DC Circuit Combines Satellite Interest Appeals to C-Band Order
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit combined challenges to the FCC's C-band order from satellite truck operator PSSI Global Services and small satellite operators ABS Global, Empresa and Hispasat, in an order Monday (dockets 20-1143, 20-1146 and…
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20-1147, in Pacer). An appeal was expected (see 2003020032). PSSI's petition for review (in Pacer) said the order is "an existential challenge" to the band's occasional users and mobile users because demand for programming they deliver won't change, but available bandwidth will be reduced by 60%. It asked the court to vacate or reverse and remand the order. The satellite operators said (in Pacer) the order doesn't replace their lost C-band spectrum or reimburse them, contrary to past agency approach in spectrum reallocations, but "simply confiscates their spectrum and calls the result a mere license 'modification.'" They asked the order be reversed and vacated. The satellite operators also filed a protective petition (in Pacer) for review. The FCC didn't comment Tuesday.