NEWS
  Report No.  DC 96-55               ACTION IN DOCKET CASE     June 18,
                                  1996

                                    
           FCC PROPOSES SPECTRUM FOR L-BAND SATELLITE SYSTEM 
                        (IB Docket No. 96-132)   


     Today, the Commission took an important step towards making
mobile satellite service available to U.S. consumers. By proposing to
assign spectrum to American Mobile Satellite Corporation, Inc. (AMSC),
the Commission seeks to ensure that geostationary mobile satellite
service will be available as a competitive alternative to non-
geostationary satellite and terrestrial mobile services for individuals
living in remote or sparsely populated areas of the nation. 

     AMSC already provides limited service over one in-orbit satellite,
launched last year, but lacks sufficient spectrum to operate a fully
viable system for voice and data service both here and in the Caribbean. 
Although AMSC was licensed by the Commission in 1989 to build a
mobile satellite system in the "upper" L-band frequencies, the spectrum
needed to support fully AMSC's system is subject to intricate
international coordination with other satellite systems.  Currently,
there are four competing global systems planned by Inmarsat, Mexico,
Russia and Canada.  The total proposed spectrum requirements for
these five systems greatly exceed the 66 MHz of spectrum available in
both the "lower" and "upper" portions of the L-band.  

     This lack of spectrum has resulted in a difficult series of
international negotiations over the past seven years.  As a result of the
continued stalemate, the Commission is now proposing to assign AMSC
the first 28 MHz of spectrum coordinated internationally in both the
"upper" and "lower" portions of the L-band, in order to ensure effective
competition in the mobile services market.  

Action by the Commission June 6, 1996, by Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (FCC 96-259).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners Quello,
Ness and Chong.

For more information, contact Paula Ford at 202-418-0760 or Kathleen
Campbell at 202-418-0753 at the FCC's International Bureau.


    
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