OneWeb's pending modification to greatly increase the size of its constellation differs from other modifications the FCC has granted because it's seeking to increase potential interference to others, SpaceX said in an International Bureau posting Tuesday. It said OneWeb's pressing for approval "rings hollow" since the company hasn't addressed its application's technical problems or completed coordination with other non-geostationary orbit satellites. It said the fix is a new processing round, which would let all NGSO applicants work toward deployment without any confusion or delay. SpaceX cited Amazon's Kuiper plans as need for a new NGSO processing round (see 1907160002). OneWeb didn't comment Wednesday.
After U.S. District Court approval of T-Mobile/Sprint (see 2002110026) and the FCC's announced C-band auction plan, the next key step toward 5G deployment needs to be a decision on Ligado's pending L-band license modifications, said CEO Doug Smith's letter to White House National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow, posted Wednesday in docket 11-109. "The need for speed on 5G deployment is evident in every headline about developments in China and other countries," Smith wrote.
SiriusXM invested $75 million in open audio platform SoundCloud, which will use the funding to accelerate product development and boost services for its creator and listener communities, said the companies Tuesday. SoundCloud CEO Kerry Trainor said the additional capital will allow it to strengthen connections between creators and listeners. SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer referenced SoundCloud's role in helping artists become discovered and build a fan base: "We admire SoundCloud's loyal and growing audience, its offering for creators, and its reputation and popularity in global music communities.” An ad agreement between SoundCloud and Sirius' Pandora streaming platform signed in 2018 (see 1810030046) allows advertisers and brands to buy SoundCloud's U.S. ad inventory directly through Pandora. SoundCloud and Pandora's combined U.S. audience offering reaches more than 100 million unique listeners, they said.
The fuboTV vMVPD service will be available on U.S. flights using ViaSat satellite internet, the companies said Thursday. They said the arrangement is the first to employ Streaming Video Alliance open caching specifications in flight. They said the fubo Sports Network will be free, while fuboTV will be available to its current subscribers or to passengers who sign up for a free seven-day trial.
Communications services company Comtech expects to close on its $532.5 million buy of satellite communications ground segment company Gilat Satellite Networks by summer or fall, it said Wednesday. Comtech CEO Fred Kornberg said the announced deal positions the company better in providing ground infrastructure for satellite connectivity and secure wireless communications markets. It said Kornberg would be CEO of the combined company, and Gilat would keep its headquarters and R&D facility in Israel.
There were 389 small satellites launched last year, with nearly half of the 28 dedicated smallsat launches by China, Bryce Space and Technology said Tuesday. That's up from 328 launched in 2018, it said. It said communications was the biggest application for smallsats launched last year, with SpaceX having almost half of the satcom smallsats launched. The space tech firm said of the 1,731 smallsats launched 2012-19, 52 percent are for commercial service. The U.S. had 60 percent of those.
Foreign-licensed satellites with U.S. market access should pay regulatory fees like U.S.-licensed satellites, but an exemption for earth station licensees should be approved for U.S. market access before a Further NPRM is released, EchoStar, Intelsat and SpaceX told FCC International Bureau staffers, including Satellite Division Chief Jose Albuquerque. A docket 19-105 posting Monday said that exemption would discourage regulatory fee arbitrage without hurting licensees. The companies said licensing fee inequity incentivizes satellite operators seeking licenses from other administrations to avoid U.S. regulatory fees, leading to more U.S. market access filings requiring more FCC resources and fewer U.S. licensees to cover the costs.
Dish Network asked U.S. District Court in San Jose to “enforce” a “final judgment” ordering Albertis, a former Dish retailer in Puerto Rico, to pay the $92,731 arbitration award it owes the satellite TV company. Dish pursued arbitration after Albertis “garnered a significant amount of incentive payments” from Dish by submitting fraudulent reports making it appear that current and former customers were new subscribers, said Thursday's motion (in Pacer). Dish initiated the federal action in Denver to “confirm” the arbitration award it won, but Albertis “failed to make an appearance, file any responsive pleadings, or otherwise defend” itself, said Dish. Judge Daniel Domenico in Denver entered final judgment (in Pacer) in Dish’s favor Dec. 11. Attempts to reach Albertis representatives for comment Friday were unsuccessful.
To further streamline Part 25 rules for satellites, the FCC should adopt a unified licensing option for satellites and earth stations in the same geostationary orbit network, an alignment of buildout requirements for earth stations with the launch milestone for a GSO satellite authorized to operate in the same network, EchoStar counsel told agency International Bureau staff, per a docket 18-314 posting Friday. The company urged allowing applicants to fix application deficiencies within 60 days of an agency request and requiring automatic public notice of an application for filing within 30 days unless the agency determines otherwise.
Setting a flat amount the FCC will pay satellite operators for relinquished C-band rights might be legal, but making it reasonable would be tough and outside the agency's expertise, said ABS Global CEO James Frownfelter. A percentage-based clearing payment would use market forces to reach a fair value of the rights, said Frownfelter, per a docket 18-122 posting Friday on meetings with staffers including an aide to Chairman Ajit Pai and International Bureau Chief Tom Sullivan. Frownfelter said neither approach would violate the Miscellaneous Receipts Act. Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer met with Pai, Commissioners Brendan Carr and Jessica Rosenworcel and an aide to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks. The executive said that before the C-band auction, the agency should adopt a maximum total fixed satellite service reallocation cost and premium for expedited band clearing, giving bidders certainty on costs. Eutelsat said relocation costs and acceleration premiums eligibility should be conditioned on FSS incumbents supporting the C-band transition. It said its $3.5 billion relocation costs estimate, which includes lost revenue opportunity, isn't far from the C-Band Alliance's $2.6 billion. The company said discussed its proposed maximum potential premium for expedited band clearing of 50 percent of allowable relocation costs for satellite and earth station operators.