Mr. Richard Smith
Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC 20230

Dear. Mr. Smith:

We have a common national interest to minimize potential interference to the Federal Government's receive earth station operations in the 17.8 to 20.2 GHz frequency band. The Government's use of this band is authorized under footnote US 334, and is required to satisfy specific radio frequency requirements involving the nation's security.

As you are aware, Larry Irving forwarded to the Commission his July 12, 1995 letter wherein we informed you that the 17.8 to 20.2 GHz band was required to satisfy a Feeral Government requirement which involved national security interests. And as you are also aware from my January 7, 1997, letter we ahve determined that both existing and anticipated FCC licensees could cause interference problems to the Federal Government use of the band. Therefore, we offer the following approach for resolving these problems --

i) Effective immediately, the Federal Government will withdraw its allocation to the radionavigation service in the bands from the 24.25 to 24.45 GHz and 25.05 to 25.25 GHz.

ii) The FCC, with the issuance of an order, will terminate all licenses for the Digital Electronic Messaging Service (DEMS) that authorize use of the 18.82 to 18.92 GHz and 19.16 to 19.26 GHz bans for operations anywhere within the exclusions zones defined in Attachment A. The FCC will also issue an order with provisions that permit the issuance of replacement DEMS licenses for operating this service in the bands listed in i).

iii) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) uses the 24.25 to 24.65 GHz band for radiolocation services (ASDE-2 radar systems) that operate in the Washington, DC, and Newark, New Jersey areas. These two FAA radar systems are scheduled for retirement in January 1998 and January 2000, respectively. NTIA, FAA and FCC and it's licensees will ahve to coordinate the introduction of DEMS services in these areas to assure compatible operations until the retirement of these two ASDE-2 radar systems.

iv) The FCC will issue an order with provisions that will exclude any future FCC licensees from using the 17.8 to 20.2 GHz band for operations anywhere in the exclusion zones defined in Attachment A.

v) The FCC will issue an order with provision that require coordination with the Government before future FCC licensees will be authorized to use the 17.8 to 20.2 GHz band for operations anywhere within the coordination zones defined in Attachment A.

vi) The FCC will issue an order with provisions that will require future FCC licensees to coordinate with NASA to assure that teir intersatellite service is not adversely affected.

Sincerely,

Richard Parlow
Associate Administrator
Office of Spectrum Management

Attachment A: Memorandum from the Department of the Air Force, dated 3/March/1997, signed by Nelson Pollack.