Viasat, SpaceX at Odds Over 17 GHz NGSO Allocation

SpaceX hasn't given any compelling reason why the FCC should act now on a non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) fixed satellite service (FSS) allocation in the 17 GHz band, rather than waiting for completion of the 2023 World Radiocommunication Conference and for a more-robust record concerning protections for geostationary orbit networks in the band, Viasat said Tuesday in docket 22-273. It urged the agency to defer action in the proceeding until after WRC-23 and development of that robust record. Earlier this month, SpaceX urged an allocation to help alleviate a shortage of Ka band. SpaceX said there is no need to wait for WRC-23, given that ITU Region 1 already supports NGSO FSS co-existence in the band, "undermining any reason to delay harmonization."