Attachment Comments

Comments

COMMENT submitted by Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC

Comments

2006-09-14

This document pretains to SES-STA-20060912-01706 for Special Temporal Authority on a Satellite Earth Station filing.

IBFS_SESSTA2006091201706_528247

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

In the matter of




                                         Nes‘ Nume! Ne Nee Nee Sewne! Neume! Suwse! Nee Neume! Ne Nee Nt Sume! Nes Nee Nuwe! Newe! Nuse! Nust
SkyWave Mobile Communications,                                                                                                                  File No. SES—STA—20060912—01708 (Call Sign E0O30055)
Inc.

Stratos Communications, Inc.                                                                                                                    File No. SES—STA—20060912—01703 (Call Sign EQO10047)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060912—01704 (Call Sign E0O10048)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060912—01705 (Call Sign E000180)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060912—01706 (Call Sign E010049)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060912—01707 (Call Sign E010050)

Satamatics, Inc.                                                                                                                                File No. SES—STA—20060912—01709 (Call Sign EO20074)

Telenor Satellite Inc.                                                                                                                          File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01583   (Call   Sign EO0O0280)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01584   (Call   Sign EO0O0282)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01586   (Call   Sign EO000285)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01587   (Call   Sign E000284)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01609   (Call   Sign E0O00283)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01612   (Call   Sign WB36)
                                                                                                                                                File No.   SES—STA—20060830—01611   (Call   Sign KA313)



        COMMENTS OF MOBILE SATELLITE VENTURES SUBSIDIARY LLC

        Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC ("MSV") hereby files these Comments on the

above—referenced applications filed by SkyWave Mobile Communications, Inc. ("SkyWave"),

Stratos Communications, Inc. ("Stratos"), Satamatics, Inc. ("Satamatics"), and Telenor Satellite

Inc. ("Telenor") (collectively, the "Applicants") for a fourth 60—day renewal of existing grants of

Special Temporary Authority ("STA") to operate earlier—generation mobile earth terminals using

the uncoordinated Inmarsat 4F2 satellite at 52.75° W.L.‘ The STAs expire on September 16,



‘ See SkyWave Mobile Communications, Inc., Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SES—
STA—20060912—01708 (Call Sign EO30055) (filed September 12, 2006) ("SkyWave Application"); Stratos
Communications Inc., Request for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SES—STA—20060912—01703
(Call Sign E010047) et al (filed September 12, 2006) ("Stratos Application"); Satamatics, Inc., Request
for Special Temporary Authority, File No. SES—STA—20060912—01709 (Call Sign E0O20074) (filed


2006. MSV again urges the Bureau to continue to apply the conditions imposed on the original

STA grants for earlier—generation services as well as to (i) immediately require Inmarsat to return

the loaned frequencies and (ii) establish a firm expiration date for these STAs without Inmarsat

having completed coordination of the Inmarsat 4F2 satellite with the United States.

        Inmarsat continues to refuse to return certain L band frequencies that were coordinated

under the 1999 Spectrum Sharing Arrangement ("SSA") for MSV and MSV Canada, which

loaned them temporarily to Inmarsat, and which Inmarsat has refused to return." Critically,

Inmarsat‘s refusal to return the loaned frequencies blocks MSV from deploying new, bandwidth—

intensive services on its present system, including important public safety services. Public safety

officials have informed the Commission that they are particularly prejudiced by Inmarsat‘s

steadfast refusal to return the loaned frequencies." Among other things, public safety users have

expressed concern to the Commission that Inmarsat‘s refusal to return the loaned frequencies

will impede the critical services MSV offers today to public safety users. The Commonwealth of

Kentucky‘s Division of Emergency Management, an MSV user, has informed the Commission



September 12, 2006) ("Satamatics Application"); Telenor Satellite Inc., Request for Special Temporary
Authority, File No. SES—STA—20060830—01583 et al (Call Sign E000280) et al (filed August 30, 2006)
("Telenor Application").
* The Bureau has defined these frequencies as "loaned" and described them as "those bandwidth segments
that were loaned to Inmarsat by MSV and [Mobile Satellite Ventures (Canada) Inc.], either as part of the
Revised 1999 Spectrum Sharing Arrangement (October 4, 1999), or later as bilateral arrangements
between Inmarsat and MSV and Inmarsat and MSV Canada." See, e.g., Telenor STA Grant, File No.
SES—STA—20060118—00055 et al (January 18, 2006), at «[ 3.
> See Letter from Mississippi Senator Merle Flowers to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—
LFS—20050826—01175 et al (May 24, 2006) ("MSV needs L band spectrum it loaned to Inmarsat to be
returned . . . ."); Letter from Bolivar County (MS) Emergency Management Agency to Chairman Kevin J.
Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01 175 et al (May 24, 2006); Letter from City of Orlando
Emergency Management to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al
(May 24, 2006); Letter from Collier (FL) County Government to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File
No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (May 26, 2006); Letter from Alliance to Save Florida‘s Trauma Care
to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (May 24, 2006); Letter from
Hernando County (FL) Emergency Management to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—
20050826—01175 et al (June 12, 2006).


