Intelsat on Proprietary Info 'Fishing Expedition,' SpaceX Says

Intelsat's objections are "a fishing expedition" for proprietary information that "needlessly delay" SpaceX's experimental satellite application, SpaceX said in an Office of Engineering and Technology filing submitted Friday. The submission was in response to an Intelsat request for more information (see 1507270060) as SpaceX looks to launch test satellites in advance of a low earth orbit constellation providing a global broadband service. Much of the information Intelsat said it needs to be assured SpaceX's test satellites don't pose an interference or collision risk (see 1507290015) is "beyond the scope of [FCC] requirements" and an attempt to get proprietary developmental design data, SpaceX said. Other data sought by Intelsat already is publicly available in documents SpaceX has filed with the FCC, it said. Meanwhile, the Engineers for the Integrity of Broadcast Auxiliary Services Spectrum, voicing concerns about possible SpaceX test interference with TV broadcast auxiliary service news gathering operations also operating in 2,077.5-2,105.5 MHz, said in a letter Wednesday it informally objects to the SpaceX application and asked the agency to require the company to coordinate with the Society of Broadcast Engineers on its plans. Also filing an objection Wednesday was the Global Union Against Radiation Deployment from Space, which advocates against space-based Wi-Fi. "The cumulative and additive atmospheric, environmental and health risks of [microwave radiation] saturation from space are extremely high," the group said.