WASINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission today authorized mobile satellite service providers the flexibility to integrate ground-based transmitters into their operations, but it also reallocated 30 megahertz from the troubled satellite sector to the mobile phone industry for third generation wireless services.
The FCC will seek public comment on potential uses of the additional 15 megahertz of spectrum previously identified for new wireless services and on allowing increased flexibility in the unlicensed personal communications services.
Mobile satellite companies cheered the FCC ruling-which covers three frequency bands-while the cellular industry called it “a market-distorting mistake.” Mobile phone carriers fear new competition from MSS licensees that did not pay for their licenses, while wireless carriers have spent billions of dollars to buy licenses from the government.
