Non-geostationary orbit startup Hubble Network is seeking authority for a four-satellite constellation that would operate in the UHF and S bands, providing Bluetooth Earth-to-space connectivity, according to an FCC Space Bureau application posted Tuesday.

SpaceX received the FCC Space Bureau go-ahead to provide commercial supplemental coverage from space services using its Starlink satellites, as expected (see 2410290033). In an FCC Space Bureau order issued Tuesday, the bureau said the direct-to-smartphone service -- in partnership with T-Mobile and using 1910-1915 MHz unlinks and 1990-1995 MHz downlinks on a secondary basis -- is unlikely to cause harmful interference with in-band terrestrial operations. In addition, the bureau said it's in T-Mobile's "best interest to ensure that SpaceX will not cause harmful interference." The bureau's "rigorous analysis" of SpaceX plans indicate the satellite company can adjust its equivalent isotropically radiated power in a way that won't cause interference with Omnispace, which had raised interference concerns with the agency (see 2410080045). The bureau said it also believes SpaceX can adequately protect adjacent-band users against interference from its downlinks. The bureau said it was deferring consideration of SpaceX's request for relaxed out-of-band power flux density limits (see 2408130008) but signed off on the company operating its second-generation satellites at a lower, 340-360 km orbital shell for D2D service (see 2403250003). And the bureau approved SpaceX's use of very high frequency beacons in that altitude range. The agency had signed off earlier this month on VHF beacons for second-generation Starlinks but not at those altitudes (see 2411210045).

O3b is no longer seeking FCC OK for the low earth orbit component of its proposed medium earth orbit constellation. In an FCC Space Bureau application posted Monday, the company said it's modifying its pending U.S. market access application and eliminating the LEO component. Since the LEO satellites were proposed for satellite-to-satellite communications, it is no longer seeking satellite-to-satellite authority.

SpaceX direct-to-device (D2D) authorizations should include the condition that before conducting operations in the 2300-2395 MHz band within line of sight of a NASA Deep Space Network facility outside the U.S., the company will certify it has completed coordination with NASA, NTIA said in a docket 23-135 filing posted Monday. Meanwhile, recapping a meeting with FCC Space Bureau Chief Julie Kearney, Omnispace said SpaceX has not shown that its proposed D2D operations in the 1990-1995 MHz band won't cause harmful interference to primary-status licensees. It said if the FCC approves nonconforming use, despite a record showing harmful interference risks, it should be conditioned on SpaceX reaching operator-to-operator agreements with parties like Omnispace "that have demonstrated a sound basis for a pronounced risk of harmful interference in the present record."

The FCC Space Bureau approved SpaceX using VHF-band radiofrequency beacons on up to 450 of its second-generation Starlink satellites, according to a bureau order in Thursday's Daily Digest. It said the approval lets SpaceX track and maintain contact with the company's satellites during orbit raising and in case of emergencies. The agency said it will separately address SpaceX's pending request to operate second-gen Starlinks with the beacons at lower altitudes of 340-360 km.

Kepler Communications, with eight non-geostationary orbit satellites in space, is asking FCC approval to launch another 10 with optical intersatellite links and create a consolidated space data relay network. In an FCC Space Bureau application posted Tuesday to modify its U.S. market access grant and another pending U.S. market access application, Kepler said the FCC's five-year deorbit rule, adopted in 2022, necessitated the company rethinking its previously authorized cubesat system as they wouldn't deorbit within five years of the end of their missions. The company said the steeply escalating licensing fees for systems seeking U.S. market access also made its original plans for a second, separate satellite system not feasible. As a result, it needed to consider one consolidated system. Kepler said the launch of 10 second-generation satellites is expected in Q3 2025.

The FCC opted for relaxed interference protection criteria for non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) systems approved in different processing rounds despite opposition from some satellite operators. Approved Nov. 5, the order was released Friday, 10 days later. Its 5-0 approval was expected (see 2410040025). The 3% average throughput degradation long-term interference protection criteria was supported by multiple satellite operators, including SpaceX, but faced objections from OneWeb. The agency said it disagreed with OneWeb's contention that a 3% threshold would disincentivize coordination among satellite operators. Noting a lack of consensus among commenters about the appropriate short-term protection criterion, the FCC said SpaceX's proposal for a 0.4% absolute increase in unavailability metric more closely aligns with agency goals of regulatory certainty plus good opportunities for later-round entrants and competition than rival proposals did. The FCC declined to insert limits on aggregate interference in an NGSO FSS system. It said there was no demonstrated need for such limits, with 2029 the earliest when any second processing round system would be required to deploy its full constellation. The agency also rejected OneWeb's reconsideration petition on the sunset provision in the FCC's 2023 NGSO satellite spectrum sharing order (see 2307210037). It said for OneWeb and other first processing round systems, the 2030 sunset date -- 10 years after the first grant in second processing round in 2020 -- "relieves them of the uncertainty of near-term, equal sharing with new entrants intended by the sunset period."

AST SpaceMobile's first tranche of commercial BlueBird satellites is "now ready to become operational" and FCC approval of commercial direct-to-device service is "imminent," CEO Abel Avellan said in a call with analysts Thursday evening. That tranche of five BlueBirds launched in September (see 2409120004) will provide "close to 100%" nationwide coverage in the U.S., he added. AST has agreements with SpaceX and Blue Origin for the launch of 60 next-generation BlueBird satellites in 2025 and 2026 to bring service to other key markets. Chief Strategy Officer Scott Wisniewski said that once AST has 45 to 60 BlueBirds in orbit, it could offer cellular broadband coverage to the top wireless markets and have network capacity for "hundreds of millions of potential subscribers."

Having handled a record number of licensed commercial space operations in FY 2024, the FAA said Thursday it's assembling a rulemaking committee that will examine updating the agency's Part 450 launch and reentry licensing rules, which were adopted in 2020. It said the committee will include members of the commercial space industry and academia and is expected to report recommended changes by summer 2025. The FAA said it handled 148 licensed commercial space operations in FY 2024, up more than 30% versus FY 2023. It said it anticipates handling as many as twice the FY 2024 number by FY 2028.

The FCC should continue applying orbital debris rules to all space operators until Congress creates a framework that addresses mission authorization for in-space servicing, assembly and manufacturing (ISAM) missions, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In a docket 22-271 filing posted Tuesday, it said Congress also could preclude FCC debris oversight by further clarifying rules and responsibilities for orbital debris oversight. The Chamber urged the FCC to schedule a future rulemaking to look at long-term spectrum needs for ISAM operations. It argued that the FCC should license ISAM missions under an "activity based" licensing framework, with a single license covering ISAM activities within the scope of the license and within the same orbital regime, instead of a "case by case" licensing framework.