WASHINGTON-AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Verizon Wireless asked a federal appeals court here to overturn a Federal Communications Commission ruling permitting mobile satellite service operators to use their frequencies to provide land-based mobile-phone communications.
“Converting a satellite-only authorization into a license for mixed satellite and terrestrial use was a major license change requiring the FCC to conduct an auction under Section 309(j) of the Communications Act,” stated AT&T Wireless and Verizon Wireless.
The petition for review was filed Tuesday at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
On the same front yesterday, Cingular Wireless L.L.C. and the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association petitioned the FCC to reconsider the decision allowing MSS licensees to add an ancillary terrestrial component to mobile satellite operations.
Other parties seeking changes to the FCC ruling are Mobile Satellite Ventures Subsidiary L.L.C., Inmarsat Ventures plc, IEEE 802 and Boeing Co.
