Attachment Petition to Deny

Petition to Deny

PETITION TO DENY submitted by Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC (MSV)

Petition

2006-03-29

This document pretains to SES-STA-20060314-00438 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2006031400438_491897

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Mobile Satellite Ventures LP




                                               PUBLICCOPY — REDACTED
                                                        March 29, 2006
               Via Hand Delivery
               Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, Secretary
               Federal Communications Commission
               445 12th Street, S.W.
               Washington, D.C. 20554

               Re: Consolidated Petition to Deny of Mobile Satellites Ventures Subsidiary LLC
                   Stratos Communications, Inc., File No. SES—STA—20060310—00419 (Call Sign E£O50249)
                   Telenor Satellite, Inc ; File No. SES—STA—20060313—00430 (Call Sign EO050276)
                   FTMSC US LLC; File No. SES—STA—20060314—00438 (Call Sign E£050284)
                   BT Americas, Inc.; File No. SES—STA—20060315—00445 (Call Sign £060076)
                   MVS USA Inc.; File No. SES—STA—20060316—00454 (Call Sign £050348)

               Dear Ms. Dortch:

                      Mobile Satellites Ventures Subsidiary LLC ("MSV") hereby files this redacted, public
               version of a Consolidated Petition to Deny the above—referenced applications for Special
               Temporary Authority ("STA") to operate 25,000 Broadband Global Area Network ("BGAN")
               terminals using an Inmarsat satellite, Inmarsat 4F2 at 52.75°W, for which coordination is not
               complete.‘ Exhibits A and B of this Consolidated Petition were filed previously with the
               Commission on January 13, 2006 and February 7, 2006, respectively, along with requests for
               confidential treatment." This information should continue to be treated confidentially for the
               reasons set forth in Exhibits A and B."




               ‘ See Stratos Communications, Inc., Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SES—STA—
               20060310—00419 (March 10, 2006) ("Stratos STA Request"); Telenor Satellite, Inc., Request for Special
               Temporary Authority, File No. SES—STA—20060313—00430 (March 13, 2006) ("Telenor STA4 Request");
               FTMSC US LLC, Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SES—STA—20060314—00438 (March
               14, 2006) ("FTMSC STA Request"); BT Americas, Inc., Request for Special Temporary Authority, File
               No. SES—STA—20060315—00445 (March 15, 2006) ("BT Americas STA Request"); MVS USA Inc.,
               Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SES—STA—20060316—00454 (Call Sign EO50348)
               ("MVS STA Request").
               > See Letter from Jennifer A. Manner, MSV, to Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, FCC, File No. SES—MFS—
               20051123—01634 (January 13, 2006); Letter from Jennifer A. Manner, MSV, to Ms. Marlene H. Dortch,
               FCC, File No. SES—MFS—20051123—01634 (February 14, 2006).
               3 47 C.F.R. § 0.459(b).


Ms. Marlene H. Dortch
March 29, 2006
Page 2

                              PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

      Please contact the undersigned with any questions.


                                           Very truly yours,



                                    C       ennifer A. Manner


                               PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

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

In the matter of                    )
                                    )
Stratos Communications, Inc.        )   File No. SES—STA—20060310—00419 (Call Sign E050249)
                                    )
Telenor Satellite, Inc.             )   File No. SES—STA—20060313—00430 (Call Sign EO50276)
                                    )
FTMSC US LLC                        )   File No. SES—STA—20060314—00438 (Call Sign EO50284)
                                    )
BT Americas, Inc.                   )   File No. SES—STA—20060315—00445 (Call Sign EO60076)
                                    )
MVS USA Inc.                        )   File No. SES—STA—20060316—00454 (Call Sign EO50348)

                           CONSOLIDATED PETITION TO DENY

       Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC ("MSV") hereby files this Consolidated

Petition to Deny the above—referenced applications for Special Temporary Authority ("STA") to

operate 25,000 Broadband Global Area Network ("BGAN") terminals using an Inmarsat

satellite, Inmarsat 4F2 at 52.75°W, for which coordination is not complete. The STA

applicatiéns have nothing to do with providing "temporary" authority. They are nothing more

than an end run around the pending applications for regular authority to provide BGAN service.

