December 28, 2012 - The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) has adopted a Report and Order
establishing rules to help speed the deployment
of Internet services onboard aircraft.
The Commission’s action enables broadband
providers to meet increasing consumer demands
and promotes the economic growth and job
creating impacts of ubiquitous broadband. This
action also continues the FCC’s efforts to
update and streamline regulatory requirements
across the agency.
Since 2001, the Commission has authorized a
number of companies, on an ad hoc basis, to
operate Earth Stations Aboard Aircraft (ESAA),
i.e., earth stations on aircraft communicating
with Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) geostationary
orbit (GSO) space stations.
Installed on the exterior of the aircraft, the
satellite antenna carries the signal to and from
the aircraft, providing two way, in flight
broadband services to passengers and flight
crews.
The Report and Order formalizes ESAA as a
licensed application in the FSS and establishes
a regulatory framework for processing
applications while ensuring other radio service
operations are protected from harmful
interference.
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