The International Bureau licenses U.S. commercial satellites and satellite earth stations. Since satellite signals can cover large portions of the U.S. or may even cover all portions of the U.S., they are able to provide services to isolated rural areas that may not receive service via terrestrial wireless or even terrestrial cable or wireline services. Examples of rulemaking proceedings that have or that may authorize in the future satellite service to rural areas are listed below.
Rural Topics
01/20/2004
"Making the Rural Connection" FCC Rural Satellite Forum Final Details Announced
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08/12/2003
NATIONAL RURAL TELECOMUNICATIONS COOPERATIVE (NRTC) Petition for Recon of Ka-Band Reassignments
Comment: By this Order, we deny the Petition for Reconsideration from the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative filed in response to the Second Round Assignment of Geostationary Satellite Orbit Locations to Fixed Satellite Service Space Stations in the Ka-band (Reassignment Order).
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08/06/2003
New Telecommunications Policy For Alaska Areas
Comment: Increased service and lower costs expected for consumers in isolated communities.
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Copps Statement: [Acrobat|Word|Text]
02/15/2002
In the Matter of Policy for Licensing Domestic Satellite Earth Stations in the Bush Communities of Alaska Proposed to discontinue the Alaska Bush Earth Station Policy ("Bush Policy").
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05/25/2001
In this Order we amend Part 25 of our rules (1) to give operators the option of obtaining licenses for a limited class of small aperture terminal earth station networks in the C- band (2) (CSAT), under a single authorization.
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03/05/1999
GMPCS systems offer an exciting array of new services to consumers, especially those living in or traveling to underpopulated and rural areas.To facilitate the global transport of portable telecommunications terminals used in connection with satellite systems providing global data, voice, Internet and other broadband services.
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