An Urgent Call For Support From GVF Members – Complete letter follows…

Dear GVF Member,

We are calling upon you and your company for voluntary support in a matter of extreme importance. By now, you may have seen reports regarding satellite industry efforts to avert a global spectrum crisis. The satellite industry is entering the final phase of a campaign to prevent valuable C-band spectrum from being re-allocated to the terrestrial wireless sector and to ensure that unacceptable levels of interference do not continue to occur.



Communications companies and governments throughout the world have increasingly been reporting incidents where fixed- and mobile-satellite services (“FSS” and “MSS”, respectively) are being severely disrupted by interference from terrestrial wireless services in the “extended” and standard C-band frequencies (3.4 to 4.2 GHz).



Meanwhile, major telecom players are lobbying for C-band spectrum to be re-allocated for next-generation “broadband wireless access” and IMT 2000 services to the exclusion of satellite services. If these terrestrial-wireless interests are successful, it would represent a loss of billions of dollars per year in satellite-industry revenue and a severe blow to the user community that has come to depend upon C-band satellite services.



A decision on this matter will be made during the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) to be held in Geneva from Oct. 22 – Nov. 16. GVF, in co-ordination with affiliated organizations throughout the world, is making plans for the final phase of the campaign to counter this threat and – on a voluntary basis – we ask your company to help strengthen our efforts on the industry’s behalf.



While we would gratefully accept any level of financial support, we would propose that GVF Members based in UN-designated “Developed” or “Developing” Countries to provide US$1,000 or $500, respectively. All companies who contribute to this effort will receive special recognition on the homepage of the GVF website (www.gvf.org).



Many thanks in advance for considering this appeal. If you would like further information on either the issue or the campaign, please do not hesitate to ask, and I will provide full details. We would appreciate if your company would confirm today whether your company would join with your fellow Members to help effect a favorable outcome on this issue.

Sincerely,



David Hartshorn

Secretary General

GVF