Boeing V-Band Constellation Gets FCC 3-0 OK

Boeing's planned 147-satellite non-geostationary orbit V-band broadband constellation received FCC commissioners' OK Wednesday. Approval has been pending since 2017 (see 1703020036). Boeing emailed that the approval lets it move ahead with launch and operation but didn't give specifics on a time frame. "While the application was in review with the FCC, we have continued work identifying compelling use cases for V-band and maturing the underlying technology," it said. Per the order, Commissioner Geoffrey Starks didn't participate in the decision. His office said that voluntarily and out of what it called an abundance of caution, he didn't take part "because he owes a small amount of Boeing stock and the item specifically involves the company as the applicant." The order approved Boeing plans for inter-satellite links in parts of the V and Ka bands but rejected them in other parts of the bands, citing their not being allocated internationally for such operations under ITU rules. See our news bulletin here.