As far back as 2013, DOD, Commerce and NASA seemingly had few concerns about Ligado's planned terrestrial wireless plans, said a 2013 memo filed Tuesday with the FCC for docket 11-109. Signed by Army, Navy, Air Force, NASA and Commerce representatives, the memo said they “do not object at this time” to Ligado's planned terrestrial use of 20 MHz of uplink. Ligado also submitted a 2013 email from Christine Condon, then principal director within the DOD Office of Chief Information Officer, saying Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee members DOD, NASA and Commerce “have no issue with approving the [Ligado] proposal and asks the IRAC to tell the FCC we approve.” DOD and Commerce have lobbied the FCC, raising Ligado concerns (see 2006300069).
SES and Intelsat renewed their arguments before U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Richmond for their rival motions for summary judgment on SES' $1.8 billion claim against Intelsat (see 2107190004). Intelsat "strains to avoid the clear, unambiguous language" in the agreement that they split equally C-band transition funds, and nothing there hinges on whether the FCC adopts the C-Band Alliance band-clearing approach, SES replied Monday (docket 20-32299, in Pacer). "A mountain of undisputed evidence" shows them partnering after the FCC rejected their proffered approach. Intelsat said SES' argument involves "a histrionic narrative unmoored from both the Agreement’s plain language and reality." It said the C-Band Alliance agreement "clearly and unambiguously" defined the companies' project and the gross proceeds of that project "and those concepts do not cover the FCC Order" and payments.
SpaceX's Starlink satellite broadband service has 1,740 satellites in orbit, about 90,000 users in 12 countries and more than 500,000 deposits or orders globally, company representatives told FCC International Bureau staffers, per a filing Monday. It said its planned 29,988 second-generation satellites (see 2005270010) would have faster speeds and lower latency, serve more customers and have more backhaul capacity. It said the second-generation satellites would have at most a 3.43-year orbital decay time.
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications OK'd Iridium Certus broadband, Iridium controller-pilot data link communications and other aeronautical services for aviation, and Iridium's global maritime distress and safety system service, Iridium said Monday.
Telesat said it wouldn't have any problem with "a reasonable limit" on unbuilt, individually licensed earth stations entitled to the extended construction periods the FCC adopted last year. That's what company representatives told International Bureau staff in a docket 18-314 post Monday.
Rather than a SpaceX blanket authorization for up to 1 million end-user earth stations in motion to communicate with its non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) broadband constellation (see 2103080002), the company scaled back its FCC application to a blanket license for up to 500, it told the International Bureau via an amendment Friday. SpaceX said that instead of seeking authorization for deployment as vehicle-mounted earth stations, earth stations on vessels and earth stations aboard aircraft (ESSA), it now seeks authorization only as ESAAs. It asked for a waiver that would let it use 12.2-12.7 GHz for ESAAs communicating with NGSOs.
SES Americom told aides to Commissioner Geoffrey Starks the company is on target to complete Phase I of the C-band transition by Aug. 31 and Phase II in summer 2023. Both targets are ahead of FCC deadlines for satellite operators receiving accelerated relocation credits. SES urged the FCC to “release the form of certification called for in the C-band Report & Order, as well as the procedures for identifying potential deficiencies in or otherwise challenging such certifications,” in Friday's posting in docket 18-122.
SiriusXM's SXM-8 satellite finished in-orbit testing after its June 6 launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and was handed over to SiriusXM, it and maker Maxar Technologies said Thursday.
Bharti Global plans to exercise its option to invest an additional $500 million in OneWeb, which would give it a 38.7% stake, the satellite operator told the FCC International Bureau Tuesday. The U.K., Softbank and Eutelsat each would have 19.3%, it said.
Astroscale agreed with launch services provider Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to cooperate on active orbital debris removal and other R&D projects. It said Tuesday initial efforts will focus on debris removal methods for upper rocket stages.