FCC
GPS committee calls FCC Ligado order a “grave error”
A committee charged with giving the U.S. government advice on space-based navigation services concluded that the FCC’s approval of Ligado’s 5G network is a “high-risk” decision that jeopardizes GPS services.
Hughes, Inmarsat urge FCC restrictions on subsidized C-band satellites
Hughes Network Systems and Inmarsat are asking the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to amend its C-band auction plans to avoid giving Intelsat and SES an unfair competitive advantage in other spectrum bands and neighboring markets.
Coalition of GPS user groups joins fight against FCC’s Ligado decision
Five associations representing users of the Global Positioning System will be joining forces against the FCC.
FCC makes headway in legal battle with ABS, Hispasat and Arsat over C-band auction
The court overseeing an effort by three satellite operators to prevent the FCC’s December C-band auction ruled against a motion that would have halted the auction, a decision that allows the auction schedule to hold but does not end the legal dispute.
Eutelsat to order single replacement C-band satellite for FCC spectrum clearing
Paris-based Eutelsat told the FCC that it will have to replace one geostationary satellite it previously did not plan to replace as a result of the FCC decision to clear spectrum for U.S. 5G networks.
Senator criticizes FCC’s $9.7 billion C-band incentive payment program
A key U.S. senator who stymied Intelsat and SES’s proposal last year to privately auction a swath of public airwaves to 5G wireless providers took aim Tuesday at the billions in incentives the satellite operators now stand to receive for vacating the spectrum ahead of schedule.
Boeing, Northrop Grumman win SES C-band satellite orders
Boeing and Northrop Grumman will each build two geostationary communications satellites for SES designed specifically for C-band services in the United States, SES announced June 16.
Intelsat orders four satellites from Maxar, two from Northrop Grumman, for C-band clearing
Fleet operator Intelsat on June 15 said it has ordered six new satellites — four from Maxar Technologies and two from Northrop Grumman — that it needs to continue telecommunications services in the United States with less spectrum by early December 2023.
LEO constellations still held to high bar in FCC rural broadband subsidy program
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission remains unconvinced that low Earth orbit satellite internet constellations are worth subsidizing through its $16 billion rural broadband program despite tweaking the rules for that program to give LEO constellations a better chance to qualify for funding.
SES weeks away from ordering six C-band satellites
SES is two to three weeks away from ordering six C-band satellites to replace older satellites whose usefulness will be cut short by the FCC’s upcoming spectrum auction, SES CEO Steve Collar told SpaceNews.
SES details LEO constellation and expanded MEO constellation to FCC
SES proposed a low Earth orbit constellation to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that, if built, would make the company an operator of satellites in low, medium and geostationary orbits.
Viasat, lured by broadband subsidy opportunity, eyes 300-satellite LEO constellation
Viasat says it is open to building a constellation of nearly 300 satellites in low Earth orbit if it can qualify for some of the $20.4 billion in broadband subsidies the U.S. Federal Communications Commission intends to dole out under the Rural Digital Opportunities Fund.
FCC stands by Ligado decision as lawmakers step up criticism
The FCC pushed back on new criticism from the Senate and House Armed Services Committees.
Intelsat, SES to participate in FCC’s $9.7B C-band program • OneWeb says it wants 48,000 satellites
OneWeb told the FCC May 26 that it wants to increase its constellation size to 48,000 satellites despite having filed for bankruptcy over an inability to fund a smaller broadband megaconstellation.
Pentagon presses on with campaign to overturn FCC’s Ligado order
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration formally petitioned the FCC to reverse its decision to grant a spectrum license to Ligado.
