Globalstar TLPS Approval Remains a Question Mark
The almost two-year review of whether Globalstar can deploy a private Wi-Fi channel in the 2.4 GHz band remains in limbo, some industry officials said. "We cannot say with clarity exactly where it is," CEO Jay Monroe said on a conference call Monday. "The next step in the process, once the technical work is completed, is for it to move to the eighth floor. Because there were no technical problems that were identified by the bureaus, I suspect that the bureaus have made that known to the eighth floor." Other parties have said the terrestrial low-power service (TLPS) for broadband would cause interference.
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It would be surprising if Globalstar's TLPS is currently an eighth-floor decision, as FCC staff a couple of weeks ago indicated the review was ongoing, one satellite industry lawyer said. The FCC declined to comment Tuesday, saying the proceeding is pending and it doesn't have a specific time frame for next steps.
The 2.4 GHz band is used for everything from multiple public Wi-Fi channels to microwave ovens. While Globalstar has said its TLPS -- using 20 MHz from 2,473-2,495 MHz -- would help relieve Wi-Fi congestion, the TLPS proposal has faced opposition raising questions about interference with Bluetooth and with Wi-Fi channel 11 (see 1506160037). "Hopefully, given all the testing and successful testing and back and forth ... [the FCC] will come to some hopefully positive conclusion," said Lyman Delano, a partner at investment firm Beck Mack, which has a stake in Globalstar. "There were hopes it might happen sooner than it has. There has been frustration it is taking so long."
The FCC apparently has asked Globalstar to contact the unlicensed spectrum community "and work out issues that still remain regarding interference and other related spectrum issues," emailed Wireless Internet Service Providers Association Vice President Alex Phillips. "I have [heard] not anything from anyone getting any outreach." When asked about such outreach, Globalstar in a statement to us said it has had "numerous discussions with relevant parties since the start of the rulemaking. Throughout these discussions we have focused on two main objectives: the consumer benefits of TLPS; and the ability of TLPS to protect unlicensed operations and our critical [mobile satellite] services. Globalstar has conducted an open and transparent process and will continue to engage with interested parties and welcomes any constructive dialog that helps meet these objectives."
Progress on modifying FCC rules for operating an S-band mobile satellite service system in low Earth orbit, which would allow TLPS, "has of course been slower than hoped," Globalstar's Monroe said. When asked what other FCC priorities are more front-burner and thus delaying Globalstar's review, Monroe said, "I don't know that anything is causing them to delay per se [but] there are always things going on. Should they be able to slot us in and reach a conclusion on the TLPS matter? We certainly hope so. We are certainly doing everything that we possibly can daily to make sure that any information that they need they get and they get promptly and we hope that we're nearing the end."