Attachment Ex Parte Letter

Ex Parte Letter

LETTER submitted by Mark R. Tobert

Ex Parte

2006-06-12

This document pretains to SES-STA-20060313-00430 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2006031300430_515725

June 12, 2006

Chairman Kevin J. Martin
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554

Re: Obstacles to Delivery of Next-Generation Satellite Communications Services
   (File Nos. SES-LFS-20050826-01175; SES-MFS-20051122-01614; SES-STA-20060307-
   00374; SES-STA-20060310-00419; SES-LFS-20050930-01352; SES-MFS-20060118-
   00050; SES-STA-20060308-00388; SES-STA-20060313-00430; SES-LFS-20051011-
   01396; SES-STA-20060314-00438; SES-MFS-20051207-01709; SES-STA-20060307-
   00372; SES-LFS-20051123-01634; SES-STA-20060316-00454; SES-MFS-20051202-
   01665; SES-STA-20060307-00373; SES-LFS-20060303-00343; SES-STA-20060315-
   00445)

Dear Chairman Martin:

As a state that is frequently affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters, we have
come to rely heavily on satellite communications, as this technology is best suited to
ensuring uninterrupted communications capability during crisis situations. Many
organizations, but especially public safety and government entities, rely on two-way satellite
communications services provided by Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV). Satellite technology
has made an enormous difference in our ability to assess, respond to and recover from the
devastating effects of natural disasters.

MSV is now working on a new satellite system that will allow our first responders to easily
shift to satellite service whenever existing cellular or copper-based facilities fail during
natural disasters. This system, which could be operational as soon as 2009, would also
provide mobile broadband service to first responders, as well as to rural and remote areas
of the state. Since our department is here to serve the residents of Hernando County, we
pride ourselves on being able to respond quickly in emergency situations, and a large part
of our emergency response comes from being able to communicate during emergency
situations.

Unfortunately MSV’s new system has two obstacles that may hamper or delay its delivery.
The first being the return of some L band spectrum that it loaned to Inmarsat. The second is
the inefficient distribution of the L band spectrum among the five parties that currently
control the L band spectrum in North America. These concerns are preventing us from
taking advantage of the next generation of satellite technology, which I have no doubt will
become a vital tool for providing rapid response to emergency situations.

We need your help to ensure that we have access to the best technology that the satellite
industry can offer. Our emergency response workers, and indeed, all of our citizens, are
relying on your response to this matter.

Very truly yours,

Mark R. Tobert
Mark R. Tobert
Senior Emergency Management Coordinator
Hernando County Emergency Management



Document Created: 2006-07-28 08:37:06
Document Modified: 2006-07-28 08:37:06

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