Senior Deputy United States Coordinator

Richard C. Beaird

International Communications and Information Policy

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street NW

Washington D.C. 20520

Dear Mr. Beaird:

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), on behalf of the Executive Branch agencies, approves the release of draft Executive Branch proposals on WRC-12 agenda item 7 issues 1A, 1B, and No. 9.2. For agenda item 7, NTIA proposes to modify Appendix 4 and No. 9.2.

NTIA considered the Federal agencies’ input toward the development of U.S. proposals for WRC-12. NTIA forwards this package for consideration and review by your WRC-12 Advisory Committee. Dr. Darlene Drazenovich is the primary contact from my staff.

Sincerely,

(Original Signed April 27, 2011)

Karl B. Nebbia

Associate Administrator

Office of Spectrum Management

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE

Agenda Item 7: to consider possible changes in response to Resolution 86 (Rev. Marrakesh, 2002) of the Plenipotentiary Conference: “Advance publication, coordination, notification and recording procedures for frequency assignments pertaining to satellite networks”, in accordance with Resolution86 (Rev.WRC07);

Background Information: This proposal pertains to Issue 1A of the CPM Report related to new Appendix 4 of the Radio Regulations data item for non-geostationary satellite systems in bands other than those where equivalent power flux density (epfd) limits are specified in Article 22. The information required by Appendix 4 to be supplied when a filing for a non-GSO satellite system is submitted to the Radiocommunication Bureau includes the apogee and perigee heights and the eccentricity. However, the active arc limits, which are relevant only for non-GSO systems of the HEO-type, are not listed in Appendix 4 as required data to be submitted. For all types of non-GSO systems planned to use bands in which Article 22 epfd limits apply, one of the parameters required by Appendix 4 is the minimum height above the Earth’s surface at which any satellite in the system transmits.

Considering that many frequency bands may be used for both GSO and non-GSO satellite systems other than those bands where epfd limits are specified in the Article 22, there is no data item in Appendix 4 requiring an administration to provide the minimum height above the Earth’s surface at which any satellite in the system transmits.

This proposal modifies Appendix 4, Annex 2 Table A, to include the requirement to provide the minimum altitude of the space station above the surface of the Earth at which any satellite transmits for non-GSO systems not operating in bands subject to Article 22 epfd limits. This proposal is consistent with the CPM Method for Issue 1A.

Proposal:

APPENDIX 4 (Rev.WRC-0712)

Consolidated list and tables of characteristics for use in the

application of the procedures of Chapter III

MOD USA/7/1

ANNEX 2

Characteristics of satellite networks, earth stations
or radio astronomy stations2(Rev.WRC-0712)

...

A.4.b.4 / For each orbital plane, where the Earth is the reference body: / A.4.b.4
... / ...

A.4.b.4.f

/ the minimum altitude of the space station above the surface of the Earth at which any satellite transmits /

X

... / ...
A.4.b.6.b / the minimum altitude of the space station above the surface of the Earth at which any satellite transmits /

X

Reasons: To describe operational characteristics of non-GSO satellite systems so that potential for interference can be calculated more accurately.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE

Background Information: This proposal pertains to issue 1B of the CPM Report related to the addition of a data item in Appendix 4 of the Radio Regulations about occurrence of transmissions of a non-geostationary satellite network. Under No. 9.3 for the case of a non-geostationary satellite network not subject to coordination, any administration which believes that unacceptable interference may be caused to its existing or planned satellite networks or systems, shall within four months of the date of publication of the Radiocommunication Bureau International Frequency Information Circular (BR IFIC) communicate to the publishing administration its comments on the particulars of the anticipated interference to its existing or planned systems. Because of the limited time to comment and the number of satellite networks to consider, comments under No. 9.3 are generally sent to other administrations on the basis of a first simple analysis and often requests inter alia if the space station emits only when it has visibility with the associated earth stations. Comments from other administrations frequently request the notifying administration to indicate whether the space station emits only when it has visibility with the associated earth stations.

This proposal includes a new data element in Appendix 4 for non-geostationary satellite networks or systems. This new data element would indicate whether or not the space station transmits only in visibility of either the service area or the associated earth stations. This addition has the potential to reduce administrative correspondence and to limit the number of comments received by an administration submitting such a satellite network. This proposal is consistent with Alternative 1 of the CPM Method for Issue 1B.

Proposal:

APPENDIX 4 (Rev.WRC-0712)

Consolidated list and tables of characteristics for use in the

application of the procedures of Chapter III

MOD USA/7/1

ANNEX 2

Characteristics of satellite networks, earth stations
or radio astronomy stations2(Rev.WRC-0712)

...

