Terrestrial rural broadband provider Open Range has requested a 180 day extension to continue operating on Globalstar’s spectrum past February 1, 2011.
According to Open Range, the extra time is needed to support its ongoing discussions with potential…
Terrestrial rural broadband provider Open Range has requested a 180 day extension to continue operating on Globalstar’s spectrum past February 1, 2011.
According to Open Range, the extra time is needed to support its ongoing discussions with potential spectrum partners, with a Letter Of Intent having already been signed with one disclosed group.
“To date Open Range has conducted discussions with potential spectrum partners related to seven possible spectrum arrangements in different spectrum bands,” the company stated in a letter to the FCC dated December 29.
Open Range was forced to search for alternative spectrum after the FCC denied Globalstar an extension to milestones governing its ATC licence on September 14, effectively annulling the spectrum leasing agreement in the process.
Following its decision, the FCC granted Open Range a limited time to continue operating on the spectrum (2483.5MHz-2495MHz), under the condition that it actively sought to secure another spectrum partner.
Further to Open Range’s efforts to appease the FCC, the group has made voluntary contributions to the US government representing the lease payments that would have been paid to Globalstar.
According to the group, it has already paid these charges for September, October and November, totalling US$99,341.
