Intelsat Again Asking IB for Additional Time in Intelsat 16 Drift

Intelsat is again seeking more time to drift Intelsat 16 from 76.2 degrees west to 58.1 degrees west. In an FCC International Bureau filing Tuesday, Intelsat said an unspecified "unexpected delay" has caused a late start to the drift, which it now expects to "begin ... shortly," and asked for a 30-day extension in its special temporary authority through Feb. 1. The drift had been expected to begin Nov. 4 (see 1509280024), and the satellite company cited similar reasons when at the end of that month it asked for an extension through Jan. 2 in its special temporary authority (see 1512010014).