that the loaned frequencies are "required for MSV to develop new and innovative service for

public safety users, including additional services that further improve interoperable

communications."*

       For example, as MSV recently explained in Comments filed on the Commussion‘s Notice

of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM‘) seeking input on the recommendations of the Independent

Panel Reviewing the Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Communications Networks ("Katrina

Panel")," MSV currently offers the only satellite—based push—to—talk ("PTT") service in the

country today.© This product allows point—to—point or point—to—multipoint voice communications

among users in a customer—defined group using a PTT handset. Using a customer—defined

calling group, a public safety user can communicate with one or up to 10,000 users

simultaneously. With this technology, all users within the call group receive the same

information simultaneously. During emergencies when terrestrial infrastructure is impaired,

MSV‘s PTT service can be of critical importance in keeping first responders informed. In

addition, MSV‘s PTT service can be interfaced with existing terrestrial—based public safety

radios (LMRs) or commercial Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radios (ESMR), and thus serve as a

satellite repeater to both technologies. This enables the radios to continue to function even when

the terrestrial infrastructure supporting the LMRs or ESMRs are destroyed. It is precisely this

type ofcritical, interoperable public safety service that is being impeded by Inmarsat‘s continued

refusal to return loaned frequencies and continued operation of uncoordinated satellites.


* See Letter from Commonwealth of Kentucky‘s Division of Emergency Management to Ms. Marlene H.
Dortch, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (July 24, 2006); see also Letter from Southwest
Texas Regional Advisory Council for Trauma to Ms. Marlene H. Dortch, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—
20050826—01175 et al (July 17, 2006).
* See Recommendations ofthe Independent Panel Reviewing the Impact ofHurricane Katrina on
Communications Networks, Notice ofProposed Rulemaking, EB Docket No. 06—119, FCC 06—83 (June
16, 2006) ("NPRM").
° See Comments of Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary LLC, EB Docket No. 06—119 (August 7, 2006).


       Moreover, Inmarsat‘s refusal precludes MSV from using these frequencies to support

existing customers and for testing and deploying its interim—generation and next—generation

integrated satellite—terrestrial network. Accordingly, operation of earlier—generation services

with Inmarsat 4F2 pursuant to the STAs has adversely affected the interference environment in

the L band.

       The Bureau has already taken action to prohibit Inmarsat‘s illegal usurpation of loaned

frequencies for its Broadband Global Area Network ("BGAN) service using the uncoordinated

Inmarsat 4F2 satellite.‘ MSV urges the Bureau to take the same action with respect to Inmarsat‘s

earlier—generation services. While the Applicants filed reports almost seven months ago

pertaining to their possible use of loaned frequencies for earlier—generation services, the Bureau

has not yet acted to preclude Inmarsat from using the loaned frequencies for these services.

These reports (to the extent they are publicly available) contain absolutely no analytical,

statistical, or other support to justify Inmarsat‘s continued refusal to relinguish the loaned

frequencies despite the harm that is being caused to MSV and MSV Canada. This harm is

occurring now and is exacerbated by Inmarsat‘s and the Applicants‘ refusal to return these

frequencies to MSV and MSV Canada.

       In addition to requiring an immediate return of the loaned frequencies, MSV urges the

Bureau to provide a clear expiration date for these STAs unless Inmarsat has completed the

coordination of the new and relocated Inmarsat satellites and services. Not only will successful

coordination mitigate the harmful interference that would otherwise result from operation of

Inmarsat‘s uncoordinated satellite, this coordination should also facilitate rebanding of L band

spectrum into more contiguous frequency blocks that will increase efficient use of L band


‘ See, eg., Stratos Communications, Inc., Grant, File No. SES—STA—20060310—00419 (Call Sign 050249)
(May 12, 2006), Condition No. 3.


spectrum®" and maximize the potential for offering broadband services, which Chairman Martin

recently explained is the Commission‘s top priority.9 Indeed, numerous public safety users and

government entities have filed letters urging the Commission to promote the coordination of

contiguous L band frequency assignments in order to facilitate broadband satellite services for

