Wireless, Satellite Interests Seek C-Band Order Edits

Wireless and satellite interests cited concerns about the FCC C-band order, in docket 18-122 petitions for reconsideration posted Wednesday. Change the technical specifications of telemetry, tracking and command filters because they aren't feasible, or give Intelsat's two remote TT&C/gateway sites protected status to use the entire band, the company petitioned. It said out-of-band protection requirements won't adequately protect all earth stations from post-transition interference and need revision, or at least make clear that as long as Intelsat has done everything it can, it won't be held responsible for terrestrial operations' interference. It urged moving of the December 2021 TT&C/gateway site consolidation deadline to 2023 because an 18-month consolidation window is "simply is not achievable given the many time- and resource-intensive activities." Speaking with FCC staffers, Intelsat officials cited filter and TT&C site concerns and said reimbursements shouldn't be limited to satellites operating solely with a C-band payload, since its satellites are typically configured with multiple spectrum payloads and it was going to seek reimbursement for only the C-band payload costs. The company voiced concerns about cable operators being able to select the compression equipment to be installed at their earth stations, when it should be tied to the satellite transponder. Also posted was Intelsat's accelerated relocation election the company announced Tuesday (see 2005260037). The International Telecommunications Satellite Organization's recon petition cited aspects of the C-band order that could hurt international satellite services by limiting international gateway services in the lower portion of the band to four TT&C sites, and only on a secondary basis. It said design and placement of replacement Intelsat satellites could hurt international satellite services customers outside the U.S. C-band operator Eutelsat had petitioned for recon. Charter asked the FCC to tweak the order to require C band flexible use licensees to make TDD synchronization available to citizens broadband radio service (see 2005220042). “Without such synchronization, C-Band base stations will interfere with, and significantly impede, the ability of CBRS base stations to communicate with CBRS user equipment operating in both the Priority Access License and General Authorized Access spectrum blocks,” Charter said. Aviation interests asked to change the order to protect radio altimeters using 3700-3980 MHz (see 2002200030). "‘No action’ regarding the protection of radio altimeters and seemingly requiring the aviation community to ‘protect thyself’ from harmful interference was not supported by the evidence and sharply contrasts with other actions taken in this very proceeding,” the groups said. The Aerospace Industries Association, Airbus, Aviation Spectrum Resources, Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute, Air Line Pilots Association and Garmin were among signers.