NGSO Sunset Proposal Gets More Lobbying

Satellite operators continue to lobby on the interference protection sunset proposed in the non-geostationary orbit spectrum sharing draft order in the FCC's April agenda (see 2304120023). Amazon's Kuiper called the proposed 10-year sunset "a reasonable compromise" in docket 21-456 Friday, countering arguments for a longer one. OneWeb's 15-year proposal "is far longer than necessary to secure stability for earlier-round systems," it said, saying there's no evidence that 10 years would chill investment in the satellite industry. Amazon argued previously for a six-year sunset period (see [Re:2302240062]). In a meeting with an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, OneWeb repeated its arguments for a 15-year sunset. Intelsat urged deferring the sunset issue to the Further NPRM, saying there's not strong consensus in the record. In a filing on meetings with aides to Rosenworcel, it said the agency should make clear it intends to adopt a sunset but said 10 years is unnecessarily long and there are too many questions and issues over whether the trigger should be tied to the earlier-round or later-round system. Any sunset "would penalize pioneering providers, threaten service continuity, and discourage coordination by later systems who can simply 'wait out' the sunset period," SES/O3b representatives told the commissioners and Space Bureau staffers. If the FCC opts for a sunset, 15 years would encourage operators to coordinate, it said.