first responders. 10


° The Commission has identified the promotion of "efficient and effective" use of spectrum as one of its
strategic objectives (see FCC, Strategic Plan: 2006—2011 (September 30, 2005)), and it has recognized
the assignment of contiguous frequency blocks as a means of achieving this efficiency. See generally
Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band, Report and Order, 19 FCC Red 14969
(August 6, 2004); Amendment ofPart 2 ofthe Commission‘s Rules to Allocate Spectrum Below 3 GHzfor
Mobile and Fixed Services to Support the Introduction ofNew Advanced Wireless Services, including
Third Generation Wireless Systems, Third Report and Order, Third Notice ofProposed Rule Making, and
Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, 18 FCC Red 2223, [ 68 (2003); Amendment ofPart 2 ofthe
Commission‘s Rules to Allocate Spectrum Below 3 GHz, Second Report and Order, 17 FCC Red 23193, «
16 (November 15, 2002) ("The record also identifies general benefits of large contiguous blocks of
harmonized spectrum, including economies of scale in equipment development and quicker deployment
of advanced services.").
° See Remarks of FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, Imagining the Digital Healthcare Future in the Rural
West, Montana State University — Bozeman (July 7, 2006) ("Since becoming Chairman about 16 months
ago, I have made broadband deployment the Commission‘s top priority. . . .); see also White House, 4
New Generation ofAmerican Innovation (April 2004) ("The President has called for universal, affordable
access for broadband technology by the year 2007 and wants to make sure we give Americans plenty of
technology choices when it comes to purchasing broadband. Broadband technology will enhance our
Nation‘s economic competitiveness and will help improve education and health care for all Americans.")
(available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/technology/economic_policy200404/toc.html); FCC,
Strategic Plan: 2006—2011 (September 30, 2005) (identifying the promotion of broadband as one of the
Commission‘s six general goals for the next five years).
* See Letter from Santa Rosa County (FL) Division of Emergency Management to Chairman Kevin J.
Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (June 15, 2006) (asking the Commission to "take
measure to ensure that satellite providers in our state have access to enough contiguous spectrum to offer
the new types of services that will make a difference for our first responders"); See Letter from Charles
Barbour, Supervisor, Hinds County (MS) to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—
20050826—01175 et al (May 26, 2006) ("the L band spectrum used currently by five parties needs to be
redistributed so that all parties‘ shares are contiguous"); Letter from Blue Cross and Blue Field of Florida
to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (May 23, 2006); Letter from
Hinds County (MS) Sheriff‘ s Department to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—
20050826—01175 et al (May 23, 2006); Letter from Community Development Leagues of America, Inc. to
Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (May 25, 2006); Letter from
Seminole County (FL) Department of Information Technologies to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File
No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (June 8, 2006); Letter from Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (May
24, 2006); Letter from Kenneth W. Stolle, Member, Virginia Senate, to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC,
File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (July 12, 2006); Letter from John M. O‘Bannon, III, MD,


       If, however, the Bureau continues to renew STAs for use of Inmarsat‘s new satellite and

services without insisting that it first complete coordination, there are no reasonable prospects

that such coordination will ever be successfully completed. Instead, Inmarsat will continue to

shirk its obligation to coordinate its satellites with other North American L band operators,

thereby thwarting the Commuission‘s goals of increasing efficient spectrum use and promoting

broadband deployment.

                                      Respectfully submitted,




YSQ/A%C\/
 Bruce D. Jacobs
                                                                    T. Z,
                                                         ifer A. Manner
 David S. Konczal                                      ice 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: September 14, 2006




Delegate, 73"" District, Member, Virginia House of Delegates, to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File
No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (July 28, 2006); Letter from L. Scott Lingamfelter, Member,
Virginia House of Delegates, to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01 175 et
al (July 17, 2006); Letter from David B. Albo, Member, Virginia House of Delegates, to Chairman Kevin
J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al (July 12, 2006); Letter from John W. Jones,
Executive Director, Virginia Sheriffs‘ Association, to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—
LFS—20050826—01175 et al (July 24, 2006); Letter from J. Bradley Reynolds, Commissioner Northeast
Ward, Nacogdoches, Texas, to Chairman Kevin J. Martin, FCC, File No. SES—LFS—20050826—01175 et al
(July 19, 2006).


                            CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

        I, Sylvia A. Davis, a secretary with the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP, hereby certify that on this 14th day of September 2006, served a true copy
of the foregoing by first—class United States mail, postage prepaid, upon the following:
John Giusti*                                     Roderick Porter*
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

Gardner Foster*                                  Richard Engelman*
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*                                   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 12Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554                             Washington, DC 20554

John Martin*®                                    Kathyrn Medley*
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

Scott Kotler*®                                   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

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.,
                                                 SkyWave Mobile Communications, Corp., and
                                                 Satamatics, Inc.


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



John P. Janka               Ani Tourian
Jeffrey A. Marks            SkyWave Mobile Communications, Corp.
Latham & Watkins LLP        1145 Innovation Drive, Unit 288
555 Eleventh Street, N.W.
                            Ottawa, ON Canada K2K 3G8
Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20004


Brian Hester
Satamatics, Inc.
P.O. Box 393
Buckeystown, MD 21717


                            Qf/fféfi {. g?              e__
                            SylWia A. Davis

*By electronic mail



Document Created: 2006-09-14 12:44:01
Document Modified: 2006-09-14 12:44:01

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