SpaceX Slams Dish, Viasat, Balance Appeals of FCC License Mod

The FCC "permissibly and sensibly" harmonized interference standards with ITU's, requiring SpaceX to get ITU OK as a condition of a license modification, while Dish Network wanted its own interference studies that used methodologies different from FCC mandates, SpaceX told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit Tuesday in an intervenor brief (docket 21-1123, in Pacer). Dish, Viasat and Balance Group are challenging SpaceX's license mod (see 2106020036). SpaceX said no authority backs Viasat and Balance's bid "to gut" categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act. It said even if possible environmental impacts of its Starlink constellation fall within NEPA, FCC OK includes SpaceX orbital debris mitigation and reporting conditions to ensure high Starlink satellite reliability. Outside counsel for the appellants didn't comment Wednesday.