FRENCH TELECOM REGULATOR GRANTS IRIDIUM TEMPORARY

UNCLAS PARIS 006666 SIPDIS STATE FOR EB/CIP TIMOTHY C. FINTON USDOC FOR NTIA JAMES VORHIES FCC FOR INTERNATIONAL STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR FOR KENNETH SCHAGRIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ETRD FR SUBJECT: FRENCH TELECOM REGULATOR GRANTS IRIDIUM TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATION REQUEST REF: STATE 176979 ¶1. On September 26, EconOff delivered reftel talking points to French Telecom Regulator ARCEP, which authorizes civilian use of radio frequencies in France. ARCEP acknowledged that they had received the request for Iridium, but had not yet completed their review due to the temporary absence of a key frequencies expert. EconOff reiterated the urgency of the request, given the extensive use of Iridium phones for hurricane disaster relief efforts in the U.S. ¶2. On September 28, Olivier Blondeau, the head of ARCEP's Frequencies Unit informed us of their positive reply to Iridium's request for temporary authorization. ARCEP has extended of Iridium's current authorized use of the 1621.35- 1626.5 MHz band to include the 1618.25-1621.35 MHz band for mobile services via satellite until December 31, 2005, on an exceptional basis, under the following two conditions: (1) non-interference with the Globalstar network, and (2) protection of the radioastronomical site of Nancay in the Cher Department of France. Stapleton