Satellite CEOs Push FCC on Millimeter Wave, V-Band Access

Satellite industry CEOs urged spectrum frontiers rules changes, in eighth-floor meetings, showed a docket 14-177 ex parte filing posted Wednesday. EchoStar's Pradman Kaul, Intelsat's Steve Spengler, OneWeb Chairman Greg Wyler, SES' Karim Sabbagh, Telesat's Daniel Goldberg and Boeing Commercial Satellite Services Vice President Chris Johnson suggested changes including different population coverage limits for fixed satellite service Earth stations in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz bands; clarification of transient population limits; axing some limits on FSS Earth station numbers in counties or partial economic areas; allowing FSS individually licensed Earth stations and end user terminals in the 42-42.5 GHz band; and applying the 70/80/90 GHz band database approach to upper microwave flexible use systems. The satellite interests urged: keeping FSS uplinks as primary designation in the 48.2-50.2 GHz band; greater FSS access to the 47.2-48.2, 50.4-51.4 and 51.4-52.4 GHz bands for individually licensed Earth stations; and letting FSS networks operate Earth stations in the 37.5-40 GHz band. The meetings were with Chairman Ajit Pai and Commissioners Brendan Carr and Mike O'Rielly.