The Satellite Users
Interference Reduction Group Opposes UTC Request for Terrestrial Fixed Services
Allocation
(17 July 2008) The Satellite Users
Interference Reduction Group (SUIRG) has filed a position paper with the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opposing a recent petition for allowing
terrestrial services in the Ku-band.
In its petition, the
Utilities Telecom Council (UTC) requested that the FCC allow terrestrial fixed
services to operate in the crucial 14.0-14.5 GHz band.
"Such an action
would cause a significant increase in the number of interference incidents that
the satellite industry will have to address," said SUIRG President Robert Ames.
"The negative impact to fixed and mobile satellite-based services would be
catastrophic."
The filing by UTC specifically requests that the FCC
commence proceedings to establish rules to permit shared, secondary terrestrial
fixed service use of the 14.0-14.5 GHz band by fixed point-to-point, point to
multipoint, and temporary fixed stations and for critical infrastructure
industry communications.
"The Ku-band is critical for VSATs, SNG
(satellite newsgathering) and mobile satellite services," continued Ames. "The
UTC has failed to show compellingly that the proposed operations will not cause
unacceptable interference to the incumbent satellite services operating in that
frequency."
Ames went on to say: "The UTC provides a flawed analysis
suggesting that millions of UTC terminals can be operated without a problem.
However, previous C-Band testing and analysis conducted within the satellite
industry indicates that such use will cause unacceptable levels of interference
into GSO (Geosynchronous orbit) FSS (Fixed Satellite Service) operations.
Furthermore such use will expose the UTC terminals to interference that will be
incompatible with the critical nature of the services that are intended in the
proposed new secondary terrestrial allocation."
Suirg, a non-profit
association comprised of both private and public sector satellite
organisations, with the assistance of several satellite serviced providers and
equipment manufacturers, has conducted several field tests addressing the
growing WiMAX debate over shared spectrum with terrestrial services. Analysis
conducted to date the C-Band has conclusively indicated that sharing of the
spectrum would cause unacceptable levels of interference.
About
Suirg
Suirg is an international assembly of parties with representation
from both the private and public sector organised to combat the increasing and
costly problem of satellite RF interference. Members disseminate information
and actively pursue programs to reduce radio frequency interference
incidents.
Formed over ten years ago as an informal group working to
reduce radio interference, Suirg incorporated as a 501(c) (6) trade association
in September 2003. The Group's 35 members from 19 countries are is comprised of
satellite operators, users, uplinkers, service providers, equipment vendors,
and other organisations with a stake in combating radio frequency interference.
Suirg also collects interference incident data from satellite operators on its
web site to clearly define the specific areas that need focus to reduce the
number of incidents.
Suirg's objective is to stop interference before it
starts, pursuing a number of remedies, among them: signal Identification, which
involves working with uplink equipment vendors to modify their equipment to
provide a unique ID for cross-reference in a database when interference occurs;
uplink training, procedures and certification; improved detection and
identification tools, and continuous sharing of information and solutions among
the Suirg membership.
(source: Satellite Users Interference Reduction
Group)
