The FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to modernize the Commission’s rules for Direct-to-Device (D2D) services in licensed spectrum. The NPRM proposes regulatory changes intended to promote more flexible terrestrial, satellite, and hybrid business arrangements and incentivize high-quality D2D service for the benefit of consumers. The NPRM also seeks comment on revising the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations to increase the number of bands in which supplemental coverage from space (SCS) is authorized and to make an additional 482 MHz of spectrum for SCS.
Among other changes, the NPRM proposes to eliminate the geographically independent area and leasing requirements applicable to SCS. The Commission seeks comment on ways to replace the existing requirements with more adaptable geographic licensing and coexistence agreement requirements that accommodate SCS operators’ particular circumstances. The Commission also seeks to harmonize the SCS and mobile-satellite service (MSS) rules and on whether to codify the exclusive right to use certain MSS bands. The Commission also requests comment on appropriate D2D performance requirements for SCS and MSS D2D providers.