        The applicants have not even come close to satisfying the "extraordinary circumstances"

standard justifying grant of the STA requests. The only justifications provided in support of the

STAs are "marketing considerations," which the Commission‘s rules specifically preclude as

grounds for granting an STA. As the Commission knows all too well, once authorized, it will be

impossible to shut down the service if, in acting on the pending applications, it determines that

MSV is correct in its position that initiation of BGAN service prior to full coordination of the

Inmarsat 4F2 satellite is not in the public interest. MSV too has found that once Inmarsat

commences service — in MSV‘s case on "loaned" frequencies — it is virtually impossible to

restore the status quo ante.


                               PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

       A prompt denial of the STA requests will serve to reaffirm that the Commission will not

permit STAs to be used to bypass the application process. Denial of the STA requests also will

send a strong message that satellite operators must take their international coordination

obligations seriously.

                                              Discussion

        In the above—referenced applications, Stratos Communications, Inc., Telenor Satellite,

Inc., FTMSC US LLC, BT Americas, Inc., and MVS USA Inc. (collectively, the Applicants)

seek STAs to operate a total of 25,000 BGAN terminals with the uncoordinated Inmarsat 4F2

satellite at 52.75°W beginning on April 17, 2006.‘ The Applicants have previously filed for

permanent authority to operate BGAN terminals in the United States." MSV has opposed these

applications because of the interference that will result both to MSV and to Inmarsat from

operation of BGAN terminals prior to a coordination agreement. The interference will result

from (i) use of Inmarsat 4F2 to operate on the loaned frequencies Inmarsat has refused to return;"

(ii) the technically different parameters of Inmarsat‘s new satellite and services relative to the

satellites and services it has coordinated previously, such as the use of wideband carriers, higher


\ See Stratos Communications, Inc., Request for STA, File No. SES—STA—20060310—00419 (March 10,
2006) ("Stratos STA Request"); Telenor Satellite, Inc., Request for STA, File No. SES—STA—20060313—
00430 (March 13, 2006) ("Telenor STA Request"); FTMSC US LLC, Request for STA, File No. SES—
STA—20060314—00438 (March 14, 2006) ("FTMSC STA Request"); BT Americas, Inc., Request for STA,
File No. SES—STA—20060315—00445 (March 15, 2006) ("BTAmericas STA Request"), MVS USA Inc.,
Request for STA, File No. SES—STA—20060316—00454 (Call Sign EO50348) ("MPS STA Request").
> See, eg., Stratos Communications, Inc., Application, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 (August 26,
2005); Telenor Satellite, Inc., Application, File No. SES—LFS—20050930—01352 (September 30, 2005);
FTMSC US, LLC, Application, File No. SES—LFS—20051011—01396 (October 11, 2005); MVS USA, Inc.,
Application, File No. SES—LFS—20051123—01634 (November 23, 2005); BT Americas, Inc., Application,
File No. SES—LFS—20060303—00343 (March 3, 2006).
> See Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, Petition to Hold in Abeyance MVS Application, File No.
SES—MFS—20051123—01634 (January 13, 2006) ("MSY Petition"), at 11—12 (attached as Exhibit A);
Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, Reply, File No. SES—MFS—20051123—01634 (February 7,
2006) ("MSY Reply"), at 2—7 (attached as Exhibit B). MSV hereby attaches and incorporates by reference
these filings in the above—referenced proceedings.


                                PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

aggregate EIRP, and increase in number of co—channel reuse beams;"* and (iii) Inmarsat‘s claim

that it is entitled to operate on each and every frequency in the L band."

        There are no "extraordinary circumstances" justifying grant of the STA requests;© there is

only the Applicants‘ lack of respect for the Commission‘s processes. The Commission‘s rules

specifically state that "[clonvenience to the applicant, such as marketing considerations or

meeting scheduled customer in—service dates" is not sufficient to demonstrate "extraordinary

circumstances." 47 C.E.R. § 25.120(b)(1). The Applicants do not seek a waiver of this rule.

        Indeed, the only public interest claim the Applicants make is that BGAN service will

permit "higher speed" MSS than what is currently available.‘ While higher speed MSS is

desirable, it does not outweigh the harm that will result from permitting satellite operators to

bypass the frequency coordination process and from undermining the Commission‘s application

process." Denial of these requests will have the salutary effect of reinforcing both processes.

