WCA: Globalstar’s rule change could cause interference

The wireless broadband industry opposes on interference grounds Globalstar Inc.’s push to have federal regulators consider an ancillary terrestrial component rule change that the mobile satellite service operator claims would put it on equal footing with competitors.
Globalstar last year petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to open a rulemaking to remove a limitation preventing ATC integration in certain MSS frequencies-2483.5-2500 MHz-in which it is licensed. Globalstar said competitors are not saddled with ATC restrictions.
The Wireless Communications Association International said MSS-ATC operations in that band would cause harmful interference to wireless broadband radio service licensees. WCA rejected Globalstar’s assertion that its petition largely did not attract fire, noting the trade group’s own opposition as well as that of the WiMAX Forum, Sprint Nextel Corp., cellphone association CTIA, the Society of Broadcast Engineers and Iridium Satellite L.L.C. WCA also said the FCC previously rejected sharing in the band at issue.
“There is no equity in exposing BRS to even a possibility that they will be at greater risk of suffering interference from ATC,” WCA told the FCC. “Globalstar would have the commission believe that BRS operators will lose nothing if ATC operations are launched in their spectrum, so long as those operations are terminated once BRS service because available in the same market. That is a fallacy. It should be obvious even to Globalstar that the process of transitioning markets, designing networks and launching new BRS service cannot proceed smoothly within the required deadlines if ATC operations already occupy the spectrum to which BRS licenses are being transitioned.”
Globalstar Chairman James Monroe III did not mince words in urging FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to move forward on the year-old petition for rulemaking.
“The sharing proceeding (a separate, but related FCC mobile satellite initiative) has been pending for three years, and is consuming my senior staff’s time and effort, not to mention many thousands of dollars in legal and consulting fees,” Monroe stated. “I must tell you candidly, as a businessman and chief executive officer, that three years is an unconsciously long period of regulatory uncertainty for my company.”
Monroe said Globalstar is the only MSS operator currently capable of integrating ATC services into its existing satellite constellation, adding the company is about a year into the $1.2 billion design and construction of its second-generation constellation and associated ground equipment.
The Bush administration has emphasized redundant telecom infrastructure since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.