Air-to-Ground Mobile Broadband on Aircraft FM48#10 - Info 002

Background The FCC currently licenses commercial air-to-ground service in the MHz and MHz bands. – Used for communication services including voice telephony, broadband internet access, and data. In May 2013, the Commission announced a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish a new, terrestrial-based air-ground mobile broadband service with aircraft in the GHz band. – The service would provide multi-gigabit broadband connectivity to aircraft flying within the contiguous United States. – The service is intended for the business and personal use of passengers aboard aircraft, and will have no role in aeronautical operations or as a safety of life.

Proposed New Air Ground Service The proceeding seeks to add a secondary mobile allocation in the GHz band and adopt service rules to support air- ground mobile broadband operations. In the U.S., the GHz band is allocated on a primary basis to the FSS as an uplink (Earth- to-space) band for geostationary orbit (GSO) FSS operations. The air-ground mobile broadband service would operate on a secondary basis to GSO satellite systems and future non- geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellite systems, and on a co-secondary basis with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) that operates under a Federal Fixed Service (FS) and Mobile Service (MS) allocation. – In addition to coordinating with NASA TDRSS in the GHz band, the air-ground mobile broadband would also be required to coordinate with Radio Astronomy Service (RAS) users in the GHz band

Proposed New Service The proceeding seeks ways to apportion the spectrum. One commenter has proposed that the Commission auction two 250 megahertz licenses at GHz and GHz to enable two separate air-ground mobile broadband systems. – Under this proposal, the aggregate throughput for each system would be approximately 150 gigabits per second (“Gbps”), which would enable licensees to offer advanced data services. Another approach would be to license the entire 500 megahertz of spectrum, from GHz, to a single licensee.

Current Status Comment period ended 26 August Many comments received expressed concerns with interference to satellite service – Comments directed at ensuring that the new service must protect the primary FSS in the band and must not constrain existing or future uses of the band. Links – NPRM 509/FCC-13-66A1.pdf 509/FCC-13-66A1.pdf – Comments received