                                  —      Respectfully submitted,
                                                                  %
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 Bruce D. Jacobs                                       Wennifef A. Manner
 David S. Konczal                                       Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
 PILLSBURY WINTHROP                                     MOBILE SATELLITE VENTURES
        SHAW PITTMAN LLP                                       SUBSIDIARY LLC
 2300 N Street, NW                                      10802 Parkridge Boulevard
 Washington, DC 20037—1128                              Reston, Virginia 20191
 (202) 663—8000                                         (703) 390—2700

Dated: March 29, 2006


* See Exhibit A at 13—17; Exhibit B at 7—13.
5 See Exhibit A at 17; Exhibit B at 13—14.
647 U.S.C. § 309(f); 47 C.F.R. § 25.120(b)(1).
" See Stratos STA Request at 3;, Telenor STA Request at 3;, FTMSC STA Request at 2; MVS STA Request at
5; BT Americas STA Request at 3.
® While the Applicants claim that grant of the STA will permit public safety users time to familiarize
themselves with the BGAN terminals prior to the beginning of hurricane season, Inmarsat already holds
an experimental license to test and demonstrate BGAN terminals. Thus, Inmarsat already has the
necessary authority to work with the public safety community to familiarize them with the terminals.


                  PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED


                   Declaration of Jennifer A. Manner

I am the Vice President, Regulatory Affairs of Mobile Satellite Ventures
Subsidiary LLC. _

I have read the foregoing Consolidated Petition to Deny.

I have personal knowledge of the facts stated in the Consolidated Petition to
Deny. The facts set forth in the Consolidated Petition to Deny, other than those of
which official notice may be taken, are true and correct to the best ofmy
knowledge, information, and belief.

I deciare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.




                                              Jerinifer A. Manner



                                              Executed on March 29, 2006


                         PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

                                      Exhibit A

Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, Petition to Hold in Abeyance MVS Application,
                  File No. SES—MFS—20051123—01634 (January 13, 2006)


       PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

                     Exhibit B

  Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, Reply,
File No. SES—MFS—20051123—01634 (February 7, 2006)


                          PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED

                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        I, Sylvia A. Davis, a secretary with the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP, hereby certify that on this 29¢" day of March 2006, I served a true copy of
the foregoing by first—class United States mail, postage prepaid, upon the following:
Roderick Porter*                                  Gardner Foster*
International Bureau                              International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                 Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                             445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                              Washington, DC 20554

James Ball*                                       Cassandra Thomas*
International Bureau                              International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                 Federal Communications Commission
445 12" Street, S.W.                              445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                              Washington, DC 20554

Karl Kensinger*                                   Fern Jarmulnek*
International Bureau                              International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                 Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                             445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                              Washington, DC 20554

Robert Nelson*                                    Howard Griboff*
International Bureau                              International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                 Federal Communications Commission
445 12"" Street, S.W.                             445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                              Washington, DC 20554

Andrea Kelly*                                     Scott Kotler*®
International Bureau                              International Bureau
Federal Communications Commission                 Federal Communications Commission
445 12 Street, S.W.                               445 12"" Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                              Washington, DC 20554

Stephen Duall*                                    Alfred M. Mamlet
International Bureau                              Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Federal Communications Commission                 1330 Connecticut Avenue N.W.
445 12" Street, S.W.                              Washington, D.C. 20036
Washington, DC 20554
                                                  Counsel for Stratos Communications, Inc.

Keith H. Fagan                                    Diane J. Cornell
Telenor Satellite, Inc.                           Vice President, Government Affairs
1101 Wootton Parkway                              Inmarsat, Inc.
10Floor                                           1100 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1425
Rockville, MD 20852                               Arlington, VA 22209


                           PUBLIC COPY — REDACTED


John P. Janka                           Linda J. Cicco
Jeffrey A. Marks                        BT Americas Inc.
Latham & Watkins LLP                    11440 Commerce Park Drive
555 Eleventh Street, NW.                Reston, VA 20191
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004

William K. Coulter                      Lawrence J. Movshin
DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary US LLP      Stephen L. Goodman
1200 Nineteenth Street, NW.             Lee J. Rosen
Washington, DC 20036—2412               Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP
                                        2300 N St. NW, Suite 700
Counsel for FTMSC US, LLC               Washington, DC 20037

                                        Counsel for MVS USA, Inc.



                                        ‘Q/Zx berm &. [lez_
                                          Sylvia A. Davis —

*By hand delivery



Document Created: 2006-03-29 17:17:51
Document Modified: 2006-03-29 17:17:51

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