Initial test results from SpaceX's Starlink constellation are disappointingly slow, CCG President Doug Dawson blogged Monday: Downloads were 35-60 Mbps, upload 5-18 Mbps. There's danger the FCC will consider the satellites a solution to the rural broadband gap, he said. SpaceX didn't comment.

"A lone aggrieved bidder" for the C-band relocation payment clearinghouse job threatens the timing of the entire switchover and created uncertainty for the auction just so it can have another shot, CohnReznick said in an FCC docket 18-122 posting Monday responding to Vertix Consulting's protest (see 2008190045). CohnReznick said it meets all selection criteria, and its independence plan and code of conduct will address Boeing's concerns. "To in effect allow such a 'do-over' is absurd on its face," CohnReznick said. Vertix, which has been lobbying the eighth floor (see 2008270052), recapped a call with an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. It expanded Monday on its critique of the CohnReznick plan, saying clearinghouses are by definition maintained by banks, and lack of a financial institution on the team "is fatal."

Saying requiring non-geostationary orbit fixed satellite service systems to cover all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands could discourage some NGSO FSS systems' development, the FCC dropped the requirement. In an order Friday, it waved off the idea NGSO FSS operators might avoid rural and remote areas in favor of covering densely populated markets, saying their niche is areas where terrestrial coverage is particularly expensive. "They have the incentive to concentrate their efforts in those areas where they have a cost advantage," it said. In a statement, Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said dropping the requirement "is intended to promote more service, not less," particularly in remote areas like Alaska and Hawaii. There's increased satellite interest in constellations focusing on Alaska and the Arctic (see 2008120005).

An additional 1,280 proposed OneWeb low earth orbit satellites have FCC approval. The agency granted U.S. market access Wednesday to the satellites, in addition to the company's already-approved 720-satellite constellation (see 1706220039). The commission order also approved OneWeb market access to parts of the V band, and dismissed as moot a set of waivers to now-changed rules covering the V band.

The constant movement of non-geostationary orbit satellites and earth stations in motion using the 28.35-28.6 GHz band means less potential for interference with adjacent upper-microwave flexible use service because out-of-band emissions (OOBE) in the direction of the UMFUS receiver would be fleeting, Viasat said in a docket 18-315 posting Tuesday. ESIMs already are substantially deployed in the band for fixed satellite service (FSS) use, and there haven't been reports of interference, it said. Viasat also submitted a technical analysis it said showed existing OOBE limits will protect UMFUS in the 27.5-28.35 GHz band. The Satellite Industry Association said any more-restrictive OOBE limit than what exists for NGS FSS earth stations of geostationary orbit (GSO) ESIMs would be baseless. Noting the FCC didn't adopt ESIM-specific OOBE limits for communicating with GSO systems, it said the same rationale holds true for NGSO systems.

The National Space Society (NSS) is backing the National Academy of Public Administration's recommendation that the Commerce Department be responsible for publicly releasing nonmilitary space situational awareness data as part of a new responsibility for space traffic management. That and elevating Commerce's Office of Space Commerce and increasing its budget "would go a long way" toward tackling concerns about avoiding collisions with orbital debris and having situational awareness of foreign operations, NSS said.

Orbital debris rules adopted in April (see 2004230040) take effect Sept. 24, says Tuesday's Federal Register. Comments are due Oct. 9 on the Further NPRM that contains some items moved from the order, such as mandated maneuvering ability, it says.

A unified satellite operator license regime covering base stations, user terminals and other transmission facilities as part of FCC streamlining of its Part 25 rules would still let upper microwave flexible use service (UMFUS) and other licensees have full notice and opportunity to comment on planned earth station operations. That per EchoStar officials to International Bureau Chief Tom Sullivan, according to a docket 18-314 ex parte post Monday. It said there's no proof that aligning with international out-of-band emission limits will create harm to adjacent band UMFUS operations but doing so would resolve the inconsistencies in how different operators have applied those limits. Axing the requirement of notification about minor modifications would give earth station licensees regulatory parity with terrestrial licensees, and those minor modifications don't increase interference risks.

Any big change to the earth station siting rules could disrupt the network deployment plans of satellite operators, Intelsat said in a docket 17-172 post Monday, endorsing the Satellite Industry Association petition to rescind International Bureau guidance on earth station siting for upper microwave flexible use services (see 2007240072). It said the siting guidance lacks foundation in the record. Amazon's Kuiper also backed the petition, saying it conflicts with various FCC rules, as well as its intent to allow collocating fixed satellite service earth station antennas. The existing siting rules "are the product of a careful balancing of interests regarding access to this spectrum," and there's no reason to modify them, nor does the bureau have the authority to change them, Boeing said.

Relying on RF engineers for assessments that could affect aircraft performance and operators is "neither realistic nor appropriate," and due deference must be given to aerospace engineers, aerospace industry representatives told FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr per a docket 11-109 ex parte posting Monday. The FCC in its Ligado approval should have consulted with aerospace engineers, said Aerospace Industries Association, Air Line Pilots Association International, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Collins Aerospace, Helicopter Association International, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Geospatial Executives Organization representatives. The aerospace interests also cited what they see as the many potential dangers to their operations from Ligado's proposed system. The FCC didn't comment.