Items in Appendix / B _ CHARACTERISTICS TO BE PROVIDED FOR EACH SATELLITE ANTENNA BEAM OR EACH EARTH STATION OR RADIO ASTRONOMY ANTENNA / Advance publication of a geostationary-satellite network / Advance publication of a non-geostationary-satellite network subject to coordination under
Section II of Article 9 / Advance publication of a non-geostationary-satellite network not subject to coordination under
SectionII of Article 9 / Notification or coordination of a geostationary-satellite network (including space operation functions under Article 2A of
Appendices 30 or 30A) / Notification or coordination of a non-geostationary-satellite network / Notification or coordination of an earth station (including notification under Appendices 30A or 30B) / Notice for a satellite network in the broadcasting-satellite service under Appendix30
(Articles 4 and 5) / Notice for a satellite network (feeder-link) under Appendix30A
(Articles 4 and 5) / Notice for a satellite network in the fixed-satellite service under Appendix 30B (Articles 6 and 8) / Items in Appendix / Radio astronomy
B.1 / IDENTIFICATION AND DIRECTION OF THE SATELLITE ANTENNA BEAM / B.1
B.1.a / the designation of the satellite antenna beam / X / X / X / X / X / X / X / B.1.a
For an earth station, the designation of the satellite antenna beam of the associated space station
B.1.b / an indicator showing whether the antenna beam, under B.1.a, is fixed or whether it is steerable and / or reconfigurable / X / X / X / X / X / X / B.1.b
B.2 / TRANSMISSION / RECEPTION INDICATOR FOR THE BEAM OF THE SPACE STATION OR THE ASSOCIATED SPACE STATION / X / X / X / X / X / + 1 / X / B.2
B.2A / INDICATOR SHOWING WHETHER THE SPACE STATION TRANSMITS/RECEIVES ONLY IN VISIBILITY OF SERVICE AREA OR NOT / X / X / B.2A
B.3 / SPACE STATION ANTENNA CHARACTERISTICS / B.3

Reasons: To reduce administrative correspondence by allowing administrations to provide an essential element to assess the interference potential of a non-geostationary satellite network.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

DRAFT PROPOSALS FOR THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE

Background Information: This proposal pertains to Issue 2E of the CPM Report related to modifications to advance publication of information (API) ofasatellite network or system not subject to coordination procedure under Section II of Article9. As indicated in No. 9.2 of the Radio Regulations, amendments to information in accordance with No. 9.1 shall be sent to the Radiocommunication Bureau (the Bureau) as soon as they become available. No. 9.2 also indicates that only amendments, which involve addition of frequency bands or modification of the orbital location for a GSO network beyond ±6 degrees of theoriginal location, require the re-application of the advance publication procedure. In the case of Advance Publication Information (API) for a network not subject to coordination, Nos. 9.3 and 9.4 provide a mechanism for resolving potential difficulties between administrations.

The Bureau has been receiving cases of modifications to satellite network filings not subject to coordination, at the API stage, or with the first notice for recording the assignments, where the submission may involve one or more modifications to the network characteristics (e.g., increase of power density values, change of service area, addition of beams, etc.), which could modify the interference environment. In these cases, modifications to API were published and modified information was taken into account for the notification examination. However, those modifications would not trigger a new application of the advance publication procedure. Administrations believing that unacceptable interference may be caused to their existing or planned satellite networks or systems by these modifications do not have timely opportunity to comment and resolve potential difficulties as foreseen under Nos.9.3 and 9.4 before the recording of the assignments in the Master International Frequency Register (MIFR).

This proposal modifies No. 9.2 to clarify the circumstances under which administrations would need to file a new API and is consistent with Method B of the CPM Report for Issue 2E.

Proposal:

ARTICLE 9

Procedure for effecting coordination with or
obtaining agreement of other administrations(Rev. WRC-0712)

Section I – Advance publication of information on satellite
networks or satellite systems

MOD USA/AI7/1

9.2 Amendments to the information sent in accordance with the provisions of No.9.1 shall also be sent to the Bureau as soon as they become available. The use of an additional frequency band or modification of the orbital location by more than ±6° for a space station using the geostationary-satellite orbit will require the application of the advance publication procedure for this band or orbital location, as appropriate. Furthermore, where coordination is not required by SectionII of Article 9, the modification of the reference body, the modification of the direction of transmission, the modification resulting in the continuous transmission of the space station or the increase of the service area for a space station using a non-geostationary-satellite orbit will require the application of the advance publication procedure. (WRC-0712)

Reasons: To allow administrations have the possibility to comment under No. 9.3 if changes to a satellite network are likely to affect their space services.