EchoStar, Telesat Canada Make Pitches for Rules Alignments With ITU

Non-geostationary orbit satellite interests are pushing the FCC to align rules with the ITU on NGSOs. At least, the FCC should make clear rules are limited to U.S. operations and such licensed systems providing service outside the country need to operate consistent with international regulations, EchoStar told Intentional Bureau staff, said a docket 16-408 filing posted Thursday. Telesat Canada, in a filing posted Wednesday, recapped meetings CEO Dan Goldberg had warning the FCC's proposed in-line event rule could result in in-line events being triggered even without actual interference. The proposal assumes all satellites in a constellation cover visible Earth and that coverage of satellites in different systems completely overlap, but none of the proposed NGSO constellations works that way, the company said. It said real-time access to data about co-frequency operators is needed for spectrum sharing only in situations when interference actually would arise. Telesat Canada said that rather than "an illusory 'fail safe' " rule, the FCC instead should opt for enforcing requirements to coordinate in good faith under ITU's coordination framework. The company said it made presentations to Commissioner Mike O'Rielly, and aides to Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Brendan Carr and to International Bureau staff. EchoStar said it also discussed granting co-primary status to geostationary fixed satellite service operations in the 18.8-19.3 GHz and 28.6-29.1 GHz bands, pointing to the ITU allowing co-primary use of those bands by GSO and NGSO systems. It pushed for allowing GSO and NGSO operations in the 19.3-19.4 GHz, 19.6-19.7 GHz and 29.3-29.5 GHz bands, with GSO systems on a primary basis and NGSO systems on an unprotected, non-interference basis.