OBTAINING APPROVAL FOR A RADIO FREQUENCY FOR POWER
TRANSMISSION
Space Energy Inc. intends to broadcast power from space to Earth using radio
frequencies in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio bands originally reserved
internationally for the use of RF electromagnetic fields for industrial, scientific and
medical purposes other than communications. In general, communications equipment
must accept any interference generated by ISM equipment.
ISM bands are defined by the ITU-R in 5.138, 5.150, and 5.280 of the Radio Regulations.
Individual countries' use of the bands designated in these sections may differ due to
variations in national radio regulations. Because communication devices using the ISM
bands must tolerate any interference from ISM equipment, these bands are typically given
over to uses intended for unlicensed operation, since unlicensed operation typically needs
to be tolerant of interference from other devices anyway. In the United States of America,
ISM uses of the ISM bands are governed by Part 18 of the FCC rules, while Part 15
Subpart B contains the rules for unlicensed communication devices, even those that use
the ISM frequencies. Thus, designers of equipment for use in the United States in the
ISM bands should be familiar with the relevant portions of both Part 18 and Part 15
Subpart B of the FCC Rules.
Specifically, Space Energy Inc. intends to broadcast energy from space to Earth at 2.45
GHz, or 5.8 GHz
For many people, the most commonly encountered ISM device is the home microwave
oven operating at 2.45 GHz. However, in recent years these bands have also been shared
with license-free error-tolerant communications applications such as wireless LANs and
cordless phones in the 0.915 GHz, 2.45 GHz, and 5.8 GHz bands. Because licensed
devices already are required to be tolerant of ISM emissions in these bands, unlicensed
low power uses are generally able to operate in these bands without causing problems for
licensed uses.
Space Energy Inc. will engage with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
to secure general approval for the use of these frequencies and will also engage with
customer countries' agencies responsible for national radio regulations (eg, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) in the US) to obtain approval to use either 2.45
GHz or 5.8 GHz for power broadcasts in their country.
If radio frequencies are unavailable, Space Energy Inc. will pursue power beaming using
lasers at 1.0 micron or 0.86 micron wavelengths. This removes the need for any
frequency approval, as lasers are not regulated as radio frequencies.
Space Energy Inc. will also engage with national aviation agencies to establish no-fly
zones around radio or laser energy corridors between the satellite and its ground-based
receivers.
OBTAINING PARKING SLOTS ON THE GEOSTATIONARY BELT
Space Energy Inc. will acquire parking spots on the geostationary belt above the Equator
for stationing its space-based solar power satellites. Parking slots are allotted
internationally, by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). However, the
ITU only allocates orbital slots to countries, and not to private sector companies.
Space Energy Inc. will negotiate with countries that hold the rights to orbital slots of
interest to establish agreements whereby space-based solar power satellites can thereafter
occupy the countries' allocated orbital slot(s). This is a common standard practice by all
commercial communications satellite companies. Space Energy Inc. will follow these
routine and well-established procedures to acquire its orbital parking slots.
When satellites are located close to each other, their up-link and downlink frequencies
and polarizations are to be coordinated, so that there is no interference. Sometimes this
requires that existing satellites, to accommodate a new entrant, alter existing frequencies
or polarizations.
The ITU that allocates the orbital slots (to countries who in turn may grant use of their
slots to commercial ventures) requires that all parties coordinate their frequencies so that
there is no disruption of service. The new entrant is obliged to ensure that their
transmissions will not disrupt existing services.
Frequency coordination is a technical matter, and not easily resolved, particularly in
regions over India, where practically every orbital slot is occupied by one or more
satellites.
NOTE: To date countries have been very responsible in their dealings with commercial
ventures. We do not know of any commercial venture that had insurmountable problems
acquiring parking slots.