FCC Ligado approval "puts aviation into an uncertain safety and economic position," Aerospace Industries Association and Aviation Spectrum Resources told an aide to Commissioner Brendan Carr, per a docket 12-340 posting Monday. They said a 250-foot separation zone around each Ligado cell tower won't protect all regular aviation operations using FAA-certified GPS receivers. They urged granting the aviation reconsideration petitions (see 2005280005) and NTIA's request for stay (see 2005220055). Ligado didn't comment.

Along with proposed changes to the UHF and S bands to tackle launch congestion spectrum, the FCC should also look at higher bands to support such uses as astronaut video or high-bandwidth research payloads, representatives of space launch company Blue Origin told FCC International Bureau staffers, according to a docket 13-115 posting Friday. It said the 4500-4800 MHz band, currently used for fixed satellite downloads, is a possibility, as are other parts of the C or X band. Blue Origin said minimum 40 MHz channel sizes are needed. As the FCC looks at the 2200-2900 MHz band for launch use, look at amending the allocation table to add co-primary nonfederal space operation service to portions of band, the company said.

Iridium CEO Matt Desch laid out its problems with FCC Ligado approval, in calls with an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai and with Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, per a docket 11-109 posting Friday. Objections include the order not addressing Iridium’s sizable concerns about harmful interference from Ligado’s terrestrial operations and out-of-band emissions limits being too low. Iridium seeks reconsideration (see 2006090020).

Changing the home spectrum selection process in favor of SpaceX's petition for revised spectrum-sharing rules among non-geostationary orbit satellites (see 2006160045) would "derail" all the work satellite operators have put into their systems in recent years, said Kepler in an FCC filing posted Thursday on meetings with aides to Commissioners Mike O'Rielly, Brendan Carr, Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks. A "spectral efficiency" criteria has little support, and that approach would hurt spectrum sharing by favoring oversized constellations, it said. SpaceX didn't comment.

Comments are due Aug. 24, replies Sept. 22 on potential interference from out-of-band emissions of earth stations in motion (ESIM) in the 28.35-28.6 GHz band into the adjacent 27.5-28.35 GHz band used by upper microwave flexible use service, says Friday's Federal Register. Amended FCC satellite rules to allow ESIMs communicating with geostationary and non-geostationary orbit fixed-satellite service satellite systems take effect Friday, says a separate notice. The FCC approved the ESIM rules and NPRM in May (see 2005130057).

Volkswagen will begin introducing SiriusXM’s flagship offering, 360L, in most model year 2021 vehicles, said the companies Wednesday. All Volkswagen models equipped with the MIB3 modular infotainment platform -- the 2021 Arteon, Atlas Cross Sport, Golf GTI, Jetta, Jetta GLI and Tiguan -- will incorporate SiriusXM with 360L; the Atlas, introduced in spring, will incorporate 360L as a mid-year change for model year 2021.5, they said.

R2 Space, which is planning a non-geostationary orbit earth-imaging constellation for federal intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance applications, plans its first launch Dec. 16 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, with seven other satellites to put up in subsequent launches, it told the FCC International Bureau Monday. It's seeking commission OK for its S-/X-band constellation (see 2005120001).

FCC streamlined licensing rules for small satellites, approved at commissioners' August 2019 meeting (see 1908010011), take effect Aug. 19, said Monday's Federal Register.

Excluding integrated receiver/decoders costs from lump-sum payments to C-band earth station receiver operators could cause legal challenges that delay the C-band transition, ACA Connects President Matt Polka told FCC acting General Counsel Ashley Boizelle, according to a docket 18-122 posting Monday. It said the agency's order requires IRD costs be included in the lump sum since it requires calculating the payment on estimated costs of relocating all earth stations in a class and IRDs are among tech upgrades needed to maintain satellite reception.

SiriusXM’s 360L connected car platform will debut on 2021 model year BMW vehicles, starting with July production, said the satellite radio operator Thursday. Eleven BMW models will have 360L for delivery later in the summer, it said: BMW vehicles will be capable of receiving future 360L software updates, including one that will let Pandora listeners create their own ad-free music stations based on their favorite artists.