Report No. DC 95-100 ACTION IN DOCKET CASE July 13, 1995 FCC PROPOSES BAND PLAN FOR LMDS, FSS AND MSS (CC Docket No. 92-297) The FCC today proposed a band plan that will allow both new satellite systems and new wireless terrestrial systems to offer voice, video, and data services to American consumers and to the world. The plan permits Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS) systems, Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) systems, and Mobile Satellite Service (MSS) system feeder links to operate in the 27.5 - 30.0 GHz (28 GHz) band. The proposed plan provides consumers in the United States with an opportunity to have access to a wide variety of basic and advanced telecommunications services in the quickest and most cost effective manner possible. LMDS is a fixed microwave service that will offer two-way video communications, including video distribution, teleconferencing, telemedicine, and data services. LMDS providers may incorporate services traditionally offered by separate communications providers, such as telephony, video services, data transfers, and interactive transactions. LMDS systems will use a cellular design to establish communications links with subscribers. This service can be used to provide immediate competition to franchised cable television operators in the provision of video programming services. LMDS technology also can be used to provide local telephone service in competition with wireline local exchange carriers. Satellite systems are capable of providing a wide range of voice, video, and data communications services. Proposed FSS systems use geostationary and non-geostationary satellites to provide seamless voice and data services throughout the United States and the world. FSS systems in the 28 GHz band can provide a diverse array of services to users at fixed locations, including telephone, video, and teleconferencing services, as well as interactive data services to personal computers in homes and schools. MSS systems can carry many of the same types of communication services as FSS systems, but can serve mobile users as well. These satellite systems will help modernize and further develop existing national and global information infrastructures. - more - - 2 - MSS systems have both service and feeder links. Service links are the communication links between a satellite and a mobile terminal, such as a hand held mobile telephone. Feeder links are the transmission links to and from the satellite to a central earth station. Earlier this year, the FCC granted licenses to three companies to provide "Big LEO" mobile satellite services, but did not assign specific feeder link frequencies at that time. The feeder link is needed to interconnect the MSS system with other communications networks or with other user transceivers. The FCC proposed service rules for LMDS that are intended to foster the business flexibility needed by LMDS operators, and to benefit end user customers by ensuring the speedy implementation of services. Additionally, the FCC proposed specific rules on the use of auctions to select licensees for most of the proposed services. The FCC proposed to use a competitive bidding procedure to choose among mutually exclusive LMDS applications. FSS applicants would be subject to competitive bidding procedures only if the FSS applications are mutually exclusive. The FCC indicated, however, that it would not auction MSS feeder links. The proposed band plan is depicted graphically as follows; primary services are listed in capital letters, and lower-case letters indicate secondary services: 27.5 28.35 28.60 29.1 29.25 29.5 30.0 GHz LMDS fss 850 MHz GSO/FSS ngso/fss 250 MHz NGSO/FSS gso/fss 500 MHz MSS FEEDER LINKS & LMDS 150 MHz MSS FEEDER LINKS & GSO/FSS 250 MHz GSO/FSS ngso/fss 500 MHz Action by the Commission July 13, 1995 by NPRM (FCC 95- 287). Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello, Barrett, Ness and Chong. -FCC- News Media Contact: Stacey Reuben Mesa at (202) 418-0654. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Contact: Susan Magnotti at (202) 418-0871. International Bureau Contact: Donna Bethea at (202) 739-0728.