CTIA, Satellite Operators Seek Changes to FCC Draft Order
Wireless and space interests are seeking tweaks to the satellite and earth station application processing draft order on the agenda for Thursday's FCC meeting (see 2507170048).
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In a docket 22-411 filing posted Thursday, CTIA said a satellite operator adding a point of communication could result in greater interference, so operators in upper microwave flexible-use service (UMFUS) bands should be protected from unintentional encumbrances. Pointing to the proposal that earth station applicants be allowed to receive a baseline license without identifying a specific satellite point of communication, CTIA said that could let the applicants underestimate their potential interference to UMFUS or even warehouse spectrum. Bands shared with UMFUS should be excluded from the baseline licensing procedures, the group argued. It also suggested alternative options to the draft order's language about giving earth station operators more flexibility in replacing equipment.
Recapping its meetings with the offices of the three commissioners, SpaceX urged the agency to clarify that earth station equipment modifications that remain within the FCC's maximum permissible exposure limits don't increase radiation risk to humans. The company also advocated that allowing non-geostationary orbit systems to make certain upgrades on a notification basis should exclude only modifications that would result in increased in-orbit collision risk, reentry risk, harmful interference risk to other systems, or the need for harmful interference protection for the system.
Iridium said it met with Space Bureau staffers to discuss allowing notifications to add earth station points of communication through weekly public notices.