As states look at closing their individual digital divides, satellite broadband is often being forgotten or kept out of the mix by policy decisions, Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association President Steven Hill told us. Many states are prioritizing fiber.
Matt Daneman
Matt Daneman, Senior Editor, covers pay TV, cable broadband, satellite, and video issues and the Federal Communications Commission for Communications Daily. He joined Warren Communications in 2015 after more than 15 years at the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, where he covered business among other issues. He also was a correspondent for USA Today. You can follow Daneman on Twitter: @mdaneman
Intelsat and SES Tuesday painted diametrically opposed portraits of their defunct C-Band Alliance agreement to clear C-band spectrum. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Keith Phillips heard the closing arguments that lasted more than four hours. SES is asking $421 million in damages due to Intelsat leaving the CBA, which would give the two companies a 50-50 split of proceeds for accelerated clearing of the C band. The seven-day trial was in February (see 2202070031). A lawyer familiar with the case told us Phillips, who also presided over Intelsat's Chapter 11 proceeding, could rule within a month.
The shipping industry is increasingly testing extended use of Arctic waters as climate change makes them more accessible for longer periods of time, but that likely won't be a big emerging market for satellite nautical connectivity, satellite connectivity experts told us. Bandwidth demands, particularly by cruise ship operators, are skyrocketing.
Nearly a year after the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision on a challenge to parts of its 2019 cable local franchise authority (LFA) order (see 2105260035), localities interests and lawyers told us negotiations with cable operators have become more complex. Some think the pace of such negotiations and agreements picked up again in recent months, after a slowdown during the 6th Circuit appeal and subsequent, unsuccessful petition for writ of certiorari by appellant localities Eugene, Oregon, and others (see 2111010048). NCTA, ACA Connects, Comcast, Charter and Altice didn't comment.
With three months to go before the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline begins accepting calls and texts via 988, promotion and efforts at raising public awareness will be decentralized, with a national campaign geared to the public possible next year. 988 services are to be available nationwide effective July 16. The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) told us 988 won't be available nationally before then, so it recommends not promoting its use to the public in advance.
Shareholders of communications, media and tech companies will decide this spring on more public lobbying disclosures, changes to their executive compensation policies and especially new environmental and societal policies, according to scheduled proxy votes in coming weeks. In almost all cases, the companies' boards recommend "no" votes on the shareholder-brought proposals. Corporate governance experts told us advocates often aren't banking on approval in a given year but are trying to build momentum year after year until enough general support is generated.
Some states are opting for general fund appropriations, not a dedicated fee, to support 988 suicide prevention hotline services. Mental health advocates say that states creating a funding stream is to be applauded, but 988 services need multiple funding sources that include such a fee. CTIA has repeatedly pushed that message at statehouses.
Both Inteslat and SES are facing satellite-related delays in their C-band accelerated relocation transitions, though both maintain they remain on track to meet the Dec. 5, 2023, transition deadline.
Russia's Ukraine invasion is creating potential business opportunities, and also possible bottlenecks, for the commercial space industry, per a Washington Space Business Roundtable panel talk Wednesday. Quilty Analytics founder Chris Quilty said a recent dip in investor funding for commercial space could just be a blip, depending on the performance of the market overall and of a wave of space companies recently going public.
The ITU and World Radiocommunication Conference process and tools run the risk of stifling satellite innovation, satcom executives warned at Wednesday's Satellite 2022. The ITU provides stability, which is important, "but that's not innovation," said Lynk Vice President-Government Affairs Tony DeTora.