FCC
Intelsat taps Maxar for fifth C-band satellite, capping order spree
Intelsat has signed a satellite contract with Maxar Technologies, placing the final order in a one-time surge in manufacturing deals triggered by the Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming C-band spectrum auction.
Eutelsat scraps plan for replacement C-band satellite
Eutelsat Communications says it no longer intends to buy a reimbursable C-band replacement satellite for the U.S. market, having concluded it can make do with less spectrum by rationalizing capacity on its current geostationary fleet.
FCC streamlined smallsat licensing regulations published
New FCC regulations will go into effect next week intended to make it easier for small satellites to get licenses for commercial operations.
Hughes views OneWeb stake as key to FCC broadband subsidies
Hughes Network Systems believes it has a chance at winning some of the $20.4 billion in rural broadband subsidies the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is preparing to spend, thanks to the company’s recent investment in megaconstellation startup OneWeb.
SES taps Thales Alenia Space for final two C-band replacement satellites
Satellite fleet operator SES has selected Thales Alenia Space to build two C-band satellites, making the Franco-Italian manufacturer the first European company to win one of nine replacement satellite orders placed this year as a result of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission’s upcoming C-band spectrum auction.
SpaceX, ULA to launch C-band satellites for SES
Commercial satellite operatorSES has selected SpaceX and United Launch Alliance to each launch two geostationary satellites designed to replace C-band capacity in the United States that the Federal Communications Commission is repurposing for 5G cellular networks.
White House withdraws nomination of FCC commissioner O’Rielly
Michael O’Rielly had been nominated in March for a new five-year term as member of the Federal Communications Commission.
Amazon’s Kuiper constellation gets FCC approval
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on July 30 approved Amazon’s request to operate a constellation of roughly 3,200 internet satellites in low Earth orbit.
Inhofe blocks nomination of FCC commissioner over Ligado order
Inhofe said he would block O’Rielly until the nominee “publicly commits to vote to overturn the current Ligado order.”
SES files $1.8 billion claim against Intelsat over splitting C-Band Alliance
Fleet operator SES filed a claim July 14 against Intelsat seeking at least $1.8 billion in damages for Intelsat’s withdrawal from the C-Band Alliance.
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.
