An FCC order harmonizing emergency alert system test requirements for satellite digital audio radio service providers with those for direct broadcast satellite providers takes effect June 19, said Wednesday’s Federal Register. The order also partially grants a petition for reconsideration of the 2005 EAS rules.
The FCC unquestionably has authority to update orbital debris rules, proof being those legacy rules that existed for years through both Republican and Democratic administrations, Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter to House Science Committee members dated May 5 and released Wednesday. The committee criticized the draft orbital debris order and urged the FCC to yank it from the April agenda (see 2004150054). The 15-year life of the legacy rules "is a lifetime in the fast-moving commercial space sector," and the rules update incorporated big parts of the federal orbital debris mitigation standard practices, Pai said. The Further NPRM adopted with the updated rules (see 2004230040) also is an opportunity for more provisions reflecting the ODMSP, he said.
Other non-voice non-geostationary operators are urging the FCC to reject Swarm's petition for U.S. market access for its NVNG mobile satellite services in the 400 MHz band, saying it didn't justify getting a waiver, after missing by months the deadline for consideration in the 400 MHz band processing round. In an International Bureau petition to defer Monday, Myriota said Swarm hasn't established it can fully protect systems authorized as part of the NVNG UHF processing round. Hiber in a petition to defer or dismiss said waiving the cut-off deadline would cause regulatory and business uncertainty. Kineis said the NVNG processing round public notice effectively rejected waivers Hiber and Myriota sought on grounds similar to Swarm's request, and reopening the round now and accepting a petition months later would prejudice the rights of parties that acted in reliance on that PN. Swarm outside counsel didn't comment Tuesday.
Letting 2,824 planned SpaceX non-geostationary orbit satellites operate at lower altitudes of 540 to 570 kilometers (see 2004200003) would mean they would be in orbit only about five years even in a worst-case scenario of loss of altitude control and minimal solar activity, said a SpaceX FCC International Bureau letter Friday. It said the modification would "reduce the risk of collision by orders of magnitude." It said it implemented autonomous conjunction avoidance technology on its satellites and will upgrade that capability as it gains operational experience. It said of the 420 satellites it has launched since May 2019, six lost maneuverability, and the rate of failure has declined with upgraded satellite designs. Staff approved in 2019 lowering the orbit of 1,584 planned SpaceX satellites to 550 kilometers (see 1904260071).
While AC BidCo awaits FCC action on its request to add a trio of satellites to its blanket license to operate earth stations aboard aircraft (ESAA) on domestic and international flights, the International Bureau signed off on special temporary authority allowing communications with two of them. The bureau OK'd permitting up to 200 terminals to communicate with the satellites Thursday, allowing the company to respond to what it said was urgent customer demand for capacity on U.S. international flights.
COVID-19 effects this fiscal year should be "limited," Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer said Thursday as the company announced Q3 results. Revenue of about $348 million in the quarter ended March 31, down from about $364 million last year, was in line with expectations. It said it's "confident" it will meet the 2021 and 2023 C-band clearing deadlines that would make it eligible for $507 million in acceleration payments. It said the planned launch this year of its Eutelsat Quantum satellite likely will be delayed by the pandemic's effect on satellite manufacturers and launchers. The company said its Konnect satellite, launched in January, should start providing service by year's end, but deployment of ground gateways will likely be partially delayed due to the pandemic. Intelsat, in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Wednesday, aimed for the C-band accelerated deadlines (see 2005140028).
SpaceX and NAB discussed C-band clearing costs with the FCC. SpaceX said the agency's potential and estimated clearing costs seem reasonable, in a Thursday posting in docket 18-122 about a call with Wireless and International Bureau and Office of Economics and Analytics staff. It said a Falcon 9 launch costs about $62 million and the COVID-19 pandemic shouldn't affect its ability to meet the FCC's accelerated clearing timeline at standard SpaceX pricing. NAB also reaffirmed some agency cost catalog estimates. It said the agency should seek further comment on a revised cost catalog based on input it gets, and the cost catalog shouldn't be finalized until interested parties can evaluate the transition plans satellite operators submit. The association said some parts of the cost catalog should be clarified to better reflect anticipated costs, and the agency should clarify that the catalog’s description of technology upgrades associated with clearing the 3.7-4 GHz band doesn't suggest satellite operators have sole discretion in the technology selection.
R2 Space hopes to launch the first of eight planned earth observation microsatellites in December, said an FCC International Bureau application Monday seeking approval of the S-/X-band constellation. The company said the satellites would operate at orbits of 550 kilometers and deorbit within six years of launch. It asked for expedited processing under 2019 small-satellite licensing rules (see 1908010011) not yet in effect. It petitioned, posted Tuesday, for temporary waiver of the application filing fee, asking to pay the $30,000 it would have to under streamlined smallsat rules, instead of the $471,575 the current rules would require. The company wants payment deferral until the application processing system can accommodate the new fee amount.
The application fee schedule of the FCC 2019 streamlined small-satellite licensing order (see 1908010011) will be effective 30 days after the order's upcoming Federal Register publication, the International Bureau clarified in a docket 18-86 order Monday.
SiriusXM with 360L, the company’s newest entertainment platform, debuts in 10 model year 2021 Audi vehicles in coming months using Verizon's 4G LTE network, said the company Monday. The offering combines satellite and streaming content. A sports feature is said to make it easier to find a listener’s favorite team at game time. Smart personalization gives content recommendations based on listener’s tastes with individual vehicle profiles available for multiple drivers and passengers, it said.