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FCC
Awards Licenses to 2 MHz and Ka-band Applicants
On August 2,
2001, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized
a variety of new and established satellite operators  to
provide broadband Ka-band service in the United States. These
actions, which are part of the “Second Round” of Ka-band
applications, authorize 11 companies to provide fixed-satellite
service from geostationary satellite orbit (GSO) satellites at a
total of 34 orbit locations.
On July 17, 2001,
the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized eight
new mobile satellite services (MSS) systems in the 2 GHz band to
provide service in the United States. The authorizations were
issued to The Boeing Company; Celsat America, Inc.; Constellation
Communications Holdings, Inc.; Globalstar, L.P.; ICO Services
Ltd.; Iridium LLC; Mobile Communications Holding, Inc.; and TMI
Communications and Company, Limited Partnership. Pursuant to the 2
GHz MSS licensing order that the Commission adopted in August
2000, each of the geostationary and non-geostationary orbit
systems will be authorized to operate in an equal, 3.5 megahertz
segment of spectrum in each of the 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz
bands. This amount of spectrum allows licensees to move forward
and implement their systems. The Bureau is delaying full
implementation of the 2 GHz MSS licensing order with regard to an
incremental .38 megahertz of spectrum per licensee in each band
until the Commission has the opportunity to fully consider various
pending proposals related to the 2 GHz frequencies.
The companies
awarded Ka-band licenses are:
CAI Data Systems, Inc., Celsat America, Inc, DirectCom
Networks, Inc., Hughes Communications, Inc., KaStarCom World
Satellite, LLC, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Loral Cyberstar,
Inc., Pacific Century Group, Inc., PanAmSat Corporation, Pegasus
Development Corporation and TRW, Inc.
The licenses
awarded to Hughes Communications, Inc., Loral Cyberstar, Inc., and
PanAmSat Corporation expand the number of satellites each is
authorized to implement under previous Ka-band system licenses
issued in 1997. All companies, except for Celsat America, Inc.
intend to use these satellites to provide Ka-band fixed-satellite
services (FSS) to customers in the United States. Celsat will use the Ka-band for “feeder links” to support
its recently awarded 2 GHz mobile-satellite system license.
Pacific Century Group, Inc. intends to operate satellites approved
by the United Kingdom to serve the United States.
Consequently, Pacific Century Group, Inc.’s authority to
serve the United States is in the form of a “reservation of
spectrum” for it to provide these services, rather than in the
form of a license.
The 11
licenses/reservation of spectrum
authorize operations in all or some of the following
frequency bands, consistent with the Ka-band plan adopted in 1996
and later refined for certain downlink operations:
Ka-Band
GSO Orbit Assignment Plan
Orbit
Location
Licensee
147°W
Loral Cyberstar, Inc.
133°W
PanAmSat Corporation
131°W
Hughes Communications, Inc.
129°W
Lockheeed Martin Corporation
127°W
DirectCom Networks, Inc.
125°W
CAI Data Systems, Inc.
123°W
DirectCom Networks, Inc.
121°W
Celsat America, Inc. (500
megahertz)
119°W
TRW, Inc.
117°W
Pegasus Development Corporation
111°W
KaStarCom World Satellite, LLC
107°W
Pegasus Development Corporation
83°W
Celsat America, Inc. (500 megahertz)
79°W
TRW, Inc.
71°W
Pacific Century Group, Inc.
62°W
Pacific Century Group, Inc.
58°W
PanAmSat Corporation
51°W
Lockheed Martin Corporation
45°W
PanAmSat Corporation
43°W
Pegasus Development Corporation
26.2°W
Hughes Communications, Inc.
15°W
Loral CyberStar, Inc.
7.5°W
Hughes Communications, Inc.
15°E
TRW, Inc.
28°E
Pegasus Development Corporation
52°E
Lockheed Martin Corporation
68.5°E
PanAmSat Corporation
72.7°E
PanAmSat Corporation
99°E
Lockheed Martin Corporation
103°E
Hughes Communications, Inc.
107.5°E
Pegasus Development Corporation
116.5°E
TRW, Inc.
151.5°E
Lockheed Martin Corporation
166°E
PanAmSat Corporation
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