The FCC found Intelsat apparently liable for a...

The FCC found Intelsat apparently liable for a $112,500 fine by permitting another entity to assume its position in the processing queue for a geostationary orbit-like satellite license. Intelsat failed “to maintain the continuing accuracy and completeness of information furnished in an application pending before the commission,” said a notice of apparent liability (http://bit.ly/JgG1sE). The NAL pertains to a first-in-line application of the Galaxy 28 satellite and the proposed Galaxy KA satellite. Commissioner Ajit Pai who dissented said he is skeptical of the FCC’s conclusion. The FCC alleges that Intelsat violated rules by taking action to “transfer, assign, or otherwise permit ViaSat to assume its place in the GSO-like satellite licensing queue in apparent violation of the rules,” he said (http://bit.ly/1gwjUg7). However, any such action took place “no later than March 2, 2010, when Intelsat amended its application for the Galaxy KA satellite, thus moving ViaSat to the head of the queue,” he said. Since more than one year elapsed since that date, “I do not believe that the commission may impose a forfeiture penalty,” he said.