Wireless and satellite interests have very different opinions about docket 20-330 on geostationary orbit (GSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) downlinks in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band on a co-primary basis with incumbent services, based on replies posted through Friday. Initial comments also showed a split (see 2103040041). Due to concerns in the record about coexistence between GSO FSS downlink and terrestrial FS allocated in 17.7-17.8 GHz, there should be operational requirements for GSO FSS downlinks that protect incumbent fixed service from interference, Nokia said. AT&T said backers of a GSO FSS allocation haven't proved their claims that GSO FSS downlinks are indistinguishable from incumbent 17/24 GHz broadcast satellite service (BSS) downlinks. It said the FCC should defer consideration of new allocations until there's sufficient technical analysis to show GSO FSS downlinks can safely share with incumbent users of the 17 GHz band. If GSO FSS can share with incumbents, the FCC should ensure minimum orbital spacing and power flux density limits to protect incumbents and limit GSO FSS downlink earth stations to individually licensed gateways, AT&T said. Viasat said the comments show allowing GSO FSS downlinks would mean more efficient use of the band, and FCC-proposed technical rules would protect incumbent operations. SES, Hughes, Telesat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, Lockheed Martin and Thales said giving BSS uses priority over FSS uses would leave FSS operations unprotected if a BSS operator implements network changes that interfere with an established FCC facility, disincentivizing FSS use of the 17 GHz band. Amazon's call for a Further NPRM to consider allowing non-geostationary orbit networks to use the 17 GHz band got support from SES, Telesat (see here) and OneWeb (see here). AT&T opposed the FNPRM absent technical and feasibility studies showing a baseline capability to share with incumbents. CTIA said allowing NGSO and earth station in motion operations into the band "present[s] even more complicated challenges to coexistence with terrestrial services than GSO FSS operations and should be rejected."

Two startup satellite operators expect to light up their “cell tower in space” services within two years. Some see regulatory red flags.

If the FCC opts not to defend its cable local franchise authority (LFA) order before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (see 2103110023), "NCTA could and would do so," the group told the appellate court in a sur reply (in Pacer, docket 19-4161) Wednesday. It said being an intervenor would let it continue the proceeding without FCC participation. It said if the localities and others challenging the order dropped their petition, leaving the order "in legal 'limbo'" while the commission decides if wants to revisit it, NCTA would object to abandoning the appeal. "The straightforward statutory interpretation issues presented by this case are ripe for resolution," NCTA said, urging denial of the FCC's request for abeyance of the appeal proceeding. Asked by us about the cable LFA order abeyance request at a news conference after commissioner's Wednesday meeting (see 2103170061), acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the agency is reviewing all pending litigation, given the change in leadership and membership. She said the review is to ensure its legal positions "are exactly what they should be."

A parade of New Jersey local government officials and residents testified Tuesday before the state Board of Public Utilities about problems with Altice broadband and customer service, as BPU considers opening an investigation. Commissioner Mary-Anna Holden said the hearing was initiated by numerous complaints around the state. “These services are essential for the residents,” and the board is concerned, said President Joseph Fiordaliso.

Rolling out a global satellite-based broadband service is "a radical challenge," from the "tremendous amount of fiber" across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific for the ground network to the numerous partnerships needed, Viasat CEO Rick Baldridge told us. The inaugural launch next year of its Viasat-3 three-satellite high-capacity constellation will let the satellite operator ramp up the number of addressable markets exponentially, Baldridge said. Viasat-4 is being designed now for launch in 2025 or 2026 with five times the capacity of Viasat-3, he said.

Federal appellate judges expressed some skepticism Friday with Wikimedia Foundation and government interpretations of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Wikipedia operator sought to overturn a lower court's summary judgment in its litigation claiming warrantless U.S. surveillance of its online communications. We were told a decision is likely around early fall.

Localities interests and allies see at least a short-term win with the FCC seeking to pause an appeal of its 2019 cable local franchise authority (LFA) decision, as the agency takes a fresh look at the order. They aren't sure the motion for abeyance filed with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means the agency will do a 180-degree turnabout on the order itself. A major issue with the rules and the odds of the agency doing anything about it is the deadlocked 2-2 FCC.

With lack of compliance with the 25-year post-mission disposal rule a big driver of orbital debris, regulators can boost compliance by making all permissions temporary, with renewal of licenses conditioned on operators meeting performance goals, said Ted Muelhaupt, principal director of Aerospace's Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies. Also at LRA Institute's virtual conference Wednesday, FAA Space Traffic Program Lead Steph Earle said there should be a move away from blanket policies like the 25-year rule for all spacegoing missions in favor of a stratified approach, likening it to kayaks being subject to different regulations than ships. FCC International Bureau Satellite Division acting Chief Karl Kensinger said the 25-year rule at the commission resulted in some low earth orbit missions reducing their orbital altitude or adding drag enhancements. He said the satellite industry hasn't reached consensus on the FCC's proposal for a maneuverability requirement for all satellites above a certain altitude. Earle said FAA plans an NPRM, perhaps this fall, on proposed updates to orbital debris regulations for launch and reentry. He said transportation and satellite might end up with different debris mitigation rules, reflecting the industries' differences.

FCC media modernization on deregulation and rule streamlining seemingly came to an end with a new administration. Broadcast and cable lawyers told us there weren't major items left on the to-do list. No media items were on the first two monthly agendas of Jessica Rosenworcel's tenure as acting chairwoman, though we're told it's unlikely that signals media items will be completely back-burnered. The FCC didn't comment.

Allowing geostationary orbit (GSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) downlinks in the 17.3-17.8 GHz band on a co-primary basis with incumbent services got satellite operator backing and wireless concerns in docket 20-330 comments posted Thursday. Hughes, Telesat, SES, Intelsat, Eutelsat, Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Thales said the FSS allocations would help meet growing demand for more Ka-band downlink spectrum for high-throughput satellites. They said 17/24 GHz rules could be updated and extended to 17 GHz FSS networks. To protect incumbent direct broadcast satellite and broadcast satellite service operations, Hughes backed limiting geostationary FSS operations in the swath to low-density applications like gateways and feeder links. Inmarsat said FSS satellites that sought authorization in the 17 GHz band exponentially increased in the past 10 years, and growth will continue, with it launching Ka-band payloads on its GX6A and GX6B satellites and next three Xpress satellites over two years. Backing the NPRM, Viasat said the FCC should allow earth stations in motion to operate in the 17 GHz band in the same manner as GSO FSS earth stations and give blanket-licensed earth stations there the same level of interference protection as a conforming earth station that wasn't blanket licensed. Amazon's Kuiper urged a Further NPRM to consider allowing non-geostationary orbit FSS use of the 17.3-17.7 GHz band, saying it would "remedy the imbalance" between accessible uplink and downlink spectrum available to Ka-band systems. CTIA said it's "premature" to look at the 17 GHz allocations since it's intertwined with the 12 GHz band NPRM, and issues there haven't been considered. It said the proposed technical fixed service protections are outdated and may not protect it, and proposed FSS allocations and service rules could hurt some uses of the frequencies. AT&T urged operational requirements to protect incumbent DBS and terrestrial fixed service via such steps as wider minimum orbital spacing requirements between GSO FSS downlinks and existing and proposed incumbents' satellites and restriction of GSO FSS downlinks to gateway-type earth stations.