Any FCC approval of SpaceX's pending license modification allowing a lower orbit for more than 2,800 proposed satellites (see 2004200003) at least should require SpaceX not to use more than one satellite beam from any of its satellites in the same frequency in the same or overlapping areas at a time, Dish Network said in a docket 20-443 posting Wednesday. SpaceX also should submit under a protective order enough information about its operations to let direct broadcast satellite licensees assess its compliance with the condition, Dish said. It said SpaceX also should acknowledge the risk that it might have to cease operations due to FCC actions on related matters, such as the 12 GHz rulemaking and SpaceX's petition for designation as an eligible telecom carrier. SpaceX didn't comment. SES, in an ex parte post, recapped a talk with Commissioner Geoffrey Starks in which CEO Steve Collar repeated the company's arguments (see 2103240009) that the license modification is a major system redesign and should be handled as a new filing in the non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) processing round that closed in May. Collar also said the pending Further NPRM on out-of-band emissions from NGSO earth station in motion operations in the 27.5-28.35 GHz band should extend OOBE limits already in place for geostationary ESIMs and GSO and NGSO blanket-licensed terminals.

With SiriusXM's buy of AT&T's Wireless Communications Service C- and D-block spectrum pending, Sirius seeks FCC International Bureau approval for testing its XM-5 satellite in those frequencies starting May 5, it said in an application Tuesday. It said AT&T signed off on the testing in the 2315-2320 MHz/C-block and 2345-2350 MHz/D-block bands.

The satellite industry is "at a bit of a crisis" on orbital debris, SES CEO Steve Collar said in a Satellite 2021-related panel Tuesday. Collar said the penalties need to be sufficiently high to dissuade behavior that could create problems. "We are at danger of getting that wrong," he said. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said that until orbital debris rules are better defined, "everybody should be a good steward" of low earth orbit (LEO). She said SpaceX is "concerned" about high-altitude satellites of 1100-1500 km because of how long debris could remain in orbit. She said a satellite without propulsion capability "is not a great thing [and] puts a burden on everyone else." Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg urged a global discussion about debris issues like overlapping orbits of constellations. Shotwell said SpaceX has about 1,320 of its first-generation satellites in orbit now and global reach, but it doesn't yet have full connectivity globally. Once it does, the plan is to continue adding satellites for additional capacity, she said. She said there will be a variety of polar launches this summer. Eutelsat CEO Rodolphe Belmer said geostationary orbit (GEO) will still be significant source of profitability for the foreseeable future, and the company is focusing on that. LEO will become relevant someday for telecommunications, but when and the economic challenges of LEO constellations aren't clear, he said. Hughes Network Systems President Pradman Kaul said his company's partnership with OneWeb is letting it approach potential customers with a joint GEO/LEO strategy.

Any changes SpaceX made to its satellite antennas are "negligible," and other satellite operators raising red flags about the move from phased array antennas to parabolics (see 2103300024) are "just obvious delay tactics ... designed to waste Commission resources and slow delivery of high-quality broadband." That's what company representatives told FCC International Bureau staff, per an ex parte filing Friday. SpaceX said its application for its pending license modification, filed nearly a year ago, includes upgraded antenna patterns, and all analyses have shown that upgrade doesn't cause significant interference to other operators. It denied it has been secretive about its use of parabolic antennas and called the complaints "contrived." SpaceX also noted its use of visors on recent satellites to block sunlight from reflecting off antennas and affecting astronomical observations. It said it's likely to use fewer than 10,000 satellites over the course of its license.

Citing failure of WorldView-4's control movement gyros in January, Maxar asked the FCC International Bureau for approval to lower the satellite from its current operation arc of 350-450 km to 100-400 km as it begins end-of-life maneuvers. In an application Thursday, Maxar said it still has control of the satellite. It said on completion of this de-orbit phase, it will end communications with the satellite as it begins to experience atmospheric drag.

Federal agencies haven't told Ligado whether any of their GPS devices might need repair or replacement "or even offered to begin a dialogue with us," the company said in an FCC docket 11-109 quarterly report Thursday. It said agency members of the Interdepartment Radio Advisory Committee, when informed about Ligado's program to replace or repair their GPS devices that might experience harmful interference, told the company, "directly contrary to [FCC] rules," that the pending petitions for reconsideration of the commission's Ligado order rendered that GPS replacement condition moot.

Shareholders of special-purpose acquisition company New Providence Acquisition approved the transaction with AST, with the close expected by Tuesday, it said Thursday. Following the close, the combined company, AST SpaceMobile, will trade on Nasdaq, it said. It said the deal will bring $462 million to AST SpaceMobile, including $230 million from a private placement closing at the same time.

As part of bankruptcy restructuring, Global Eagle assigned C-band receive-only earth station registrations to New Global Eagle, the company said in an FCC International Bureau notification Tuesday. It emerged from bankruptcy last week with a sale of its assets to first-lien investors.

As part of combining with special purpose acquisition company NavSight, Spire Global asked for FCC approval of a transfer of its licenses and authorizations to NavSight. The Spire/NavSight deal, with Spire becoming a subsidiary of NavSight and Spire shareholders having controlling interest in NavSight, was announced earlier this month. In an International Bureau filing Tuesday, Spire said the deal won't change its identity, ultimate controlling interest or daily operations.

Viasat seeks FCC international Bureau OK for earth stations to communicate with its forthcoming ViaSat-3 satellite to operate at 88.9 degrees west, said application filings Monday. The stations would operate in the 17.7-18.3 GHz and 27.5-28.35 GHz bands, and the applications are for locations in Georgia.