Intelsat wants to relocate its Intelsat 904 to 45.1 degrees east and extend its license term through Dec. 31, 2019. In an FCC International Bureau filing Friday, Intelsat said it already filed a special temporary authority request to start drifting the satellite from its current location at 60 degrees east, starting Dec. 1. The company said Intelsat 33e, which is scheduled for launch later this year, will replace it at 60 degrees east. The relocation of 904 is to provide continuity of service to customers currently on Intelsat 12, which is to be de-orbited in late 2017, Intelsat said. Intelsat 904 was launched in 2002, and while its current license term expires March 27, that is "well before the expected end of service life for the satellite," the company said.
In its new home at 61.2 degrees west, EchoStar 12 will be an in-orbit spare, with its relocation making way for the arrival of EchoStar 18, EchoStar said in an FCC International Bureau filing Friday seeking special temporary authority to relocate EchoStar 12 from 61.35 degrees west. The company said it plans to obtain regular modification authority for EchoStar 12's move.
Dish Network raised $2.72 billion in its most recent convertible note offering, the company said in a news release Monday. The company previously said, and reaffirmed Monday, the money is intended "for strategic transactions" that could include wireless and spectrum-related purchases (see 1608030045).
DirecTV can conduct a three-hour deposition of FTC staff attorney Michael Ostheimer about the factual basis for the agency's investigation of DirecTV advertising and the support of its claims, and the FTC can compel the AT&T business to produce the text-mining algorithm it uses on its RIO customer notes system, said U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria-Elena James of San Francisco in a discovery order (in Pacer) Friday. The two have been clashing over discovery matters (see 1606100016) as part of the FTC's 2015 lawsuit claiming DirecTV didn't properly communicate early cancellation fee terms to subscribers (see 1503110042). James also denied an FTC request to compel the deposition of DirecTV Deputy General Counsel Takehiko Suzuki about the company's compliance with a multistate agreement between DirecTV and all 50 states that dealt with similar claims but that the FTC didn't join, but said the agency can depose a designee to testify about the compliance program. James' order said it dealt with the last remaining discovery disputes.
SiriusXM will require its telemarketing vendors to use manual phone dialing systems that require human intervention to initiate calls to cellphones, separate from the automatic dialing systems used by vendors to call landline phones, under a proposed settlement that could end multiple lawsuits alleging Telephone Consumer Protection Act violations, said court documents filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Newport News, Virginia. SiriusXM and plaintiffs' counsel indicated in June they were close to finalizing a $35 million settlement agreement (see 1606080019). Every settlement class member would get three months of free Select service without having to file a claim, or alternately the ability to file a claim for a pro rata share of the $35 million common fund, said court filings (in Pacer). The per-class-member cash award would likely be $5 to $15, said a memorandum in support of the motion for preliminary approval. Attorney's fees won't exceed 30 percent of the total value of the settlement, according to court documents. The motion for preliminary approval of the settlement said the pact would cover people who received SiriusXM programming on a promotion basis tied to purchase or lease of a vehicle that ended by April 5; received calls on behalf of the company to their mobile numbers between Feb. 15, 2008, and July 5, 2016; and never subscribed or subscribed but after July 5. The motion said SiriusXM didn't oppose it. The settlement would cover litigation against the company in Virginia, California, Illinois and Florida. SiriusXM didn't comment Monday.
Globalstar is talking with the FCC about remaining in compliance with the Administrative Procedure Act if any changes are made to the terrestrial low-power service (TLPS) broadband draft order being circulated. In an ex parte filing Monday in docket 13-213, Globalstar recapped a meeting with FCC Deputy Associate General Counsel William Richardson at which it discussed finalizing the rules in the TLPS proceeding. The company said it asked if the Office of General Counsel wanted input on legal or procedural issues, especially "legal or factual support as to compliance with Administrative Procedure Act requirements." Changes could be afoot for the draft order, as Commissioner Mike O'Rielly last week indicated he was interested in modifications (see 1608050042). The company and FCC didn't comment.
Satelites Mexicanos wants a blanket license for 15,000 Ku-band very small aperture terminals (VSAT) that would support its SmartLNB dishes. In an FCC International Bureau filing Thursday, the company -- doing business as Eutelsat Americas -- said the terminals are intended to help provide satellite-based broadband, IoT, machine-to-machine and related services. The company said the VSAT terminals previously were licensed by the agency for use in a Ku-band VSAT network with SmartLNB technology, and would employ numerous licensed hub earth stations to communicate with the terminals.
Intelsat wants to move its Galaxy 11 satellite from 60.1 degrees east, where it's operating under special temporary authority (STA), to 44.9 degrees east. In an FCC International Bureau filing Wednesday, Intelsat asked for STA to drift Galaxy 11 starting Sept. 1 to 45 degrees east, operate it temporarily there, and then drift it again to its final destination of 44.9 degrees east. Intelsat said the relocation is to help provide continuity of service to Intelsat 12 customers, with that satellite to be de-orbited in late 2017. Intelsat 12 operates in the 11,450-11,700 MHz,12,500-12,750 MHz and 14,000-14,500 MHz bands, and Galaxy 11 operates in the 3700-4200 MHz, 5925-6425 MHz, 10,950-11,200 MHz, 11,700-12,200 MHz, 13,750-14,000 MHz and 14,000-14,500 MHz bands, the company said.
Dish Network is rolling out a personalized skinny bundle offering, Flex Pack, with eight separate packages of channels that would come atop its $39.99 per month core package, it said in a news release Thursday. Dish said Flex Pack is designed to let customers add and subtract the eight themed channel packs monthly, with their prices ranging from $4 to $10 per month. "Flex Pack provides a level of flexibility and control that brings our customers closer to the ideal of fully tailoring their channel lineup," said Warren Schlichting, executive vice president-marketing, programming and media sales. The themed channel packs include a $10 monthly Locals Pack featuring CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox and Univision, a $6 monthly Variety Pack that includes Investigation Discovery, Lifetime Movie Network, Freeform, Bravo, BET and Crime & Investigation, and a $10 monthly National Action Pack of ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, Velocity, AXS TV, Fuse, TV Games Network, TVG2 and Universal HD, Dish said.
Globalstar is continuing lobbying the FCC for its terrestrial low-power service broadband proposal. In an ex parte filing posted Thursday in docket 13-213, the company recapped a meeting its executives, including General Counsel Barbee Ponder, had with agency officials including Office of Engineering and Technology Chief Engineer Julius Knapp, and a separate meeting with Commissioner Mike O'Rielly aide Erin McGrath. O'Rielly and Commissioner Mignon Clyburn hadn't decided on the Globalstar draft order that had seen "no" votes by Commissioners Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel (see 1607140049).