[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 242 (Thursday, December 17, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 69562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-33397]
[[Page 69562]]
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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
47 CFR Parts 2, 74, 78, 101
[ET Docket No. 95-18; FCC 98-309]
Allocation of Spectrum at 2 GHz for Use by the Mobile-Satellite
Service
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.
ACTION: Confirmation of final rule.
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SUMMARY: By this Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission confirms
its allocation of 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-
2200 MHz to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS), to become available on
January 1, 2000. The Commission requires new MSS licensees to bear the
cost of relocating Broadcast Auxiliary Service (BAS) licensees in the
1990-2110 MHz band, and Fixed Service (FS) microwave licensees from the
2110-2130 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz bands in cases where sharing between
MSS and FS is not possible.
DATES: Effective December 17, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sean White, Office of Engineering and
Technology, 202/418-2453.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's
Memorandum Opinion and Order adopted November 19, 1998, and released
November 25, 1998. The full text of this Commission decision is
available for inspection and copying during regular business hours in
the FCC Reference Center (Room CY-C404), 445 Twelfth Street, SW,
Washington, DC. The complete text of this decision also may be
purchased from the Commission's duplication contractor, International
Transcription Service, Inc., (202) 857-3800, 1231 20th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Summary of Memorandum Opinion and Order
1. In this Memorandum Opinion and Order, the Commission confirms
its decision to allocate 70 megahertz of spectrum at 1990-2025 MHz and
2165-2200 MHz to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS). In the March 1997
First Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET
Docket No. 95-18, 62 FR 19509, April 22, 1997, we allocated the 1990-
2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz bands to the Mobile-Satellite Service (MSS).
2. We continue to believe that a need exists for allocating a
substantial amount of spectrum for MSS. There is significant consumer
demand for convenient mobile services such as telephone, high-rate data
and fax, and video. MSS can provide such communications in remote or
rural areas not covered by terrestrially based mobile services, and can
provide nationwide public safety coverage. We also believe that use of
2 GHz frequencies can help minimize transmission costs and ensure a
relatively low cost service that will be within the economic reach of a
large segment of the population. Thus, the allocation of 70 MHz of
spectrum to MSS will give the public, especially rural Americans,
access to new and competitive services and technologies.
3. This allocation would require that the candidate bands be
cleared of BAS incumbents in the 1990-2025 MHz band. In order to
accommodate these incumbents, we confirm our decision to require MSS
licensees to bear the costs of moving BAS licensees to their new band.
The MSS allocation would also require relocation of FS microwave
incumbents. We addressed this issue in the First Report and Order and
Third Notice of Proposed Rule Making in ET Docket No. 92-9, 58 FR
46457, September 2, 1993, and will follow the same procedures,
requiring that MSS licensees bear the cost of relocating BAS and FS
microwave incumbents in the 1990-2025 MHz and 2165-2200 MHz bands.
List of Subjects in 47 CFR Parts 2, 74, 78, and 101
Radio.
Federal Communications Commission.
Magalie Roman Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-33397 Filed 12-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P