Finalizing Part 25 Rules, Enabling Efficient Use of Spectrum Among Satellite Division Priorities
The FCC Satellite Division intends to make life easier for satellite operators and providers by streamlining and eliminating outdated rules, said Jose Albuquerque, Satellite Division chief, at a Federal Communications Bar Association event at Bingham McCutcheon in Washington. For the division, the big topics include updating the software for submission of licensing applications and fostering more-efficient use of spectrum, he said.
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Moving to streamline Part 25 rules is a priority at the division, Albuquerque said. “Part 25 is our bread and butter and we have to keep working,” he said. The FCC approved an NPRM in 2012 aimed at changing more than 100 rules to simplify procedures (CD Oct 1/12 p10).
The commission has done a lot in the mobile space, including establishing allocations for earth stations on vessels and on board aircraft, Albuquerque said. On what’s still to be done, the earth stations aboard aircraft allocation doesn’t cover all the frequency bands, he said. There are discussions taking place around this, he said. “It’s important because this is one particular area in which demand for satellite service is growing very fast,” he said: It’s still small compared to the fixed satellite service business, “but it’s growing very fast and everything that can be done to help them develop will be important."
Efficient use of spectrum also is a major priority at the division, Albuquerque said. Satellite spectrum is being targeted for sharing by many non-satellite users in several different areas, he said. The division must determine whether its mission of promoting efficient spectrum use should remain strictly within the satellite realm or be looked at from a wider perspective, he said. “The reality is our position or role within the FCC is to care for the protection of current and future use of spectrum by satellites, but the counter balance is you can’t ignore realities.” While there’s a push for sharing spectrum, sharing doesn’t necessarily make for the most efficient use of spectrum in every case, he added.
Albuquerque expressed interest in enabling more flexibility when it comes to ITU filings. He said he hopes that the Satellite Division as part of the International Bureau can move forward with that sometime this year.
Albuquerque said he expects the efforts on FCC process reform headed by Diane Cornell, special counsel to Chairman Tom Wheeler, to help the satellite industry. “The recommendations collected are being compiled into a report that will be submitted for public comment.” Albuquerque said Cornell, former Inmarsat vice president-government affairs, is an asset to the concerns of the satellite industry as the FCC also tackles larger priorities like broadcast spectrum incentive auctions. “There are so many other issues that are catching the attention of people that satellites have to fight strongly to keep having the attention. … I think Diane can help with that.”