§  25.143   Licensing provisions for the 1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service
and 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service.

   (a) Authority to launch and operate a constellation of NGSO satellites
   will be granted in a single blanket license for operation of a
   specified number of space stations in specified orbital planes. An
   individual license will be issued for each GSO satellite, whether it is
   to be operated in a GSO-only system or in a GSO/NGSO hybrid system.

   (b) Qualification Requirements—(1) General Requirements. Each
   application for a space station system authorization in the 1.6/2.4 GHz
   Mobile-Satellite Service or 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service must include
   the information specified in § 25.114. Applications for
   non-U.S.-licensed systems must comply with the provisions of § 25.137.

   (2) Technical qualifications. In addition to providing the information
   specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, each applicant and
   petitioner must demonstrate the following:

   (i) That a proposed system in the 1.6/2.4 GHz MSS frequency bands
   employs a non-geostationary constellation or constellations of
   satellites;

   (ii) That a system proposed to operate using non-geostationary
   satellites be capable of providing Mobile-Satellite Service to all
   locations as far north as 70° North latitude and as far south as 55°
   South latitude for at least 75% of every 24-hour period, i.e., that at
   least one satellite will be visible above the horizon at an elevation
   angle of at least 5° for at least 18 hours each day within the
   described geographic area;

   (iii) That a system proposed to operate using non-geostationary
   satellites be capable of providing Mobile-Satellite Service on a
   continuous basis throughout the fifty states, Puerto Rico and the U.S.
   Virgin Islands, i.e., that at least one satellite will be visible above
   the horizon at an elevation angle of at least 5° at all times within
   the described geographic areas; and

   (iv) That a system only using geostationary orbit satellites, at a
   minimum, be capable of providing Mobile-Satellite Service on a
   continuous basis throughout the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S.
   Virgin Islands, if technically feasible.

   (v) That operations will not cause unacceptable interference to other
   authorized users of the spectrum. In particular, each application in
   the 1.6/2.4 GHz frequency bands shall demonstrate that the space
   station(s) comply with the requirements specified in § 25.213.

   (c) Safety and distress communications. (1) Stations operating in the
   1.6/2.4 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service and 2 GHz Mobile-Satellite Service
   that are voluntarily installed on a U.S. ship or are used to comply
   with any statute or regulatory equipment carriage requirements may also
   be subject to the requirements of sections 321(b) and 359 of the
   Communications Act of 1934. Licensees are advised that these provisions
   give priority to radio communications or signals relating to ships in
   distress and prohibits a charge for the transmission of maritime
   distress calls and related traffic.

   (2) Licensees offering distress and safety services should coordinate
   with the appropriate search and rescue organizations responsible for
   the licensees service area.

   [ 59 FR 53328 , Oct. 21, 1994, as amended at  61 FR 9945 , Mar. 12, 1996;
    62 FR 5930 , Feb. 10, 1997;  65 FR 59143 , Oct. 4, 2000;  68 FR 33649 , June
   5, 2003;  68 FR 47858 , Aug. 12, 2003;  68 FR 51504 , Aug. 27, 2003;  70 FR 59277 , Oct. 12, 2005;  78 FR 8267 , Feb. 5, 2013;  78 FR 8422 , Feb. 6,
   2013;  79 FR 8320 , Feb. 12, 2014;  81 FR 55333 , Aug. 18, 2016;  82 FR 59985 , Dec. 18, 2017]