NGSO Ask for 10.7-10.95 GHz Use Worries Radio Astronomy Interests

Pushes to expand the FCC's look at updates to Parts 2 and 25 rules to include earth stations in motion communications with non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites and broader use of the 10.7-10.95 GHz spectrum band (see 1708010017) don't address compatibility with radio astronomy operations, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) said in a docket 17-95 filing posted Monday. NRAO said 10.68-10.7 GHz is a passive service band, and it's coordinating radio astronomy use of the band with prospective fixed satellite service operators of NGSO constellations wanting to use the adjacent downlink spectrum at 10.7-12.75 GHz. It said compatibility between FSS and radio operations doesn't work when the radio astronomy sites are illuminated by the main beams of satellites using the lowest channel for the downlink spectrum.