris Corporation
            1025 West NASA Blvd.
            Melbourne, Florida 32919



                                       /s/ Deborah Wiggins
                                          Deborah Wiggins



Document Created: 2014-10-10 09:20:57
Document Modified: 2014-10-10 09:20:57

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