OneWeb Constellation Gets Alaska Backing, Sees Radio Astronomy Pushback

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) is supporting OneWeb's proposed 720-satellite constellation. In a letter to FCC commissioners posted Tuesday in the International Bureau file, Walker said the OneWeb plan "is attractive because it eliminates the need to construct middle mile connections to primary teleports or earthstations," making it "an ideal low-cost solution where the geographic isolation and environmental protection challenges make rural Alaska's middle mile infrastructure cost prohibitive." OneWeb also "would be a game changer" in Alaska's ability to take part in the federal FirstNet program, Walker said. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), meanwhile, in a letter posted last month, said no satellite operators should be licensed in the 10.7-11.7 GHz band -- which includes the 10.68-10.7 GHz passive service band used in radio astronomy -- without demos of how they will protect radio astronomy operations there from emissions into the passive band. There are no broad international standards for allowing interference into passive service bands, but NRAO said the ITU Radiocommunication Sector caps the maximum level of data loss in passive service bands at 5 percent from all networks in one system, and it said a 5 percent data loss to radio astronomy from unwanted emissions "would be a terrible precedent." The deadline for comments regarding or petitions to deny the constellation is Monday (see 1607180006).